My Genealogy Hound

J. E. Harkness, superintendent of the county poor farm, is one of the well known citizens in Union county, having from an early period in its development resided within its borders. He came to Iowa in 1858, first locating in Henry county. He was at that time a youth of fourteen years, his birth having occurred in Delaware county, New York, December 8, 1844. His father, J. B. Harkness, was also a native of Delaware county, where the days of his boyhood and youth were passed. After arriving at adult age he wedded Miss Margaret Fleming, who was likewise born in the Empire state, where they began their domestic life, residing in New York until their removal to Barry county, Michigan. The year 1858 witnessed their arrival in Henry county, Iowa, where the father secured a tract of wild land and opened up a new farm, converting the unbroken prairie into rich fields which he continued to cultivate throughout his remaining days.

J. E. Harkness was a youth of fourteen years at the removal of the family to Henry county, where he continued throughout the period of his youth. His primary education was acquired in the common schools of Michigan and of Iowa and later he attended Howe’s Academy at Mount Pleasant, this state. Soon after completing his education he accepted a position in the Mount Pleasant Insane Asylum, where he continued for nearly eight years, acting as attendant for one year, after which he had charge of the farm for seven years.

During that period Mr. Harkness was married on the 28th of October, 1874, to Miss Maggie Roberts, who was born, reared and educated at Mount Pleasant. In 1877 they removed to Union county, settling in Lincoln township, where Mr. Harkness purchased a farm. It was raw land but with rich possibilities of cultivation and improvement. Upon that place he lived for ten years, during which time he brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. He then sold out and bought another farm, which he further developed and improved. He had one hundred and sixty acres but has since disposed of eighty acres of that place. In 1903 he was appointed to take charge of the county poor farm, which at that time had fourteen inmates and now has nineteen, while during the winter months there are usually about twenty-eight. The farm comprises two hundred and forty-seven acres of land and in addition to the cultivation of the fields high grades of cattle, hogs and horses are raised here. Mr. Harkness is very successful in its management and conducts the work with the same thoroughness which he displayed in carrying on his own farm.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Harkness have been born four children: Walter, who is married and now follows farming in Lincoln township; Frank, who is married and lives upon the home farm; Edwin, a resident of South Dakota; and Stella, the wife of W. H. Peiffer, of Afton. Mr. and Mrs. Harkness and three of their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Harkness is a Master Mason. Politically he has been a life-long republican, casting his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1868 and for each presidential nominee of the party since that time. He has taken an active part in local politics and in Lincoln township was elected and re-elected until he had served for ten consecutive years as assessor, while for four years he was township trustee. He has likewise been identified with the schools and for several years served on the school board, being also a delegate to various state and county conventions. He has a wide acquaintance in this part of the state and his substantial qualities of manhood and of business activity and reliability have gained him the favorable regard in which he is uniformly held.