AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT
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| Eleanor Bigler | see FAMILY TREE |
Born: Abt. 1807 NY (on Water Street)
Married: 18 April 1826
Madison, Jefferson Co., IN
Died: 08 Feb 1893 Madison, Jefferson, IN
FATHER
David Bigler b. PA
MOTHER
Unknown b. Scotland
HUSBAND
CHILDREN
1. Eleanor Harbaugh
b. 1 Oct 1826
d. "young"
2. David Harbaugh
b.
1 Oct 1826
m. 16 Feb 1848 to Phebe Cade
d. 20 Feb 1867 (age 40 years)
3. James Harbaugh
b.
14 Mar 1829
m. 18 Oct 1851 to Nancy Emerson
d. 19 Apr 1859 (age 30 years)
4. Thomas Harbaugh
b.
5 Jan 1831
m. 10 Feb 1851 to Mary Farren
5. Joseph Harbaugh
b.
22 Aug 1833
m. 25 Dec 1858 to Hannah Tague
d. 5 Feb 1872 (age 38 years)
6. Josiah Harbaugh
b.
22 Aug 1833
m. 19 Oct 1858 to Caroline America Orrill
d. 23 Dec 1862 (age 29 years)
7. John B. Harbaugh
b. 3 Nov 1835
m. Abt. 1857 Mary Elizabeth McCullough
d. 22 Dec 1858 (age 23)
8. Martha Harbaugh
b.
6 Dec 1837
d. 21 Feb 1860 (age 22 years)
9. Ellen (Elvira) Harbaugh
b.
30 Mar 1840
d. 7 Apr 1859 (age 19 years)
10. Mary Frances Harbaugh
b.
Abt. 1843
m. 27 Apr 1859 to Robert Ramsey
d. 20 Sep 1863 (age 20 years)
11. "Hoboy's child"
b. Abt. 1850
d. 31 Jul 1854
12. Rosanna P Harbaugh
b. 17 July 1851
m. 21 Sep 1867 to Archibald Pink
d. 6 Feb 1882 (age 31 years)
Eleanor Bigler
by Susan Brooke
Nov 2022
According to her obituary, Eleanor Bigler came to Madison, IN at the age
of six and since David Bigler was listed in the 1813-1814 Muster Roll of Captain
Williamson Dunn's Rangers, we assume she was born about 1807. (1) One
of her obituaries also says she was born on Water Street in New York where her
parents kept a hotel, and that she came to Madison, Indiana via Pittsburgh
and the Ohio River. It is assumed her father was David Bigler who was in
Madison as early as 1813. In the 1820 census for Madison, he had a daughter,
10-15.
Eleanor Bigler married Jacob Harbaugh in Madison on 18
Apr 1826. (2) By the mid 1830's her husband was acquiring several acres of land.
By 1851 she had given birth to 12 children and they appeared to be prospering.
But then many in her family started dying of consumption. Between Dec 1858
and Feb 1860 she lost four of her children. One can only imagine how
stressful it was in that household with so many so sick. Her son David
Harbaugh had married and moved to Lafayette, IN in 1854 before the consumption
became rampant. She probably sent her daughter, Martha, to stay with her
son hoping she could avoid the illness. However, Martha died in Lafayette
21 Feb 1860 and Eleanor's husband, Jacob Harbaugh, died just three weeks later
in Madison on 21 Mar 1860.
She repurchased some of the land that
has been purchased by her husband which her sons had inherited. (3)
And in January1867 she purchased a lot on the corner of Mulberry and High Street
for $150. (4) At this point only three of her children were still alive.
However, David died just a few months later and Joseph died in 1872.
Roseanne married Archibald Pink on 21 Sep 1867 and Eleanor moved in with her,
living on the lot she had just purchased. They were all listed together in
the 1870 census. (5) Her obituaries also state was was living on First Street
east of Mulburry.
Eleanor Harbaugh outlived all of her children and many of
her grandchildren. By 1880, only her daughter Rosanna was
still alive and she died in 1882. Eleanor Bigler Harbaugh wrote her will
on 11 April 1885 leaving all her personal property and the land adjoining
Mulberry Street to Blanche and Grace Pink, the surviving daughters of her
daughter, Roseanna. (6) Then Blanche Pink died on 6 Mar 1892. When
Eleanor died on 8 Feb 1893 there were very few grandchildren still alive. (1)
A David G Phillips was appointed administrator of her estate. By April of
1893 some of the remaining grandchildren were bringing suit against the
administrator. (7) Named in that suit were Maggie Wells, married to J Frank
Wells (a daughter of Joseph), Laura Layton married to Joseph Layton ( daughter
of John), Mary Grace Pink, (daughter of Roseanna and still a minor), Mattie
Harbaugh (daughter of Josiah), and Lilly Norris, married to Milligran Norris
(daughter of Josiah). There were other surviving grandchildren, but not
mentioned in either the will or in the settlement of the estate. (8) The court
ruled that the land on Mulberry Street was be sold and assets used to make
payment on the debts to the estate. The land was sold as a public sale on
6 Oct 1893 for $267. (7) Her granddaughter, Mary Grace Pink died a few
months later on 29 Jul 1894.
Sources
(1) The Harbaugh Bible says Eleanor was born in 1804 although all the census subtractions would indicate she was born about 1807. She was aged 10-15 in the 1820 census.
Obituaries of Eleanor Bigler Harbaugh
 Madison Courier 9 Feb 1893 |
From the Madison Courier, Feb. 9, 1893
The Oldest Inhabitant Dead
"Eleanor Bigler Harbaugh died on First street, east of Mulberry, at four
o'clock yesterday afternoon. The deceased was born nearly 100 years ago on
what used to be Water street in New York city, where her parents kept a
hotel. At the age of six years, she came with her parents to Madison, at
which time, we are told, there were only three houses on the site of our
present city of 10,000 inhabitants. Two of her uncles were the first settlers
of the present site of the great city of St. Louis.
