Rutland

HARMAN, George Washington & Henry A.

Biography of George Washington HARMON [father of Henry A.]

Men of Vermont: Illustrated Biographical History of Vermonters & Sons of 
Vermont. Ullery. Brattleboro: Transcript Publishing Company, 1894, pp 180-181 
(portrait p 181)

George Washington HARMAN, of Bennington [Bennington County, Vermont], was 
born 07 May 1812 in Pawlet [Rutland County, Vermont], son of Nathaniel [born 
1779 in Pawlet?] and Alice (HASCALL) HARMAN [married 04 February 1802 in 
Paulet?] He acquired the rudiments of his education in the common schools, 
this being supplemented by six years at the academy, and private instruction. 
He read law with his father, and was admitted to the bar at Rutland in 
September 1833. He practiced his profession at Pawlet until 1848, when he 
removed to Bennington, and for twenty years was cashier of a bank in that 
village. In 1859 he resumed the practice of law, and is looked upon as one 
of the sages of the profession. In 1843 represented Pawlet in the 
Constitutional Convention, and was one of the county commissioners in 
1846-1847; has held most of the local offices in Bennington including 
municipal judge, but has never had any political aspirations. Has been from 
the first one of the strongest advocates and supporters of the bar 
association, and at various times has been importuned to accept its 
presidency, but has always firmly declined. Author of several articles which 
have met with high approval from those interested in the subjects to which he 
has devoted his literary efforts. Among these may be mentioned a sketch of 
the life of John BURNHAM, the first lawyer of Vermont, which was published in 
the records of the Vermont Bar Association, a historical paper on Battenkill 
and Ondawa [Dutch and Indian names, respectively, for a river and its valley, 
early settled by the Dutch, in what became southern Vermont; starts in 
Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont, runs through Arlington in Bennington 
County; empties into the Hudson River at Clark's Mills, Oneida County, New 
York], another on ALLEN at Ticonderoga, proving conclusively that Benedict 
ARNOLD was present when that post was surrendered; several papers relating to 
the battle of Bennington, and various others. Judge HARMAN's whole life has 
been pre-eminently marked by principles of order, industry, and perseverance, 
three characteristics that always contribute in a great measure to make an 
honorable and successful life. The household of George W. HARMON is 
enumerated in the 1880 census of Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont: 
George W., age sixty-eight, born in Vermont (about 1812 by his census age, 
which agrees with the year of birth given in the biography; his wife, Laura 
A.; and his sister-in-law, Catharine PENFIELD.]




Biography of Henry A. HARMAN [son of George W.]

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 212

Henry A. HARMAN, lawyer and county clerk, Rutland, was born 06 May 1845 at 
Pawlet [Rutland County, Vermont], son of George Washington and Laura Ann 
(PENFIELD) HARMAN. Educated at Bennington public schools; Burr and Burton 
Seminary; Schenectady Union School; Williams College, A. B. 1867; 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Harvard University, LL. B. 1871. 
Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1871, and to the Vermont Bar the same 
year. He has since practiced law in Bennington and Rutland. Is county clerk 
of Rutland County. Republican. Congregationalist; a deacon in the 
Congregational Church at Rutland. In 1876 Mr. [Henry A.] HARMAN married 
[Miss] Ellen Melissa BROMLEY [first wife] of Castleton [Rutland County, 
Vermont]; she [Ellen M. HARMAN] died in 1893; they had six children: Laura 
L., Paul Bromley, Walter Penfield, F. L. Stetson, Richard Jerome, and George 
Nathaniel. In 1896 Mr. [Henry A.] HARMAN married [second wife] Jean Florence 
WOODWARD [a maiden name?] of Lowell [Middlesex County], Massachusetts. 
[Surname is also sometimes spelled HARMON. The household of Henry HARMON was 
enumerated in the 1880 census of Bennington as well: Henry, a lawyer, age 
thirty-five, born in Vermont, by his census age about 1845, which agrees with 
the year of birth given in the biography; his wife, Ellen M., twenty-six, 
thus born about 1854, son Paul B., age one, born in Vermont, the "Paul 
Bromley HARMAN" listed in the biography; and a brother-in-law, Charles 
BROMLEY, sixteen. Submitter, who is not researching this surname, did not 
check the 1900 census enumeration of this family for the absence of Ellen 
Melissa (BROMLEY) HARMAN, his wife, stated in the biography to have died in 
1893.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly