Parents: James William (J.W.) and Cynthia Ann Gibson Harkness; step-mother Jane Barr Barger Harkness
Siblings: Charles Emit, William Read, Laura Belle, Maude Rea, Mary Ettie, Elizabeth Loveless, Claude Francis; step-brother Brannon Byrl
James Norman Harkness was born October 29, 1881, in Hardin County Kentucky. When he was five months old his parents, J.W. and Cynthia Harkness and family, 9 year old Charles Emit, William Read 6, Maude Rea 4, and Mary Ettie would be 3, left Hardin County Kentucky the Spring of 1882. His mother Cynthia was leaving her family, friends, and child Laura Belle buried in the Kentucky soil.
They arrived 8 months later in the fall in Kansas. J.W. decided to stake a claim on some unclaimed land in Wilson County. The family needed to be housed for winter, so a home was the first order of the day.
Another girl was added to the family, Lizzie Loveless was born March 7, 1884. A month and a week later, tragedy struck the family again. Cynthia had prepared a cup of lye to wash clothes. Maude Rea came in from outside and was thirsty. She thought it was a cup of water and drank it while he mother was tending to the baby. Maude died and was laid beneath the sod.
Dishearted by crop failure, J.W. had the urged to move on west. He traded the homestead and house for another wagon and team for the trip. Cynthia was in a family way again, her eighth child, and as soon as she could travel, following the birthing, they would move out. A baby boy, named Claude Francis was born June 2, 1886. The fall of 1886 their westward trek ended in Scott County Kansas.
James Norman was 18 years old when his mother died New Year's Day 1900. Burial Grigston Cemetery, Scott County Kansas. Jim felt very much at loose ends. Brothers Charley and William and sister Mary Ettie staked land claims. Young Jim looked for employment but was too restless to settle down. He found riding the Chisolm Trail, on cattle drives was to his liking. It let him feel footloose and fancy free. He would ride home from Dodge City, Kansas, to see his family when a drive up from Texas reached here.
In 1903 his father, J.W. married the widow Jane Barr Barger. Jim came home April 19, 1905, for the marriage of his sister Lizzie Loveless. He chose this time to make his farewell to the family. An acquaintance and he were leaving for Canada, where the homesteading was in progress and where a man might make his fortune.
In September 1909 a letter arrived from young Jim in Canada. He wrote he had just another year to go to claim title to the land he had homesteaded in Alberta. On September 10th in 1910 it would be clear and free. He would go into Edmonton then to settle the title. He never made it! Just 4 months later, on December 1, 1909, Jim left the homestead cabin headed to the town of Vermillion - 35 miles to the southeast to buy supplies. An unexpected blizzard moved into the area and he never reached his destination. A search the following spring never located a body.
J.W. contacted Rowe Hollister to read legal papers. They left for Canada March of 1910. On April 22, 1910, he filed for administrative papers to make it possible to complete the requirements to claim title on young Jim's claim. On July 7, 1910, he completed the sufficient habitation on the land to file the necessary papers for title. Jim had built a 15 x 15 ft. log cabin that was valued at $150, an 18 x 24 ft. stable valued at $150 and fenced the property before his death. J.W. and Rowe arrived home in August with J.W. so enthused by what he had been of Canada, that he swore he would move there had he been 20 years younger.
J.W. and Jane Harkness and son Brannon moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1913. Son Charley looked after the farm ground, which he did until J.W. died January 25, 1914. He was buried at Grigston Cemetery by his first wife Cynthia. J.W. Harkness left his entire estate to 2nd wife Jane and son Brannon. Land in Lake township (Scott County), Logan County, the land from young Jim in Canada, and a house in Colorado Springs. Family ties were severely strained.
Siblings: Charles Emit, William Read, Laura Belle, Maude Rea, Mary Ettie, Elizabeth Loveless, Claude Francis; step-brother Brannon Byrl
James Norman Harkness was born October 29, 1881, in Hardin County Kentucky. When he was five months old his parents, J.W. and Cynthia Harkness and family, 9 year old Charles Emit, William Read 6, Maude Rea 4, and Mary Ettie would be 3, left Hardin County Kentucky the Spring of 1882. His mother Cynthia was leaving her family, friends, and child Laura Belle buried in the Kentucky soil.
They arrived 8 months later in the fall in Kansas. J.W. decided to stake a claim on some unclaimed land in Wilson County. The family needed to be housed for winter, so a home was the first order of the day.
Another girl was added to the family, Lizzie Loveless was born March 7, 1884. A month and a week later, tragedy struck the family again. Cynthia had prepared a cup of lye to wash clothes. Maude Rea came in from outside and was thirsty. She thought it was a cup of water and drank it while he mother was tending to the baby. Maude died and was laid beneath the sod.
