Robert
Bacom
Harbaugh Jr.
(1902-1989)
Robert
Bacom Harbaugh Jr. was born on May 15, 1902 in Maple Summit, Fayette County,
PA, the son of Robert B. and Elizabeth
(Long) Harbaugh Sr.
On July 21, 1923, Robert married Alice Elizabeth Rugg, the daughter of Thornton and Susie (Ohler) Rugg of Maple Summit. They were married for 66 years.
They had 8 children – Charles Clinton Harbaugh, Irwin 'Oscar' Harbaugh, James Harold 'Hub' Harbaugh, Esther Melia, Donald Wade Harbaugh, Clifford Domer Harbaugh, Marlene Younkin-Schnatterly and Ethel ‘Pearl’ Kemp.
They were dedicated supporters of the annual Harbaugh Reunion, which began in 1926 and continues today. Their adult children and grandchildren have provided continuous leadership for many decades.
Said a 1983 article in the Somerset Daily American, honoring their 60th anniversary, "They first lived in Mill Run and have been residents of Confluence for the past 15 years. They are both members of the Maple Summit Church of God."
When
the Harbaughs celebrated their 65th anniversary in 1988, the Daily American
again published a profile. The story said
that "Before Mr. Harbaugh retired, he worked at Kelleys Hotel, Confluence,
and did timber work and farming. Mrs. Harbaugh is retired, but did work at
Kelley’s Hotel and Howard Johnson Restaurant in Somerset."
Sadly, Robert passed away in the Somerset Hospital on Nov. 24, 1989, at the age of 87. He was laid to rest at Somerset County Memorial Park. At the time of his death, they had 25 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Son Clifford (1935-2003) was "track foreman for the B&O Railroad retiring in 1997 and also was employed by Somerset Welding and Steel," said the Daily American. He was Secretary of the Harbaugh Reunion from 1964 to 1971, when he handed over the duties to his brother Oscar.
Son
Charles served in World War II. Said
the Daily American, he retired "as a U.S. Mail carrier in Confluence
after 29 years of service [and was a] part-time custodian for Uniontown Area
School District." When he retired from the Postal Service, he was profiled
in a major feature article in 1979 in the Daily American, seen here,
headlined "Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Barking Dogs…" He was
President of the Harbaugh Reunion for nearly 2 decades, from 1964
to 1983, and then was Secretary from 1983 to
1985. His daughter Betty Lou
Tressler has been a key organizer of the reunions in more recent years.
Daughter Esther married Rufus Melia. Their daughters providing singing entertainment at the Harbaugh Reunions of the 1960s.
Son Oscar was Secretary of the Harbaugh Reunion from 1971 to 1983.
Son
Hub worked for many years for the B&O Railroad as a track foreman. Later, he
was police chief in Rockwood for 5 years; served as a local constable for more
than 40 years, starting in 1952; and owned Harbaugh Trucking Inc., of Rockwood.
One of his trucks, bearing the family name, is seen here. He is mentioned
in the book, Down the Road of Our Past, Book II.
Daughter Pearl (1925-1980) married Ralph W. Kemp (1925-1977), who was a member of the Uniontown VFW, Post 47. Said the Meyersdale New Republic, "She was a member of the Confluence VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the Turkeyfoot Fish and Game Association."
Granddaughter Cathy (Melia) Hinzy owns Hinzy's Personal Care Home in Confluence, licensed for four beds.
Copyright © Mark A. Miner 2003