Elias Harmon
Elias Harmon, one of the first settlers of Mantua, was a descendant of Francis Harmon, who in 1635 settled near Boston, Mass. His children were John and Sarah Harmon, the former one of the first settlers of Springfield, Mass. Nathaniel, a son of John Harmon, was, with the exception of his two brothers, the first settler of Suffield, Conn., and there John Harmon, the great-grandfather of Elias Harmon, of Mantua, was born. He was the first Deacon of the first church at Suffield, and died there in 1786. Elias Harmon, father of the Elias Harmon who settled in Mantua in 1799, was also a native of Suffield, Conn., and in that village resided until his death. In the history of Mantua will be found a record of Elias Harmon's settlement. During his residence in Portage County he held the following positions: Supervisor of Highways in 1803; Justice of the Peace from 1808 to 1815; he was appointed Associate Judge in 1815, and reappointed to 1836; in 1808 was County Treasurer, reappointed in 1809; Assessor in 1810; Deputy United States Marshal in 1810; was elected Representative 1810-12, receiving 148 votes against John Campbell's seventy-three and Hezekiah Burrough's seventy-seven. From 1814 to 1835 he was engaged as Land Agent for original owners of Western Reserve lands. His daughter, Eunice, was the first white child born in the township, and the first white female child in the county. In 1802 Zacheas Harmon settled at Mantua, and four years later came Seth, Enos, John and Daniel Harmon, three of whom served in the war of 1812 and were taken prisoners by the British at Maiden, Canada. Elias Harmon died in September, 1851 (vide Mantua and county history). Orrin Harmon, son of Judge Elias Harmon, was born in Mantua Township, February 22, 1805, and was educated in the schools of that township. His wife, Mrs. Camilla (King) Harmon (daughter of Dr. Robert King, who settled in Charlestown Township, this county, in 1826), was born at Sandisfield, Mass., November 14, 1802; came to Portage County with her father and was married to Mr. Harmon, at Ravenna, September 26, 1832. This lady died June 17, 1878. Of their children, Julian C. Harmon, born February 17, 1835, is now a resident of Ravenna, and owner of a large farm near the city; Sabrina C, born January 27, 1842, died October 10, 1856. Mr. Harmon, now in the eighty-first year of his age, can look back seventy years to the beginning of the county, and relate with remarkable precision events connected with the county's progress and settlement. His long service as County Surveyor is referred to in the general history of the county.
From History of Portage County, Ohio, Warner, Beers & Co., Chicago, 1885