Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/395

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Harman. M. G. Harman and Captain Asher W. Harman are mentioned in contemporane- ous records of Augusta county, Virginia.

William Henry Harman, son of Lewis "Pat" Harman, was born about 1827, at Waynesboro, Augusta county, V'irginia. He was a lawyer, admitted to practice prior to 1851, when he was appointed commonwealth attorney of Augusta county to succeed Thomas J. Michie; he served until 1861, when James Baumgardner received the ap- pointment. Early in 1861, at the first alarm of war, \\'illiam H. Harman collected a number of militia organizations and marched with them to Harper's Ferry, Virginia; in May, 1 861, the Fifth \'irginia Regiment was organized there which was composed mainly of those militia companies from Augusta county. Its first regimental officers were, K. Harper, colonel ; William H. Harman, lieutenant-colonel ; William S. H. Baylor, major ; and Captain James Baumgardner, adjutant. The Fifth, with the Second, Fourth, Twenty-seventh and Thirty-third regiments formed the First Brigade of Vir- ginia Infantry; it was under the command of Colonel T. J. Jackson, afterwards known as "Stonewall" Jackson ; and this organiza- tion acquired the title of "Stonewall Bri- gade," by reason of the gallant fight they made at the first battle of Manassas. In the autumn of 1861. Colonel Harper resigned, and Lieutenant Harman was promoted to colonel of the regiment. He served through- out the war, but detailed information of that service is not available. He was killed March 2, 1865, in the immediate vicinity of his birthplace, during Early's stampede to Waynesboro, Virginia. He was a Democrat in politics, and one of the few persons of that party to hold political office in Augusta county, which was a strong Whig commu- nity. At the time of his death he was serv- ing a second term as grand master Alason of \'irginia, of which order he was a prominent member.

He married Margaret Singleton Garver, daughter of Albert Jefferson Garver. She was born in 1839 in Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, died there June 3, 1895;. Had issue, eight children, namely: I. Ken- ton, died at eight years of age. 2. Fannie, died in infancy. 3. Arthur C, of whom more hereafter. 4. Albert Garver, a rail- road man employed in South America, and was living at Guayaquil, Ecuador. 5. Ellen,

who married E. F. Surbur, of Staunton, Virginia. 6. Augusta, was living, unmarried in 1913, at Berkely, California. 7. Louis, died unmarried, aged twenty-one years. 8. Edward \'alentine. a resident merchandise broker, in New York City.

Arthur C. Harman, son of William Henry and Aiargaret Singleton (Garver) Harman, was born March 6. 1854, at Staunton, Au- gusta county, Virginia. He attended the local schools of his native town, and in 1874 graduated from the Virginia Military In- stitute, at Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia. Was private secretary to M. G. Harman, his uncle, for two years after leav- ing college ; then was four years an em- ployee of the James River and Kanawha Packet Company, at Richmond, Virginia ; and a railroad contractor for about two years in the building of the Norfolk & West- ern Railway. Returned to Richmond and became manager of the A. W. Garner Trans- fer Company, and continued with that com- pany for seven years. Later he engaged in the real estate business in Richmond, Virginia, in which business he has contin- ued since that time.

Mr. Harman is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in local politics. Was elected alderman of the city of Richmond, and served from 1896 to 1898; elected to the house of delegates in 1901, and served to 1904; also in the latter year was elected to the state senate for the ensuing term of two years. Has been successively re-elected for the terms beginning 1906, 1908, 1910, 1912, which last term expires in 1914, serving from the Richmond district. Is a director and stockholder of the West End Bank, at Richmond, Virginia. Member of the Blue Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Hepta- sophs, the \\^oodmen of the \\'orld, and the Junior Order of LJnited American Me- chanics, also is an attendant of the Presby- terian church.

Mr. Harman married Rachel Primrose Cochran, daughter of William and Alargaret Miller (Cameron) Cochran, January 7, 1891, at Lexington, Rockbridge county, Virginia. She was born March 18, 1863. in Augusta county, Virginia. They have three children, namely: i. William B., born March 18, 1902, at Richmond, Virginia. 2. Margaret. 3. Rachel Primrose.