Wayne County Biographies

Harlan Parker Jarrett

Harlan Parker Jarrett, a native son of Abington township and one of the prosperous farmers of that community, was born Oct. 2, 1852, son of James M. and Sarah Ann (Robbins) Jarrett, native of Abington township, the former born Nov. 15, 1825, and the latter, May 8, 1826. The father in early life was a farmer and stock dealer, at which he was for a number of years successfully engaged.

When his father died, in 1848, he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the parent's estate and afterward became one of the most extensive buyers and shippers of stock in Wayne county. He also became an extensive land owner, owning land in other parts of the county and also in Iowa, where his possessions amounted to 200 acres, and he devoted the major portion of his life exclusively to the stock business, in early times shipping to the Eastern markets, but later to Indianapolis and Chicago. He served with the Home Guards at the time of the Morgan Raid, and served as justice of the peace and was elected township trustee, but died before taking office, in February, 1895. To him and his wife were born four children: Mattie, born in 1847, died in 1871; Emily born Sept. 26, 1848, is the wife of Dr. Gable, of Centerville; Harlan P. is the next in order of birth; and William M., born March 18, 1856, is a farmer and resides in Abington township. Harlan P. Jarrett received his education in the schools of District No. 3, in his native township, and continued with his father until about twenty-five years old, for several years as a partner with the parent and younger brother. He then moved to the farm where he resides and for a few years engaged in the stock business. since becoming the owner of this place he has devoted his energies to scientific and progressive agriculture, and his measure of success is best evinced by his high standing in the community. While engaged in the stock business he traveled over a large part of this country, but never became a resident of any place but Abington township. He has 115.5 acres of land, does general farming and raises stock and grain of all kinds. Politically, Mr. Jarrett gives his support to the men and measures of the Republican Party, but has never sought official honors for himself. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. On June 27, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jarrett and Miss Celia Fender, daughter of Leborn L. and Rebecca (Connard) Fender, of Abington township. Mrs Jarrett was born on the farm where she now resides, Aug. 31, 1857. Her father, Leborn L. Fender, was a lifelong resident of Wayne county. He was born on the farm where his daughter resides, Feb. 3, 1835. On Oct. 22, 1856, he married Rebecca Connard, born in Ohio, June 23, 1836, and continued to reside on the old homestead until his death, Oct. 10, 1859, having lived an honorable and upright life in all his dealings with his fellow men, whose confidence and esteem he commanded to the last. Mrs. Jarrett is the only child of these parents. After the father died the mother continued to reside on the homestead until she became the wife of Joseph Yager, and she died Oct. 28, 1903. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Jarrett: Jesse Fender, born Nov. 6, 1879, married Edith McCowan, of Centerville, resides in Richmond, and they have two children--Ruth E., born Dec. 7, 1898, and Howard Parker, born April 4, 1910; Estella Alice, born Dec. 21, 1881, is the wife of Perry C. Shadle (see sketch); James W., born Sept. 27, 1886, married Pearl Hoppus, of Liberty, Union county, Indiana, is a farmer and resides in Abington township, and they have one daughter, Celia Bell, born Oct. 20, 1910; and William R., born Feb. 18, 1889, married Della Stinson, of Abington township, resides on a farm adjoining the old homestead, and they have two children — Walter James, born Oct. 7, 1907, and Hazel Josephine, born June 8, 1910. Jacob Fender, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Jarrett, was born in North Carolina, Jan. 28, 1806,, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Lang) Fender, natives of North Carolina, the former born in 1787 and the latter in 1789. In October, 1811 his parents came to Wayne county, Indiana, and settled in the southern part, or in what is now Union county. In 1814 they removed to what is now Abington township, entered 100 acres of land and built a log cabin. They were members and zealous workers in the Methodist Episcopal church and their house was used as a place of worship before a church was built. They had a family of eleven children — Jonathon, Gabriel, Susannah, Jacob, Littleton, Sarah, John H., Lydia, Sophia, Mary Ann, and Henry L. Jacob Fender was married Nov. 3, 1829, to Betsy Ann Holland, born in Wayne county, Jan 9, 1811, daughter of Elijah Holland, of English descent. After his marriage he purchased 120 acres of land in Abington township, the same being that now occupied by Mr. Jarrett. He was a generous man and assisted many. He died March 2, 1904, and his wife passed away June 17, 1887. Of their union was born a son, Leborn L., the father of Mrs. Jarrett.

Source:
Memoirs Of Wayne County and the City Of Richmond, Indiana. Vol II: Pub. 1912