: Harriet House Harding was born in 1859 in the Baroness Valley, Contra Costa County, California. She married Nathan Allen Powers on November 14, 1888, in SanFrancisco, CA. They had Five children: (1)Irving Powers, born 1890, died abt 1945 in Concord, CA; (2)Josephine Clara Powers, born 1892 in Contra Costa County, CA, and died 1965 in Oakland, CA; (3)Ruby Belle Powers, born June 29, 1894 in Vine Hill, Contra Costa County, CA and died Sept 1963 in Martinez, Contra Costa County, CA; (4) Frank Powers, born 1898 in Co. Co. County, CA, and died abt 1958 in Co Co County, CA; and (5) Ina Louella Powers, born March 1st, 1902 in Pacheco, CA and died December 14th 1992 in Concord, CA.
Harriets parents (John Harding and ? House) apparently settled in California in Contra Costa County some time after the 1849 Gold Rush but before the birth of Harriet in 1859. When Harriet wanted to marry a young Mr Collins, her father father refused to allow it, apparently threatening her future husband if she went through with it. He had chosen Nathan Allen Powers for her, and she decided to go along with that choice rather than risk her father's anger and retaliation. However, according to Granddaughter Shirley Sellick Schleif, stories were passed down from mothers to daughters that Harriet continued a lifelong love affair with her young love, Mr Collins, who would come and visit her secretly in whatever hideaway they could set up, here in Contra Costa County; and they said that Nathan Powers had wind of this secret affair, and would move residences frequently in an attempt to thwart these clandestine meetings between his wife and her lover. In the end, Harriet apparently confessed to daughter Ina ("Babe"), the youngest, that Irving and Jo and Babe were in fact fathered by Mr Collins, and that only Ruby and Frank were fathered by Nathan. Babe said she remembered being little and holding the reins on the carriage while mother "visited" Mr Collins in an inn or hotel. Shirley's impression was that Mr Collins probably never married, although he apparently had wanted children of his own, and at some point it is said he adopted a boy in Vine Hill, who was later killed by a train accident.
Several of Harriet's sisters were living somewhere south of Santa Cruz, and she had also said that her brother was killed when he was thrown from a horse. It is said that one of Harriet's uncles had owned some land in San Francisco prior to the Gold Rush; but then sold his land for a mule to go Gold-digging.
Many of the Harding and House relatives are buried in the Martinez Cemetery, including Harriet's first born child who died at birth. Harriet and husband Nathan, along with several Powers relatives are buried in the pioneer cemetery in Pacheco, overlooking a beautiful view of Mt Diablo and the valley.
Harriet had some relation to President Harding; they say that when husband Nathan's store burned down in Pacheco in 1926, there were letters from the president (written in 1923) saying that he would come to visit (his cousins) on his way back through California from his Alaskan trip. Unfortunately that visit never took place, as he became ill while in San Francisco on the way back, and died on August 3 of that year. (See article on Warren G Harding, last page). We are continuing research to show that family relationship, said to be about 3rd cousins.
Harriets parents (John Harding and ? House) apparently settled in California in Contra Costa County some time after the 1849 Gold Rush but before the birth of Harriet in 1859. When Harriet wanted to marry a young Mr Collins, her father father refused to allow it, apparently threatening her future husband if she went through with it. He had chosen Nathan Allen Powers for her, and she decided to go along with that choice rather than risk her father's anger and retaliation. However, according to Granddaughter Shirley Sellick Schleif, stories were passed down from mothers to daughters that Harriet continued a lifelong love affair with her young love, Mr Collins, who would come and visit her secretly in whatever hideaway they could set up, here in Contra Costa County; and they said that Nathan Powers had wind of this secret affair, and would move residences frequently in an attempt to thwart these clandestine meetings between his wife and her lover. In the end, Harriet apparently confessed to daughter Ina ("Babe"), the youngest, that Irving and Jo and Babe were in fact fathered by Mr Collins, and that only Ruby and Frank were fathered by Nathan. Babe said she remembered being little and holding the reins on the carriage while mother "visited" Mr Collins in an inn or hotel. Shirley's impression was that Mr Collins probably never married, although he apparently had wanted children of his own, and at some point it is said he adopted a boy in Vine Hill, who was later killed by a train accident.
Several of Harriet's sisters were living somewhere south of Santa Cruz, and she had also said that her brother was killed when he was thrown from a horse. It is said that one of Harriet's uncles had owned some land in San Francisco prior to the Gold Rush; but then sold his land for a mule to go Gold-digging.
Many of the Harding and House relatives are buried in the Martinez Cemetery, including Harriet's first born child who died at birth. Harriet and husband Nathan, along with several Powers relatives are buried in the pioneer cemetery in Pacheco, overlooking a beautiful view of Mt Diablo and the valley.
Harriet had some relation to President Harding; they say that when husband Nathan's store burned down in Pacheco in 1926, there were letters from the president (written in 1923) saying that he would come to visit (his cousins) on his way back through California from his Alaskan trip. Unfortunately that visit never took place, as he became ill while in San Francisco on the way back, and died on August 3 of that year. (See article on Warren G Harding, last page). We are continuing research to show that family relationship, said to be about 3rd cousins.
