My Genealogy Hound

THOS. J. HARRINGTON, mayor of Webb City, was born in Clinton county, N. Y., July 8, 1825, and is the son of Timothy and Mary Harrington. Mrs. Harrington’s maiden name was Mary Mandlen, of English nativity; and Timothy H. was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, Feb. 26, 1798, and came to America quite young. Mrs. H.’s parents came first to Canada West, but they were married in the United States. Both are now dead, Timothy being buried in Armstrong county, Pa., and Mary in Canada. Thomas J., the subject of this sketch, is the third of a family of nine children. He was raised and educated in Pennsylvania, where his father’s family moved when he was quite small. He remained in that state until 1858, when he came to Missouri and settled in the southwestern part, in 1864 he went to Idaho and Montana, where he remained two years, and on returning to this state, settled in Franklin county. He came to Jasper county in 1868, and in 1877 came to Webb City, where he has since been engaged successfully in mining. He was married in Clyde county, Pa., Dec. 30, 1846, to Miss Eliza Watterson, a descendant of the first families who settled western Pennsylvania. She died July 20, 1853, in her native county. They had four children, two of whom are living: Louisa J., Mary Emma, Arthur Lee, and Ella E. Mary E. is married and living in Garden Grove, Iowa, and Ella E. is married and lives in Pennsylvania. Mr. Harrington was first elected mayor of Webb City in 1880. When he took charge of affairs the city was in debt over $2,000, and in one year’s administration of public affairs he wiped the debt completely out. He was again elected in the fall of 1882 to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the former mayor. Politically he sides with the Democratic party. He is not a member of any church, but holds that the highest aim in life is for every man to “Do unto others as you would be done by.” He is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities.