John Alexander Harbison
The late John Alexander Harbison, for years one of Cedarville township's farmers and dairymen, who died at his farm home on Clarks run in the fall of 1914 and whose widow is now living at Cedarville, was born on that farm and there spent all his life with the exception of a period of four years spent at Findlay, where he was engaged during that time in the lime and crushed-stone business. He was born on March 31, 1857, son and only child of James and Margaret (King) Harbison, the latter of whom also was born in this county, daughter of John and Helen (Aird) King, and both of whom spent their last days on their place on Clarks run.
James Harbison was born in the Chester district of South Carolina and was thirteen years of age when his parents, John and Jane (Bingham) Harbison, earnest Covenanters, came out here in the fall of 1826 and established their home on Clarks run, having been attracted to this settlement, as were numerous others of the Chester district folk, on account of the congenial church fellowship assured them here. John Harbison, the pioneer, also was born in South Carolina, February 27, 1782, a son of James and Elizabeth (McElroy) Harbison, the former of whom was born in Ireland, of Scottish descent, and the latter, in the colony of Virginia. Both spent their last days in South Carolina. John Harbison became a substantial farmer on Clarks run and there spent his last days, his death occurring in April, 1861, he then being in the eightieth year of his age. His widow survived him for more than three years, her death occurring on August 17, 1864. Her father was a soldier of the Revolution and was wounded during service. James Harbison grew to manhood on that pioneer farm on Clarks run and in turn became a farmer on his own account, becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and fifty-six acres, on which he erected a dwelling house facing the Clifton and Xenia pike and there lived the rest of his life. James Harbison was twice married. His first wife, Sarah Miller, died leaving one child who died a few months later. In 1852 he married Margaret King, who was born in this county, daughter of John and Helen (Aird) King, the former of whom was a son of Mark King, of Jedbury, Scotland; and to that union was born one son, the subject of this memorial sketch. They also reared to womanhood, Maud Imboden, whom they had taken into their household when she was five years of age.
John Alexander Harbison grew to manhood on the farm on Clarks run on which he was born, eventually inherited the same and there spent his last days. He received his schooling in the local schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father, the management of the home farm long before his father's death being turned over to him. After his marriage he established his home there and with the exception of four years which, as noted above, were spent in the lime and crushed-stone business at Findlay, he spent all his life there, his death occurring on September 5, 1914. In addition to his general farming Mr. Harbison also for some years was engaged in the dairy business, keeping a herd of Guernseys. Though reared a Democrat, Mr. Harbison early espoused the principles of the Republican party and served for two terms as township trustee. In his views on religion he ever maintained the faith of his fathers, was a member of the Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter) church at Cedarville and for years served as a member of its board of trustees. The old family Bible, brought from Ireland by his great-grandfather, came down to him and is still sacredly cherished in the family.
Mr. Harbison was twice married. His first wife died on December 8, 1887, without issue. She was Ella Reid, daughter of John and Hanna Reid, the former of whom lost his life while serving as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War. On November 18, 1890, Mr. Harbison was united in marriage to Mary Elizabeth Cooper, who also was born in this county, daughter of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Weir) Cooper, both of whom also were born in this county, the former in Cedarville township and the latter in Xenia township, and who established their home on a farm on the lower Bellbrook pike in Xenia township, where Mary Elizabeth (Cooper) Harbison was born.
Both the Coopers and the Weirs are old families in Greene county, the progenitors of the respective families here having been among the Chester district folk who came over here from South Carolina in the early days of the settlement and helped establish that sterling old Covenanter community that has for a century and more been the dominant social factor in the Cedarville neighborhood. Ebenezer Cooper was a son of John A. and Agnes (King) Cooper, Covenanters, who settled in the Stormont neighborhood in Cedarville township. There Ebenezer Cooper grew to manhood. He married Elizabeth Weir, daughter of Alexander Weir and wife, also Chester district folk and Covenanters, who had settled in Xenia township, and after his marriage made his home on the Weir place on the lower Bellbrook pike. To that union were born two children, Mrs. Harbison and her brother, John Cooper, the latter of whom lives just on the western edge of Xenia on the Dayton pike. The mother of these children died in 1861 and Ebenezer Cooper later married Sarah Polen and moved to Crawford county, Illinois, and there spent his last days, but he was brought back and buried in Massies creek cemetery at Cedarville. By his second marriage he was the father of three children, namely: Harry L. Cooper, who is living at Jeffersonville, Illinois; Mrs. Irene McConnell, of Indianapolis, and Albert Cooper, of Robinson, Illinois.
To John A. and Mary Elizabeth (Cooper) Harbison were born two daughters, Reba Irene, now a student in Cedarville College and living with her widowed mother in Cedarville, and Pauline, who died in 1903, she then being seven years of age. For some time after her husband's death Mrs. Harbison continued to make her home on the home farm and then gave up that place of residence, rented her farm and moved to Cedarville, where she and her daughter have since made their home.
From History of Greene County Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, vol. 2. M.A.Broadstone, editor. B.F.Bowen & Co., Indianapolis. 1918