BIO: John M. HARNISH, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by MFS Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ JOHN M. HARNISH is one of the enterprising and prominent business men of Boggs township, Centre county, located at Snow Shoe Junction, where he is successfully engaged in general farming, merchandising and in the millwright business, and is also serving as postmaster. He was born December 31, 1831, in Bald Eagle Valley, in the same township, and has since been actively identified with its interests, and is recognized as one of the progressive and representative citizens of the community. Martin Harnish (father of our subject), whose birth occurred in Maryland, was a molder by trade, following the same during his younger years, but later in life engaging in agricultural pursuits. In Centre county he was united in marriage with Catherine Parson, a native of that county, and to them were born twelve children, namely: Antis, a resident of Lock Haven, Clinton Co., Penn.; Andrew, of Illinois; Margery, deceased; John M., of this sketch; Julia A., wife of George T. Michaels, of Lock Haven; Jacob, of Snow Shoe township, Centre county; William, of the same county; Allen, who was killed in the Civil war in the seven days' fight at Richmond; Catherine, wife of J. C. Showers, of Bellefonte, Penn.; and three that died in infancy. The father died April 6, 1855, at the age of fifty-four years, the mother in November, 1872, at the age of sixty-two years. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Church, and in politics he was a Whig. Our subject obtained his education in the public schools of his native county, and at the age of fifteen years began to earn his own livelihood by working at odd jobs. Five years later he entered upon an apprenticeship to a millwright, a trade he soon mastered. He continued under the parental roof until he had attained his twenty-fifth year. On April 7, 1859, he married Miss Elizabeth A. Gowar, and they have become he parents of eighteen children - nine sons and nine daughters - as follows: Clara E., wife of Joseph Iddings, a farmer of Boggs township; Catherine, wife of William U. Becker, transfer agent on the railroad at Harrisburg, Penn.; John T., a carpenter of Cincinnati, Ohio; Milton and Minnie (twins), now deceased; James G., who died in 1886; Martha A., Martin, Elizabeth, Silas E. and Minerva, all at home; Rosalie, deceased; Mira B., Marcella and Charles B., at home; the others died in infancy. Mrs. Harnish was born in Morgantown, W. Va., October 23, 1840, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Boyd) Gowar, natives of Baltimore, Md., and Glamorganshire, Wales, respectively. They were married in Ellicott City, Md., where they remained for one year and then removed to West Virginia, locating at the iron works seven miles from Morgantown, where the mother died in July, 1841, at the age of thirty- four years. In 1845 the father removed to Bellefonte, Penn., but six years later returned to Morgantown, where the following seven years were passed. He then went to Pittsburg, where his death occurred October 23, 1869. By trade he was an iron worker. He was twice married, his second union being with Mrs. Phoebe McVicker, widow of Britton 384 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. McVicker. She had no children by either husband. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Harnish were James and Elizabeth (Tampelton) Gowar, who spent their entire lives in Glamorganshire, Wales, and the maternal grandparents were William and Elizabeth Boyd, natives of Ireland and Germany respectively. The last named died on her way to America. During the dark days of the Rebellion, Mr. Harnish, in 1861, enlisted in Company F, 56th P. V. I. After serving for two years he re- enlisted, and remained in the service for three years and six months, or until hostilities had ceased, when he was honorably discharged. For gallant and faithful service he was promoted to the rank of captain, which position he was filling when discharged near Washington, D.C. The regiment was disbanded at Philadelphia. On July 1, 1863, at the battle of Gettysburg, he was shot through the right arm. On being mustered out, he went to Pittsburg, Penn., and for several months was in the employ of the Keystone Bridge Builders. He then entered the service of the Everson & Preston Iron Works, of the same city, but in 1868 came to his present home at Snow Shoe junction, where he has since successfully engaged in business. He is an enterprising, intelligent, honest man, who started out in life poor, but has become one of the leading business men of Boggs township, prompt and reliable in all his dealings, and has gained the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact. His political support is ever given the Republican party.