Harlow Simpson Pickard was born about 1842 in Illinois, (probably Stephenson County), the son of Smith Wix Pickard and his first wife Affa Skeel. Harlow served with the 33rd Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, Company C during the Civil War. His rank was Sergeant when he enlisted on August 19, 1862 and First Lieutenant when he mustered out. His Civil War Pension record shows his widow to be Nellie S. Pickard.

Per Illinois, Databases of Illinois Veterans Index, 1775-1995, Harlow served from 1861 to 1865. He was buried in the Rose Hill cemetery in Cook County, Illinois. (Volume 1, Page 462).

Following is a transcription from the Richland Center Observer dated September 14, 1865:

VISITING - We have been favored with a series of calls from Lieut. H. S. Pickard, late of the 33d Infantry, and son of S. W. Pickard, esq. of this place. Lieut. Pickard left this village when quite a boy to learn the printing business with his brother in Shullsburg, and soon after breaking out of the war enlisted as a private soldier in the 33rd. He is visiting with his friends and relatives and expresses pleasure in exchanging the weapons of military for the stick of a printer.

According to family lore, Harlow was believed to have been a surgeon in the Civil War. However, nothing to back this up has yet been discovered. U. S. City Directories 1822-1889 have H. S. Pickard for the years 1870, 1873, 1875-1877 and his occupation is always listed as Printer.

According to Wisconsin Marriages, 1820-1907 Harlow married Nellie on November 17, 1868, in Lafayette County, Wisconsin. Nellie was born August 1854 in Virginia. Nellie died April 13, 1915, in Alameda County, California. Some trees on Ancestry.com show Harlow married to a woman by the name of Margaret (1838-1875). One tree show's him married to his step-mother Margaret C. Grey (1815-).

Harlow appears in the 1850 Census with his parents. His age is listed as 8 and his birth year is listed as abt. 1842. In the 1860 Census he is living with his brother Edwin in Shullsburg, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. His age however is listed as 10 and his birth year is listed as abt. 1850.