Anyone who has traveled  in  Europe has surely marveled at the sheer age of the buildings there. Worn stone steps carved by countless feet, aspiring cathedral towers, aqueducts, and walled stone castles all serve to remind us how far back our history goes.      Harlans who tour the Brandywine Valley area of Pennsylvania can get a tangible sense of how far back our history goes in this country. Two homes built by first-generation Harlans, sons of George and Michael, are still homes today, and the two original Quaker Meetings, around which the first American Harlans centered their lives, still serve congregations today.     The Harlan Log House, on Fairville Road in Chadds Ford, was built on land deeded from George Harlan (#3) to his son Joshua. It is now both a family home and a bed and breakfast. Guests stay in the original section of the house, which Joshua built with squared-off logs sandwiched between layers of mortar and rocks. Now on a parcel of five acres, the building originally sat on 200 acres deeded to Joshua  �in consideration of natural affection and Fatherly love.� An 1814 spring house stands near the house which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.     The Harlan House/Stargazer Farm is also on the National Historic Register. This stone house was built c.1724 by Michael Harlan�s son George (#14) on purchased land that was originally granted to William Penn in 1681. Harlan descendants lived in the house until 1950.     It is now the home of veterinarian and Harlan history friend, Dr. Kate Roby, who is also a freelance medical writer. Roby is in the process of restoring the building and has discovered curious aspects of the Harlan history in the process.     The place is called the Stargazer Farm because this was the winter retreat of Mason and Dixon during the four years they spent surveying the Pennsylvania-Maryland border �the Mason-Dixon line. Here, they built an observatory, worked out mathematical calculations and studied the stars.  Located near Roby�s home is �The Stargazers� Stone�.     Harlans who gathered in Chester County, Pennsylvania, for an informal reunion last October also toured two historic Quaker meeting houses that are still in use today. Our Harlan ancestors sat in these two buildings, on rough-hewn wood plank benches, and waited in silence until some member felt inspired by the musings of his or her spirit. In the absence of one appointed minister, in the absence of any set  order  of  service, they  believed the word of God would come through. For the right to worship this way they risked crossing the Atlantic Ocean and rebuilt their lives in a foreign wilderness.      The Old Kennett Meeting House, one of these two buildings, is on Route 1, a few miles west of the Brandywine Battlefield Park. Established in 1710, it is currently inactive. However, services are held in the Old Meeting House at 11:00 a.m. on the last Sundays of June, July, and August. Arrangements can be made for visits by interested groups.

In keeping with Quaker simplicity, the graveyard next to the building originally had no gravestones. Later, plain markers, low to the ground, were used. This graveyard has a historical marker placed by the Harlan family in 1987, on the occasion of our family�s 300th anniversary of arrival, and in honor of our ancestors who helped found that meeting house.      The Old Kennett Meeting House was the site of a skirmish during the American Revolution. On the morning of September 11, 1777, British and Hessian troops began marching east along Route 1, then called the Great Road, heading toward colonial troops positioned near where the road crosses the Brandywine River.      The first shots of this battle took place at a tavern nearby (no longer standing). Immediately after that, the Brits called for reinforcements and ran down the road to take cover behind the stone walls on the Old Kennett Meeting House grounds. They fought with the Colonial troops here mid-morning, while the pacifist Quakers continued to hold their midweek service. One of those who worshiped there that day later wrote that, �While there was much noise and confusion without, all was quiet and peaceful within.�     From here, the soldiers fought while traversing the three miles between the meeting house and what is now Battlefield Park. Eventually the British pushed back the revolutionary troops, but not before suffering heavy losses.      George and his wife Elizabeth, and Michael and his wife Dinah, built homes far enough away from their original Meetings, that in time they wished to establish a new meeting house closer to them. The Harlans and another family, the Hollingsworths, petitioned the congregation for the right to separate, which was granted, and Centre Meeting was formed. Services were first held in private homes before a log cabin was built in 1711. The present brick structure, built in 1796, still serves an active congregation which is in the process of a long-range project to restore the Centre Meeting building. They are working carefully to preserve it as close to original form as possible. For example, they have resisted putting central heating into the building because, as George Whitesides, our guide, explained, that kind of heat would crack the original wood beams.     They are also undoing mistakes made by previous generations, like cement used 30 years ago which is not compatible with the original mortar, and painted ceilings that kept dampness from rising and evaporating.     Whitesides has been attending this meeting house for some 20 years. Meetings are held here year-round, heated in the winter by a wood stove. Business meetings are held once a month. An average of 25 people attend each  meeting, he said.          �C. J. King

