J. M. Harman, the only practicing physician in Fairport, was born in Indiana on June 26, 1854. He is the son of L. M. and Francis (Miller) Harman, both of whom were born in East Tennessee, the former in 1812, and the latter in 1825. They removed from their native State to Indiana, and in the fall of 1858 removed to De Kalb County, Mo., locating in Polk Township. In 1875 they removed to Camden Township, where they now reside. Nine children were born to them, of whom the Doctor is the fifth. He was reared on the farm, and secured a good education in the public schools. He taught school one year, and then began the study of medicine at Maysville, Mo., with Dr. Lewis H. Weatherby as a preceptor. In 1873 he entered Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and attended one year. He then spent a year in reading at home, and in the fall of 1875 returned to the above named college, and graduated on February 15, 1876. During the years of 1879-80 he attended a course or lectures at the Missouri Medical College, at St. Louis. He began practicing in Daviess County, Mo., and continued until 1884, when he removed to Fairport, where he has since resided. He has built up a good practice, and established a splendid professional reputation. On July 2, 1876, he was united in marriage with Oris Bray, who was born in Indiana on June 12, 1854. She is the daughter of Samuel Bray, a citizen of De Kalb County. To this union three children have been born, two of whom are living. Both Dr. and Mrs. Harman are members of the Baptist Church. Dr. Harman is a strong prohibitionist, and labors zealously and untiringly for the cause. He is a man of broad and progressive ideas, and takes a deep interest in every thing that tends to promote the public weal.
Source: History of Andrew and DeKalb Counties, Missouri (Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1888), p. 564.