Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 513 - 514 

ELISHA R. HARRINGTON is an extensive farmer and stock-grower, residing on section 30, Ninnescah Township. We are pleased to place before the readers of this volume a brief account of the life of the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, who may well be denominated a representative pioneer of Sedgwick County. He is a native of North Carolina, his birth having taken place in Alexander County, Oct. 20, 1826. His parents were Sion and Rebecca (Brown) Harrington. His paternal great-grandfather was a native of England, and he emigrated to America, settled in Henry County, Va., and became the founder of the family of his name, whose representatives are today scattered through various parts of the United States. The parents of our subject settled in North Carolina after their marriage, making their residence there until death; the mother dying in 1830, and the father surviving her until 1861. In the pleasant home that they established in that State a large family was born to them, of whom the following are now deceased: Elizabeth, George, Lettie, William and Enoch. The record of those living is as follows: Nancy, Sion, Rebecca, John, Elisha and Abner. Nancy is now Mrs Shirrell, of Caldwell, N. C.; Sion and John live in Alexander County, N. C.; Rebecca is the wife of Charles Carley, of Union County, Va.; Abner lives in Sherman, Tex.

            The subject of this sketch was very young when he was deprived of a mother's watchful care. His father was in prosperous circumstances and sent him to a private school, where he obtained a fair education, which he has since broadened by observation and extensive reading. He grew to manhood amid the beautiful scenes of his Southern home, and there married, in 1851, for his first wife Elizabeth Alston. Their wedded life was very brief, the young wife being taken from him by death. Jan. 21, 1858, he married Miss Mary Jones. Several years later she too passed away, leaving six children, namely: Thomas C., Columbus C., Melinda G., James W., Henry M. and Ida L. Melinda is the wife of George Katchell, of Sumner County, Kan. The third marriage of our subject, which took place Aug. 26, 1873, was to Miss Sarah J. Boyd, daughter of Thomas S. and Margaret C. (Smith) Boyd. She was born May 2, 1844, and is a native of the same county as himself. To them have been born four children, namely: Abner C., Laura B., Robert B. and William R.

            In 1870, prior to his last marriage, Mr. Harrington migrated to Kansas from his native State and settled in Cherokee County, where he lived until 1873. In that year he came to Sedgwick County, pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 30, Ninnescah Township, and has since identified himself with the agriculturists of this locality. Here he owns a fine large farm, considered one of the best in the county; it contains 585 acres of land, well adapted to stock-raising, of which he makes a specialty. When he first settled on it, it was in a state of nature and never had a plow turned the sod; since then he has reaped many a fine harvest from its rich, alluvial soil, and fine. herds of cattle, mostly Short-horns and other graced stock, graze on its broad fields. He has a fine residence and commodious farm buildings, and has all the most approved machinery for carrying on farming. He is a keen, far-sighted, shrewd, business man, and his wealth is the accumulation of years of hard labor.

            Mr. Harrington has served one term as Trustee of Ninnescah Township and two years as Justice of the Peace, filling both offices with credit to himself and his constituents. In politics he is a Democrat, but in local matters he votes for the man whom he considers best fitted for the office, without regard to his political affiliations.

            Mr. and Mrs. Harrington are valued members of society, their intelligence and pleasant and courteous manners making them welcome guests wherever they visit. They are active in all good works and are connected with the Baptist Church, of which he is Clerk.

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