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This newsletter is published semi-annually by The Harlan Family in America, a permanent organization established to document the historical contributions made by Harlans in America. Stories, photos, and other information submitted for publication should be sent to The Harlan Family in America, P.O. Box 1654, Independence, MO  64055.

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In the afterglow of the Harlan Family Reunion at Mount Pleasant, Annette and John Harlan and Bob and Liz Sly arranged a more informal gathering of Harlans held at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, in mid-October. Some 42 people from 18 states came to touch base with each other and also with our ancestors, George and Michael.  There were several new faces as well as many old friends. Our president, Bob Harlan, seized the opportunity to hold a board meeting of The Harlan Family in America during which our next national reunion was discussed.

To get our visiting off to a jump start, John and Annette Harlan hosted a wine and cheese reception on the first evening of our visit. Tom and Marylee Harlan were presented a plaque in recognition of the many years they served as editors of The Harlan Record. We were also pleased to have our family historians, Martha and Elgene Smith from Chadds Ford, at the reception.

The following morning we met at the Old Kennett Meeting where Martha Smith had arranged to have Tom Taylor discuss various aspects of the Quaker worship service, the structure of the building, the cemetery, etc.  We also visited Centre Meeting where George Whitesides explained the restoration work that is underway. He spoke of their care in preserving the building in its original form as closely as possible and practicable.

Another treat was an invitation tendered by Dr. Kate Roby to visit her home, the �Stargazer House�.

The house of George�s son, Joshua, is also still extant. Called �The Harlan Log House�, it has been extensively renovated and is operated as a bed and breakfast. Tom and Marylee Harlan stayed  there  while  in  Chadds  Ford, and several of our group toured the old part of the house. Many of our group visited the Chester County Historical Society, the official repository of the Harlan family documents.  These were arranged on a table for our perusal, and we enjoyed reading the old newspaper clippings, cemetery records, etc.  Of particular interest were a few letters written to and from Alpheus Harlan during the period he was researching the Harlan family history.

Last, but not least, I mention the fine evening meal hosted by Mary Harlan Murphy. We all enjoyed her beautiful home, more visiting, and the wonderful meal served up by Mary and her friend Sue. The guest of honor this evening was Mary�s uncle, Edward S. Johnson (#9953 vi), one of the last living persons listed in Alpheus Harlan�s History and Genealogy of the Harlan
Family.                  --Liz Harlan Sly

The editorship of The Harlan Record was one item discussed at the last board meeting of The Harlan Family in America. A decision was made to form an editorial board, and Connie Jo (C.J.) King was appointed �editor-in-chief�. Serving with her are:

John L. Harlan from Alabama
Diana Harlan Wells, Indiana
Ed Wynn from Nevada.

The Immigration of Irish Quakers into Pennsylvania, 1682 -1750, by Albert Cook Meyers, should be required reading for the Harlans. Originally printed in 1902, it has been reprinted several times, most recently in 1994. Whereas the emphasis of Alpheus Harlan�s History and Genealogy  of the Harlan Family is entirely upon the Harlans and collateral relatives, Mr. Meyers sets forth the story of the Quakers in England, Ireland and Pennsylvania, thereby creating a historical setting for our Harlan families as they immigrated to the New World.