Dishearted by crop failure, J.W. had the urged to move on west. He traded the homestead and house for another wagon and team for the trip. Cynthia was in a family way again, her eighth child, and as soon as she could travel, following the birthing, they would move out. A baby boy, named Claude Francis was born June 2, 1886. The fall of 1886 their westward trek ended in Scott County Kansas.
James Norman was 18 years old when his mother died New Year's Day 1900. Burial Grigston Cemetery, Scott County Kansas. Jim felt very much at loose ends. Brothers Charley and William and sister Mary Ettie staked land claims. Young Jim looked for employment but was too restless to settle down. He found riding the Chisolm Trail, on cattle drives was to his liking. It let him feel footloose and fancy free. He would ride home from Dodge City, Kansas, to see his family when a drive up from Texas reached here.
In 1903 his father, J.W. married the widow Jane Barr Barger. Jim came home April 19, 1905, for the marriage of his sister Lizzie Loveless. He chose this time to make his farewell to the family. An acquaintance and he were leaving for Canada, where the homesteading was in progress and where a man might make his fortune.
In September 1909 a letter arrived from young Jim in Canada. He wrote he had just another year to go to claim title to the land he had homesteaded in Alberta. On September 10th in 1910 it would be clear and free. He would go into Edmonton then to settle the title. He never made it! Just 4 months later, on December 1, 1909, Jim left the homestead cabin headed to the town of Vermillion - 35 miles to the southeast to buy supplies. An unexpected blizzard moved into the area and he never reached his destination. A search the following spring never located a body.
J.W. contacted Rowe Hollister to read legal papers. They left for Canada March of 1910. On April 22, 1910, he filed for administrative papers to make it possible to complete the requirements to claim title on young Jim's claim. On July 7, 1910, he completed the sufficient habitation on the land to file the necessary papers for title. Jim had built a 15 x 15 ft. log cabin that was valued at $150, an 18 x 24 ft. stable valued at $150 and fenced the property before his death. J.W. and Rowe arrived home in August with J.W. so enthused by what he had been of Canada, that he swore he would move there had he been 20 years younger.
J.W. and Jane Harkness and son Brannon moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1913. Son Charley looked after the farm ground, which he did until J.W. died January 25, 1914. He was buried at Grigston Cemetery by his first wife Cynthia. J.W. Harkness left his entire estate to 2nd wife Jane and son Brannon. Land in Lake township (Scott County), Logan County, the land from young Jim in Canada, and a house in Colorado Springs. Family ties were severely strained.
Parents: James William (J.W.) and Cynthia Ann Gibson Harkness; step-mother Jane Barr Barger Harkness
Siblings: Charles Emit, William Read, Laura Belle, Maude Rea, Mary Ettie, Elizabeth Loveless, Claude Francis; step-brother Brannon Byrl
James Norman Harkness was born October 29, 1881, in Hardin County Kentucky. When he was five months old his parents, J.W. and Cynthia Harkness and family, 9 year old Charles Emit, William Read 6, Maude Rea 4, and Mary Ettie would be 3, left Hardin County Kentucky the Spring of 1882. His mother Cynthia was leaving her family, friends, and child Laura Belle buried in the Kentucky soil.
They arrived 8 months later in the fall in Kansas. J.W. decided to stake a claim on some unclaimed land in Wilson County. The family needed to be housed for winter, so a home was the first order of the day.
Another girl was added to the family, Lizzie Loveless was born March 7, 1884. A month and a week later, tragedy struck the family again. Cynthia had prepared a cup of lye to wash clothes. Maude Rea came in from outside and was thirsty. She thought it was a cup of water and drank it while he mother was tending to the baby. Maude died and was laid beneath the sod.
Dishearted by crop failure, J.W. had the urged to move on west. He traded the homestead and house for another wagon and team for the trip. Cynthia was in a family way again, her eighth child, and as soon as she could travel, following the birthing, they would move out. A baby boy, named Claude Francis was born June 2, 1886. The fall of 1886 their westward trek ended in Scott County Kansas.
James Norman was 18 years old when his mother died New Year's Day 1900. Burial Grigston Cemetery, Scott County Kansas. Jim felt very much at loose ends. Brothers Charley and William and sister Mary Ettie staked land claims. Young Jim looked for employment but was too restless to settle down. He found riding the Chisolm Trail, on cattle drives was to his liking. It let him feel footloose and fancy free. He would ride home from Dodge City, Kansas, to see his family when a drive up from Texas reached here.
In 1903 his father, J.W. married the widow Jane Barr Barger. Jim came home April 19, 1905, for the marriage of his sister Lizzie Loveless. He chose this time to make his farewell to the family. An acquaintance and he were leaving for Canada, where the homesteading was in progress and where a man might make his fortune.
