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Harmony Society.
A communistic society settled at
Economy, near
Pittsburg.
George Rapp, the head of the society, was born in
Wurtemberg,
Germany, October, 1757; died at Economy in 1847.
Rapp and a few of his adherents sailed for
America in 1803, and began several settlements in
Maryland and
Pennsylvania.
In 1814 they removed to
Posey county, Ind., selling their old home for $100,000, which was much below its value.
In 1824 they sold the town of
Harmony and 20,000 acres of land to
Robert Owen for $150,000, and returned to
Pennsylvania, settling at Economy.
Originally each family retained its property, but in the year 1807 they established a community of goods and adopted celibacy.
As the society does not seek new members, it is rapidly approaching extinction, and great curiosity is felt by their neighbors in
Pittsburg as to the disposition of the large and valuable property.