The book is divided into three parts: �The Planting of Quakerism in Ireland,� which sets forth the history of the Quakers in England and Ireland; �The Migration of Irish Friends to Pennsylvania,� which describes the inducements that led the Friends to come to Pennsylvania, the places from which they came, and the dangers of the voyage; and �The Irish Friends in Pennsylvania,� perhaps the most interesting to us. It depicts the various meetings, social life, housing, equipment, dress and discipline. Each monthly meeting is covered in great detail and the genealogies of the various families are set forth.

Here we find the familiar history of George and Michael Harlan, as well as the lines of the Hollingsworths, Calverts, Dixons and Kirks. The book is illustrated with drawings and photographs of various Meeting Houses, including Old Kennett, and autographs of many of the Friends, including George Harlan. There is a bibliography and index. This book is not dull, I guarantee!  It is available from Hearthstone Bookshop, Item #PA985, $30.00 +3.00 shipping.  Ph. 1-888-960-3300    (www.hearthstonebooks.com) or you could try the interlibrary loan and mention ISBN 0-8063-0252-6
---Liz Harlan Sly

For the next national Harlan reunion-planned for the year 2002-we would like your help in getting the word out to as many Harlan descendants as possible. For those involved with  Harlan state reunions, it would be helpful if the coordinator or secretary would send the state mailing list (if not
already sent) to Harlan board member:

LIZ HARLAN SLY
18  RAVINE DRIVE
WOODCLIFF LAKE, NJ  07675
e-mail: [email protected]

Not many of us can say that our father fought in the Civil War, but Murillo Elizabeth Harlan Smith can. Born December 26, 1908, near Reagan, Texas, she now lives in Walter, OK. Her father, James Henry Harlan (#6058), was  69 years old at the time of her birth. and a veteran of the Confederate Army. Her mother, Willie Spurgeon Mathews, was his second wife. Only Murillo, one of 13 siblings, survives.

One of Last Harlans in Alpheus� Book Edward S. Johnson is one of the few living Harlans listed in Alpheus Harlan�s book. Born November 27, 1912, he is registered as �vi� under the six children of his father, William Henry Johnson (#9953) and mother, Mary Louisa Harlan. The cutoff date for inclusion in the book was around January 1, 1913, and it was published in 1914. Johnson, who has Harlans on both his maternal and paternal lines, used to go to Harlan reunions in Indiana back in the 1920s. His father was particularly interested in family history and met Alpheus Harlan that way. Johnson�s father was �so proud� to help with Alpheus� project by supplying information about  the Harlans in Pennsylvania.

The Editorial Board of The Harlan Record would like to hear from anyone with a listing in Alpheus Harlan�s book. Send information about yourself and a photo, if available, to The Harlan Family in America.

Words of gratitude have come from several libraries after they received Harlan reference books. A set of Texas Red Books was donated to the Chester County Historical Society in Pennsylvania by Julia Vinson. The Heart of America Genealogical Society & Library of Kansas City, Missouri, received The History and Genealogy of The Harlan Family,  provided by  Peggy Harlan Talley.

Various Indiana libraries received donated copies of Alpheus� book: Indiana State Library, by Liz and Bob Sly; the Fort Wayne Library, by Becky Gaskill as a memorial gift to her mother; the Danville Library, by Gene and Ginny Harlan; and the Earlham College Library at Richmond, by Indiana Harlans.

If you know of other libraries and archives where resources such as Alpheus� book, the Texas Red Books, and/or family genealogies would be appropriate and appreciated, consider making a donation of this kind for the ongoing benefit of our future family historians and genealogists.

