My Genealogy Hound

Ira G. Harlan, farmer, was born in Ohio, February 6, 1836. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Leviston) Harlan, were natives of Indiana. The father moved to Iowa, and settled in Lee County. He came to Canton, Mo., in 1851. Ten years later he came to Knox County, where he died in 1873. He worked at his trade as carpenter for many years, and also engaged in farming. The mother died in 1859. Our subject grew to manhood in Lewis County, and learned the tinner’s trade in Canton, and in 1858 he opened the first hardware and tin shop in Kirksville. He sold out and went to California in 1862, and spent two years in traveling in that State and in dealing in horses. In February, 1864, he returned by way of Panama and New York. On reaching Kirksville he engaged in the real estate and grocery business, a year later adding dry goods. In 1867 he entered in the real estate business exclusively, and so continued until 1872, when he came to his farm. In 1872-73 he was in the grocery and drug business at Millard. After eight years on the farm he moved to Kirksville, and two years later went to Dakota. A year later they traded their land claims for a hotel at Ipswich, Edmunds County. He followed the hotel business for two years, and then engaged in horse dealing until 1887, when he returned to Missouri, and located on the farm. May 5, 1860, he married Nancy A., a daughter of James and Catherine Nicholas, pioneers of Adair County. Their children are Madison M., L. Ernest, Delano R. and Ira F., the two latter of whom were educated at Kirksville. Mr. Harlan is a Democrat, and was all assessor of Edmunds County, Dak. He has passed all the chairs in the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.