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Thomas Emmett Harrington

Educator, Soldier, County Official
Source: American Biography - A New Cyclopedia, Volume 10, 1922, pp. 223-224.
Transcribed by MaryAlice Schwanke, 2021
   The Harringtons of this review came to the State of Indiana from Caroline county, Maryland, where James Harrington was engaged in farming,m his lands lying near Melville, and here Thomas E. Harrington, educator, soldier and county official of Muncie, Indiana, was born, and  spent his youth and early manhood. Indiana became the family home in 1870, and twenty years later, when elected to a county office, Thomas E. Harrington made Muncie, the county seat, his home, there spending the two last decades of his life. A veteran of the Civil War, he brought home with him souvenirs of that grim struggle, and for many years preceding his passing his constant companion was either a crutch or a heavy cane. He was widely known as an educator, having taught many years in Franklin and Delaware counties before being elected recorder of deeds of the last bamed county. His entire life was spent in some form of public service, and he was truly mourned in Muncie, the home of his later years.
   James Harrington, of ancient Maryland family, married Martha Numbers, a birth-right member of the Society of Friends, and settled on a farm in Caroline county, Maryland, and there resided until 1872, when the family moved to Henry county, Indiana, the father dying soon after the removal. His widow died in Muncie, Indiana, in 1889.
   Thomas Emmett Harrington, son of James and Martha (Numbers) Harrington, was born at the home farm near Melville, Caroline county, Maryland, May __, 18_3, died in Muncie, Indiana, March 4, 1912, and is buried in Beach Grove Cemetery in that city. He attended the public schools, near his home, and Castle Hall, but he was largely a self-educated man, although his intellectual attainments were so high that he was the equal of his contemporaries, many of whom were college bred. In 1861, although but eighteen years of age, public sentiment greatly divided in his State, he took sides with the Union, and answered President Lincoln's call by enlisting in the First Regiment, Maryland Infantry, going in as fife major of his comapny and serving for three years. He was engaged in the Gettysburg campaign, saw service under Generals Butler, Lew Wallace, Dix and Lockwood, and at the end of his term was honorably discharged.
   Upon his return from the army, he began teaching in Caroline, his home county, and there remained until 1870, when with wife and children he moved North, locating in Franklin county, Indiana, where he began teaching in the public schools of that county. He taught in the schools of that county many years, then taught in the schools of Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, and in Delaware county, continuing an educator until 1890, when he was elected recorder of deeds for Delaware county, an office he ably filled for four years. He moved to Muncie after his election in 1890. Mr. Harrington made his home in Muncie, and there resided until his passing, twenty-two years later. After the expiration of his four-year term of office, he opened a set of abstract books and was abstracter of titles as well as pension attorney until his death. He ranked very high as an educator, pssessing natural talent for imparting information in so attractive a manner that his pupils felt school was a pleasant place to be. He was also a talented vocalist, having a full, rich tenor, that made his singing classes popular for wherever he taught a day school he soon was importuned to start a singing school. He was leader of the choir in many Methodist churches in the various towns in which he lived, and not until the years grew heavy did he give up his music.
   In politics Mr. Harrington was a Republican; in religious faith a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, adjutant and commander of S. J. Williams Post, Muncie; member of Selma Lodge, No. 189, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also a member of encampment and canton of that order, being a past grand patriarch of the Patriarchs Militant. He took more than a passing interest in these bodies and in community affairs, and no man in his city was more genuinely respected.
   Mr. Harrington married, in Caroline county, Maryland, December 21, 1869, Susan Bell Norris, a daughter of William and Emmeline (West) Norris, of old Maryland families. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harrington: 1. Alice Lola, married (first) C. O. Hanna (second) Jacob Noble, and resides in Muncie, Indiana. 2. Della H., widow of Milton Collins; resides in Muncie. 3. Harry C., a resident of Muncie. 4. William, Harland, died in manhood. 5. Martha, married Edward A. Hoffer, of Muncie. 6. Charles Omar, died in youthful manhood. 7. Lola J., married Albert T. Needham, a lawyer of Muncie, but they now reside in the State of Oklahoma. 8. Thomas Roy, a soldier of the Spanish-American War, a captain of the Great War, 1917-18, now living in Portland, Oregon. 9. Susan Georgia, married O. F. Line; resides in LaPorte, Indiana.
   Mrs. Thomas E. Harrington survives her husband, and at the age of seventy-five years still resides in Muncie, spending her declining years surrounded by kindred and friends. She has thirteen grand-children and two great-grandchildren. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Muncie, and has many friends, Muncie having been her home for twenty-two years, 1900-1922.

Last Updated: January 2021