82. Francis⁶ Harkness Sr. (Christina⁵ Coulthart, John⁴, John³, John², Christopher¹) was born in Rutland, VT June 12, 1849. Francis died February 13, 1922 in Stanton, MN, at 72 years of age. His body was interred in Stanton Cemetery, Goodhue Cty, MN.

He married Barbara Jean Hunter in Wisconsin Rapids, Wood Cty, WI, December 22, 1874. Barbara was born in Winchester, Dundas Cty, ON April 8, 1853. Barbara was the daughter of William Hunter and Jane Coulthart. Barbara died February 24, 1925 in Sciota, Dakota Cty, MN, at 71 years of age. Her body was interred in Stanton Cemetery, Goodhue Cty, MN. Northfield News March 6, 1925 Mrs. Barbara Harkness After an illness of many months, Mrs. Barbara Harkness died Tuesday evening, Feb. 24. Funeral services were held at the home in Wallace on Friday afternoon, Rev. Elmer Gebhart officiating. Four ladies from the Randolph M.E. church of which the deceased had been a member for many years sang "Save By Grace," "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," and "Asleep in Jesus." Six nephews, Will and Murray Gibson, Will, Lawrence, Jesse and James Hunter acted as pallbearers. Internment was in Stanton cemetery. Barbara Hunter was born April 8, 1853, in Winchester, Ontario, came with her parents, William and Jean Hunter to Northfield in 1862, and lived nearly all her life in this community. On Dec. 22, 1874, she married to Frank Harkness of Grand Rapids, Wis. Five children were born to them, a daughter and one son dying in infancy. She leaves three sons, Wm. L., James S. and Frank, Jr., all of this community, also five grandsons and a granddaughter. One sister, Mrs. Mary Gibson, of Oxboro, and two brothers, John and Walter Hunter, also survive her. Mr. Harkness died Feb. 13, 1922. Mrs. Harkness was a devout Christian woman, and was a cheerful worker in Sunday school and other activities of the church. She lived in a close fellowship with God and was a careful, constant reader of her Bible. As she read God's promises and precepts they were a great comfort and blessing to her. She loved to be of service to others and was always doing good. Her kindly acts and her cheerful words remain a blessing to many. She loved her home and the dear ones in it, and was an ideal homemaker. Her hospitality and cheerfulness were always an inspiration to others. A faithful wife, a loving mother, a kind friend and neighbor has gone to her reward. Tho we shall miss her, we know that our loss is her gain, for she is with her Lord and the host of loved one in the better land. Northfield Independent February 23, 1922 Frank Harkness After four days and nights of unconsciousness following a paralytic stroke, Frank Harkness, Sr., died at his home in Sciota township Monday evening, Feb. 13, 1922. Less than an hour before he was taken ill, he walked across the river to visit with some men who were cutting wood and had come home seemingly as well as usual. All that human love and skill could do was done to revive him, but God had called him and he went. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Gebhardt at the home on Thursday afternoon and internment was made at the Stanton cemetery. Six nephews of the deceased, Will and George Gibson, and Will, Lawrence, Jess and Walter Hunter acted as pallbearers. A ladies' quartet sweetly sang "Asleep in Jesus," "Beautiful Isle of Somewhere," and Saved By Grace." Frank Harkness was born June 12, 1849, at Rutland, Vt., of sturdy Scotch parentage, his father and mother, Francis and Christina Harkness, having come from Scotland to Canada, thence to Vermont, where the father was overseer of the construction of the first railroad put through the state. The family later moved to Grand Rapids, Wis., while the state was yet unsettled by white men and the Indians were their neighbors. When the war broke out and Lincoln called for volunteers, Frank's father, though past the draft age, enlisted in 1861. He died in the service in 1863, leaving a widow and nine small children. Frank, then a lad 14 years old, tried as best he could to help the noble mother keep the family together. During the winters he worked in the pine woods, coming down the Wisconsin river in the spring as a raftsman and working on his mother's farm during the summers. During these hardships and sacrifices he developed the sterling qualities which were characteristic of his manhood. On Dec. 22, 1874, he was married to Barbara Hunter and a few years later moved to Minnesota to the community where he died. Five children were born to them, a daughter and son dying in infancy. He leaves to mourn his departure the widow, three sons, Wm. L., James S., Frank, Jr., and five little grandsons, also three sisters, Mrs. Jennie Hunter of Northfield, Mrs. Maggie Warner of Wisconsin Rapids, and Mrs. Anna Harrison of Thorpe, Wisconsin, together with a large number of relatives and friends. Frank Harkness joined the Methodist Episcopal church in his early manhood and remained a faithful member. He was ever ready to assist in any work or cause that was for the upbuilding of God's kingdom, the betterment of the community and the good of his fellowmen. He held many positions of trust and responsibility. He was town clerk of Sciota for twenty-five years. In case of sickness or death in the neighborhood, he was one of the first to offer aid and sympathy. He firmly believed in being faithful in the small things of life, and his cheerful words and happy face were a blessing to all whom he met. These quiet qualities of his Christian character bless his memory in the hearts of those who knew him.

Francis Harkness Sr. and Barbara Jean Hunter had the following children:

+ 186 i. William Llewellyn⁷ Harkness was born October 14, 1875.

187 ii. Jeanie Victoria Harkness was born December 19, 1877. Jeanie died February 18, 1880 in Medford, Steele Cty, MN, at 2 years of age.

188 iii. James Spurgeon Harkness was born in Medford, Steele Cty, MN December 4, 1879. James died May 27, 1954 in Hastings, Dakota Cty, MN, at 74 years of age. His body was interred in Stanton Cemetery, Goodhue Cty, MN.

189 iv. John Whipple Harkness was born in Sciota, Dakota Cty, MN October 22, 1882. John died November 4, 1882 in Sciota, Dakota Cty, MN, at less than one year of age.

+ 190 v. Francis Harkness Jr. was born June 22, 1888.

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