Excerpt of the book "Writer and Engraver's Picture of Graham County's Progress Since Its Organization" (1906)

H.J. Harwi

(pages 32-33)

The practice of law requires more talent and more extensive knowledge of detail than any other business or profession, and he who would win fame in it’s ranks must have specific training, and make up his mind to continuous, steady and unceasing toil. The profession of law has attracted men of more than average energy and intelligence. H.J. Harwi has displayed those attributes and qualifications which mean a continually growing clientage and a successful practice. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1858 and was educated in that state. He read law in the offices of S.V.B. Kachline in Easton, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar. In 1878 a colony [of] Pennsylvania farmers numbering 80, emigrated to Stockton, Kansas, and Mr.Harwi and his father were in the party. From Stockton they went to the southern part of Rooks county where they homesteaded. Mr. Harwi preempted, and it was on his place that the first house was built. He arrived in the county only two years prior to the organization of Graham county, and at once became active in her political life. Graham county, before it’s organization in 1880, was attached to the judiciary of Rooks county. H.J. Harwi was the first lawyer admitted to the Graham county bar. He was appointed the first sheriff of the county by Board of County Commissioners. At the first election he was selected Register of Deeds and was Government Census taker south of the Solomon river in Graham county. Throughout this time he was actively engaged in the profession of law. On the first docket ever made up in Graham county which consisted of 21 cases, he was on either one side or the other of each case. Judge Nellis of Topeka was the acting Judge. The lawyers before the court were, Judge Reeder and Smith, attorneys Collier, Osborne, Rathbone and Harwi. In 1882 Mr. Harwi bought and edited the ‘Graham county Republican,’ and in partnership with Mr. Terril, of Millbrook, organized a newspaper trust, buying all the newspapers in the county save the Millbrooks Times. His paper was declared the official paper of the county. Mr. Harwi was appointed and elected County Clerk at the same time associated with Judge Gordan in the real estate business. He was for four years engaged in the Hardware and Implement business until 1888, when he received the appointment as Treasury Agent of the Seal Islands, but was never commissioned owing to change in [the] Treasury department. Mr. Harwi was later appointed correspondent and special agent of the animal industry. He controlled the federal patronage under Senators Plumb, Ingalls and Baker, and has been closely associated in a political way with many of the leading republicans politicians for the last 20 years. Mr. Harwi practiced law in all the State and Federal courts and gained a reputation that resulted in his election to the office of County Attorney, and has capably discharged the duties of that position. He is one of the stalwart republicans of Graham county and has done his part in the work of the campaigns. Mr. Harwi was married May 30, 1884 to Ida Tillotson of Millbrook and to this union have been born two children, Henry, Jr., and Barbara. He owns 1800 acres of good land in Graham county, a number of Hill City lots and a $3,500.00 cottage home which is one of the most improved places in Hill City. He has served as member of Hill City Public School Board for twelve successive years.