Typed by: Kay
Cunningham
THOMAS D. HARLAN
SURNAMES: HARALN,
LANGSTON, JACKSON, CLEMENTS, RICHARDSON, DUNHAM, McGLASSON, LLOYD, MARTIN.
Thomas
D. Harlan, b June 1, 1831 in Laurens District, South Carolina, d February 5,
1910 and buried in Stranger Cemetery at Stranger, Falls County, Texas - was a
son of Reverend James and Margaret (Langston) Harlan, who moved to Tallapoosa
County, Alabama.
Thomas
was married on July 31, 1853 to Rebecca Charity Jackson, b November 8, 1834, d
August 13, 1914 when struck by lightning, and buried in Stranger Cemetery - a
daughter of John Wesley and Lydia (Clements) Jackson.
In 1856,
Thomas and a group of five related families left Alabama for Arkansas, coming
through Red River County to Falls County, Texas by 1868.
Thomas
bought land until, by 1892, he owned 680 acres. He built the two-story residence which is presently owned by a granddaughter,
Mrs. G. A. Richard- son (nee Agnes Margueritte Harlan).
During
the Civil War, Thomas worked in government shops as a carpenter. He built a
mule-powered gin at Blue Ridge, ran a corn mill, made coffins - which
his wife lined with cheesecloth. His was furnished with piped water from a
windmill to a wooden storage tank.
Thomas
was a Mason, a member of the Methodist- Episcopal Church, worshipping at
Stranger.
After
the mule-powered gin became obsolete, he built a steam gin which was in
continuous operation by a son, John Luther, and grandson, Lloyd Wesley, until
1966.
The
children of Thomas D. and Rebecca (Jackson) Harlan were:
Elisha
Harlan, b May 27, 1854 in Tallapoosa County, Alabama - married Gustavia Albert
Benton.
Margaret
Langston Harlan, b July 19, 1859 in Arkansas, d November 1, 1886 and buried in
Stranger Cemetery.
William
Lafayette Harlan, b January 20, 1861 in Arkansas
- married Zelda Dunham.
John Luther Harlan, b August 22, 1867 in Red River County, Texas - married
Elizabeth McGlasson.
Alice
Lydia Harlan, b February 24, 1870, d January 16, 1913 - married Charles W.
Lloyd.
Aaron
Laurens Harlan, b January 1, 1873 - married Sarah McGlasson - a
cousin of Elizabeth who married his brother, John Luther Harlan.
James
Lee Harlan, b January 18, 1876, d May 11, 1959 - married Mabel Martin, b
February 17, 1882, d February 3, 1968.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for
printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 215 Column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.