OBITUARY
Sep. 1907
Alexander Harkin was born in Melrose, Scotland May 1, 1828. It is said that he grew up at Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, where his father was part of the staff. At the age of 22 he came to America, settling in the Boston area of Massachusetts where he remained for six years, affiliating with the Presbyterian Church. Shortly after his marriage in 1856 to Miss Janet Crawford, he came west and settled in West Newton Township, this [Nicollet] county, residing there until 1893 when he came to St. Peter to make his future home. In the early days his farm was an important point on the Minnesota river and a landing place for freight boats. He built a large warehouse and bought grain of the farmers, thus providing them a ready market for their produce. He became a well known store owner.
His first wife died in 1874, leaving besides her husband two daughters, the oldest of whom was the first white child born in West Newton. A few years later he was married to a sister of his deceased wife. His second wife died in 1892. In 1893 he married Mrs. Helen M Lamberton and since has made his home in St. Peter, giving up the office of postmaster in West Newton which he had held since 1862. He died at his home in St. Peter of heart trouble and complications. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Alexander Russell and Mrs. R[udolph] Massopust, both residing at West Newton. His funeral was from the Congregational Church in New Ulm. His pallbearers were two physicians, a Congressman, a Mayor and a Judge.
OBITUARY
Sep. 1907
Alexander Harkin was born in Melrose, Scotland May 1, 1828. It is said that he grew up at Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott, where his father was part of the staff. At the age of 22 he came to America, settling in the Boston area of Massachusetts where he remained for six years, affiliating with the Presbyterian Church. Shortly after his marriage in 1856 to Miss Janet Crawford, he came west and settled in West Newton Township, this [Nicollet] county, residing there until 1893 when he came to St. Peter to make his future home. In the early days his farm was an important point on the Minnesota river and a landing place for freight boats. He built a large warehouse and bought grain of the farmers, thus providing them a ready market for their produce. He became a well known store owner.
His first wife died in 1874, leaving besides her husband two daughters, the oldest of whom was the first white child born in West Newton. A few years later he was married to a sister of his deceased wife. His second wife died in 1892. In 1893 he married Mrs. Helen M Lamberton and since has made his home in St. Peter, giving up the office of postmaster in West Newton which he had held since 1862. He died at his home in St. Peter of heart trouble and complications. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Alexander Russell and Mrs. R[udolph] Massopust, both residing at West Newton. His funeral was from the Congregational Church in New Ulm. His pallbearers were two physicians, a Congressman, a Mayor and a Judge.
Inscription
Alexander Harkin's white rose transplanted from Melrose, Scotland, in the nineteenth century to West Newton, and to his grave in 1907
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