 � 1. Cyndi's List      http://www.cyndislist.com
 � 2. Genforum        http://www.genforum.com
 � 3. Ancestry.com        http://www.ancestry.com
 � 4. Family Tree Maker    http://www..familytreemaker.com
 � 5. Gendex    http://www.gendex.com/gendex/
 � 6. Online Genealogical Databas     http://www.gentree.com/ogdi/gentreeg.html
 � 7. Genealogy Portal.        http://www.genealogyportal.com
 � 8. Indiana Gen Web    http://www.ingenweb.org
 � 9. Kentucky Vital Records Index     http://ukcc.uky.edu/~vitalrec/
 � 10. National Archives       http://www.nara.gov
 � 11. Ohio Death Certificates      http://dbs.ohiohistory.org/dindex/search.cfm
 � 12. Rootsweb       http://www.rootsweb.com
 � 13. Sites w/Genealogical  Source Material     http://freespace.virgin.net/alan.tupman/sites/
 � 14. Surname History     http://infokey.com/hon/serial7.htm
 � 15. Switchboard Directory    http://www.switchboard.com
 � 16. Bureau Land Management Eastern States      http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/toc.htm
 � 17. U. S. GenWeb       http://www.usgenweb.com
 � 18. WhoWhere Directory    http://whowhere.lycos.com/Phone
 � 19. Directories of World      http://globalyp.com/world.htm
 � 20. World GenWeb     http://www.worldgenweb.org
 � 21. Indiana State Library      http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/

#s indicate ancestor and page in Alpheus Harlan�s book, The History and Genealogy of the Harlan Family.

#6, p. 2 -  Hannah Harlan.  Spouse - Samuel Hollingsworth
        Contributed by Gwen Goff Hobbs
#8, p. 2 -  Aaron Harlan.  Spouse - Sarah Heald
        Contributed by Russell Ward
#11, p. 2 -    James Harlan.  Spouse - Elizabeth Davis
        Contributed by Russell Ward
#34, p. 15 -   Mary Harlan.  Spouse - John Cox
        Contributed by Lee J. Bain, Evan O�Hara and Bill Langston
#36, p. 965 - Thomas Harlan.   Spouse - Hannah Lemmons
        Contributed by Faith Harlan
#158, p. 84 -     Rachel Blackburn.    Spouses - 1) Nathan McGrew;  2)Nathan Hammond
        Con. by Judith A. Clements
#159, p. 86 -     Thomas Blackburn.   Spouse - Elizabeth Griffith
        Contributed by Judith A. Clements
#688, p. 226 - Samuel Harlan.   Spouse - * Nancy Kirkpatrick
        Contributed by Scott Harlin Reikofski      * Book has Nancy Fitzpatrick.
#1131, p. 135 - Hannah Martin.  Spouses - 1) * Peter Longacre;  2) A.Osterlundt
        Contributed by Raymond Longacre       * Book has spouse as _______Longacre
#1283, p. 145 - Margaret Harlan.   Spouse - Theodore Clifton
        Contributed by Donna Tivener
#2291, p. 513 - Lewis Harlan.   Spouse - Eveline Chapin
        Contributed by Clifford Harlan Hullinger
#2700, p. 255 - * Isaac Davis Harlan.   Spouse - Mary Smith
        Contributed by Gene Wheeler                    * Book has David.
#2733, p. 614 - Thomas Milton Harlan.  Spouses - 1) Hannah Bray; 2) Jemima Bybee
        Con. by Gwen Goff Hobbs
#3472, p. 313 - John Harlan.   Spouse - Elizabeth Bradley
        Contributed by Jackie Pace
#4893, p. 857 - Plato F. Harlan.   Spouses - 1) Caroline Harlan (#4753);  2) Elizabeth Susan Phillips
        Contributed by Lynn (Crawford) Murray
#6527, p. 585 - Caroline G. Caldwell.   Spouse - Peter *Overbagh
        Contributed by Ted Overbagh       * Book has spouse as Peter Overbaugh
#6807, p. 610 - Josiah W. Harlan.   Spouse - Margaret F. Clardy
        Contributed by Eleanor Bennett
#6840, p. 612 - Henry Harlan.   Spouses - 1) Mary E. Bradburn;  2)Silvah June Loveless
        Contributed by Bill Harlan
#6849, p. 613 - *Elzephus Harlan.   Spouse - *Susannah Etter
        Contributed by Lois Harlan              * Book has Elzophas, m. Susanna Etter
#7427, p. 661 - Milton Howard Harlan.   Spouse - Catherine Shafer
        Contributed by Harry & Mary Alice Dell
#7523, p. 666 - Lillian B. Harlan.   Spouse - Mallory Sanford May
        Contributed by Deborah Diane Dougherty
#7550, p. 668 - James L. Harlan   Spouses - 1) Cora Hurley;  2)  *Rohda Alice Jones
        Contributed by Lynn Thompson                 *Book has Alice Jones
#8526, p. 752 - Wilson Ballance Harlan. Spouse - Margaret Emma Kate Bunn
        Con. by Nancy Jane Harlan Kodish

