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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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John
H. Harvey, Sr. The
history of Jasper County reveals the handiwork of many a great and noble soul
who wrought heroically and unselfishly. Her
smiling fields and splendid homes, her high-grade institutions, her happy,
prospering people speak volumes of someone's steadfastness of purpose, of
someone's strength of arm, courage of heart, activity of brain—of someone's
sacrifice. But time, that grim
obliterator, before whose destroying fingers even the stubborn granite must, in
the end succumb, is ever at his work of disintegration.
Beneath his blighting touch even memory fails, and too often a life of
glorious achievement is forgotten in a day.
Lest we forget, then, this tribute to the elder John H. Harvey is penned.
Pioneer, early freighter, a public-spirited, brave, kindly, generous man,
it is the desire of the biographer, as it must be of all who know him, that his
deeds and his character be recorded for the benefit of those who follow after.
By no means rich, as mere worldly possessions are estimated, he is rich in a
thousand thronging memories of the rugged days, long gone, when hardy men stood
shoulder to shoulder and fought to conquer the western wilderness.
Hale and strong, although well past eighty, he may be seen, almost daily,
moving about the streets of Newton, now a city, but, when first he saw it, a
mere cluster of huts, set in the midst of the new prairie. A few there were who
preceded him into this virgin country, but they are very few, Mr. Harvey having
been numbered among its very first settlers.
He freighted the first printing press to be seen in Newton, from
Muscatine, and did many other useful things in the course of natural events,
always doing whatever he could to encourage the growth of the County. Mr.
Harvey was born in Madison County, New York, January 15, 1828, and he is the son
of Nathan and Oriel (Lyman) Harvey, the former a native of the state of New York
and the latter of Connecticut. The
paternal grandfather was born in Ireland. Nathan
Harvey originally worked as a wool dresser, but, after following this occupation
some five years, he began farming, then, when his son, John H., of this review,
was about four years old, he sold his farm and began keeping a tavern on the
famous old Cherry Valley turnpike. This the father conducted for over sixteen
years, the place becoming widely known to the traveling public. Thus the boyhood
and young manhood of the son was full of that romance which clung so tenaciously
about those early hostelries. Day after day he watched the wagons come and go which were
bearing the emigrants from the east westward, and night by night he sat by the
roaring fire-place and listened to many a fine old tale of adventure or
sentiment. But though the tavern
had a public bar in connection and drinking was very common, he never touched
liquor, and this fact. When we consider the easy freedom of those early times,
speaks much for his sterling character. When
about twenty-five years of age, Mr. Harvey came to Jasper County and three years
later his father came. In December 1857, he built the house where he now resides
in Newton. For a year his parents
lived with him. He then moved to
himself and later to Harrison County, Iowa, where his father and mother both
died. John
H. Harvey was married when about twenty years old while living in New York, to
Percy Ann Roberts, who died two years later, leaving three children, namely:
Charles, who is now living in Plattsmouth, Nebraska; Mrs. R. N. Stewart, of
Severs, Iowa; and Mrs. Eva Bodley, of Jasper County. When Mr. Harvey came west
he left the children with his father and mother. Mr. Harvey was again married,
his second wife being Harriet Fenton, who died about eighteen years ago; to this
union five children were born, all of whom are living, namely: Edward, William,
John H., Jr., and Carrie L., all of Newton; and George, who lives at Laramie,
Wyoming. John
H. Harvey, Jr., was born on September 7, 1871, in Newton, and he has spent his
life in Jasper County. He is a
painter by trade and since he was sixteen years of age he has successfully
followed this occupation. During the last ten years he has been employed in the
works of the Maytag Manufacturing Company, the last nine years of this period
performing very acceptably the duties of foreman of the painting department.
He has charge of the painting of all the manufactured output of the
factory. On April 10, 1895 he was
united in marriage with Louise Miller, a native of Wisconsin and the daughter of
Conrad Miller, both her parents being natives of Germany.
They immigrated to America in an early day and settled in Wisconsin,
later came to Jasper County, Iowa, and they are now living on a farm near
Baxter, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. John H. Harvey, Jr., have been born two children,
Harlan J., born April 17, 1898, and Edwena, a daughter, born September 7, 1903,
her father's birthday. Mrs.
Harvey is a member of the German Reform church, and she and Mr. Harvey belong to
the Pythian Sisters. The latter is
very prominent in lodge circles. He
is a member of Newton Lodge No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Newton,
of which he is senior deacon, also Delta Lodge No. 53, Knights of Pythias, of
Newton. He has passed all the
chairs in this lodge and is at present one of the trustees of the grand lodge of
Iowa. He is also a member of the
Yeomen. Young
Mr. Harvey has been active in political affairs for some time, and in 1904 he
was nominated as Democratic candidate for auditor of Jasper County, but was
defeated, though he made an exceptionally strong race, running ahead of his
ticket. At the spring election,
1909* he was elected to the city council of Newton, and, having made a most
creditable record, he was reelected in the spring of 1911.
He has served his party organization in many ways and is a clean,
energetic and capable young business man, having the trust and respect of all
who know him. His sister, Carrie,
is a popular newspaper woman, of exceptional ability and intelligence; she is
connected with the Newton Daily Journal, one of the leading papers of this
section of the state. Since
coming to Jasper County, May 21, 1854, John H. Harvey, Sr., has spent nearly all
of his time in the County. As a
freighter he was once an important factor in the early affairs of the County.
For a number of years he hauled all kinds of goods from Muscatine to
Newton, then, in 1859, he began freighting westward to Denver.
In 1864 he turned his attention to farming, which he continued
successfully up to sixteen years ago, since which time he has led a retired
life, and, at peace with all the world, he is now enjoying that consideration
and good will which a life well spent has earned for him. While never
considering himself a politician, he has always taken the keenest interest in
politics and in those great movements which make for the advancement and
betterment of his fellow men. He
has served the city of Newton as supervise of roads and was for nine years
constable, his duties taking him all over this country.
In religious belief he is a Congregationalist and politically, while he
voted for Abraham Lincoln, he is now a Democrat. The
subject is one of seven children, but four of whom are living; they are: Miles,
the eldest, died in New Tacoma, California; John H., of this review, was second
in order of birth; Addison died in Harrison County, Iowa O. B. lives in Ashland,
Colorado; Emmet lives in St. Charles, Iowa; Mrs. Theodora Gee, widow of George
W. Gee, lives in Oakland, California; Mary died in Harrison County, Iowa. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 660. |
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