Their first child, Walter Max Harned (Max), was born on September 9, 1885.  Their only daughter, Ezma Ann Harned, was born on January 7, 1889.  Francis Paul Harned entered the world on July 22, 1892.  It would be almost ten years before Anna would give birth to her final two children, Daniel Dwight Harned on March 22, 1902 and my father, Alfred Marion Harned, on December 27, 1903.

When the Harneds arrived in Grand Junction in 1881, the town had only recently been incorporated and had a population of less than 800 people.  The “Junction” in the town’s name indicated that it was a railroad hub for points in Iowa east of Des Moines.  Young Frank worked as a farm laborer while in Indiana, but, in Grand Junction, when he was eighteen, he found employment as a railroad clerk with the Chicago and North Western Railway, one of the railroad companies serving the town.

In 1886, Frank obtained a position at Grand Junction Bank and quickly worked his way up to “head cashier.”  The owner of the bank was Orin John Dutton (1853-1933), a local businessman, who also later served several terms as the mayor of Grand Junction.  Dutton was impressed with Frank’s work and employed him for 24 years, until 1910.  In that year, Frank was elected “County Treasurer of Greene County,” a highly prestigious and responsible position.  This required a move for the Harned family to Jefferson, the county seat of Greene County, nine miles away from their hometown, Grand Junction, a town also in Greene County.  By this time, Frank’s brother and sister, Max and Ezma, had already married and left home.

The Harned house – Grand Junction, Iowa (until 1910). Hager Street and 14th Street.

The remaining Harned family moved from a small town whose population, then and now, was never much larger than 1,000, to another small town of 2,500. Jefferson warmly welcomed Frank and his family, as evidenced by an article in the Jefferson Bee, August 3, 1910 (page five):

The smiling countenance of Frank J. Harned, the new County Treasurer, now greets callers in that department of the Court House. By character and by training, Mr. Harned is admirably fitted for the position which he now holds, and we feel safe in saying that the county will find him a most faithful and efficient servant during the years that he shall occupy this post. His family is now getting nicely settled at housekeeping in the Ellis residence on South Cherry Street.

Frank continued to be elected to the same position for six years.  As his latest term was coming to a close, near the end of 1916, he chose not to run again and instead to return to banking.  Walter V. Wills (1852-1943), a local Methodist minister, succeeded Frank as the new Greene County Treasurer at the beginning of 1917, and James Willis Fowler (1860-1931) was elected Deputy County Treasurer.  Frank took a position at Jefferson’s City Bank and stayed there for several years.

Frank’s beloved mother, Ann Morgan Davis, died in June 19, 1917. She had been living with the Harneds in Jefferson for her last few years and passed away at their home.

The Jefferson Bee, June 27, 1917 (page 5) said:

MRS. WILLIAM HARNED

Ann Morgan, daughter of John and Mary M. Morgan was born February 7th, 1834, in Penna Caa, Glen Morganshire, Wales. When seven years of age, she with her parents came to America settling in Pennsylvania where, for a time, they moved from place to place, finally locating in Scranton, Pa. September 8, 1853, she was married to Thomas Davis who died April 8, 1854. To this union one child was born, Mary E., now Mrs. J. O James, of Raton, New Mexico.

December 13, 1857, she married William Harned of Indiana to which state she had moved with her husband in July 1860. To them were born five children, Charles J., Alfred W., Frank J., Sadie A., and Clara B. She was again made a widow by the death of her husband, who died in Canton, Indiana, December 13, 1870.

In September 1881, she with her family, moved to Iowa locating at Grand Junction, since which time she had lived with her children. When the end came, June 19, 1917, she was with her son, Frank J., at Jefferson, Iowa, at which time there were present of the children, Mrs. Mary E. James, of Raton, New Mexico; Rev. A. W. Harned, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Sadie A. Stephenson, of Mason City, Iowa.

She was survived by her only brother, William Morgan, Westfield, New Jersey; five children, twenty-four grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren.

Her Christian experience was of lifelong duration. She was converted in childhood and united with the Congregational Church, holding her membership with them until coming to Indiana, and, not finding the church of her choice, she united with the Methodist Episcopal Church of which she was an earnest constant member the rest of her days.

She went to meet her Savior in the triumph of a living faith. The funeral was conducted by her pastor on Thursday, June 21st, at 2 o’clock, who spoke from works often quoted by the deceased, found in II Timothy 1-12. Rev. Lewis gave a glowing tribute to this Godly mother and the splendid example set for others to follow through life. Interment was made in the Grand Junction Cemetery.

