B. F. Harbert, a worthy citizen residing on section 18, Macedonia Township, first came to this county and settled upon that place in 1881. He was born July 6, 1853, in Peoria County, Illinois, a son of Parcus Harbert, a native of Johnson County, Indiana, and of English and Scotch ancestry. Parcus Harbert married Mary Ann Hulick, a native of Indiana, and moved to Illinois in 1853. Some time afterward he returned to Indiana on a visit, and then in 1854 he came West with his family and settled in Mills County, Iowa, in pioneer times. He died in Glenwood, in 1865, and his widow is now residing with her son, the subject of this sketch. They reared five children: America, now the wife of Joseph Cramer, of Wayne County, Nebraska; B. F. was the next born; Katie, now the wife of J. M. Coons, of Macedonia Township; Michael, who lives in Mills County; and John, a resident of Carson Township.

Mr. Harbert was brought up a farmer; was but ten years of age when his father died, and, being the eldest son, greater responsibilities fell upon him. He now owns a fine farm of 180 acres. In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion a member of the Christian Church. He was married March 4, 1880, to Miss Cynthia A. Cramer, who was born and reared in Mills County, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (McMullin) Cramer.