Harmon Francisco

HARMON FRANCISCO, deceased, an early settler and highly respected farmer of Fairview township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in Cayuga county, New York, in 1831, and died in Labette county, Kansas, in 1893, at the age of sixty-two years. His, death was much regretted by all, as he was a man of honest and upright principles, and worthy of the highest esteem. He was well known throughout the county, and was a public-spirited citizen. Mr. Francisco was a son of David and Percis (Morley) Francisco.

David Francisco was born in 1790, in New York, and served through the War of 1812, His death took place in Cayuga county, New York, in 1843. His wife was born in New York, in 1792, and died in Cayuga county, in 1856. They reared the following children: Warren, Hiram and Julia (Crowfoot), deceased; Mandania (Olmstead), of Patriot, Indiana; John, Jane (Ford) and David, deceased; Cordelia (Knapp), of Syracuse, New York; and Harmon, whose name appears at the opening of this sketch.

Harmon Francisco moved to Jefferson county, Indiana, at the age of sixteen years, and engaged in the clock and jewelry business. In 1859, he bought a farm in Monroe county, Indiana, and lived on it until 1883. During sixteen years of that time he was in the lightning-rod business. In 1883, he moved with his family to Labette county, Kansas, and settled in the southwest quarter of section 22, where he carried on farming and stock raising until his death, which occurred, in 1893. In politics, Mr. Francisco was a lifelong Democrat, and took an active interest in that party's success.

Mr. Francisco married Mary Smith, who was born in 1843, in Montgomery county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Anderson Smith, who was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1815. When the Civil war broke out, Mr. Smith was living in Monroe county, Indiana, and there enlisted in Company G, 38th Reg., Ind. Vol. Inf. He was attached to the Army of the Tennessee, and died while attending the sick at Nashville, Tennessee. His wife, Rosanna May Smith, was born in Virginia, in 1816, and moved with her parents to Monroe county, Indiana., in 1832. She died in Labette county, Kansas, in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Smith reared three children: Mary, wife of the subject of this sketch; and Alexander and Edgar, deceased. In politics, Mr. Smith was a Republican. He was an active member of the Christian church all his life.

Mrs. Francisco is living on the old homestead in Labette county. She has a wide circle of friends in the community, where she is universally loved and admired.