Forsyth County Historical Association
Forsyth County, North Carolina
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DEWITT HARMON
Biography written in 1900
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DeWitt Harmon, now serving as county engineer of Forsyth County in his sixth year, is a
successful business man at Kernersville and is one of the well known figures in the public life of
his native county. Mr. Harmon for many years was engaged in railroad engineering, and
therefore brings a vast amount of training and experience to his present official position.
Mr. Harmon is a native of Kernersville. His grandfather, Appollus Harmon, was born in Suffield,
Connecticut, of colonial ancestry. He was reared and educated in his native state, but when a
young man came to North Carolina and at Kernersville met and married Salome Kerner.
Several years later they went back to Connecticut, but eventually returned to Kernersville,
where Appollus Harmon located on land inherited by his wife. He was there engaged in farming
and remained a resident until his death at the age of sixty-seven. His wife, Salome Kerner, was
the daughter of Joseph and Christina (Cosner) Kerner. Excepting for the few years she lived in
Connecticut, she was a life long resident of Kernersville.
Julius Sheldon Harmon, father of DeWitt, was born at Kernersville in 1824. Part of his early
education was acquired in Connecticut, and at an early age he was apprenticed to learn the
trade of millwright. He inherited studious tastes, was a great reader, and though he had little
opportunity for formal schooling he acquired a very thorough education. For a time he taught
school. Besides teaching he worked at his trade as millwright and also did surveying. His home
for the greater part of his life was at Kernersville, where he died in 1891. The maiden name of
his wife was Antoinette Kerner, daughter of Phillip Kerner. Their four children were Cora, Della,
DeWitt and Tilla E. The first two are now deceased. Tilla is a graduate of Salem College and is
a successful music teacher. She and her brother now occupy the old homestead at Kernersville.
DeWitt Harmon had the advantages of the grammar and high schools of Kernersville, and at
the age of eighteen he had qualified as a teacher. His first term was taught in the Pine Grove
School in Kernersville Township. After two years as clerk with the general merchandise firm of
Beard & Roberts at Kernersville he was offered a position in the Moravian School at Nazareth,
Pennsylvania, and he taught there three terms. Resigning he took up an active outside work
more to his liking and became identified with the engineering corps during the construction of
the Richmond & Danville Railroad. He began as a chain and stake bearer, and having much
ability at mathematics and being eager for advancement, he was promoted until he became
assistant to the engineer of the maintenance department of the road. Many responsibilities
were given to him in the engineering work. For five years Mr. Harmon had his headquarters at
Asheville, North Carolina. He was then assigned to the Georgia department, with headquarters
at Savannah, and remained then until 1891. On the death of his father he resigned from the
railroad and returned home. He had in the meantime acquired an interest in a flouring mill near
Kernersville, and 1897 he erected the Kernersville Roller Mills, equipped with all the modem
machinery and facilities for the manufacture of high grade patent flour. That is one of the chief
industries of that part of Forsyth County, and Mr. Harmon still operates the plant.
His public spirit has led him into active connection with public affairs. For several years he
served as one of the Board of Commissioners of Kernersville and also on the local School
Board. He was a member of that board when the fine schoolhouse was erected. In 1912, by act
of the Legislature, he was appointed a member of the Board of Highway Commissioners of
Forsyth County, and in that position his training as an engineer has given him much influence
and has enabled him to serve the community with a thorough Professional skill. Since he
became a member of the board many improvements have been made on the roads and
several bridges built. For four years he was a member of the Board of County Commissioners,
and in that time several miles of macadam road and the County Home was built.