Michael Harness (born about 1783 in Virginia) and his wife, Nancy Spahr, apparently came with Michael's father, Peter Harness, to Ohio after Peter's wife, the former Susan Vauce (Vance) died about 1805 in Virginia. Several other sons of Peter and Susan's (John, George, Arthur and Peter, Jr.) also came to Ohio about the same time.

According to Fayette County, Ohio court records Michael Harness was charged with killing his brother, John, in 1818 in Fayette County, Ohio. Witnesses were Christina Harness (the wife of John’s brother, Jacob) and Elizabeth Trader. Details of the incident are not known.

Michael was indicted for manslaughter on June 25, 1818 in Fayette County. He pleaded not guilty in an appearance before the Fayette County Court of Pleas in September, 1818. Three of Michael’s brothers, George, Arthur and Peter Harness, Jr. collectively pledged $l,000 for Michael’s recognizance bond to get him bailed out of the county jail with the assurance that he would appear at his trial in Washington Court House (the Fayette County seat) when his trial could be scheduled.

In December, 1818 Michael could not be found by the court to stand trial, and the court ruled that the recognizance money pledged by George, Arthur and Peter Harness, Jr. must be paid. Michael apparently had fled the state with his wife Nancy. They reportedly went back to Virginia (Lewis County) where they lived in virtual obscurity until their death.

According to court records, the 3 brothers failed to appear in court to pay the recognizance bond money, so the State of Ohio brought suit against them. On March 23, 1819, the three appeared in court, paid the $1,000 and the suit was dismissed.

Michael Harness and Nancy Spahr had four children, all boys. At least three of them remained in the Fayette/Greene County, Ohio area and raised their own families there.

(1) John Harness (born 1798 in Virginia, died in 1862 in New Jasper township, Greene County, Ohio). He married Elizabeth Peterson who had come to Ohio from Virginia with her parents. They were married in Greene County, Ohio. They had 5 children. One of them, Phillip, enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War and died in battle near Nashville, Tennessee on December 15, 1862.

(2) Phillip Harness (born February 4, 1800 in Virginia, died September 11, 1845 at Caesar’s Creek, Greene County, Ohio) married Delilah Kyle in Ohio. They had 6 children, all raised in that part of Ohio.

(3) Peter Harness (born March 24, 1802 in Virginia, died March 21, 1873 in Jamestown, Ohio) married Susannah Shook, who had come to Ohio from Virginia with her parents. They were married April 24, 1824 in Greene County, Ohio. They had 8 children.

(4) Michael Harness, ( birth and death dates unknown) is believed to have married a Frances Beason in Greene County, Ohio. Nothing further is known about him. He and his wife may have moved from Ohio.