CORRECTIONS TO ALPHEUS HARLAN�S BOOK
SINCE THE LAST HARLAN RECORD LIST:

#8, p. 17 -    Book shows will of Sarah (Hollingsworth) Harlan; it should read will of Sarah (Heald) Harlan. by Liz Sly
#29, p. 33 -  Enoch Hollingsworth m. Joanna Crawley (the book has Crowley).     Submitted by Gwen Goff Hobbs
#31, p. 33 -  Samuel Hollingsworth and Barbara Shewin married Nov. 13, 1736 (the book has 1738). They also have two children listed, Samuel and Jacob. In addition are Abraham and Ruth (no dates). Samuel also married 2)Elizabeth before 1767. He was Constable of Haywood Co., NC.     Submitted by Gwen Goff Hobbs
#152, p. 33 -    Abigail Hollingsworth died Jan. 27, 1804 (book has Jan.23, 1807). Submitted by Gwen Goff Hobbs
#1104, p. 313 -     Thomas Harlan removed from Chester Co., PA, about 1800. This should be 1798. He married Sarah Eubank,  3/3/1799. Their first child was Matilda, b. 8/18/1800. Matilda married John David Stanley. The book does not show Matilda and shows her sister Fanny as marrying David Stanley. Thomas Harlan�s daughter, Sarah, was not mentioned in her father�s will, dated 1876. He gave $100 to her children.  Submitted by Jackie Pace

#3034, p. 666 - Jacob Harlan.   Youngest child, Tommie Margaret Harlan is not listed in book. She died around 20 years of age.  Submitted by Deborah Diane Dougherty
#5523, p. 480 - Elizabeth S. Hollingsworth m. Charles A. Lyman-should be Charles S. Lyman. (Gwen Goff Hobbs)
#7524, p. 666 - *Maria Harlan.   Name should be Mariah, not Maria.Submitted by Deborah Diane Dougherty
#7525, p. 666 - *Betsey Harlan-should be Elizabeth, not Betsey , her nickname. Sub. by  Deborah Diane Dougherty

THE FOLLOWING CONTRIBUTION HAS NOT BEEN TIED TO ALPHEUS HARLAN�S BOOK:

Patrick Harlan, b. about 1847 in Ireland.   Spouse - Bridget Healy     (Their children were born in Troy, NY.)
Contributed by Carol A.Harlan-Thayer

ADDITION TO PREVIOUS HARLAN RECORD LIST:
#7534, p. 951 - Charles H. Harlan. Spouse - Catherine Polk-Contributed by Margaret K. Turner and Jeanne Gaumer

 
 

Mystery Surrounds  Stargazer House For those of you who like to solve a mystery, here�s a Harlan mystery. Kate Roby, better known as Tolly, is a veterinarian who now owns the stone Harlan house on the Stargazer Farm. She has collected some puzzling statistics about a string of Harlan deaths.  All but one were men, and most victims were in the prime of their lives. According to Roby:

�The interesting thing is that with all the deaths of Harlan men and relatives or neighbors, all apparently in the prime of life, there seem to have been no deaths of women, or children, or young men, which would seem to rule out an infectious disease.

