Harrell Family Record.

          (Notice in NOBLESVILLE  DAILY  LEDGER, Wednesday May 16, 1973, p. 15):   "Harrell Is Awarded Honorary Doctorate" Briefly abstracted, Samuel R. Harrell was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at the Combs College of Music in Philadelphia.  Harrell was singled out for his humanitarianism and compassionate interest in the welfare of his fellow countrymen.  Harrell was a graduate of Noblesville High School, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale Law School.  It also lists his other achievements.
          (Obituary of Samuel R. Harrell, NOBLESVILLE DAILY LEDGER, Wednesday, August 6, 1982, p. 12):   Briefly abstracted, Samuel Runnels Harrell died at the age of 88 on August 5, 1982 in his home.  Born in Noblesville on November 25, 1897 the son of Dr. Samuel and Vivian Voss Harrell.  Graduated from Noblesville High School, entered Wabash College and transferred to the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated in 1919 and earned a bachelor of law degree from Yale in 1924. He was a Navy veteran of World War I.  Burial will be in Crownland Cemetery.  Survivors include two sons:  Evan M. Harrell of Atlanta, Ga. and Samuel M. Harrell of Indianapolis.  A daughter, Mary E. Malott of New York also survives as do 13 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  The notice also lists his many achievements, occupations, and memberships.
          (The first half of Samuel Runnels Harrell's life, as reported by his father-in-law, Edgar H. Evans in his book, "The Genealogical History of Edgar Hanks Evans" self-published, July 1, 1941).   Sam Harrell received his early education in the public schools.  He attended Culver Summer Naval School in 1913; graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with the degree of BS in Economics in 1919 and from Yale Law School with LL.B. in 1924.  He was president of his graduating class at the University of Pennsylvania besides holding several other important undergraduate positions.  He later served as President of the Associated Pennsylvania Clubs and as director of the Alumni Society.  He enlisted for service and was in training in the Naval Aviation Pilot Division at the close of the World War in the fall of 1918.
          He was employed in the Land Title & Trust Co. of Philadelphia in 1919-20 and was in the law offices of Smith, Remster, Hornbrook & Smith at Indianapolis in 1924-1926.  He came to Acme-Evans Co. in 1925 and was made a director in 1927 and a vice president in 1933.  He served as President of the Indiana Millers Association since 1938 and was a director of the Wainwright Trust Co. of Noblesville, Indiana.
          His religious connections in Indianapolis were as a deacon of the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church, a member of the Executive Committee of the Church Federation, also on its Inter-Religious and Racial Committee and member (formerly chairman) of the Boys Work Committee of the Y.M.C.A.   He was elected a trustee of the University of Penn. for the term of 1940-50 and was a member of the University's Board of the School of Fine Arts, Valley Forge, and of the Wharton School of Finance.  He was appointed a member of the Visiting Committee of Harvard School of Education in 1941 and was Chairman of the National Foundation for Education in American Citizenship.  Growing out of the above he was a member of the American Bar Association Resolution Committee and a number of national and scientific organizations.
          He belonged to the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, Phi Delta Phi, Corby Court, S.E., S.A.E, Masonic order and the following clubs:  Pennsylvania (New York), University (Phila.), and in Indianapolis the Athletic, Woodstock, University, Dramatic, Lawyers, Literary, Pioneer, Yale, Contemporary (president one term).  His home was at 3221 N. Pennsylvania St.. and office 852 W. Washington Ave., Indianapolis, IN.
          [Note: Samuel Runnels Harrell later ran for Governor of the State of Indiana, but lost.  He was active in many organizations and represented our country in a number of International conferences regarding business and industry.  He was Chairman of the Board of the family grain business, Early and Daniel Company.   His two sons, Evans Malott Harrell and Samuel Macy Harell, both served as president of the firm, also.  He owned a home in Indianapolis, but retired to his farm in Noblesville, Indiana which he had named "Valley Forge Farms."  He always hoped to connect his Harrell ancestry to a Harrell who served under Gen. George Washington, but was unable to do so.  He kept a civil war cannon at the entrance to his farm, which is now in the possession of his granddaughter, Martha Howard, in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Note:  He did become a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) through Pvt. Daniel Miesse, but this was through his mother's line.  (Vivian Venus Voss who married Dr. Samuel Harrell, was the daughter of  William Allen Voss and Mary Alice Miesse of Noblesville, Indiana).
          (Sons of the American Revolution in the State of Indiana (by right of) 311 Samuel R. Harrell Private Daniel Miesse, 5th Co., 3rd Batt. Pa.

I.E. This letter was to Vivian Venus Voss and Dr. Samuel Harrell of Noblesville, Indiana, -- Daniel Miesse reportedly was with the soldiers who kept the fires lit while Washington crossed the Delaware River, a family story told in a letter from Daniel Miesse's granddaughter (transcript below).

          My father told me that his father Daniel Miesse, who as you likely know was the first Miesse in America, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.  He belonged to the Pennsylvania Militia, quite a number of whom were Germans like himself.
          On the night of Dec. 25th, 1776, Washington with his troops crossed the Delaware River and on the morning of the 26th surprised a body of Hessians at Trenton).  Before crossing over he summoned one of his Generals and asked him to bring to him 12 trusty reliable men as he wanted them for some important business.  Daniel Miesse was one of the twelve selected and brought before Washington who commissioned them to remain on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware during the night while he and the rest of the army crossed over.   These twelve men were to keep the camp fires burning until daylight so as to deceive the enemy.  At daylight, they were to make good then escape in every direction, and if possible to get to their homes until a suitable time to rejoin the army.  They remained at their post all night - and how well they did their work, history will tell, for Washington succeeded in crossing the Delaware unknown to the enemy.
          Father said ... the tories in the neighborhood raised a report that these men had deserted when they came home, which of course was not the case.   I do not know what company or Regiment he was in.  The only thing that can be done is to send to Washington D.C. and draw the records...
          It might be probably(e) that Daniel did not return to the army after his release of Gen. Washington; in that case it might make a difference in the record at Washington.
          ...I am pleased to hear that your Grandma and Jacob are well & that their crops good, and that your Ma is well. I was just turning it in my mind what relation you were to the old gent.  Daniel M was your grandfather Miesse's grandfather which makes you his great great grandchild, or in other words, he was your great great grandfather.
          He was my grandfather.  Very few of my first cousins are living.  Sarah Secose(?), Carrie Sevose's (?) grand-mother is one of them!  I do not know whether she is living yet.
          I shall have to close, as there is a call for me to come and sit with a sick lady for the afternoon.
          Kindest Regards to your husband And love to yourself & Mother.
Yours,
?Eamie or ?Carrie Harley

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