In September 1909 a letter arrived from young Jim in Canada. He wrote he had just another year to go to claim title to the land he had homesteaded in Alberta. On September 10th in 1910 it would be clear and free. He would go into Edmonton then to settle the title. He never made it! Just 4 months later, on December 1, 1909, Jim left the homestead cabin headed to the town of Vermillion - 35 miles to the southeast to buy supplies. An unexpected blizzard moved into the area and he never reached his destination. A search the following spring never located a body.
J.W. contacted Rowe Hollister to read legal papers. They left for Canada March of 1910. On April 22, 1910, he filed for administrative papers to make it possible to complete the requirements to claim title on young Jim's claim. On July 7, 1910, he completed the sufficient habitation on the land to file the necessary papers for title. Jim had built a 15 x 15 ft. log cabin that was valued at $150, an 18 x 24 ft. stable valued at $150 and fenced the property before his death. J.W. and Rowe arrived home in August with J.W. so enthused by what he had been of Canada, that he swore he would move there had he been 20 years younger.
J.W. and Jane Harkness and son Brannon moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1913. Son Charley looked after the farm ground, which he did until J.W. died January 25, 1914. He was buried at Grigston Cemetery by his first wife Cynthia. J.W. Harkness left his entire estate to 2nd wife Jane and son Brannon. Land in Lake township (Scott County), Logan County, the land from young Jim in Canada, and a house in Colorado Springs. Family ties were severely strained.
Siblings: Charles Emit, William Read, Laura Belle, Maude Rea, Mary Ettie, Elizabeth Loveless, Claude Francis; step-brother Brannon Byrl
James Norman Harkness was born October 29, 1881, in Hardin County Kentucky. When he was five months old his parents, J.W. and Cynthia Harkness and family, 9 year old Charles Emit, William Read 6, Maude Rea 4, and Mary Ettie would be 3, left Hardin County Kentucky the Spring of 1882. His mother Cynthia was leaving her family, friends, and child Laura Belle buried in the Kentucky soil.
They arrived 8 months later in the fall in Kansas. J.W. decided to stake a claim on some unclaimed land in Wilson County. The family needed to be housed for winter, so a home was the first order of the day.
Another girl was added to the family, Lizzie Loveless was born March 7, 1884. A month and a week later, tragedy struck the family again. Cynthia had prepared a cup of lye to wash clothes. Maude Rea came in from outside and was thirsty. She thought it was a cup of water and drank it while he mother was tending to the baby. Maude died and was laid beneath the sod.
Dishearted by crop failure, J.W. had the urged to move on west. He traded the homestead and house for another wagon and team for the trip. Cynthia was in a family way again, her eighth child, and as soon as she could travel, following the birthing, they would move out. A baby boy, named Claude Francis was born June 2, 1886. The fall of 1886 their westward trek ended in Scott County Kansas.
James Norman was 18 years old when his mother died New Year's Day 1900. Burial Grigston Cemetery, Scott County Kansas. Jim felt very much at loose ends. Brothers Charley and William and sister Mary Ettie staked land claims. Young Jim looked for employment but was too restless to settle down. He found riding the Chisolm Trail, on cattle drives was to his liking. It let him feel footloose and fancy free. He would ride home from Dodge City, Kansas, to see his family when a drive up from Texas reached here.
In 1903 his father, J.W. married the widow Jane Barr Barger. Jim came home April 19, 1905, for the marriage of his sister Lizzie Loveless. He chose this time to make his farewell to the family. An acquaintance and he were leaving for Canada, where the homesteading was in progress and where a man might make his fortune.
In September 1909 a letter arrived from young Jim in Canada. He wrote he had just another year to go to claim title to the land he had homesteaded in Alberta. On September 10th in 1910 it would be clear and free. He would go into Edmonton then to settle the title. He never made it! Just 4 months later, on December 1, 1909, Jim left the homestead cabin headed to the town of Vermillion - 35 miles to the southeast to buy supplies. An unexpected blizzard moved into the area and he never reached his destination. A search the following spring never located a body.
J.W. contacted Rowe Hollister to read legal papers. They left for Canada March of 1910. On April 22, 1910, he filed for administrative papers to make it possible to complete the requirements to claim title on young Jim's claim. On July 7, 1910, he completed the sufficient habitation on the land to file the necessary papers for title. Jim had built a 15 x 15 ft. log cabin that was valued at $150, an 18 x 24 ft. stable valued at $150 and fenced the property before his death. J.W. and Rowe arrived home in August with J.W. so enthused by what he had been of Canada, that he swore he would move there had he been 20 years younger.
J.W. and Jane Harkness and son Brannon moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1913. Son Charley looked after the farm ground, which he did until J.W. died January 25, 1914. He was buried at Grigston Cemetery by his first wife Cynthia. J.W. Harkness left his entire estate to 2nd wife Jane and son Brannon. Land in Lake township (Scott County), Logan County, the land from young Jim in Canada, and a house in Colorado Springs. Family ties were severely strained.
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