Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 396-398; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Andrew J. Harlan. Perhaps no resident in Young
Hickory Township, has shown a greater degree of enterprise in the
affairs of this world than the subject of this notice, who is now
Superintendent of the Central Clay Company, in which he is the
principal shareholder and President of the London Milling Company, of
London Mills. The energy of his character is not manifested solely for
his personal aggrandizement, but has been displayed in various
positions of public responsibility, and in the promulgation of the
cause of Christianity.
Our subject is of good blood, being descended from an old
English family. George, Michael and Jonathan Harlan emigrated to
America many years ago, and our subject is a lineal descendant of the
eldest brother. Grandfather Harlan, whose given name was Jonathan, was
born in North Carolina, and reared as a farmer. When the first
settlements were made in Ohio, he determined to come North, and
locating in Clinton County, eight miles from the Little Miami River, he
hewed out a home from the wilderness, and eventually became wealthy. He
was a prominent member of society, and was the first Sheriff of the
county. One of his sons, Andrew J. Harlan, was a Congressman from
Indiana.
The father of our subject was David S. Harlan, who was reared in
his native Buckeye State, followed farming and worked somewhat at
brickmaking there. In the fall of 1850 he came to Central Illinois on
his way to Polk County, Iowa, but being pleased with this section, he
determined to remain here. He was a natural mechanic, able to turn his
hand to anything, and he at once found employment, his first work being
making a kiln of brick for David Cowman. In the spring of 1852, he went
on to Iowa with an ox-team and two wagons, and spent a short time in
breaking prairie. He then returned to this State, finally buying land
in Young Hickory Township, and reclaiming a raw farm from its primitive
condition. He held various township offices, was School Trustee for
years, and possessed much influence. He was one of three men in the
township who voted for Salmon P. Chase in 1852. He was one of the
operators of the underground railroad both in Ohio and here. He was
reared in the Quaker faith, but finally united with the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He died in 1886, when more than seventy-four years
old.
The mother of our subject was Mary Cowman, who was born in
Virginia in 1809, and who is now living on the old homestead, at the
advanced age of eighty-one years. Her father, Peter Cowman, was born in
New Jersey, January 1, 1777, and after reaching manhood removed to
Virginia, where he owned a farm in Rockbridge County, five miles from
the Natural Bridge. He was a teamster in the War of 1812. In the fall
of 1832 he removed with his family by wagon to Highland County, Ohio,
where he became a well-to-do farmer. He died in 1844, cheered by the
faith of the Presbyterian Church. His daughter, afterward Mrs. Harlan,
was a young lady when the removal to the Buckeye State took place. She
is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The parental family included eight children besides our subject,
who is the first-born; Cyrus died at home in 1863; Milo occupies the
old homestead; Plato resides in Kansas; Napoleon Bonaparte died here in
1866; Mrs. Louisa Swartz lives in this township; Mrs. Adelia Spurlock
in Chestnut Township, Knox County; Mrs. Mary Swartz, in Canton; Mrs.
Minerva Dailey is with her mother on the old homestead. Plato and
Napoleon enlisted in 1861 in the Forty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and
served over three years; Milo served in the Eighty-third Illinois
Infantry three years, holding the rank of Corporal.
Andrew J. Harlan was born in Clinton County, Ohio, near
Wilmington, December 20, 1835, and reared on the farm which he helped
to clear, driving oxen when teams were used. His early education was
obtained in the primitive subscription schools held in the log building
fitted up with home-made furniture. He was fifteen years old when his
parents came to this State, and well remembers the overland journey
that lasted four weeks. Being anxious to gain more knowledge, young
Harlan was permitted to work by the month or day a part of the time in
order to get money whereby to help pay his way at school. In 1866 he
entered Hedding Female Seminary, now Hedding College, at Abingdon,
during the first term of the institution. He studied six months in a
year, working on a farm during the other seasons, thus making his way
for two years.
Being sent to Ohio to look after some of his father's interests,
young Harlan stopped at Marion, Ind., on his return, and spent six
months in attendance at Marion Seminary. The following summer he taught
school in this vicinity, then again studied at Abingdon, and from that
time until the spring of 1868, was alternating the duties of a farm
laborer, school teacher, and student. The next two winters were devoted
to professional work, and the succeeding year to the management of the
home farm, which he had had charge of during the war when his brothers
were away with the Union forces.
In the fall of 1870 Mr. Harlan took to himself a wife in the
person of Mrs. Elizabeth (Hall) Dyer, a capable and amiable woman, to
whom he owes not only the comforts of his home, but much encouragement
and wise counsel in his affairs. She was born in Ellisville Township,
and reared and educated there. Her parents, David E. and Elizabeth
(Potts) Hall, came here from Ohio, as early as 1832. After his
marriage, Mr. Harlan rented a farm, and in 1872 bought three hundred
and twenty acres on section 4, bordering on the Spoon river. He cleared
half of it, and as the land is well adapted for the cultivation of all
kinds of grain, he has prospered exceedingly by the wise use of
improved methods. The farm now bears excellent improvements of all
kinds, the buildings upon it being the best in the township. Some time
after the purchase of this property, Mr. Harlan bought the old home of
his wife--valuable tract of improved land which corners with this. It
consists of one hundred and thirty-three acres in Chestnut Township,
Knox County.
Realizing the need of good means of transportation, Mr. Harlan
helped the Fulton County Narrow Gauge Railroad as much as possible,
letting the road through his farm for almost nothing, and likewise
giving the right of way for a mile to the Iowa Central. As soon as the
Narrow Gauge was built, he began buying hogs, being the first shipper
over the new road. For several years he shipped over both routes to his
great advantage. In 1884 or 1885, he laid out an addition on his farm,
and in January, 1890, platted A. J. Harlan's Second Addition, from
which he is now selling lots. In 1886 he became a partner in the London
Milling Company, and President thereof. This company, in addition to
the business in London Mills, carries on a wholesale and retail depot
in Peoria.
Some time since Mr. Harlan found that he had valuable fire clay
on his farm, and conceived the idea of starting a brick factory. He had
several objects in view, one being to institute a good business in the
manufacture, and another to increase the sale of lots. In the spring of
1890, therefore, a partnership was formed between himself and Samuel
Hall, a factory built, and a plant put in. The business is but fairly
started, but promises satisfactory results. The capacity of the
establishment is fifty thousand bricks per day, and the articles are
made with especial view to their use in paving and building. The
railroad company has put in a switch to the factory, where thirty-five
hands are already employed in manipulation clay equal to any in the
country.
Mr. Harlan was Supervisor three years, during that time being
Chairman of the Committees on Fees and Salaries, and on Jurors. He was
Assessor five years, Trustee for a long time, Justice of the Peace two
terms, and Commissioner of Highways several terms. He has likewise
served as School Director, and been a member both of grand and petit
juries. He is a stanch member of the Republican party, has been a
member of the Central Committee, and a delegate to county conventions.
He is identified with the Odd Fellows fraternity, and has passed
through all the chairs in the lodge at London Mills. A devoted member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he was instrumental in building the
house of worship, and is now one of the Trustees. He formerly served as
Steward, and was Assistant Superintendent in the Sunday-school several
years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan consisted of four sons -
Oscar, Byron, Custer, and Andrew J., Jr. Byron died in early childhood.