�The following Harlans died in 1732:
� George Harlan (#14) age 42, Newlin Twp, (immigrant Michael�s son; he was the original owner of the Stargazer Farm);
�  Stephen Harlan, his brother, age 35 (lived next door);
� Solomon Harlan, his brother, age 30, London Grove Twp, (father�s house);
� Joel Baily, father-in-law, age 50-60, Marlborough Twp;
� Isaac Baily, brother-in-law, age 37, Marlborough Twp;
�  Aaron Harlan, son of George (#3), George�s (#14) first cousin, age 47, Kennett Twp?;
� Robert Johnson, Isaac Baily�s brother/father-in-law, age?, New Garden Twp.
�Other non-relatives include:
� Nathanial Newlin, age 42, Concord Twp, owned land next door;
� Moses Mendenhall, age 38, Kennett Twp;
� James Miller, age 38, Kennett Twp.

�A scan through the Will Book of Chester County has turned up many more who seem to have died in that year-50, so far, and I have only gotten through the �J�s�. Much more work is needed to see when these deaths actually occurred, how old they were, if they were sick, etc.

�Other families did lose more than one member: John and Thomas Baldwin; Thomas and Aaron Barnard; John and Robert Chamberlain; Edward and Thomas Dutton; but not to the extent of the Harlans, so far at least. �The only possible death of a child I have found so far is the son of Abigail Johnson Wickersham Baily and Isaac Baily (above): Jacob is listed in the genealogy as one who �died young�; but I have no date of birth, except a tentative c.1732-33, and no date of death.

�There was a smallpox epidemic in 1731, but that was apparently before the deaths in Chester County. The high mortality in Chester County that year could possibly be a remnant of the smallpox epidemic, but that does not explain the peculiar pattern of deaths in the Harlans.

�In the Will book search, only one woman has shown up so far, Elizabeth (and Nigel) Gray, (father-daughter/husband-wife?) died in 1732.

�Such a pattern may suggest poisoning from a source that only the middle aged-older men had access to (e.g. booze?), or if an infectious disease, then something with an intermediate host that only the middle aged or older men were exposed to. One medical colleague suggested mumps as affecting adult men more severely than women/children, but the mortality rate seems much too high for mumps, but perhaps not too high in that period?

�Whatever it was, it had a fairly long course, at least 3-4 months, and a very high mortality rate. The Harlans mostly wrote wills around January-February, saying they were sick, and most seem to have died by April although Aaron died in November.

�It must have been a devastating time for the Harlans and many others in Chester County, as a huge part of the labor force and means of survival was lost.�

If anyone can shed light on the cause of this strange string of deaths, it will help solve an old mystery on our family tree. Send any information to The Harlan Record.
----C. J. King

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Kate (Tolly) Roby�s efforts to restore the Harlan house on the Stargazer Farm led workmen to uncover a rare relic of superstition placed by earlier Harlan builders.

Early last October, when  workmen took off an old cedar shingle roof and the tin liner beneath it, they found an old shoe, along with two blown-glass bottles. The Chester County Historical Society dated these to c. 1825.

The short woman�s boot was about nine inches long, with a leather sole, well-worn, no heel, and black silk uppers. The holes are still there, but the laces have disintegrated.

Roby believes the shoe must have been placed atop the stone wall of the building before a new roof was put on around 1825. By then, that part of the house was already as much as 100 years old. She thinks the shoe may have been placed in memory of Hannah Harlan, wife of Caleb, who died around that time.

The tradition of burying a shoe inside a house as it is being constructed goes back to England. This practice is supposed to protect the house�s inhabitants from the evil eye, according to an article on the subject in the April 1999 issue of Early American Homes.
----C. J. King

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Indiana Harlans will gather July 8, 2000, in Richmond at the Norwich Lodge and Conference Center of Earlham College. The campus of this Quaker college in eastern Indiana was once farmed by Jesse Bond and wife Phebe (#1820 in Harlan Genealogy, a descendant of George�s son, Ezekiel #5).

