Posted on: La Porte Co. In Biographies
Board URL:
http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/In/LaPorteBios?read=5
Surname:
-------------------------
from History of LaPorte County 1880 by Packard.
James Harsen, a successful farmer and one of the oldest living settlers
of Noble tp., was born in Michigan in 1812. His father was William Harsen,
who was of Dutch descent; his mother, Isabel, nee McCollom, was of Scotch
descent; both are now deceased. Coming to Indiana in 1842, he first settled
at Door Villiage, Scipio tp., where he purchased a town lot and remained
three years; he went from there to Hanna tp., and settled on the Kankakee
river, at what was known as Chambers' Landing; he was the first man who
started a ferry and lived at that place, where he resided about five years,
and then, on account of the disadvantages in education to which his children
were subjected, he cam to Noble tp., and settled where he still lives,
on sec. 35. He and his wife own here 115 acres of ordinary land, worth
about $30 per acre. In 1834 he was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Austin,
who is now 66 years of age and the mother of 11 children, of whom 7 are
now living: Mary J. Oliver, Lucinda, Marion, Sarah A., Geo. and Louisa.
Mr. H. is next to the oldest in a family of 9 children, of whom 5 are now
living. His education was rather limited, being only such as was afforded
by a subscription school. Politically, he was a Whig until the organization
of the Republican party, since which time he has been connected with that
party.