Eyewitness to Elijah Lovejoy Tragedy Dies: JOHN WESLEY HARNED Source: Alton Evening Telegraph, March 28, 1904 John Wesley Harned, aged 85 years, an eyewitness of the Lovejoy tragedy at Alton, November 7, 1837, died at his country home west of Greenville, Sunday morning. Mr. Harned was born in Red River county, Texas, January 26, 1819, and moved with his parents to Alton in 1833. He way-billed Daniel Webster from Alton to Carlinville, when Webster was making his canvass for the nomination for President. In 1838 he moved to Bond county, and has resided there continuously. In 1840 he cast his first vote for Harrison at Pocohontas, Bond county, and for fifty consecutive years he voted the Republican ticket at that place, never missing an election, national, state or county. Mr. Harned has many times given a graphic account of the killing of Elijah P. Lovejoy at Alton, of which he was an eyewitness. His father, Capt. William Harned, was the owner of the old Mansion House, still standing in Alton. He was one of the defenders of Lovejoy, and was standing by his side when he fell.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 02:02:27 +0000