Otho N. Harrod

OTHO N. HARROD. - A man is judged by his friends and acquaintances by what he has done. In the old country people want to know who and what a man's father was, but in this country it is the man himself who has to bring things to pass if he wants to be well thought of. He must either make money or fame. Otho N. Harrod, the owner of a pretty farm in Quindaro township, Wyandotte county, Kansas, has accomplished a great deal since he first started out in life and has become a well known man in the county, ably assisted by his estimable wife.

Otho N. Harrod was a native of Franklin county, Kentucky, where he was born January 13, 1850. He was the son of Franklin Harrod who came to Kansas in 1857 with his brother and located near Fairmont, Leavenworth county. He sent for his wife and family, who had remained behind in Kentucky until Mr. Harrod had made a start. In 1858, just as things seemed to be coming his way, Mr. Harrod died at the age of twenty-nine, leaving his wife to bring up the family of little children. Just about that time two of the children died, leaving the widow more than desolate. She gathered her belongings together and took the other children back to Kentucky, where she had friends.

Otho was educated in the public schools. He first came to Kansas when he was seven years old, but had only just started to school here when his father died, stayed in Kansas only a short time after that, and then back to Kentucky with his mother. He went to school there, but was obliged to go to work when he was very young. When he was nineteen years old, in 1869, he got work with the Louisville, Cincinnati and Lexington Railroad as brakeman. He remained with this road about twelve years. The last five years of his service he was promoted to the office of conductor and he had charge of the train. In 1881 he came back to Kansas, where he got a position as brakeman with the Union Pacific Railroad. A year later he became a switchman and later got the position of master switchman. In the strike of 1886 he went out with the rest of the train men. After the strike was ended he entered the employ of the Kansas City and Northwestern Railroad, with whom he stayed thirteen years. He lived frugally in order that he might save some money and finally bought ten acres of land on which he has built a very pretty home. He has put many improvements on his land and has it set out with fruit, berries, grapes and asparagus, thus giving him a very fine fruit farm, which yields large crops for which he finds a ready market.

In 1882, soon after he came back to Kansas City, Mr. Harrod married Miss Rina Connell, the daughter of William Connell, ex-judge in Indiana. There have been no children born to this union.

Mrs. Harrod is a highly cultured and refined woman, being the proud possessor of a library of two hundred volumes of choice literature, both she and her husband being omniverous readers of the best products of pen and press. She received her early education in the public schools of her home town, and later was a student at the Versailles (Indiana) Normal school for three terms. She was a successful teacher for eight years in her home county of Ripley, Indiana, and was also a prominent and efficient officer of the Degree of Honor.

Mr. Harrod was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is now in a position where he can enjoy life, living close to nature. He and his intelligent wife have many friends who respect as well as like them.