The Norwich Center offers excellent facilities for the reunion which begins with registration and refreshments at 8:30 a.m. The registration fee of $20, for each, covers the noon meal, program expense and refreshments.
(Children:  meal cost only)

Tom Hamm of the Earlham staff will speak about the migration of Quakers into Indiana. The Levi Coffin House, which was a stop on the slave escape route of the �underground railroad�, will be visited as well as the tiny town of Bethel, once populated by many Harlans whose names are on markers in the cemetery. These Richmond area Harlans and other Harlans hosted the National
Reunions at the 200th and 225th year anniversaries of our family in America.

Displays, field trips, making new friends, discovering relatives and helping those tracing their Harlan roots can all combine to make it an enjoyable and memorable day. A children�s program is planned also.

Guest rooms for overnight stays July 7th and 8th may be reserved. Some are planning to see more of Richmond before the reunion and stay over to attend the Quaker meeting Sunday morning.

For information and to register contact :
�  Becky Hines, 401 N. Washington St. Hagerstown, IN  47346  (765) 489-4263
[email protected]
or
�  Esther Wells, 6553 St. James Drive, Indianapolis, IN  46217,    (317) 784-6413     [email protected]

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One wonders how many �George Harlans� have lived in America. The first known George (#3) did not name a son after himself, but there are numerous other descendants with the title.

A grandson of George (#3)-James (#46)-used the name for one of his sons (George #218), born about 1750. Around 1760 the younger George and his widowed father moved to Virginia where James later married Dinah Harlan Davis (#70), a descendant of Michael Harlan (#4).

Just prior to James� departure from Chester County, Pennsylvania, he installed a marker at the site of his first wife�s grave at Old Kennett Meeting. Since this violated the Quaker discipline, he was later disowned by the Friends.

George (#218) served as a �wagon boy� in the Revolutionary War. He later married Mary Wright, and they had ten children, with the fifth child named George (#852) also. The family eventually moved to Ohio, where the youngest George married Elizabeth Duncan before moving on to Berrien County, Michigan. The couple had seven children and were caring for some of the children of George�s deceased brothers, including a nephew named George W.

In 1845, the urge to move west to California caused the large extended family to pack up 11 wagons and leave their Michigan home. According to daughter Mary, after George (#852) decided to go to California they prepared the wagons by fixing the beds of the wagons with compartments which had lids on them, similar to a cupboard laid down. In these they kept their effects, food, and clothes. At night they spread their mattresses and bedding over these and slept inside the covered wagon.

The Harlan Party wintered in Lexington, Missouri, and were joined by the Donner Party as they headed westward. They experienced great difficulties at Weber Canyon in Utah, and eventually the Donners took another route west which proved tragic for them. The Harlans continued on and reached California in late 1846.

Two weeks after arriving in California, George�s wife, Elizabeth, died of typhoid fever. He later married Catherine Fowler Hargrave, a widow, and in 1849 Catherine�s sister, Minerva Jane Fowler, married George�s son, Joel. Then Catherine�s son by her first marriage wed the granddaughter of George. In the summer of 1850 George, too, died of typhoid fever.

Elizabeth Maxwell Heidt of Walnut Creek, California, furnished some interesting facts for this article, in addition to the photos below.
 

Mary Harlan Smith,  daughter of George (#852),  holding great-granddaughter  Elizabeth ChristineDrury,1910

Elizabeth C. Drury French,  now holding her great-granddaughter,  Emma Claire Heidt

Further details of the journey westward and the life in California may be found on the Harlan Web Page under �Stories of Harlans� (Harlan Wagon Train, submitted by Patty Brown) and under �The Great Trek and the Golden Opportunity� by William K. Harlan.

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Through the efforts of William Marion Harlan (Columbia, Missouri) and Arthur Chapman (Northern Ireland), a copy of the marriage certificate of George Harland and Elizabeth Duck made its way to mid-America.

