Calvin “Cab” P. Harmison was born July 12, 1844 in Dodge County, Wisconsin to Isaac Harmison and Eunice Barrett. He died sometime around 1911. He most likely died in Eau Claire or Half Moon Lake although on recent trips to Eau Claire I have been unsuccessful in locating a death certificate or grave site. I found a grave site for his daughter Nellie in a Harmison plot owned by C.P. Harmison and it was indicated that the lot was full, which could mean that he is buried there in an unmarked grave. There is a death certificate for a son of C.D. Harmison and wife Mary. I was told that there were twin sons who died young and I am sure that this is one of their children. There are also a few other Harmison’s buried there.
Calvin married Mary Magdeline Egan. She came from County Cork, Ireland, and immigrated between the ages of 18 and 20 (about 1858). She and her family moved to Eau Claire from Ohio which was the first place the Egan family settled. She came over with her father, John and a rather large family. Three brothers, James, Michael and John, fought in the Civil War in Wisconsin regiments. Her sister, Margaret F. Egan married John Jacob Kelley on August 15, 1871 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Eau Claire. He was a prominent Civil War veteran and outstanding citizen in Eau Claire. The Kelley’s are buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Eau Claire along with a John Egan. There was a Josephine Kelley and Vivian remembers an unmarried Aunt Joe. Josephine Kelley was a milliner and owned her own store. Mary’s other sister, Ellen Josephine Eagan was married to Stephen Cuddy (Cudahy) on June 22, 1880 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Eau Claire.
Calvin and Mary were divorced. Mary apparently could take care of herself as she ran a boarding house at 506 Grand Avenue in Eau Claire (pic on left). Her daughter Nellie was listed as a boarder as well as Mae until her marriage.
My grandmother spoke of her grandmother, Mary Egan Harmison with great affection. She said she was a petite, robust, plump woman. When she visited her daughter Mae in Duluth, she wore a straw bonnet with flowers and carried a tapestry bag. She would come by train and bring wonderful canned jellies, oil pickles, as well as bread and butter pickles. She had a sunny disposition though somewhat quiet and reserved. Mary died in March of 1920.
Their children:
Florella (Nellie) Harmison
Florella “Nellie” was born January 4, 1865 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and died September 19, 1943 in Eau Claire. She taught in the 9th ward in the city of Eau Claire for 78 years and never married.
Mary Evangeline Harmison
Mary “Mae” who was born October 30, 1871 in Eau Claire and died in Duluth, MN March 15, 1915. married to William H. Bailey. She was a school teacher in Eau Claire and eventually kept the books for the store and logging camps run by her husband. See more about Mary’s family>>>
Carmin Eubert Harmison and possible twin
Carmin and possibly his twin brother d: 1877 age 8 months and is buried at Lakeview Cemetery. My great-aunt Florence Bailey told me that there were twins but have not found proof of that yet. She specifically mentioned the name Carmin.
Calvin tried his hand at many trades, owning businesses and even filing a patent for a bee hive design. (Rice Lake, WI 4-30-1907 No. 851,882. Application filed January 5, 1907. Serial No. 350,989.)
Also, he filed a patent for a milk can-No. 847,473 March 19, 1907 Spec. 3512 Drg. 769 Vol. 127 Page 945.
Newspaper articles
From: Eau Claire Weekly Free Press, dated May 27, 1875:
“Cal. Harmison’s store was broken into last night, and some trivial losses were sustained, when the thief became alarmed doubtless, from the appearance of the teams for ice at an adjacent ice house.”
From: Eau Claire Leader, dated September 21 1943
“Miss N. Harmison Dies at Hospital
Miss Nellie Harmison 615 Broadway St., died early Sunday morning at Luther hospital at the age of 83 years. She was born in Eau Claire and for 55 years taught in public schools here. Many citizens of this community will recall having gone to school to her. She is survived by several nieces and nephews and one grandniece.
Funeral services will be held this afternoon at 2 o’clock from Lenmark’s. The Rev. Maurice Haehlen will officiate. Interment will be in Lake View cemetery. Friends may call at Lenmark’s this forenoon.”
