BIOGRAPHY: Alexander Samuel HARSHBERGER, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 420-421.

  ALEXANDER SAMUEL HARSHBERGER, M. C., Lewistown, Mifflin county, Pa., was born 
at McAllistersville, Juniata county, Pa., January 6, 1850.  He is a son of Dr. 
Abraham and Mary Ann (McCoy) Harshberger.  His paternal grandparents were 
Abraham and Frances (Helm) Harshberger, whose children are:  John;  David, 
married Miss Rishel;  Catherine, of Bellefonte, Pa.;  Abraham;  Mary (Mrs. 
George Price);  William;  and Henry, who married Rachel McAlister.  His maternal 
grandparents were Alexander and Elizabeth (McDowell) McCoy, whose children are:  
John;  Frank;  Mary Ann (Mrs. A. Harshberger);  Margaret;  and Hannah.  Dr. 
Abraham Harshberger was born December 12, 1810, and died November 5, 1893;  his 
wife was born October 15, 1819, and died July 19, 1881.  Three of their children 
are deceased:  John, born March 22, 1852, died March 4, 1856;  Mary Margaret, 
born December 11, 1855, died June 26, 1860;  and Anna Catherine, born June 25, 
1858, died July 19, 1881.  The survivors are:  Frances Elizabeth (Mrs. Butler);  
Dr. Alexander S.;  and Francis McCoy.  Mrs. Butler is the widow of the Rev. John 
Butler, a Presbyterian missionary who was stricken down by Asiatic cholera at 
his post of duty at Ningpo, China;  their son John, a child about six years old, 
fell a victim to the same fearful disease;  their deaths were only about twelve 
hours apart;  their remains are interred at Ningpo.  Mrs. Butler, with her 
younger child, stayed a year longer at the mission station;  she then visited 
her home for a year, and returning to Ningpo, continued missionary work for 
three years.  Then, her health failing, she was obliged to return to America, 
after having spent in all eleven years in the mission field.  She came back in 
1894, and now resides with her brother at Tacoma, Wash.  The brother, Francis 
McCoy Harshberger, Esq., who was born February 6, 1862, at Port Royal, Juniata 
county, Pa., studied law, and graduated at the Columbia Law School, Washington, 
D. C.  He removed to the State of Washington , and has an extensive practise at 
Tacoma, where he resides.  He is married, and has three children:  Richard;  
Catherine;  and Albert.
  After receiving his elementary education in the common schools of Port Royal, 
Juniata county, Pa., Alexander S. Harshberger was prepared for college by a 
three years' course at Airy View Academy, at Port Royal.  At the age of 
nineteen, he entered the University of Pennsylvania, from which, after two years 
and a half of study, he was graduated with honors in the class of 1870.  He 
began practise in Milroy, Mifflin county, as the partner of his father, a 
physician of high standing, with an extensive practise.  The elder Doctor 
retiring from the active duties of his profession in 1880, was succeeded by his 
son, who continued to practise, enjoying the regard and confidence of his 
patients and friends, as well as the substantial rewards due to his useful 
labors.  The Doctor is a member in good standing of the State Medical 
Association, and of the Medical Society of Mifflin county.  He is affiliated 
with Lewistown Lodge, No. 203, F. and A. M.; Lewistown Chapter, No. 186, R. A. 
M., and Lewistown Commandery, No. 26, K. T.; Lewistown Lodge, No. 97, I. O. O. 
F.;  and Council No. 1,394, Royal Arcanum;  all at Lewistown.  The Doctor 
adheres to the Republican party.
  Dr. Alexander S. Harshberger was married December 27, 1871, to Mary Elizabeth, 
daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (McManigal) Brown.  The only child of this 
marriage is Annie Gertrude, born December 23, 1878.  The family attend the 
Presbyterian church.
  Mrs. James M. Brown, mother of Mrs. Harshberger, died August 9, 1871, aged 
fifty-two;  her husband survives her.  Of their children, two are deceased:  
Margaret, died when about eighteen months old;  and Samuel McClay, who died at 
the age of about forty-three years.  Those surviving are:  Frances Martha, wife 
of J. Francis McClure;  Sarah Jane, wife of William C. Bunnell;  Elizabeth (Mrs. 
Harshberger);  and James Wilmot, who married Agnes Morrissey.