Abram D. Harlan

Abram Douglas Harlan{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-journal-banker-dead-at-offic/134543435/ |title=Banker Dead at Office Desk |date=1924-12-01 |newspaper=The Evening Journal |page=4 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}}{{cite web |url=https://www.library.pasen.gov/people/member-biography?id=5588 |title=Abram D. Harlan |website=Pennsylvania Senate Library |access-date=2023-11-03}} was born on September 3, 1833, to Elizabeth (née Buller) and Ezekial Harlan in West Marlborough Township, Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/reading-times-a-d-harlan-13-jun-19/134543000/ |title=A. D. Harlan... |date=1908-06-13 |newspaper=The Reading Daily Times |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}}{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/biographicalport00garn/page/652/mode/2up |title=Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Chester County, Pennsylvania, Comprising A Historical Sketch of the County |year=1893 |last=Wiley |first=Samuel T. |editor-last=Garner |editor-first=Winfield Scott |publisher=Gresham Publishing Company |pages=610–612, 652–654 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-11-18}}{{Open access}} At the age of 11, his family moved to Coatesville. He was educated in public and private schools.

Harlan owned a general store in Coatesville. He operated it until 1862. In the spring of 1862, he worked in the Christian commission and provided care to the sick at Fort Monroe, Harrison Landing, Washington, D.C. and Antietam. He then enlisted as a private with the 157th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment on October 16, 1862. He reached the rank of first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster. He served until he was discharged on February 27, 1863, in Harrisburg. He also worked in real estate.

Harlan was a member of the Coatesville School Board for 21 years. He helped start the Coatesville Building Association. He helped organize Fairview Cemetery.

Harlan was transcribing clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1864 and worked as message clerk from 1865 to 1867. In 1868, he helped secure the charter of the Coatesville Gas Company and in 1871, he served as its secretary.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/chestercountyits00thoms/page/464/mode/2up |title=Chester County and Its People |editor-last=Thomson |editor-first=W. W. |year=1898 |publisher=The Union History Company |pages=464, 706, 930 |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}} He was delegate of Chester County to the Republican State Convention in 1872. He worked as assistant clerk of the state constitutional convention from 1872 to 1873. He was clerk of the U.S. Internal Revenue Department under A. P. Tutton from 1872 to 1874. He was appointed deputy collector/assistant cashier of the Port of Philadelphia by Tutton. He served in that role from 1872 to 1882. In 1873, he edited and published Constitutional Convention of Pennsylvania, 1872 and 1873, its Members and Officers.

Harlan was a Republican. He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania Senate, succeeding James B. Everhart in April 1883. He represented district 19 in the senate until he resigned on June 29, 1891.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-somerset-herald-a-d-harlan-28/134544361/ |title=A. D. Harlan... |date=1883-03-28 |newspaper=The Somerset Herald |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-york-dispatch-full-returns-5-apr/134544428/ |title=Full returns... |date=1883-04-05 |newspaper=The York Dispatch |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-york-daily-mr-quays-troubles-and-h/134543391/ |title=Mr. Quay's Troubles and Hopes |date=1891-11-17 |newspaper=The York Daily |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}} In June 1891, he was appointed as marshall of the U.S. Circuit Court Appeals, District 3 by Judge Joseph P. Bradley.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pittsburgh-press-organized-a-new-tri/134543308/ |title=Organized A New Tribunal |date=1891-06-18 |newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}}

Harlan married three times. He married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Boyd Scott, daughter of Samuel W. Scott, on January 1, 1857. They had three children, Walter Lourie (1858–1858), Justin Edward (1860–1935) and Wallace Scott (1862–1924). His wife died in 1883. He married Ellen "Ella" Abigail (née Baldwin) Whyte, daughter of Abner Baldwin, on June 18, 1885, and she died in 1896. He married Olivia O. Wilcox in 1899. His son Justin was a dentist in China and in West Chester. His son Wallace was a banker in Coatesville. He was superintendent and elder of the Coatesville Presbyterian Church for about 40 years. He was elected elder of that church in 1871. In 1880, he was a commissioner to the Presbyterian General Assembly.

Harlan died on June 11, 1908, at his home in Wenonah, New Jersey. He was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Coatesville.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/north-penn-reporter-ex-senator-a-d-har/134543163/ |title=Ex-Senator A. D. Harlan... |date=1908-06-18 |newspaper=Lansdale Reporter |page=3 |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=2023-11-03}}{{Open access}}

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Category:1833 births

Category:1908 deaths

Category:Politicians from Chester County, Pennsylvania

Category:People from Wenonah, New Jersey

Category:People of Pennsylvania in the American Civil War

Category:Union army officers

Category:Republican Party Pennsylvania state senators

Category:19th-century American businesspeople

Category:19th-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly