Thomas Harbaugh

Biography
      Thomas Chalmers Harbaugh (January 13, 1849—October 28, 1924) was an American poet and novelist who wrote a large number of dime novels under various pseudonyms, including “Col. Thomas C. Harbaugh,” “Major A. F. Grant,” and “Capt. Howard Holmes.”  Born in Middletown, Maryland, when he was two years old his family moved to Casstown, Ohio, where he was educated in local schools before going to work for his father as a house painter.  There is no evidence in his brief biography that he ever attained any military rank, in spite of the above-listed nom de plumes.
      He wrote from 300 to 600 thrillers at the rate of one a week with pen; and later, in the days of the typewriter, he sometimes bettered his speed.  Nevertheless, according to Wikipedia, Mr. Harbaugh “died penniless in the Miami County Poor House, Ohio;” suggesting that dime novelists were compensated poorly for their work.

Bibliography (wildly incomplete)
      Iron and Steel; or, The Fall of Port Hudson (1883, as Major A. F. Grant)

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