Spelled out is the date of �the twenty seventh day of the ninth month of 1678�, contrary to the date of 9, 17, 1678 found in Alpheus Harlan�s book of Harlans. To obtain this copy, it was necessary to obtain written permission from the local Society of Friends. Then someone had to pick up the copy in person from the Public Record Office with permission in hand, which Mr. Chapman of Portadown, N.I., consented to do. Those who went on the Ireland leg of the 1994 Harlan Family tour will remember that Mr. Chapman was among those who greeted the group at the Friends Meeting House in Lurgan.

Thanks, Marion, for obtaining this very interesting document.To see a copy of the hard-to-read document and a "translation", which contains the names of 28 witnesses, visit the Harlan Web site and go to the link entitled �Historical Harlan Documents�.

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          Please accept my donation of $  _____________   to help defray
             [_]   newsletter expense.  [_] Association expenses.

        [_]  I wish to contribute to the Remembrance Fund
             [_] in memory of
             [_] in honor of    ________________________________________________

Make check payable to:      The Harlan Family in America

Name_____________________________________

Address___________________________________

City_______________________  State______________  Zip___________

Mail to:       The Harlan Family in America  -  P.O. Box 1654  -  Independence, MO  64055

A Membership & Contribution Form that can be printed

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ARMENTA MAE HARLAN BLANKENSHIP
b. February 15, 1897, in Boone Township, Texas County, MO. She was the daughter of Charles Richard Harlan and Nancy Jane Jeffries, granddaughter of Fountain �Fount� Harlan and Elizabeth Headrick. She married Oately �Ott�
Raymond Blankenship on November 15, 1913. Mae currently resides in Dent County, Missouri.

DOROTHY WILLENA HARLAN DONER
b. March 6, 1909, at Purdy, Missouri. She is the granddaughter of Zibe Brown Harlan #10104. She has two sisters- one being Jewell May Harlan Stewart, also a member of the Ninety Plus Club-and three brothers, all living. They range in age from 75 to 93. There are 68 descendants of these six Harlan �kids�-Jewell, Dorothy, Olan, Fay, Leon and Russell. The family has a local family reunion every two years. The latest was in September, 1999, and 44 attended. Fay�s 80th birthday was celebrated at the event. A 90th celebration for Dorothy was held in March.

EVA MAY HOAGLIN HARLAN
b. May 2, 1904, in Hillsboro, Henry County, Iowa. Eva married Lawrence Tade Harlan, also born in 1904 and who passed away in 1976. They were childhood schoolmates and were married in September, 1939. They had one child, Carole Melissa Harlan. Eva lives with her daughter in Florida in the winters and returns to Iowa in the summers. Eva has two grandchildren, Kelly and Chad, and a great-grandchild, Lauren, born in 1999. Both Eva and her daughter,
Melissa, attended the 1997 Harlan Reunion in Mt. Pleasant, IA, and Eva went to Delaware for the 1987 Reunion.

FRANCIS MARION HARLAN POLLMANN
b. June 22, 1906, in Beardstown, Illinois. Her father was Frank M. Harlan #10355, born January 9, 1868. She currently lives in Montana.

LUCILE HARLAN STRICKLAND
b. November 25, 1908, in Lanford, Laurens County, South Carolina, to George Mason #2439 and Addie Parsons Harlan. Lucile married William G. Strickland June 18. 1927. They had a son, William G. Strickland, Jr., b. 10/21/1928-d.4/4/1934.

If you know of someone ninety years of age or older who has ever had the Harlan/Harland/Harlin/Harlen name, please send his or her name and history to Larry Harlan, 6158 Mill Run Rd., Monticello,  MN  55362  or e-mail the information to him at [email protected]   (Club Roster is on the Harlan Web Site.)
 

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comments or suggestions to Ruth Harlan Lamb [email protected]
P.O. Box 1654, Independence, MO  64055