PA-OLD-CHESTER-L Archives

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Subject: Justin Edward HARLAN biography
Date: Sat, 05 Nov 2005 04:23:14 +0000

One of our list members pointed out to me that the Alpheus Harlan book, published in 1914, notes that Justin was then Curator of the Chester County Historical Society! His photo is in the Harlan book but not the Cyclopedia.

John

Source: "Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsyl-
vania, comprising a historical sketch of the county," by Samuel T. Wiley
and edited by Winfield Scott Garner, Gresham Publishing Company, Philadel-
phia, PA, 1893, pp. 610-2.

"DR. JUSTIN E. HARLAN, D.D.S., a rising young dentist of West Chester is a
graduate of the university of Pennsylvania and has been in practice here
since 1884, where he has won a deservedly proud standing in his profession,
and is also a representative of one of the Commonwealth's oldest and most
highly respected families. He is the second of the three sons of Hon.
Abram D. and Lizzie B. (Scott) Harlan, and a native of Coatesville, this
county, where he was born September 27, 1860. There he grew to manhood,
receiving a good English education in the public and private schools of
that borough, after which he entered the university of Pennsylvania, and
was graduated from the dental department of that institution in 1881, with
the degree of D. D. S. He immediately opened a dental office in the city
of Philadelphia, where he remained in practice for a period of three years,
and then removed to West Chester, this county, where he has ever since
resided and given his unremitting attention to the duties connected with
his profession, having built up a fine practice. In his political convic-
tions Dr. Harlan is a pronounced republican, giving his party a loyal
support on all leading questions.

"On January 8, 1885, Dr. Harlan was wedded to Martie E. Sample, a daughter
of M. R. Sample, of Glen Moore, this county, and to the Doctor and Mrs.
Harlan has been given one child, a daughter, named Christine S., who was
born October 9, 1885.

"The Harlan family ranks among the oldest in Pennsylvania, and traces
its transatlantic ancestry back to the Harlans of Monkwearmouth, England,
from whence came George Harlan, a son of James Harlan, with his wife,
Elizabeth, and four children - Ezekiel, Hannah, Moses and Aaron - some
time between 1685 and 1688, and settled first in New Castle county, near
where Centreville now stands, but in later life removed farther up the
Brandywine and purchased four hundred and seventy acres of land in Kennett
(now Pennsbury) township. In addition to the four who came with him, five
other children were born to George Harlan in his Pennsylvania home:
Rebekah, Deborah, James, Elizabeth and Joshua. While living in Kennett
township he had for neighbors a settlement of Indians, and after they left
in 1701, he obtained a grant of two hundred acres additional land, to
compensate him for 'the great trouble and charge he has bore in fencing
and maintaining the same for the Indians while living thereon,' as the
records have it. He died in 1714, and was buried by the side of his wife
at Centre meeting house. His eldest son, Ezekiel Harlan, was born in
England, July 16, 1679, married first Mary Bezer and afterward Ruth Buf-
fington. He was an enterprising citizen and a land speculator. His chil-
dren were: William, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Ruth and Benjamin.

"Ezekiel Harlan (grandfather) married Hannah M. Bullu, by whom he had a
family of children. He was a farmer, and resided most of his life in
West Marlborough township. One of his sons was Hon. Abram Douglas Harlan
(father), who was born in that township, September 3, 1833, and when
eleven years of age removed with his parents to Coatesville. He was edu-
cated in the public and private schools of this county, learned the busi-
ness of a merchant, became a dealer in real estate, and in the early
spring of 1862 entered the employ of the Christian commission, and did
good service in caring for the sick and wounded soldiers at Fortress
Monroe, Harrison Landing, Washington and Antietam. In October of that
year, urged by a sense of duty, he entered the army as a private soldier
in an independent company of cavalry, and later became first lieutenant
of a company connected with the 157th Pennsylvania infantry, which organi-
zation he afterward served as regimental quartermaster.

"Politically he is an ardent republican, and has been frequently honored
by appointment and election to official position. He was transcribing
clerk of the Pennsylvania house of representatives during the sessions
of 1864, and message clerk of the same body in 1865, 1866, and 1867. In
1872 he represented Chester county in the Republican State convention,
and was one of the assistant clerks of the Pennsylvania constitutional
convention of 1872-3. He served under Hon. A. P. Tutton, supervisor of
internal revenue, as a special clerk for nearly two years, and when that
gentleman was appointed collector of customs of the port of Philadelphia,
he gave Mr. Harlan the responsible position of assistant cashier, a posi-
tion to which he was re-appointed under General Hartranft. He was elected
State senator to fill the unexpired term of Senator Everhart, March 31,
1883, re-elected to the State senate in 1884, and in November, 1888,
again elected for a term of four years. He is at present United States
marshall for the eastern district. In 1873 he edited and published a
small volume entitled 'Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, 1872
and 1873, its Members and Officers.'

"He has served as school director at Coatesville for twenty years, and
been identified with all the educational and material interest of that
borough. He was the first to suggest the introduction of gas, and in
1868 secured a charter for the Coatesville Gas Company, and originated
and organized the Coatesville Building association. It was he who con-
ceived the idea of the Fairview cemetery, and was instrumental in ob-
taining the charter and organizing the company. While dealing in real
estate in that borough he was largely interested and very active in
laying out additional town lots, erecting houses and opening, grading
and paving new streets.

"Since his eighteenth year he has been a member of the Presbyterian
church, in which he has served as Sunday school superintendent, trustee,
treasurer and ruling elder. He represented the Presbytery of Chester
in the Presbyterian General assembly of 1880.

"On New Year's day, 1857, Hon. A. D. Harlan was united in marriage to
Lizzie B. Scott, a daughter of Samuel W. and Jane B. Scott, of Coates-
ville. By this union he had a family of three children, all sons:
Walter L., died in infancy; Justin E., whose name heads this sketch;
and Wallace Scott, who was graduated from Lafayette college in 1882,
studied law, and is now practicing his profession at Coatesville. The
mother, Mrs. Lizzie B. Harlan, died at her home in Coatesville, November
18, 1883, sincerely mourned by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances."

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