Council Harmon (abt. 1806 - 1890)

Born about 1 Jan 1806 in Ashe, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 10 Feb 1890 at about age 84 in Watauga, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

Council Harmon is Notable.

Council Harmann was an Appalachian Storyteller.

Council is credited for reviving and expounding upon the "Jack Tales." These tales have old English variants but "Old Counce" updated them, with an Appalachian spin, and probably created additional stories, as well. Amongst these tales are world-wide familiar tales such as "Jack and the Beanstalk."

• Fact: Residence (1860) Lorrel Creek, Watauga, North Carolina

Council was born in 1806, the son of Sabra Hicks and Andrew Harmon.^[1]

Nancy Tester (also Teaster) married Council Harmon around 1830. The Harmon family was also among the early settlers of the Watauga area.

Council Remarries Nancy Elizabeth died and Council Harmon remarried. This time he married Celia Ward. Celia was the daughter of Duke Ward and his wife Lucy Teaster Ward. Celia was the niece of Nancy Elizabeth.

1850 Council was listed as head of household in his census record.^[2]

1870 Council was listed as head of household.^[3]

Council Harmon worked as a farmer all of his life, living in various areas around Watauga County, including Big Ridge, Beech Creek, Beech Mountain, and Buckeye. He was very popular in the community, particularly among children. Ballad singer and storyteller Jane Hicks Gentry admired Harmon, who was her grandfather, and there are stories of other children in the community sitting on his lap to listen to stories. Betty Smith notes, "In a family with more than its share of memorable characters, Council Harmon is the one most often mentioned."

Harmon was known for loving good music, flatfoot dancing, entertaining children, and being the best in a community full of storytellers. During a time when families knew how to entertain themselves with music, dancing, and games, Council Harmon was a standout. Without this lively character, many of the stories still told today by Orville Hicks, a descendent, would not be around, and the rich traditions of Beech Mountain might not have been as well documented.^[4]

Council died Feb.10,1890.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/council-harmon.aspx
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BL-HSN : 12 April 2016), Council Harmon, Watauga county, Watauga, North Carolina, United States; citing family 379, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDW-YHS : 12 April 2016), Council Harmon, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 9, family 63, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,663.
4. ↑ http://www.bluegrassmessengers.com/council-harmon.aspx
5. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/16618026/person/28106719013/facts?_phsrc=chj3&_phstart=successsource

• Year: 1860; Census Place: Lorrel Creek, Watauga, North Carolina; Roll: M653_917; Page: 411; Family History Library Film: 803917
• "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWDW-YHS : 29 May 2021), Council Harmon, 1870.

• Find A Grave: Memorial #39007921

• FamilySearch Person Sources: LKVS-G28