Edward Harbert was born in Henry County, Mo., on November 5, 1842, and is a son of Moses Berry Harbert, a native of Kentucky. The latter was married in his native State, and his wife died there, after which he went to Indiana. He located in Indiana, and married Elizabeth Carlock, a native of Tennessee. From Indiana he removed to Illinois, thence to Missouri, and located in Henry County. Later he removed to Barry County, but during the war he returned to illinois, and died there in the fall of 1863. Edward Harbert was but three years of age when his father settled in Barry County. He grew to manhood there, and in 1862 enlisted in the Union army, and was assigned to the Seventy-second Missouri Infantry, with which he served two years, after which he enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry, and served until the close of the war as a non-commissioned officer, and was most of the time on detached duty. He received his discharge at Springfield, Ill., after which he immediately returned to Barry County, Mo., and resided there until February, 1867 when he removed to Carroll County, Ark. On January 1, 1860, he was united in marriage with Nancy J. Ward, a daughter of William Ward, of Green Forest, Ark. Mrs. Harbert was born in Tennessee. Mr. Harbert built the first residence in Green Forest, and he and his father-in-law built the first store, and were the first merchants of the town after the war. Mr. Harbert continued in that business for one year, since which time he has been engaged in merchandising and farming. In the spring of 1887 he located on the farm on which he now resides. The tract contains 119 acres, and has sixty-five under cultivation, upon which is a new frame residence, good stables and other buildings. In politics Mr. Harbert has ever endorsed and supported the principles and men of the Republican party. In 1880 he served as census enumerator for three townships. Mr. and Mrs. Harbert were formerly members of the Christian Church, and still hold to that faith. They are the parents of eleven children, eight living and three dead. Those living are Jefferson, who is married and resides on the home farm; William, who is also married and resides on a farm; Dove, Mrs. Jackson Reeves; Dora, Mrs. Dave Watson; Miletus, Queen, Charles and Eddie.