My Genealogy Hound

HENRY W. HARWOOD, a leading citizen and representative agriculturist, whose fine homestead, one of the oldest farms in Cass County, Mich., is attractively located upon the banks of Pleasant Lake, Ontwa Township, is a native of his home county and was born within three miles of Edwardsburgh February 22, 1847. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Hopkins) Harwood. The paternal grandfather, John Harwood, was a son of Thomas Harwood, who with two brothers, John and Jasper, emigrated to America in Colonial days. Thomas and John settled in Delaware, and Jasper located in Maryland. Thomas was a prosperous tiller of the soil and improved a valuable farm upon his homestead in Delaware, rearing one child, a son, John. This son was educated and married in his native State, passing his entire life within its borders. He was opposed to slavery and never held any of the blacks in bondage except as he paid fines and redeemed them when imprisoned. Grandfather Harwood accumulated a handsome estate, and was a man of note in his section of the country. His wife was a Miss Talbert, a Christian lady and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Three children blessed the old home: John, Thomas and Jasper. The grandfather of our subject died at fifty-five years of age, his wife having long before preceded him to the better world. The family property was inherited by the eldest, and the other two left home to make their way in the world. John and Jasper died in Delaware.

Thomas Harwood was born in Delaware in 1808, and in 1845 removed to the West and located in Cass County, Mich. He made the journey from his old home by wagon, and was six weeks on the way. He wintered two years in Milton Township, and then entered forty acres in Jefferson Township, which he partially improved and then sold. He soon afterward purchased two hundred and twenty acres three miles north of Edwardsburgh, which he cleared and finely cultivated. He passed away upon this homestead in the spring of 1879. He was a Class-leader of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was also one of its efficient Trustees. A stanch Democrat, he gave able service as Justice of the Peace, and, a public-spirited citizen, was liberal in his support of the Union during the late war. The mother of our subject, a native of Maryland, was the daughter of John Hopkins, a blacksmith by trade, who participated in the War of 1812, and assisted through his skill in handling the tools of his trade. He was a devout man and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in Maryland after rearing a large family. The four sons were Nathaniel, William, John and James. The daughters were Sarah, Elizabeth, Mary, Ann and Levica. Great-grandfather Frederick Hopkins was a teacher all his life, and on account of being crippled was unable to perform hard labor. The Hopkins are of English ancestry.

Mrs. Sarah (Hopkins) Harwood died in October, 1891, in her eighty-fourth year. She was the mother of six stalwart sons, and was twice married. Her first husband was Jonathan Primrose, to whom she bore one son, William J. The five sons of Thomas Harwood were John, who died on the homestead; James, of Mississippi, where he owns a large plantation; Jacob W., of Medical Lake, Wash., who was the first to discover the medicinal qualities of the water and manufacture a powder from boiling water called Medical Lake Salts; Henry W. and Thomas J., of Nebraska; and Jacob, who served in Company H, Thirtieth Michigan Regiment. Henry W. received a good common-school education in his home neighborhood.

In the fall of 1864, our subject, then only seventeen years of age, enlisted in the Thirtieth Michigan Regiment, and served at Detroit. He was mustered out in July, 1865, at the close of the war. Arrived at his majority, he was employed by the Louisville Transfer Company, and remained in their service four and a-half years, for two years of the time being Assistant Superintendent. Making his home again in Michigan, he purchased the eighty acres of his present farm, to which he afterward added until he has in his homestead one hundred and fifty-one acres. Mr. Harwood is a man of liberal spirit and is independent in local politics, giving his vote to the best man, but he supports the National Republican ticket. He has refused political office, preferring to do his duty as a simple citizen.

Our subject was united in marriage in 1887, with Miss Maggie Breece, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Wilson) Breece. The estimable wife passed away in 1889, aged thirty-seven. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a sincere Christian woman. Her death was mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Harwood is a Trustee of the church, and is active in all good work. A long-time resident of his present locality, he has been intimately associated with the growth and rapid progress of Cass County, and, a man of sterling integrity, commands the confidence of the entire community of Ontwa Township.