Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Harman, Joseph Lawrence 1840 - 1907 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 3, 2013, 3:49 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JOSEPH LAWRENCE HARMAN. Joseph Lawrence Harman, an honored veteran of the Civil war and a well known public official and business man of Ottumwa, passed away on the 16th of December, 1907, to the deep regret of all who knew him and had been associated with him in any of the relations of life. He was born at Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, on the 21st of July, 1840, and was a son of David and Hester (Lawrence) Harman, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter was of English ancestry and parentage. The son was reared in his native county and the district schools afforded him his educational opportunities. He continued at home until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when his patriotic spirit was aroused and he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a private if Company I, Fourth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Cavalry (Seventy-seventh Volunteers) September 17, 1862. The regiment was organized at Indianapolis, Indiana, and was mustered in on the 22d of September. They proceeded to Louisville, Kentucky, and were attached to the Army of Kentucky, Department of the Ohio, from September until November. They were then transferred to the District of West Kentucky, Department of the Ohio, with which they continued until January, 1863, and then became a part of the Second Brigade, First Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland, with which Mr. Harman continued until November, 1863, when because of failing health he was honorably discharged and returned to his home in Ohio. During the period of his first enlistment his service, according to a memorial prepared by the Loyal Legion, of which he was a member, was as follows: "Pursuit of Bragg into Kentucky October, 1862. Action at Floyd's Forks and on Bardstown Pike near Mount Washington, Kentucky, October, 1. Bardstown October 4. Madisonville October 5. Duty in Western Kentucky till January, 1863. Operations against Morgan in Kentucky December 22, 1862, to January 2, 1863. Bear Wallow December 23, 1862. Munfordsville and Green's Chapel December 25. Ordered to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, January 1863. Near Murfreesboro January 21. Expedition to Auburn, Liberty and Alexandria February 3-5. Rutherford Creek March 10-11. Near Murfreesboro March 28. Franklin April 10. Tribune June 9-11. Middle Tennessee or Tullahoma Campaign June 22-July 7. Eaglesville and Rover June 23. Middletown June 24. Guy's Gap and Shelbyville June 27. Fosterville June 27. Bethpage Bridge, Elk River July 1. Passage of Cumberland Mountains and Tennessee River and Chickamauga, Georgia, campaign August 16-September 22. Reconnaissance towards Rome September 11. Alpine September 12. Dirt Town, Lafayette Road near Chattanooga River September 12. Reconnaissance toward Lafayette and skirmish September 13. Near Stevens Gap September 18. Battle of Chickamauga September 19-21. Operations against Wheeler and Roddy, September 30-October 17. Valley Road near Jasper October 2. Honorably discharged November 23, 1863, for disability contracted in line of duty." When Mr. Harman had somewhat recovered his health he again offered his services to the Union, joining Company B, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, of which he was commissioned first lieutenant on the 2d of October, 1864. Again we quote from the Loyal Legion record: "Regiment organized at Camp Dennison, Ohio, and mustered in October 11, 1864. Left state for Nashville, Tennessee, October 11, thence moved to Columbia, Tennessee, October 20, and post and garrison duty there also guarding Tennessee and Alabama R. R. till November 24. Nashville campaign November-December. Attached to Third Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, Army of the Ohio. Columbia Duck River November 24-27. Spring Hill November 29. Battle of Franklin November 30. Battle of Nashville, Tennessee, December 15-16. Occupation of Fort Negley till December 25. Moved to Columbia December 25, and garrison duty there to June, 1865. Attached to Second Sub District, District of Middle Tennessee, Department of the Cumberland. Moved to Nashville, Tennessee, June 23, 1865. Mustered out June 27, 1865, and honorably discharged from service." In the fall following the close of the war Mr. Harman came to Ottumwa, arriving in the month of September, and here he resided continuously until his death, which occurred forty-two years later. He was a very industrious, energetic man, intelligent and capable. Soon after his arrival in Ottumwa he embarked in merchandising and later he entered upon public duties, following his appointment to the office of deputy county auditor. In 1876 he embarked in the insurance business by representing a number of the leading insurance companies of this country and some of the foreign companies. In this connection he built up a large and gratifying business, and he was also for several years a director of the Ottumwa National Bank. On September 10, 1867, occurred the marriage of Mr. Harman and Miss Maggie Zollars, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Druckemiller) Zollars, natives of Pennsylvania and of Ohio, respectively. On coming to Iowa in 1854, they settled in Wapello county, where they continued to reside until called to their final rest. The father was extensively and successfully engaged in the real-estate business in Ottumwa for many years and was also a stockholder and one of the directors in the Ottumwa National Bank for an extended period. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, but Mrs. Harman is the only one now living. By her marriage she had a son, Frank, and a daughter, Lillie, but the latter, who had married Ben S. Benson, died several years before her father's, death. Mr. Harman was a loyal member of the Christian Science church, to which Mrs. Harman still belongs. As a citizen he was as loyal to the best interests of his city, state and nation as he was when he followed the old flag upon the battle fields of the south. All who knew him esteemed him highly, for he was an honorable man of exemplary moral worth and faithful as a Christian gentleman. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/wapello/photos/bios/harman697gbs.jpg This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 6.9 Kb