Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 623. T. G. HARKINS Proprietor of the Eagle Marble Works, Portland, Oregon, is a native of Lancaster, Jefferson county, Indiana, born May 3, 1832. His parents, George and Mary (Griffith) Harkins, natives of Pennsylvania, emigrated to Indiana about 1820, and built their house in the woods. Mr. Harkins often stood in his door and shot deer and other wild game. There he cleared land, and followed farming until his death. He and his wife had eleven children, ten of whom lived to maturity. T. G. Harkins was the ninth child in the family. At the age of fifteen the subject of our sketch went to Covington, Kentucky, and there served an apprenticeship to the trade of stonecutter. He then worked as a journeyman at various places, and finally settled at Paris, Kentucky, where he opened a marble shop, and continued business until the opening of the Rebellion. At once joining the Union forces, he served all through the war in the Quartermaster's Department, passing through many skirmishes, but without accident to himself. In 1865 he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and was employed under Dr. John Speed, Postmaster, in general service until 1867, when he engaged with the Adams' Express Company, running as messenger between Louisville, Nashville, and Memphis. Proving his adaptability and trustworthiness, he was subsequently put on the night run between Louisville and Seymour, Indiana, in charge of the money shipments, a position of great responsibility. On the night of May 22, 1868, the train was "held up" at the water tank, near Marshfield, by the Reno gang. The engineer and fireman were knocked off the engine, and the express car was uncoupled from the train and rapidly pulled out. The robbers then broke into the express car, knocked Mr. Harkins senseless with a car coupler, and threw him from the train, after which they broke open the safe and secured $100,000. Mr. Harkins was picked up and taken home, and for twelve days lay unconscious. Upon his recovery he accompanied Pinkerton's detectives, and they secured and identified three of the gang, who were tried and hung. He continued in the service of the express company until 1869, when he was appointed by the United States Government as Storekeeper of the Seventh District in looking after distilleries, with headquarters at Lexington. In that department he remained until 1873, when he resigned and came to Portland, Oregon. After coming to Oregon Mr. Harkins resumed work at his trade. He was employed on the custom-house and post office buildings until 1875. That year he opened a marble yard and engaged in general cemetery work, dealing in Italian and American marble and American and Scotch granite monuments, which business he has continued to the present time. Mr. Harkins was married in Danville, Illinois, in 1861, to Miss Mary E. Miller, who proved herself a devoted wife and loving mother. She departed this life in 1878, leaving seven children. Mr. Harkins kept the little ones together until all were reared and educated. Their names are as follows: Ella D., who now superintends the household affairs; Oakley, a civil engineer; Annie Y., wife of E. Bailey; Lena, wife of Captain Claude Troup, owner of the steamer Greyhound on Puget sound; Flora B., wife of Charles Steele; Mamie and Gracie M. He resides at No. 554 Fourth street, Portland, where he owns valuable property, comprising a fourth of a block. Mr. Harkins is a member of Paris Chapter and Saddler Commandery, F. & A. M., at Paris, Kentucky, and is Past Master of Portland Lodge, A. O. U. W. Transcriber's additional notes: CENSUS 1870, July 19; Fayette Co, KY; Lexington Wd 1, p 191 T. J. Harkins, 37, IN, US Store keeper Mary, 35, KY Ella, 9, KY Oakley, 6, KY Annie, 5, KY Lena, 3, KY 1880, June 2; Multnomah Co, OR; Portland, p 279, South Fourth st. T. G. Harkins, father, 50, IN, IN, IN, married / Wd or Div. (both marked), marble shop Ella D., dau, 17, KY, IN, IN Oakey, son, 15, KY, IN, IN, real estate clerk Annie Y, dau, 13, KY, IN, IN, att. school Lena, dau, 11, KY, IN, IN, att. school Flora, dau, 9, KY, IN, IN, att. school Mamie, dau, 6, OR, IN, IN, att. school Gracie, dau, 3, OR, IN, IN Juliaet Miller, mo. in law, 67, IN, PA, VA, married Jacob F. Miller, fa. in law, 73, IN, PA, VA, married 1895, Multnomah Co, Or; Pct. 25, page 25 T. G. Harkins Oakley Harkins Mamie Harkins Grace Harkins 1900, June 11; Multnomah Co, OR; Portland Pct 25, p 218, 554 Forth st. Wm C. Seachrest, 45, Feb 1855, IA, IN, IN, mar 6 yrs, RR ticket agent Ella H, wife, 38, May 1862, KY, IN, KY, mar 6 yrs, 0 children Oakley T. Harkins, bro. in law, 36, Feb 1864, KY, IN, KY, single, lawyer Thos. G. Harkins, fa. in law, 70, May 1830, Wd, IN, PA, PA, marble cutter Thomas Griffith Harkins, died November 23, 1901, buried on November 24, 1901; Lone Fir Cemetery; Section 10M, Lot 14, grave 3S - 2S Mary Ellen Harkins, died or buried on April 11, 1879; Lone Fir Cemetery; Section 10M, Lot 14, grave 3N -3S Grace Harkins, died January 27, 1896, buried on January 29, 1896; Lone Fir Cemetery; Section 10M, Lot 14, grave 3N Metro Pioneer Cemeteries http://www.metro-region. org/article.cfm?articleid=159 MARRIAGES 1886, March 30; Marriage of Lena Harkins to Claud Troup, both of Multnomah Co., at the house of Thos. G. Harkins, by G. W. Chandler MG; witnessed by Cary H. Harrison and J. M. Gilbert. Multnomah Co, OR marriages, book 6, page 39. 1890, Nov. 3; Marriage of Flora Belle Harkins to Charles Steel in Multnomah Co, OR; vol. 8, page 123 1891, Nov. 25; Marriage of Annie Y. Harkins to Edward Bayly in Multnomah Co, OR; vol. 8, page 444 1894, March 24; Marriage of Ella D. Harkins to William C. Seachrest in Multnomah Co, OR; vol. 10, page 169 1898, June 8; Marriage of Mamie Harkins to Bruce C. Curry in Multnomah Co, OR; vol. 12, page 204 ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2005 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.