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1827 - 1901 Person Name: S. L. H. Author (chorus) of "Nearer my God, still nearer to thee" in Songs of Beulah Born: April 3, 1827, Iredell County, North Carolina. Died: September 23, 1901, Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Buried: Fairview Cemetery, Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Son of John and Sarah Harkey, Sydney grew up on a farm. While he was still small boy, his family moved to Illinois. He attended the Hillsboro Academy, and (1844-47) Pennsylvania College. He studied theology under his brother, Dr. Simeon W. Harkey. Sydney received his preaching license at , Maryland in 1848. During his ministry, he served many congregations and parishes: Cumberland, Maryland (1848); Newville, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania (1849-52); Peoria and Pekin, Illinois (1852-54); Mendon, Illinois (1854-59); Decatur, Illinois (1859); Shelbyville (1860-62); Nokomis and Audubon (1862-65); Vandalia (1865-68); Chicago, Illinois (1870-71); Dayton, Ohio (1871-72); Indianapolis, Indiana (1872-73); Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania (1873-83); Toledo, Ohio (1883-87); Melrose, Florida (1887-88); North Lima, Ohio (1888-91); and Kutztown, Pennsylvania (1891-1901). Harkey also served as an agent of Illinois University (1857); army chaplain (1862); professor at Augustana College and Theological Seminary (1868-70); secretary of the Lutheran Illinois Synod (1853-54); president of the Illinois Synod (1856-57 & 1858-60); president of the Synod of Illinois and Adjacent Lakes (1867-69); secretary of the General Council (1885-87); and president of the Reading Conference (1897-1900). On May 16, 1848, Harkey married Mary Jane Jenkins, daughter of of Moses Jenkins of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; she died around 1868. They had one son who died young, and four daughters who lived to adulthood and married. Around 1872, Harkey married again, to Susie Freeman, daughter of Dr. John Freeman of Cincinnati, Ohio; she and their daughter, Daisy Beatrice, outlived him. Harkey’s works include: Beulah Hymns and Music for Sunday School Art in the Church Little Hilda --www.hymntime.com/tch