Eau Claire City Directory search – earliest publ. 1880
1. Calvin P, agt. National Soap Works, res n w corner 5th & State
1882 Calvin, ice & fish dealer, 507 Bridge, res same
1. Calvin – same as above
2. Mrs Mary, res n w cor 5th & Bridge (no Calvin listed)
1887-8 Calvin P, solicitor Eau Claire Benefit Co, res Ironwood, Wis.
Mrs. Mary, boarding house, 506 Bridge
Miss Nellie, teacher, bds 401 Michigan
1888-90 Miss Nellie, teacher bds 506 Bridge
1891-2 Mrs Mary, res 615 Broadway
Miss Nellie,tchr, bds 615 Broadway
1. Mary (wid Charles P) res 615 Broadway
Nellie E, tchr, bds, 615 Broadway
2. Mary (wid Calvin P) res 615 Broadway
Nellie E, tchr, bds, ” ” “
Nellie & Mary remain listed as above into the 1918 issue. From 1920 & on, only Nellie continues.
There are other Harmisons listed, probably connected to James & his son Arthur.
Arthur is listed in 1931 as “died June 9th 1929 age 63”
Calvin Harmison Notes
Calvin and Mary were residing in Oak Grove, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin in 1870;
On a visit to the Chippewa Valley Museum in Eau Claire I found an index card for Calvin listing the newspaper articles that mentioned him. They are as follows:
January 1872 …building ice house 22×100 at west end of c. (center?) bridge.
November 1874 …building another ice house on Half Moon Lake
May 15, 1875 …established brick yard on Otter Creek on site of old one which used to be in existance 9-10 years ago. A half mile of road has been built, house, barn…
May 26, 1877 Eau Claire News; has burned 1 kiln of brick containing about 125,000
May 20, 1896 Leader; lives at 120 Bridge Street
May 21, 1899; lives at Rice Lake
1832 Leader; wife an Eagan girl, sister of Mrs. John Kelley and Mrs. Cuddy
Sources
“United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN98-C86 : accessed 7 October 2015), Calvin Harmison, Wisconsin, United States; citing p. 2, family 17, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,211. (Calvin is shown as a storekeeper, Mary is shown as being born in England)
“Wisconsin, State Census, 1875,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMMY-6J3 : accessed 7 October 2015), C P Harmison, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,032,690.
“Wisconsin, State Census, 1895,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MM9Z-9D7 : accessed 7 October 2015), Mary Harmison, Eau Claire City, Eau Claire, Wisconsin; citing reference 18, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,032,707.
“United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMVY-DGZ : accessed 7 October 2015), Calvin Harmison, Cedar Lake town, Barron, Wisconsin, United States; citing sheet 5B, family 83, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,241,777.
“United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF2V-WB7 : accessed 7 October 2015), Nellie E Harmison, Eau Claire Ward 7, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States; citing sheet 2B, family 38, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,984.
“United States Census, 1930,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X9QZ-F1G : accessed 7 October 2015), Nellie F Harmison, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0014, sheet 14B, family 360, line 71, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 2571; FHL microfilm 2,342,305.
“United States Census, 1940,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K7VJ-4B5 : accessed 7 October 2015), Nellie Harmison, Ward 7, Eau Claire, Eau Claire City, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 18-15A, sheet 8B, family 185, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 4477.
“United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MPVT-RSZ : accessed 7 October 2015), Mrs. Mary Harmison, Eau Claire Ward 7, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 55, sheet 12A, family 275, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,723.
“United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN98-C86 : accessed 7 October 2015), Calvin Harmison, Wisconsin, United States; citing p. 2, family 17, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 553,211.
“Wisconsin, State Census, 1905,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMS8-ZWB : accessed 7 October 2015), C P Harmison, Doyle, Barron, Wisconsin; citing p. 317, line 22, State Historical Society, Madison; FHL microfilm 1,020,439.
“United States Census, 1920,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF2V-WB7 : accessed 7 October 2015), Nellie E Harmison, Eau Claire Ward 7, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, United States; citing sheet 2B, family 38, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,984.
Last Updated on May 29, 2021 by rootie