My Genealogy Hound

HARMON G. BARKWELL, retired Attorney, Rockport, Ind., is a native of Kentucky, born December 23, 1807. He grew to manhood in his native State, receiving a common school education. On attaining his majority, he engaged in the saddlery business at Troy, Ind., where he remained until about 1836, when he came to this county, and acted as Deputy for Thomas P. Britton, County Clerk, for one year. After studying law for one year at New Harmony, he went to Evansville, where he completed his legal studies, and was admitted to the bar in 1846. He then practiced law at Mount Vernon for a year, after which he returned to Rockport, where he acquired a large practice, and had the reputation of being among the foremost members of that bar. The Judge was originally a Whig in politics, but since the disappearance of that party, has been a Democrat. He was Judge pro tem, by appointment at various times in this circuit, and was elected by his party in 1855, as Prosecuting Attorney. March 19, 1839, Miss Parmelia Alldredge became his wife, by whom he is the father of ten children, five of whom are living. Mrs. Barkwell died April 1, 1858; and he was married April 3, of the following year to Rachel S. Shields, who died September 28, 1876. She was a daughter of Col. Jesse Shields, of Harrison County. The Judge’s parents were Joseph and Elvira (Freeman) Barkwell, both natives of the “Old Dominion.”