Individual Details

DAR #610043, Virginia Alice Buckles, gives his birth as 21 Feb 1824, as does the manuscript in Surname File at Lebanon Public Library, rather than 1825 as given to me by Harmon researchers.

Married 7 Oct 1844, at her father's residence, Boone Co, IN by Jonas L. Belotte, Minister of the Gospel. [from Widow'd pension]. Marriage record image is on FamilySearch. License was issued 7 Oct 1844, Boone Co. to Robert John Harman and Sarah Dye, both of Boone Co. Sarah's consent was personally given by her father; Robert had a certificate.

1850 Census. Dist 7, Boone Co, IN, Hh 1599
Robert J. Harmon, age 25, b. IN.
Sarah, age 27, b. Ohio
Sarah M. age 2, b. Indiana

Iowa State Census. 1856. Nevada, Story Co. Hh 43
Living between George Dye, brother of Sarah, who had also been in the state 4 years, and the Utterback household of Minerva which had not been there a year yet.
Robert J. Harmon, age 31, has been in the state 4 years, b. IN, Farmer
Sarah, 32, b. Ohio
Sarah M., 7, b. IN. William A. 5, b. IN. Catharine M., age 2, born Iowa
Twins, no names, male and female - no ages
George D. Stoneking,22, b. Ohio, Farmer

1860 Census. Robert J. Harmon and Sarah were living in Eagle Twp, Boone. Co. Most of the children were born in Iowa between 1854 and 1858 so it seems they moved there but came back to Indiana.
Robert J. Harmon, age 36. Sarah, 37.
Sarah M. 9, Catherine M. 6. Eliza J. & Robert F., age 4. James F., 2.
The manuscript from the Lebanon Library states that Robert ran a saw mill and lumber yard in Storey Co, Iowa - the author of the article thought they had died in Iowa. Testimony during Robert's attempts to get a pension does state they lived in Storey Co during this time period, but moved back to Indiana.

USGenWeb; Boone Co:
Harmon, Robert J. private, Co A 86th Infantry; enlisted Zionsville Aug. 1, 1862; discharged Jan. 2, 1863

I have been unable to find the family in 1870. In his pension testimony, Robert said that was that the family went back to Story Co, Iowa in the mid 1860's and that in 1870 they moved to Beatrice, Nebraska. Beatrice is the county seat of Gage Co.

1880 Census, Liberty, Osborne Co, Kansas, p.347D: R. J. Harmon, age 55, b. IN, both parents born in KY. Sarah, wife, age 56, born in Ohio; her parents born in Pennsylvania. Eliza J. Roe, daughter, age 29 and born in Iowa shown as living with them, but she was also listed with her husband.
Victor, Osborne Co, KA, p.318B: Charles Roe, age 28, b. Iowa as were both parents. Eliza Roe, wife, age 28, b. IA, father b. IN, mother b. Ohio. Daughters Emma age 8 and Nora age 4, both born in Nebraska

1885 Kansas State Censes. Victor, Osborne Co Kansas, Hh 11
R. J. Harmon, 61, Stock Dealer crossed out and Farmer written in. Sarah, 62
R. F. Harmon, 28, Lentice?, 22.
W. M. Ford, 31

Robert claimed disability and drew a pension for his service in the Civil War; his widow claimed the pension after he died. He was asked to list his living children and their birthdates. The five living children were at that time, Sarah, Malissa, Eliza, James, and Isaac.

The pension file contains 210 pages - more pages than the days he served. Robert enlisted 1 Aug 1862 at Lebanon, IN for three years. His service record shows he was present in September and October but on 25 Nov he was sent the hospital at Camp Gallatin, TN. It was noted that at one time he was admitted to the regimental hospital with "sore eyes'. He was discharged at Gallatin on 27 Dec 1862 with a Certificate of Disability which is in the file. Robert applied for an invalid pension based on the fact his feet had been frozen due to exposure and the toes of his right foot amputated. However, testimony of others revealed that prior to the War he had a rather long-standing drinking problem and had his feet frozen at least twice and his toes had been amputated prior to his enlistment. He should never have been allowed in the Army as he was not fit for long marches, but friends and family thought perhaps it would help his family - probably because he would be paid as a soldier.

At the time of his application, May of 1881, Robert and family were living in Covert, Osborne Co, Kansas; he was age 54. Examination by the doctor did reveal that his right leg was much atrophied and the hip joint tender, undoubtedly from walking on the damaged foot. In one deposition, he claimed the doctor that treated him was now dead and at another time he even claimed his wife had treated him following the War and she had amputated his toes. He considered this a second amputation based on freezing his feet again while on guard duty during a snow storm - then he decided she had only removed some bone fragments. I could not help but wonder if his alcohol usage had clouded his brain and he perhaps believed since he was then living in Kansas, the government would not question his claim, or seek testimony back in Indiana.