In February 1922, when James Willis Fowler resigned his position as the Deputy County Treasurer of Greene County to become Postmaster of the City of Jefferson, Frank was appointed to take over the Deputy County Treasurer position.  Frank was re-appointed to this same position in early March of 1923.  However, in April of 1923, he had to give up both his bank position and his Deputy County Treasurer position when he became employed by the Iowa State government as “State Examiner of County Accounts” under the direction of the State Auditor’s Office. At this point, the Harned family had to make a major move to Des Moines, Iowa’s capital city.

Frank is listed in the Iowa State Official Register for 1925/1926 as a “county examiner” under the State Auditor’s Department. Several newspaper articles reported his activities, included one from the front page of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, November 30, 1926, “City Books Investigated”:

Frank remained in his state examiner position for about five years, travelling throughout the state, auditing financial records.  He also continued to be active in Masonic circles and the Methodist Church. 

Sadly, his wife, Anna Amelia, died of cancer on April 11, 1930. The Des Moines Register, April 12, 1930 (page 4) said:

MRS. F J. HARNED DIES AT HER HOME ON HIGH STREET

Mrs. F. J. Harned, 62, a life resident of Iowa, died Friday evening at her home, 2814 High Street.

She was a member of Chapter 89 of the Eastern Star and was an active member of Grace Methodist Church. She is survived by her husband; four sons, Dr. Walter M. of Waterloo, Francis P. of Marengo, D[aniel] D[wight] of Los Angeles, Cal., and Alfred of Montreal, Canada; a daughter, Mrs. George Dugan [Ezma] of Perry, and six grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements are to be announced later. The body is at the E. Carl White funeral home.

After Anna died, Frank lost interest in work and went into deep mourning.  According to close family relatives, he never got over her death, and his health began to fail rapidly.  Concerned with Frank’s wellbeing, his daughter, Ezma, invited him to live with her in her home in Perry, Iowa, and her family observed firsthand his steady decline.  Broken-hearted, he died there on July 27, 1934 at age 71. He was buried next to his wife in Grand Junction Cemetery.  The Jefferson Bee, August 7, 1934 (page 5) said:

FRANK HARNED FUNERAL

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Bessmer Funeral Home for Frank J. Harned, father of Mrs. Geo. J. Dugan [Ezma], who died at the home of his daughter Thursday.

The Rev. Arthur Atack, pastor of the Methodist Church, officiated during the rites. Interment was made in the cemetery at Grand Junction. Music during the rites was furnished by Mrs. Edna Burrell, Mrs. Frank Mullen, soloists, and Mrs. F. D. Chapman, organ accompanist. Mrs. Burrell sang: “The Silent Voice” and Mrs. Mullen, “Jesus Savior Pilot Me.”

Casket bearers were Fred F. Harvey, George Bulkley, Roy Thomas, Neil Logan, Ernest Heightshoe and Floyd Don Carlos. The Masonic ritualistic service was presented at the cemetery by members of the Jefferson Masonic Lodge. The following obituary was read during the rites.

Frank J. Harned was born at Salem, Indiana, on January 21, 1862 [i.e. 1863], the son of William and Ann Harned. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Geo. J. Dugan [Ezma] in Perry, on July 26, 1934. He is survived by five children, [including Ezma] Dugan, Perry, Iowa; F. Paul Harned, Marengo, Iowa; Dwight Harned, Coffeyville, Kansas; and Marion Harned, New York City. Also by two brothers and one sister. 

In early childhood with his family, they moved to a farm near Grand Junction, Iowa. Mr. Harned was for several years connected in railroad work with the C. & N. W. [Chicago and North Western] Railroad at Grand Junction. Later he engaged in the banking business with O. J. Dutton and was so engaged for twenty-five years. Following his appointment as [County] Treasurer, the family moved to Jefferson, Iowa, where they resided until they moved to Des Moines in 1926. Following his service as County Treasurer of Greene County, Mr. Harned was employed by the State in the Accounting Department and acted as State Checker for about five years, traveling over the state checking various county and municipal offices.

Mr. Harned’s wife, Ann Harned, predeceased him on April 11, 1930, since which time Mr. Harned had made his home with his daughter in Perry.

The decedent was active in Masonic circles for more than fifty years and was also a member of the Methodist Church – Perry Chief.