Biography of George E. Harmes, pages 637/638.  History of DeKalb 
County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., Indianapolis, 1914.



George E. Harmes

Among the substantial men whose labor and influence have given impetus 
to the general material improvement of DeKalb county in years gone by 
and who today occupies no insignificant place in the esteem of the 
community in which he resides is the worthy gentleman whose name forms 
the introduction of this sketch.  He has been content to spend his life 
in his native locality, wisely deciding that this favored section of 
the great Hoosier state was as well if not better suited for the 
pursuit of agriculture than any other.

George E. Harmes was born in DeKalb county, Indiana, on April 25, 1866, 
the son of Henry and Maria (Young) Harmes.  Henry Harmes was born in 
Hanover, Germany, December 30, 1822, the son of Frederick and Mary 
Harmes, who emigrated to the United States in 1830.  Henry Harmes was 
married on September 19, 1850, to Maria Young, who was born in Huron 
county, Ohio, and the same years they moved to DeKalb county. They 
became the parents of seven children, of whom only two are now living, 
Mrs. Clara J. Brumback and the subject of this sketch.  The mother of 
these children died on December 12, 1868, and on January 13, 1870, Mr. 
Harmes married Mrs. Sarah Knapp, they removing to Noble county during 
the same year.  Henry died on July 3, 1906. George E. Harmes received 
his education in the common schools of Noble county, and on completing 
the public school course he attended a business college at Angola, 
Indiana, thus receiving a good practical education in both the literary 
and business branches. 	Reared to the pursuit of farming, he has never 
see cause to forsake this vocation, in which he has achieved a 
pronounced success, and is not the owner of a magnificent farm of three 
hundred and thirty-five acres in Fairfield township, to the cultivation 
and improvement of which he devoted his undivided time.  He follows 
general farming, raising all the crops common to this locality, and 
also gives some attention to feeding of cattle, in which he has been 
very successful.  His farm is splendidly improved in every respect, the 
attractive and comfortable residence, commodious and well-arranged 
barns and other necessary out-buildings indicating him to be a man of 
excellent taste and sound judgement. He gives his personal attention to 
every detail of his farm work, and by persistent industry and the 
exercise of good judgment he has attained to a high place among his 
fellow agriculturists. On October 10, 1893, George E. Harmes married 
Mary Bessie Stonebraker, a daughter of John M. and Harriet (Drowley) 
Stonebraker, both of whom were early settlers of Fairfield township.  
Mr. Stonbraker was a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted on 
August 27, 1861, in Company B, Twenty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer 
Infantry, with which he served with valor and faithfulness until his 
honorable discharge on August 27, 1864.  To Mr. and Mrs. Harmes have 
been born four children, Clifton E., Harriet H., Henry T. and Theodore 
K. Politically, Mr. Harmes has been an ardent supporter of the 
Republican party, though he has been to busy a man to aspires to public 
office on his own account.  Fraternally, he is a member of Corunna 
Lodge No. 248, Knights of Pythias, in the workings of which he takes 
and intelligent interest.  By a life characterized by industry and 
integrity Mr. Harmes maintains the confidence and good will of he 
people of his community, and among his neighbors and acquaintances his 
character and integrity have ever been above reproach.



Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com