His Lt. testified to putting Harmon to work as a teamster since he was unable to march, but apparently that hadn't worked out too well either as he lasted only a few days at that job. His neighbors in Kansas that had not known him earlier, were all convinced his disability was from his war service - so he didn't just lie to the pension board.

His case was brought to the attention of a Special Examiner in 1884 - the man broke his shoulder and was unable to continue the investigation and it was turned over to a second Special Examiner the next year. Both concluded Harmon's application should be rejected and he be prosecuted for fraud - the latter examiner also stated that Harmon himself had committed perjury and influenced others to do the same.. At one point in an interview, Harmon stated he wished to withdraw his claim. The papers indicate the case was again brought before the Pensions Board of Review for "Re-review". Another Special Examiner was appointed in 1886 and again he made an exhaustive inquiry concerning all the allegations resulting in the same conclusion - Harmon had made a fraudulent claim and should be prosecuted. But there is nothing in the file to indicate there ever was any prosecution - perhaps the changes in the pension laws, from requiring that the disability was incurred as a result of service, to simply awarding a pension for disability happened in the interim.

At any rate, Robert John Harmon continued to apply for an invalid pension. By 1890, he not only suffered from the rheumatism associated with the half-amputated foot, but also had chronic diarrhea and disease of the eyes. The usual physical examinations by a board of three doctors are included in the file. On 9 Jan 1891, he was approved for a pension of $12 per month under the Act of 27 Jun 1890.

In 1897, Robert applied for an increase in his pension; he was now age 73 and they were living in Oklahoma Territory. His physical exam states he was emaciated, much debilitated, walked half bent over with steps short and feeble. His sore eyes were diagnosed as trachoma - a leading cause of blindness in that time frame. Seems to be no question that he was certainly disabled, but he seems not to have received an increase. He was dropped from the pension rolls when he died in early 1900.

His wife Sarah applied for her widow's pension within a few days of his death - he died January 7, 1900 and she applied on the 25th. She was living in Bostick [no longer a town], Woods County, Oklahoma Territory. The file contains the certified copy of their marriage from Boone Co, Indiana. Testimony of some of her neighbors was disputed because they had not known her long enough to testify that she had lived with Robert ever since the marriage. She did receive a pension - $8 per month until her death. A letter from a granddaughter that is in the file, relates that, Sarah, too, was nearly blind in her old age. One of the doctors testified to treating their daughter for "sore eyes" when they still lived in Indiana. Trachoma is a bacterial infection - perhaps it spread through the family.


FindAGrave.com - Memorial #28080797
Robert John Harmon is buried Chester Cemetery, Chester, Major Co, OK

Birth	21 Feb 1824	Marion County, Indiana
Marriage	7 Oct 1844	Boone County, Indiana - Sarah "Sallie" Dye
Death	7 Jan 1900	Oklahoma Territory
Burial		Chester Cemetery, Major County, Oklahoma

Spouse	Sarah "Sallie" Dye (1823 - 1911)
Child	[Daughter] Harmon (1847 - 1847)
Child	Sarah Maria Harmon (1849 - 1931)
Child	Malissa Catherine Harmon (1853 - )
Child	Eliza Jane Harmon (1856 - )
Child	Robert John Harmon Jr. (1856 - 1898)
Child	James F. Harmon (1857 - )
Child	Isaac Lemuel Harmon (1863 - )

Father	JAMES HARMON (1797 - 1847)
Mother	PHILADELPHIA DICKERSON (1797 - 1847)
Sibling	Emily Harmon (1817 - 1887)
Sibling	Mary Jane Harmon (1820 - 1855)
Sibling	Ruth Ann Harmon (1821 - 1889)
Sibling	WILLIAM ALEXANDER HARMON (1826 - 1881)
Sibling	James Dickerson "Jay" Harmon (1828 - 1897)
Sibling	Elizabeth Harmon (1829 - 1910)
Sibling	Granville Harmon (1831 - 1850)
Sibling	Nelson S. Harmon (1833 - 1906)
Sibling	Francis Marion Harmon (1835 - 1862)
Sibling	Philadelphia Harmon (1837 - 1911)
Sibling	Drusilla Harmon (1841 - 1842)
Sibling	Charles Harmon (1844 - 1915)