FRANK EDWIN HARWI

Frank Edwin Harwi, president of the A. J. Harwi Hardware Company is one of Atchison's live young citizens who is following in the footsteps of his highly successful father. Mr. Harwi is in charge of the extensive wholesale hardware concern founded and built up by his father.

Frank E. Harwi was born October 11, 1884, in Atchison. He received his education in the public schools of his native city and in the Andover Preparatory School at Andover, Mass. He matriculated as a freshman at Yale University, but was called home by the illness of his father, and he became his father's assistant for the ensuring year. In 1905 he entered the sophomore class of Kansas University, but gave up his college course in 1906 to enter his father's hardware establishment, and upon his father's demise took over the active management of the concern and became president of the A. J. Harwi Hardware Company.

Mr. Harwi was married September 30, 1908, to Miss Florence CAIN, a daughter of John M. and Lucy Cain. To this union two children have been born: Alfred J., born August 22, 1909, and Lucy E., born January 12, 1912. John M. Cain, father of Mrs. Harwi, was born July 30, 1839 at Castletown, Isle of Man. He was educated in the select schools of his native island, learned the carpenter's trade and emigrate4d from the Isle of man in 1856, locating in Kansas, where he was successively farmer, soldier, merchant and banker. He was a volunteer soldier in the company organized by A. S. SPEAK and Asa BARNES, and was accepted for services in 1862, enlisting in Capt. P. H. McNAMARA's company, of which he became sergeant, and upon the organization of the regiments of colored troops he was appointed first lieutenant of a company in the Eighty-third Regiment, colored infantry. He was afterwards commissioned as captain and did splendid service throughout the Civil War. After the close of the war he farmed in Atchison County, became a merchant, and was connected with the old Atchison State Bank. He died in 1897. Mr. Cain was married May 15, 1879 to Lucy NEERMAN, a daughter of Frank and Isabella (RUST) Neerman. The following children were born of this marriage: Eva, wife of Foster BRANSON, of River Forest, Ill.; Ralph R., a banker at Ada, Okla.: Florence, wife of Frank E. Harwi; John Milton, with the A. J. Harwi Hardware Company; William Q., an attorney in Atchison, and Alfred Neerman, deceased.

Mr. Harwi is an independent in politics. He was one of the organizers of the Atchison Commercial Club and served as president of this thriving organization in 1913, and is at present a member of its board of directors. He is a member of the board of trustees of Midland College and is a member of the Atchison city board of education. He has likewise been one of the trustee of the Atchison city hospital since its establishment. While the responsibilities connected with the conduct of the great business establishment thrust upon his shoulders at the demise of his father have been such as would probably daunt the young man of average ability, Mr. Harwi has shown that he fully measures up to the requirements of his important position in the mercantile would and has made a reputation on his own individual account as a business head of decided executive ability of a high order.

Taken From:

History of Atchison County, Kansas

by Sheffield Ingalls - 1916

Submitted by:

Clemi Higley Blackburn, September 2003