Moses Harlan

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, 1902
Transcribed by Janis Straesser!

MOSES HARLAN. Whether as a progressive and successful agriculturist or as a broad-minded, disinterested holder of responsible political positions, Moses Harlan has impressed his forceful personal worth upon the community of Radnor Township, and is esteemed as one of the most helpful of the early pioneers. A native of Park County, Indiana, he was born June 13, 1835, the son of George B. Harlan, who was born in Warren County, Ohio, in 1813, and died in Wyoming, Stark County, Illinois, in 1866, and Sarah (Cornelison) Harlan, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, in 1817, and died on the old homestead in Radnor Township in 1868. The paternal grandparents were Moses and Ann (Jennings) Harlan; on the maternal side the grandparents were named Marsh and Elizabeth (Crooks) Cornelison, the former born in North Carolina. As early as 1836 George B. Harlan came to Radnor Township, settling on Section 20, where he cultivated a fine farm from the crude land, and where he raised his children to be useful men and women. The last three or four years of his life were spent in Wyoming, Stark County, where he was practically retired from business activity.

As a youth, Moses Harlan worked on his father's farm, and while still quite young, helped to break up the wild prairie and convert it into profitable farming land. May 21, 1878, he married Lavinia P. Jackson, born in Radnor Township October 30, 1852, the daughter of John Jackson, who was born in Yorkshire, England, August 10, 1807, and came to America with his parents when seven years of age. The family located in Newcastle County, Delaware, where he lived until eighteen years of age, after which he removed to Radnor Township in 1837. This continued to be his home until his death, May 5, 1895, at the age of eighty-seven years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Harlan have been born six children: Ernest J., born December 26, 1880; Clarence W., born March 18, 1882; Luella P., born May 22, 1884; John R., born September 13, 1887; George B., born November 8, 1889; and Carrie Elizabeth, born June 27, 1892.

In the last year of the Civil War (February, 1865) Mr. Harlan enlisted at Peoria, Illinois in the Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and joined the command at Raleigh, North Carolina. The vicissitudes and dangers of war were not meted out to him to any appreciable extent, for on account of physical disability he was sent to the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, and discharged from the service in July, 1865. As a stanch believer in Republican institutions, Mr. Harlan has conscientiously filled many positions of trust within the gift of the people of his township, by whom he is regarded as a leader. Few men have, for so long a time, held continuous offices, or have, to so great extent, retained the confidence and approval of the people. For twenty-five consecutive years he served as Constable, fifteen years as Commissioner of Highways, fourteen years as School Director, eight years as Justice of the Peace, one year as Supervisor, two terms as Collector, and one term as Assessor. Fraternally, he is associated with the Masons at Alta, and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star.

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