Daughter of Alexander McDonald, who one of the first European settlers in Vermilion County, Illinois. Her father was a farmer, Postmaster, and founded the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in his home. Elizabeth, or "Bess" as she was known, grew up in the Georgetown area and married Dr. Hardy Wallace Hill in March 1844, at the age of 21, and moved with him to Cincinnati, Ohio. Their first daughter, Eleanor ("Ellen"), was born in 1846. Bess was three months pregnant when her husband contracted cholera during the epidemic of 1849 and died. She returned to her family's home in Vermilion County, Illinois, and gave birth to daughter Lillia. With her two young daughters, she moved in with her aunt and uncle, Hezekiah and Mary Cunningham, who lived on Hazel Street in Danville. Not long afterwards, she was introduced to a tall, handsome young lawyer named Oscar Fitzalan Harmon, who soon began courting her. On Feb. 21, 1854, about a year after first being introduced, Harmon and Bess were married by Enoch Kingsbury, a Presbyterian minister, at the home of her aunt and uncle. They honeymooned in Crawfordsville, Indiana for two weeks. Two years later, they purchased a brick mansion and 30 acres near Stony Creek, which Col. Harmon affectionately referred to as their "little farm." In addition to Elizabeth's two daughters by her first marriage, the Harmons would add several more children to their family: Lucy, Charles (Charley), Fanny and Corinne.
Her husband chose to join the war effort and helped form the 125th Illinois Infantry, along with friend James Langley. He frequently wrote to her on the battlefield, penning such missives as: "In conclusion, I must say, I still love you and think I am the most fortunate man in the world, in having so good a wife. You have been very kind to me, and more so, if possible, since I have been in the army." He was promoted to Colonel and killed at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain on June 24, 1864.
In 1871, their only son Charley died at the age of 13 in March and Lillia, age 21, died that July.
Bess died at the home of her daughter Lucy in 1906. The Harmons' spacious farmhouse, located at 522 East Main Street in Danville, still stands today.
Her husband chose to join the war effort and helped form the 125th Illinois Infantry, along with friend James Langley. He frequently wrote to her on the battlefield, penning such missives as: "In conclusion, I must say, I still love you and think I am the most fortunate man in the world, in having so good a wife. You have been very kind to me, and more so, if possible, since I have been in the army." He was promoted to Colonel and killed at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain on June 24, 1864.
In 1871, their only son Charley died at the age of 13 in March and Lillia, age 21, died that July.
Bess died at the home of her daughter Lucy in 1906. The Harmons' spacious farmhouse, located at 522 East Main Street in Danville, still stands today.
Daughter of Alexander McDonald, who one of the first European settlers in Vermilion County, Illinois. Her father was a farmer, Postmaster, and founded the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in his home. Elizabeth, or "Bess" as she was known, grew up in the Georgetown area and married Dr. Hardy Wallace Hill in March 1844, at the age of 21, and moved with him to Cincinnati, Ohio. Their first daughter, Eleanor ("Ellen"), was born in 1846. Bess was three months pregnant when her husband contracted cholera during the epidemic of 1849 and died. She returned to her family's home in Vermilion County, Illinois, and gave birth to daughter Lillia. With her two young daughters, she moved in with her aunt and uncle, Hezekiah and Mary Cunningham, who lived on Hazel Street in Danville. Not long afterwards, she was introduced to a tall, handsome young lawyer named Oscar Fitzalan Harmon, who soon began courting her. On Feb. 21, 1854, about a year after first being introduced, Harmon and Bess were married by Enoch Kingsbury, a Presbyterian minister, at the home of her aunt and uncle. They honeymooned in Crawfordsville, Indiana for two weeks. Two years later, they purchased a brick mansion and 30 acres near Stony Creek, which Col. Harmon affectionately referred to as their "little farm." In addition to Elizabeth's two daughters by her first marriage, the Harmons would add several more children to their family: Lucy, Charles (Charley), Fanny and Corinne.
Her husband chose to join the war effort and helped form the 125th Illinois Infantry, along with friend James Langley. He frequently wrote to her on the battlefield, penning such missives as: "In conclusion, I must say, I still love you and think I am the most fortunate man in the world, in having so good a wife. You have been very kind to me, and more so, if possible, since I have been in the army." He was promoted to Colonel and killed at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain on June 24, 1864.
In 1871, their only son Charley died at the age of 13 in March and Lillia, age 21, died that July.
Bess died at the home of her daughter Lucy in 1906. The Harmons' spacious farmhouse, located at 522 East Main Street in Danville, still stands today.
Her husband chose to join the war effort and helped form the 125th Illinois Infantry, along with friend James Langley. He frequently wrote to her on the battlefield, penning such missives as: "In conclusion, I must say, I still love you and think I am the most fortunate man in the world, in having so good a wife. You have been very kind to me, and more so, if possible, since I have been in the army." He was promoted to Colonel and killed at the Battle of Kenesaw Mountain on June 24, 1864.
In 1871, their only son Charley died at the age of 13 in March and Lillia, age 21, died that July.
Bess died at the home of her daughter Lucy in 1906. The Harmons' spacious farmhouse, located at 522 East Main Street in Danville, still stands today.
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