On reaching womanhood Miss Bigler was married to the late Jacob Harbaugh, a
pioneer citizen of Madison, who died several years ago, having raised quite a
large family, all of whom are now dead except four grand-children, one of whom
is Mrs. J. Frank Wells of West Main Street. "
|
%20Eleanor%20Harbaugh%20obit%20cropped.jpg) Madison Daily Herald 9 Feb 1893 |
Madison Daily Herald 9 Feb 1893 Mrs. Harbaugh Dead Mrs. Lenora Harbaugh, widow of the late Jacob Harbaugh, died at her home on East First street at 5 o'clock last evening of old age. She did not know her age exactly, but she is at least ninety, possibly ninety-one years of age. She was born New York City, and came to this city via Pittsburg and the Ohio River when she was six years old with her parents. At that time there were but three log cabins within a radius of twenty miles and but four white people. One of these was situated on this hill above Crooked Creek in which the white people at one time took refuge. Her maiden name was Bigler, and she was married in 1826 to Jacob Harbaugh, and ten children were born to them. They all married and raised families of their own, but she has lived to bury all of them and has but four grandchildren. All these children, save one are buried in a lot just beyond the entrance to Springdale Cemetery, and beside them the remains of their aged mother will be laid away. Mrs. Harbaugh, who was perhaps the oldest resident of Madison as well as the oldest settler, will be buried tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock. She was a member of the Universalist church and Dr. Barnard officiated at the funeral. |
%20Funeral%20of%20Eleanor%20Harbaugh.jpg) Madison Daily Herald 10 Feb 1893 |
|
(2) Marriage of Jacob Harbaugh to
Eleanor Biegler
Married: 18 Apr 1826
Jacob Harbaugh and Ellen Beigler
(3) Land Records
30 Aug 1862
Jefferson Co Deed BK 20 pg 326 Josiah and
Caroline Harbaugh to Eleanor Harbaugh for $50 lots 13 and 14 their share of land
surveyed for Jacob Harbaugh Sep 9 1836 BK L pg 442.
27 Jul 1866
Jefferson Xo Deed BK 26 pg 229. BK 26 pg
229. This land that David Harbaugh inherited from his father, Jacob Harbaugh,
lots 13, 14, 15, 26 is being sold back to his mother, Eleanor Harbaugh for $100.
Feb 6, 1867
(4) City Transfers. James Falconer and wife to Ellen
Harbaugh - A part of a lot on the corner of Mulberry and High street. Price
$150. Jan 15, 1867 Madison Courier Feb 6, 1867
(5)
1870 Census
Residence Post Office:
Madison. Age 62, born in NY, living with Rosanna and Archibald Pink
(6)
Will of Eleanor Harbaugh
I Eleanor Harbaugh of the City of Madison
Indiana, make this my last will and testament.
Being mainly in the full
possession of all my mental facilities, with faith in the wise Providence, and a
full realization of the uncertainly of human life
Item 1st: It is my will
that my just debts and all charges be paid out of my estate.
|Item 2nd: I
give and bequeath all my remaining personal estate to Blanch Pink and Mary Grace
Pink, daughters of Archibald Pink and Roseanna Pink, deceased.
Item 3rd: I
give and devise unto the said Blanche Pink and Mary Grace Pink in addition to
the bequest mentioned in Item 2nd the following described property being in the
city of Madison in Jefferson county, Indiana. to wit: Beginning at the south
west corner of High Street in said City of Madison in said County and State,
thence south along the west line of said alley, 16 feet, more or less, to a
point on the west side of said alley, where a line chain from a point on the
east line of Mulberry Street, 41 feet, south of the south line of High Street,
and running at right angles with Mulberry Street, will cross said West line of
said Alley; Thence west along the last mentioned line, to a point where a line
commencing at a point on the south side of High Street 65 feet west of the south
west corner of High Street and the alley aforesaid, and running south parallel
with Mulberry Street, will cross the east and west line last described thence
north parallel with the eat line of Mulberry Street to High Street, thence east
along the south line of High Street, to the place of beginning and appurtences.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of
April 1885
Attest Marcus Sulzer
Eleanor (her mark) Harbaugh
Emerson Leinen
(7) Settlement of Estate
19 April 1893, FHL film #
1310249
Order BK 4 page 223
David G Philipps, administrator
of the estate of Eleanor Harbaugh vs Maggie Wells et al
15 Sep 1893, FHL film # 1310249
Order BK 4 page 387-8
David G Phillips administrator of the estate of Eleanor Harbaugh vs Maggie Wells
and J Frank Wells, Laura Layton and Joseph Layton, Mary Grace Pink, Mattie
Harbaugh, Lilly Norris and her husband
Mary Grace Pink, a minor
Mary Grace
Pink, Mattie Harbaugh, and Lilly Norris are non residents
Property ought to
be sold to make assets for the payment of the debts therein described including
the cost of this action
 Order BK 4 page 387 |
 Order BK 4 page 388 |
6 Oct 1893, FHL film # 1310249
Order BK 4 page 436
Property sold to James Murray for $267 at public sale
(8) Other grandchildren
Rose Harbaugh, a daughter of David Harbaugh, was
living in Terre Haute, Indiana and did not die until 1921.
Irena Harbaugh,
daughter of David Harbaugh, died in 1893. Could have died before her grandmother
Adelphia Harbaugh, a daughter of Thomas, did not die until 1938
etc.