Russell Pritchard Harker was a teacher, lawyer, and public servant, who left very few areas of society untouched by his influence. By the age of nineteen he was a school principal, beginning to exhibit the driving force which would establish him as a successful student, businessman, attorney, and member of Indiana's legislature.

Harker also pursued his love for music, and wrote the words for "Indiana, Our Indiana", a song sung by Hoosiers for many, many years after.