Charles D Harlow

HARLOW

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 6/1/2010 at 11:58:36

Although Charles D Harlow is now directing his extensive business affairs from Des Moines, were he resides, he is widely and favorably known in Boone county and particularly Cass township, where he was born July 10, 1872. For many years Mr Harlow was connected with the limber business, later turning his attention to coal mining. He is today one of the chief stockholders of the Phillips Coal Company and also has many other interests, owning valuable farm lands in this and other counties of Iowa, besides a tract in Alabama. Charles D Harlow is a son of Abner and Mary E (Waldo) Harlow, the former a native of Ohio, who is now residing near Woodward, Iowa. Mrs Harlow died in 1906. They were among the earlier families of Boone county and the father yet lives on a portion of the old home farm in Cass township. In their family were ten children, nine sons and one daughter all of whom were reared in this county.
Charles D Harlow passed his youth in Cass township, acquiring his education in the local schools. His schooling was terminated on account of his health at an early age he entered active business life. He followed farming until 1889 and then moved to Racine, Wisconsin, where he was connected with a wholesale and retail lumbering business. He remained in Wisconsin until 1895 and having thoroughly mastered the details of the business, then engaged independently in the same, operating a retail yard at Woodward. There he continued with great success for eleven years or until 1906. At the same time he secured valuable options of coal lands adjacent to Scandia and perceiving the best possibilities in this businesses, then organized the Phillips Coal company of the latter place. They now have leased 28 hundred acres of valuable lands along the Des Moines river, and Mr Harlow is still one of the chief stockholders in the concern, the prosperous condition of which is largely to be ascribed to his executive ability and farsighted judgment. Mr Harlow is one of the most successful of the younger generation of business men of Boone county. In 1913 he purchased a modern home at No 2703 Kingman boulevard, Des Moines, and now conducts his many business interests from there. Mr Harlow has valuable farm holdings, owning 340 acres of well improved land in Boone county and 20 acres in Dallas county. He also holds title to 142 acres in Van Buren county, a farm with excellent improvements, which he recently purchased. Moreover, he is the owner of 40 acres near Mobil, Alabama.
In 1900 Mr Harlow married in Perry, Iowa, Martha J McCracken, who was born in Woodward August 15, 1876. There she attended the high school and grew to womanhood. Her parents were John W and Alice (Biggs) McCracken, the former a resident of Woodward and the latter deceased, having passed away in that city n 1895. They had three daughters: Mrs J E Wilson of Perry, Iowa, Mrs Harlow and Mrs Fay Scimmons, of Missoula, Montana. All were reared and educated in Woodward. Mr and Mrs Harlow have one daughter, Dorothy Alice who was born in Woodward May 28, 1901 and is now attending school in Des Moines. She will enter the high school in 1915. Miss Harlow has a remarkably sweet voice and has sung on various occasions before the public, although yet quite young. She gives promise of rare accomplishments as a vocal artist and embodies in her all the qualities which make for a great singer.
Politically Mr Harlow is a democrat, thoroughly conversant with the issues of the day and deeply interested in the welfare of his party. Fraternally he is a member of Peaceful Lodge No 454, A F & A M of Woodward, Iowa, and has held all the offices in the same. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Woodward. Mrs Harlow is a member of the Church of Christ of that city. Mr Harlow is typical of the modern American Business man, ably taking advantage of opportunities as they preset themselves, yet he is always considerate of the interests of others and earnestly public spirited, ever ready to give his support to valuable measures undertaken promote the general welfare.

1914 Boone County History Book