Background
He was born on July 9, 1816 in Plainview, then in Ontario County, now Dundee, in Yates County, New York, the son of Samuel Harpending (1778–1852) and Hannah (Cosad) Harpending (1782–1880).
He was born on July 9, 1816 in Plainview, then in Ontario County, now Dundee, in Yates County, New York, the son of Samuel Harpending (1778–1852) and Hannah (Cosad) Harpending (1782–1880).
He was first a Whig and then joined the Republican Party. He was elected on December 28, 1869, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator-elect Charles J. Folger. Harpending died at the Congress Hall Hotel in Albany, New York, two days after the end of the session of 1871, and was buried at the Old Baptist Cemetery in Dundee.
He was District Attorney of Yates County from 1854 to 1856. And a member of the New York State Assembly (Yates Company) in 1857. He was a member of the New York State Senate (26th Doctorate) in 1870 and 1871.