My Genealogy Hound

ELIAS HARTER, blacksmith; P. O. New Madison. He is one of the few men who were born here in the early days of Darke Co., that now reside here; he was born in Butler Township in 1821; is the son of David and Sarah (Boone) Harter. David was one of the married sons of Francis Harter, and was among the first settlers of Butler Township. David was a blacksmith, and Elias partially learned the trade, while at home, and after his marriage finished his apprenticeship, and has continued to follow this trade most of his time since. Was a leading and active citizen of New Madison for many years, during which he erected several of the best buildings in town, but the crisis following the close of the war occasioned heavy loss, and he, with others, was bankrupted. When the war was raging and the Government called for more help, he, though above 40, enlisted in the one-hundred-days’ service, and traveled over a considerable portion of Virginia, where his father and grandfather had lived. The past season he has relaid more plows, perhaps, than any other man in Darke Co., and is still a vigorous, active workman and a respected citizen. He was married in 1844, to Miss Gertrude J., daughter of William Biddle, a native of New Jersey, and an early settler of Butler Township. She was born in New Jersey in 1826, and was 8 years old when her parents came to Darke Co. Mr. and Mrs. Harter are worthy members of the Reformed Church, at New Madison, and useful, respected members of society ; they have raised a large family—five sons and three daughters, viz., George S., John O., William B., Millroy E., Charles S., Sarah K., Allie J. and Gertrude E. George S. volunteered in 1862, when only 16 years of age, and served three years, enduring many hardships and participating in many battles; was a prisoner in the infamous “Andersonville,” and came home from there in December, 1864, looking more like a corpse than a living being, but recovered, and is now the teacher of the Dayton (Ohio) High School; Sarah K., now the widow of William Hetzler, deceased, is a teacher in the public school at Greenville; John O., formerly a teacher at the high schools at Ashtabula and Hudson, Ohio, is now retired, on account of his health, and resides in Summit Co.; Alice J. is now Mrs. David Wheeler, of Greenville; Gertrude, now a young lady of unusual intelligence and culture, is also a teacher, and all the above-mentioned are members of the Presbyterian Church, thanks to the holy influences of a pious and intelligent mother. William B. is a medical student, while the two younger are schoolboys.