William
Judson Harbaugh
(1880-1955)
William
Judson Harbaugh was born on March 4, 1880 in Ohiopyle, Fayette County, PA,
the son of Allen E. and Margaret (Williams)
Harbaugh.
Young William made news at age 11 months, not surprising since his father was a part-time journalist for the Connellsville (PA) Courier. Reported the Courier:
Quite a noble act was performed by a young dog of A.E. Harbaugh, one day last week. Willie, a small son of the gentleman named, was crossing the creek on a footbridge when he lost his balance and was about to fall into the stream. At this juncture the sagacious animal caught and held him until his mother came to the rescue.
At age 20, when the federal census of 1900 was enumerated, William was living at home with his parents. He worked that year as a "turner." As an adult, he stood five feet, 10 inches tall, and weighed 155 lbs., with brown eyes and a ruddy complexion.
The following year, in February 1901, he and friends took part in a "sleighing party" from Mill Run to the home of Abram Skinner in nearby Stewart Township. Said the Courier:
A good time was had as the host and hostess were genial and kind. Mirth and music wiled time merrily, and at 11 o’clock supper was served… The cheerful crowd continued conversation until in the ‘wee sma’ hours,’ and so reluctant were the hosts to see the guests depart they wished them to tarry til the morning.
William worked at the Colborn & Dull but resigned in March 1901 to begin working at S.D. Sipe's new sawmill at Indian Creek, Fayette County.
In 1910, the 30-year-old William was still living at home, and employed as a boilermaker for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. However, by 1916, he had moved to Connellsville, Fayette County. He worked for the B&O for many years, and retired from the company. He was a member of the B&O Veterans Association.
On Dec. 2, 1923, when William was age 43, he married his widowed sister in law, Daisy (Glover) Harbaugh. She had previously been married to William's brother, Rev. John A. Harbaugh, who had died a year earlier. Daisy thus brought two children to the marriage – Harold Harbaugh and Dorothy Miller-Leasure. They went on to have three children of their own – William Gradon Harbaugh, Genevieve Umbel-Frazee and Alberta Beatty.
William and Daisy with children,
l-r: Dorothy, Harold and William
Daisy
was badly injured in February 1937 when she was "struck by a hit and run
automobile vehicle" in Mill Run. Said the Courier, "As she was
walking along the Connellsville- Farmington road at Mill Run in the direction of
Connellsville facing traffic, a speeding truck approached and struck her,
knocking her to the side of the road in a heap. E. Sturgis Colborn of Mill Run
leaped into an automobile and gave chase, pursuing the fleeing truck for seven
miles before he obtained the license number.." Daisy was treated in
Connellsville State Hospital, and fortunately recovered.
During World War II, in 1942, William was living temporarily in Cumberland, MD, where he worked in the back shop of the B&O on Virginia Avenue. He registered for the military draft that year, and gave his addresses as both Mill Run and also 701 Lafayette Avenue in Culberland.
William
and Daisy and their family enjoyed going to the large, annual Harbaugh Reunions
over the years. They are known to have attended the 1936
reunion, held that year on August in nearby Kingwood, Somerset County, PA.
In a large group photo taken that day (seen
here), William holds young daughter Alberta, with wife Daisy directly behind
his head, and his sister Annie at
right.
Like his father, William suffered from kidney disease as well as sugar diabetes. He passed away on Jan. 7, 1955, at the age of 75. He was laid to rest at the Indian Creek Baptist Church.
Daisy outlived him by 21 years. She moved to a daughter’s home in Wellington, Lorain County, OH. She was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Missionary Society of Wellington. She died of heart problems at age 79 on Oct. 16, 1976. Her remains were brought back to Mill Run for burial at the Indian Creek Baptist Church.
Grandson
Rev. Bradford Harbaugh is
pastor of Singles' Ministries at Colonial
Baptist Church in Cary, NC. With a bachelor's degree from Baptist
Bible College in Clarks Summit, PA and a masters degree from Grand
Rapids Baptist Seminary, he has served more than two decades in full time
ministry as a youth pastor in Fostoria, OH; a worship pastor in Grand Rapids,
MI; and a senior pastor in Evart, MI. In 2005, he led a Carpenters for
Christ team from Colonial which joined with others to build a church in Tennessee
comprising up to 10,000 sq. ft.
Copyright © 2004-2005, 2008 Mark A. Miner