My Genealogy Hound

DAVID HARSHEY, of the firm of Harshey & Bro., manufacturers of furniture and undertakers, Gettysburg, Ohio; Jacob, their father, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Adams Co., in 1806. He married Elizabeth Deeter, who was born in Miami Co., Ohio, on the 20th of October, 1815; he came with his parents to Ohio in the fall of 1833, locating in Darke Co., where he purchased 160 acres in Sec. 29, Adams Township; he also entered 240 acres in Adams and Richland Townships; in September, 1864, he sold out and removed to DeWitt Co., Ill., where he purchased 120 acres of prairie land near Clinton, the county seat; he had, however, previous to his moving to Illinois, purchased 200 acres in Fayette Co.; in 1865, his wife died, after which he sold out and removed to Darke Co., and purchased 80 acres in Sec. 29, Adams Township, where he remained about five years, when he sold out and purchased 41 acres in Franklin Township, where he moved and on the 12th of April, 1874, he departed this life, leaving a family of eight children, viz., Isaac, David, Hannah, John D., Jacob, Lucinda, Susanah and Elizabeth. David, the subject of this sketch, was born in Ohio, Darke Co., on the 17th of November, 1841, lived at home until he was about 18 years of age, receiving his education in the district school, after which he commenced to learn the carpenter’s trade with G. W. Weaver, of Miami Co., where he worked about two and one-half years, when he engaged with B. Kepner, receiving good wages; he worked for him two years, after which he carried on the business on his own responsibility, meeting with good success; in June, 1863, he enlisted in the 152d O.V.I., Co. C, and went forth in defense of his country, serving three months, during which time he was in several severe engagements, viz., Sweet Springs, Va., on Greenbrier River, and was with Hunter when he made his raid on Lynchburg, Va., where he was repulsed; he returned home in September, and re-enlisted in September, 1864, in the 19th O. V. I., Co. F, for three years; during this campaign, he was in the battle of Ft. McAlister and the siege of Savannah, Ga.; he was mustered out in June, 1865; after his return from the army he followed his trade, and in 1872 he formed a partnership with his brother Isaac, in the manufacture of furniture and the undertaking business, in Gettysburg, where he has remained ever since; they have a complete outfit of machinery suitable for their business, and are doing a good business; on the 10th of November 1878, he celebrated his marriage with Miss Clara H., daughter of Samuel and Eliza M. Lehman, who was born in July, 1859; one child has been born to them, viz., Franklin Judson, born on the 26th of July, 1879; Mr. Harshey is strictly temperate in all his habits, and is a member of I. O. O. F., of Gettysburg.