Biography - Martin Harkey
Martin HARKEY, farmer, P. O. Nokomis, who came with his parents from North Carolina and settled at Hillsboro, Montgomery Co., Ill., when there were only eight log cabins (1830); he was born in North Carolina in 1813, and is the son of Martin and Christina (MESINGER) HARKEY, who were natives of Pennsylvania, from where they emigrated to North Carolina in an early day; they both died in this county at a ripe old age, and were both respected, and working on a farm; he received a common school education, and began life for himself at the age of twenty-two, by farming, which occupation has ever been his vocation. In 1835, he married Mary, daughter of Jacob and Catharine (BOST) CRESS; she was born in North Carolina in 1815, and came with her parents to this county in 1818; they settled close to Hillsboro, and followed farming; father was born in 1779, and died in this county in 1865; his wife was born in 1786, and died in 1859; they were both members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. HARKEY, by hard work and economy, has secured a good farm of 300 acres, and a good property in Nokomis. To Mr. and Mrs. HARKEY have been born nine children - six sons and three Daughters - Sophia C., dead; Harriet R., dead; Henry L., in California; Jane E., wife of E. BRIGHTMAN, in California; George W., dead; Jacob M., Thomas P., James M., and one dying in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. HARKEY are members of the Presbyterian Church, and strong advocates of the temperance cause, and, in fact, everything that pertains to good and the promotion of society.
Extracted 22 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1882 History of Bond and Montgomery Counties, Illinois, Part 2 Biographical Department, pages 319-320.