: Harriet House Harding was born in 1859 in the Baroness Valley, Contra Costa County, California. She married Nathan Allen Powers on November 14, 1888, in SanFrancisco, CA. They had Five children: (1)Irving Powers, born 1890, died abt 1945 in Concord, CA; (2)Josephine Clara Powers, born 1892 in Contra Costa County, CA, and died 1965 in Oakland, CA; (3)Ruby Belle Powers, born June 29, 1894 in Vine Hill, Contra Costa County, CA and died Sept 1963 in Martinez, Contra Costa County, CA; (4) Frank Powers, born 1898 in Co. Co. County, CA, and died abt 1958 in Co Co County, CA; and (5) Ina Louella Powers, born March 1st, 1902 in Pacheco, CA and died December 14th 1992 in Concord, CA.
Harriets parents (John Harding and ? House) apparently settled in California in Contra Costa County some time after the 1849 Gold Rush but before the birth of Harriet in 1859. When Harriet wanted to marry a young Mr Collins, her father father refused to allow it, apparently threatening her future husband if she went through with it. He had chosen Nathan Allen Powers for her, and she decided to go along with that choice rather than risk her father's anger and retaliation. However, according to Granddaughter Shirley Sellick Schleif, stories were passed down from mothers to daughters that Harriet continued a lifelong love affair with her young love, Mr Collins, who would come and visit her secretly in whatever hideaway they could set up, here in Contra Costa County; and they said that Nathan Powers had wind of this secret affair, and would move residences frequently in an attempt to thwart these clandestine meetings between his wife and her lover. In the end, Harriet apparently confessed to daughter Ina ("Babe"), the youngest, that Irving and Jo and Babe were in fact fathered by Mr Collins, and that only Ruby and Frank were fathered by Nathan. Babe said she remembered being little and holding the reins on the carriage while mother "visited" Mr Collins in an inn or hotel. Shirley's impression was that Mr Collins probably never married, although he apparently had wanted children of his own, and at some point it is said he adopted a boy in Vine Hill, who was later killed by a train accident.
Several of Harriet's sisters were living somewhere south of Santa Cruz, and she had also said that her brother was killed when he was thrown from a horse. It is said that one of Harriet's uncles had owned some land in San Francisco prior to the Gold Rush; but then sold his land for a mule to go Gold-digging.
Many of the Harding and House relatives are buried in the Martinez Cemetery, including Harriet's first born child who died at birth. Harriet and husband Nathan, along with several Powers relatives are buried in the pioneer cemetery in Pacheco, overlooking a beautiful view of Mt Diablo and the valley.
Harriet had some relation to President Harding; they say that when husband Nathan's store burned down in Pacheco in 1926, there were letters from the president (written in 1923) saying that he would come to visit (his cousins) on his way back through California from his Alaskan trip. Unfortunately that visit never took place, as he became ill while in San Francisco on the way back, and died on August 3 of that year. (See article on Warren G Harding, last page). We are continuing research to show that family relationship, said to be about 3rd cousins.
Harriets parents (John Harding and ? House) apparently settled in California in Contra Costa County some time after the 1849 Gold Rush but before the birth of Harriet in 1859. When Harriet wanted to marry a young Mr Collins, her father father refused to allow it, apparently threatening her future husband if she went through with it. He had chosen Nathan Allen Powers for her, and she decided to go along with that choice rather than risk her father's anger and retaliation. However, according to Granddaughter Shirley Sellick Schleif, stories were passed down from mothers to daughters that Harriet continued a lifelong love affair with her young love, Mr Collins, who would come and visit her secretly in whatever hideaway they could set up, here in Contra Costa County; and they said that Nathan Powers had wind of this secret affair, and would move residences frequently in an attempt to thwart these clandestine meetings between his wife and her lover. In the end, Harriet apparently confessed to daughter Ina ("Babe"), the youngest, that Irving and Jo and Babe were in fact fathered by Mr Collins, and that only Ruby and Frank were fathered by Nathan. Babe said she remembered being little and holding the reins on the carriage while mother "visited" Mr Collins in an inn or hotel. Shirley's impression was that Mr Collins probably never married, although he apparently had wanted children of his own, and at some point it is said he adopted a boy in Vine Hill, who was later killed by a train accident.
Several of Harriet's sisters were living somewhere south of Santa Cruz, and she had also said that her brother was killed when he was thrown from a horse. It is said that one of Harriet's uncles had owned some land in San Francisco prior to the Gold Rush; but then sold his land for a mule to go Gold-digging.
Many of the Harding and House relatives are buried in the Martinez Cemetery, including Harriet's first born child who died at birth. Harriet and husband Nathan, along with several Powers relatives are buried in the pioneer cemetery in Pacheco, overlooking a beautiful view of Mt Diablo and the valley.
Harriet had some relation to President Harding; they say that when husband Nathan's store burned down in Pacheco in 1926, there were letters from the president (written in 1923) saying that he would come to visit (his cousins) on his way back through California from his Alaskan trip. Unfortunately that visit never took place, as he became ill while in San Francisco on the way back, and died on August 3 of that year. (See article on Warren G Harding, last page). We are continuing research to show that family relationship, said to be about 3rd cousins.
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