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    THOMAS CHALMERS HARBAUGH

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    THOMAS CHALMERS HARBAUGH. The subject of this sketch was born at Middletown, Maryland, January 13, 1849. He is the son of Morgan M. and Catherine Routzahn Harbaugh. At an early age he came to Ohio with his parents and settled at Piqua, but subsequently moved to Casstown, Miami County, where he has since resided. Mr. Harbaugh served in the Casstown post-office during the Civil War and early took up literature as a profession. Since 1867, in which year he published his first fiction, he has been constantly engaged in writing. He has contributed acceptably to nearly all the prominent publications of the country and has written voluminously in every branch of literature.

    Mr. Harbaugh has published three volumes of poetry: "Maple Leaves" (1885), "Bugle Notes of the Blue" (1906) and "Lyrics of the Gray" (1907). The two last books have circulated largely in both the North and the South, receiving the commendation of prominent generals on both sides of the great conflict. His poem, "Grant Dying," was the only poem of that nature selected for publication in Stedman's "Encyclopedia of American Literature."

    Of the numerous novels written by Mr. Harbaugh it is unnecessary to speak. They run into the hundreds. His most famous novels are "The White Squadron," "Janet Sinclair," "Robespiere," " Alice of Maryland, " The Black Inn," "By Whose Hand?" and "The Czar's Spy." He is a contributor to the Sunday magazines," The Chicago Ledger," "Youth's Companion," " The Ohio Farmer," etc. His contributions to the various county newspapers under the nom de plume of "Tarcomed " are we ll known.

    Mr. Harbaugh has visited every battlefield of the Civil War in search of data for his novels, many of which have a historical basis. He is also in demand at soldier reunions and on patriotic occasions where he recites his own poems. He was educated in the public schools of Casstown and never had the chance of entering college, but he is a great reader and has stored his mind with every sort of information. He is unmarried.

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