BIO: William G. HARKER, Beaver County, PA
    
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    BOOK OF BIOGRAPHIES.  This Volume Contains Biographical Sketches 
    of Leading Citizens of Beaver County, Pennsylvania.  Buffalo, N.Y., 
    Chicago, Ill.: Biographical Publishing Company, 1899, pp. 74-77.
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    WILLIAM G. HARKER. One of the prominent and successful industries of Beaver
  Falls, Pa., is that of Knott, Harker & Company, - manufacturers of
  fire-grates, hardware novelties and castings of all kinds; the gentleman
  whose name appears at the opening of this biography is the superintendent of
  the above enterprise and much of the success of the plant is due to his
    
    BEAVER COUNTY	77
    
  good judgment and untiring efforts. He was born on the Conoquenessing Creek,
  Beaver county, April 15, 1851, and is a son of William and Mary Ann
  (Peatling) Harker.
    
    William G. Harker's parents were both born in Lancastershire, England, and
  shortly after their marriage they came to the United States, in 1846, and
  located on a farm in Beaver county; until 1854 he was engaged in farming, but
  in that year he settled in New Brighton, and worked in a saw-mill. He
  afterwards entered the employ of W. P. Townsend & Co., remaining in their
  employ until death claimed him. He was a Republican in politics; religiously,
  he was an active and consistent member of the Methodist Protestant church. He
  was married in his native country and became the father of the following
  children: Mary Ann, the wife of J. W. Graham of New Brighton; Charlotte, the
  deceased wife of W. H. Elverson of the New Brighton Pottery Works; William
  G.; Lizzie, wedded to J. H. Rice, a farmer in Michigan; Charles E., a
  machinist residing in New Brighton; Carrie, wedded to Sheldon Roat, a farmer
  living in Michigan; and Albert P., a machinist, of New Brighton.
    
    William G. Harker attended the common schools of New Brighton and at an
  early age served an apprenticeship to the molders' trade; he then accepted
  the superintendency of the Beaver Falls Car Works Foundry, in which capacity
  he continued to serve for a period of eight years. Upon the organization of
  the Knott, Harker & Company enterprise, the subject of our sketch was made
  superintendent, - a position he has faithfully filled up to the present time.
  The company is engaged in the manufacture of fireplace-grates, hardware
  novelties, and all kinds of castings; it also operates a machine shop and
  gives employment to some 60 skilled hands. Mr. Harker is an expert mechanic
  and is greatly respected by the employees under his charge; he is an
  intelligent and loyal citizen, commanding the good-will of all who know him.
    
    Politically, Mr. Harker is a Republican, although in local matters, he
  always supports the one whom he considers best qualified for the position. He
  is a member and trustee of the Methodist Protestant church of New Brighton;
  socially, he is a member of the K. of P., and a director of the Y. M. C. A.
  of New Brighton. On October 26, 1875, Mr. Harker was joined in matrimonial
  bonds with Miss Irene Wilson, a daughter of Joseph Wilson of New Brighton,
  and they are the parents of the following children: Joseph, deceased; Ernest
  Ira, deceased; Clyde; and Elsie.