Henry J. Harman's Children: An Active Bunch

The children of Henry J. Harman (son of Mathias, son of Henry, Sr., son of Heinrich Adam) and Famy (Brown) Harman included my great-great-grandmother, Anna. She was number four out of seven children—smack-dab in the middle. Knowing a little about the others helps to shed some light on Anna.

First came Nancy, born 26 November 1827,[1] married in 1850[2] to William H. Bales (b. 29 Jan. 1824).[3] During the next eleven years, Nancy and William had five children: Margaret, Louisa, Eunice, Eli, and Missouri.[4] Then the Civil War started. William signed up Co. B, 21^st Virginia Cavalry, Peter’s Regiment, and in July 1862, he died “at Laurel Fork . . . of fever and bloody flux contracted in service.”[5] About that same time, a sixth child was born: Hezekiah.[6] Left with children ranging in age from newborn to age 10, how did Nancy manage? Somehow, she did. She never remarried and died 16 August 1889 at age 61.[7]

W. H. Bales' tombstone, Harmon Cemetery near Nebo, Va.; photo courtesy of Find A Grave volunteer, Mike.

Second came Hezekiah (Hiram), born 9 September 1829.[8] For years, my dad carried an obituary in his wallet that said this man had four horses shot out from under him during the Civil War. In Hezekiah’s service record, I found at least one card to partially validate that story: “His horse rec’d shot in neck in Skirmish at Hawk’s Nest. August 25, 1861 and is rendered worthless. Valuation $160.”[9] He served the Confederacy as a lieutenant in Company B, 8^th Virginia Cavalry, called Smyth Dragoons.[10] After the war, on 30 December 1868, at age 39, he married Serena Dorcas Cole,[11] age 19.[12] They lived near Nebo in Smyth County and had eleven known children.[13] A prominent citizen of Smyth County, Hezekiah served Smyth and Bland counties as representative to the 1879-80, House of Delegates of Virginia. He died in 1923 at the age of 94.[14]

Hezekiah (Hiram) Harman, from Harman Genealogy, p. 160.

Muster Roll from Hezekiah Harman's records; see endnote 9.

Hezakiah Harmon's tombstone, Harmon Cemetery near Nebo, Va.; photo courtesy of Find A Grave volunteer, Mike.

Henry and Famy’s third child, who carried the distinctive name, Jerome Bonaparte, was born 27 December 1831. At age 26, he married Nancy Groseclose (1834-1866) on 16 May, 1858. They had eight known children. He seems to have avoided Civil War service as no records can be found. Jerome was also a “prominent and influential” citizen of Smyth County. He died 15 July 1919, at age 87.[15]

Jerome Bonaparte Harman, from Harman Genealogy, p. 160.

Jerome B. Harmon's tombstone, Harmon Cemetery near Nebo, Va., photo courtesy of Find A Grave volunteer, Mike.

The fourth child, Anna F., born 15 February 1854, married Jacob A. Waggoner, 6 July 1853, when she was 19 years old.[16] Anna was my grandmother Mary’s paternal grandmother. More on Anna next week. Note the similar facial features between Anna and her brothers, Hezekiah and Jerome. Similar features can be seen in photos of some of Anna's children.

Anna F. Harman Waggoner.

Henry and Famy's fifth child was Louisa, born 11 November 1838, married Eli F. Groseclose, 24 February 1858, and had five known children.[17] During the Civil War, Eli served with 36^th Virginia Infantry, Company B; he was “wounded twice, but not disabled.”[18] 

Child number six, George W., was born 9 May 1841. During the Civil War, George served in Company F, 8^th Virginia Cavalry. He was killed in the battle of Cedar Creek near Woodstock, Virginia, in September 1864.[19]

George W. Harman, from Harman Genealogy, p. 160.

The youngest of Henry’s children, Amanda, was likely born to Henry's second wife, Catherine (Leedy) Harman.[20] Amanda was born 28 March 1849.[21] On 20 August 1866, at age 17, she married Andrew J. Hubble, who was about 26, and they had five known children.[22] During the Civil War, Andrew achieved the rank of 2^nd Lieutenant in the 21^st Virginia Regiment. Andrew was captured on 5 June 1864 at Piedmont, Virginia,[23] and sent to Camp Morton prison in Indiana; from there he was sent to Johnson’s Island prison in Ohio on 22 June 1864,[24] from which he was released on oath of allegiance on June 14, 1865.[25] Amanda and Andrew lived out their lives in Rich Valley, Virginia. Andrew died in 1917 and Amanda died 3 January 1935. They are buried at Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery at Nebo, Smyth County, Virginia.

Amanda Harman Hubble, from Harman Genealogy, p. 160.

 

Amanda Harman Hubble's tombstone, courtesy of Find A Grave volunteer, James Archer.

Andrew J. Hubble's tombstone, courtesy of Find A Grave volunteer, James Archer.

Henry J. Harman's active and industrious family, with all its triumphs and tragedies, nourished and challenged my great-great-grandmother, Anna F. Harman Waggoner, to be the person she became. But just who was she? Next week, I’ll share as much of her story as I’ve been able to piece together.

© 2014, Z. T. Noble

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[1] John Newton Harman, Sr., Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[2] Alabama, Texas, Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958, digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 May 2014), Mrs. Nancy F. Bales, widow; collection CP-1, roll 15.

[3] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[4] 1870 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth County, Virginia, population schedule, Chatham Hill Post Office, p. 11 (penned), dwelling 70, family 70, Nancy F. Bales; digital image, Ancesrty.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm publication M593, roll 1636.

[5] Alabama, Texas, Virginia, Confederate Pensions, Mrs. Nancy F. Bales.

[6] 1870 U. S. census, Rich Valley, Smyth Co., Va., pop. sched., Chatham Hill P. O., Nancy F. Bales.

[7] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[8] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[9] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia; digital image, Fold 3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 13 May 2014), Confederate, Virginia, Hezekiah Harman; NARA M324, roll 0083.

[10] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, Hezekiah Harman.

[11] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[12] 1900 U. S. census, Olympia, Smyth County, Virginia, population schedule, enumeration district [ED] 86, sheet no. 5B, dwelling 91, family 91, Hezekiah Harmon family; digital image Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 13 May 2014); NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 1728.

[13] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[14] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[15] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[16] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 161.

[17] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 162.

[18] Alabama, Texas, Virginia, Confederate Pensions, 1884-1958, E. F. Groseclose, veteran; collection CP-1, roll 155.

[19] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 162.

[20] 1850 U.S. census, Smyth County, Virginia, 60^th district, p. 473 (penned), dwelling 1108, family 1117, Henry Harman family; digital image, Ancesty.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 May 2014); citing NARA microfilm publication M432, roll 976. Also, Virginia Marriages, 1740-1850, database Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com: accessed 6 May 2014); citing Catherine Leedy and Henry Harman, 1849.

[21] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 162.

[22] Harman, Harman Genealogy, p. 162.

[23] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers who Served in Organizations from the State of Virginia; digital image, Fold 3 (http://www.fold3.com : accessed 13 May 2014), Confederate, Virginia, Andrew J. Hubble, p. 15; NARA M324, roll 067.

[24] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers; Andrew J. Hubble, p. 13.

[25] Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers; Andrew J. Hubble, p. 14.