My Genealogy Hound

Daniel Harmon, a prominent farmer and merchant of Erie Township, McDonald Co., Mo., was born in Greene County, Tenn., on July 22, 1833, and is a son of John M. and Elizabeth Harmon [see sketch of John M. Harmon]. Daniel Harmon was about thirteen years old when his parents came to McDonald County. His early education was very limited, he only having attended school three months, but by much reading and personal observation he has acquired a large fund of knowledge. He remained with his parents until he was nineteen years old, when in company with a party of men he started for San Francisco. They left home on April 13, 1852, and after a long and tiresome journey with ox teams arrived in California in October. For thirteen years Mr. Harmon traveled about on the Pacific coast, during which time he made two trips to Salt Lake City. In 1867 he raised a company of sixty-three men and joined Gen. Walker’s famous fillibustering expedition to Central America. He was captain of the company, and was sent to Costa Rica, remaining eight months, during which time he lost forty-seven men. Returning to California in 1858 he again engaged in mining, and came back to McDonald County, Mo., in 1864. He bought out the other heirs to his father’s estate, and settled on a part of the old homestead. On December 2, 1866, he was united in marriage with Nancy J., a daughter of Claudius D. and Mary (Williams) Walker. She was born in Greene County, Tenn., on July 4, 1843. He parents were also natives of Greene County, Tenn., and immigrated to McDonald County, Mo., in 1852, settling near Pineville. There they both died, the father in 1868 and the mother in 1860. Besides Mrs. Harmon they had one other child, Priscilla. Mr. Harmon is the owner of 285 acres of fine land on the banks of Indian Creek, of which 215 acres are under cultivation. He makes a specialty of corn and hog raising. He has a nice comfortable residence, situated about three-fourths of a mile east of where his father settled. In 1867 he was appointed public administrator by Gov. McClurg, and during his four years’ service settled up seventy-two estates. He also served as justice of the peace of his township for ten years. In August, 1887, he purchased a half-interest in the general store of Dr. M. V. Reece, located at Erie, in which his son, Mark, clerks. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a strong supporter of the principles of the Union Labor party. To him and wife eight children have been born, as follows: Elva Blanch, in 1868, died in infancy; Claudius M., July 7, 1870; Ernest, October 15, 1872; Charles, April 20, 1875; Louis Lampson, September 24, 1878; Puss B., December 16, 1880; Lawrence Weaver, March 12, 1882, and Daniel C., March 24, 1884.