Harvey - F. Walter - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Source: History of Montgomery County, Indiana. Indianapolis: AW Bowen,  1913, p. 1234

 

Among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Wayne Twp,  Montgomery County, is Frank W. HARVEY, who has spent his life on  the old home place and has kept it so well tilled that it has  retained its original fertility and is one of the desirable farms  in the western part of the county. He has not permitted anything  to divert his attention from the care of the home place, taking a  just pride in the same ever since he was a boy, and he has also  striven to maintain the high standard of citizenship set by his  worthy father before him, consequently he has ever enjoyed the  good will of his neighbors and acquaintances. Frank W. Harvey was  born on the farm where he still resides, in Wayne Township,  Montgomery County Indiana Jan 19, 1872. he is a son of Joseph M.  and Sarah Dwiggins Harvey, long a well known family of this  locality. Joseph M. Harvey came of the pioneer stock of  Montgomery County, and for many years materially contributed to  its growth and prosperity by his work as a practical farmer on  Sec. 22, Wayne township. He was born in Union County, Indiana Jan  29, 1829 and was 3 years old when the family removed from there  and settled near the town of Alamo, Montgomery County. His  parents were Hudson and Sarah Rinker Harvey, the father also a  native of Union County. Later in life they removed from the  Hoosier state to Iowa, where they spent their last days, his  death occurring in 1870 his widow 1876. They were the parents of  four sons and one daughter: Joseph M, father of our subject; Mary  Ann, who was born in Union County in 1832, married John A. Fisher  of Iowa, by whom she had six children and died in 1868; Martha  Jane, born in this county in 1834, married Will Roe of Iowa and  they became the parents of 7 children; Lydia, born March 28, 1839  married Will Rayborn of Iowa and 5 children were born to them;  George N, who was born in 1836 was a soldier in the Civil War,  serving in the10th Iowa Vol. Infantry and died while in the  service in 1862, at Camp Davenport, leaving a wife, formerly L  Lucinda Roe and 3 children, who grew up and continued to reside  in Iowa. Joseph M. Harvey's first independent work as a farmer  when he began life for himself was on a tract of wild land,  partly prairie and partly timber in Iowa, which he had taken up  from the government. He resided on that some 9 years and then,  returning to his native state and to Montgomery County, he bought  the property on which his son, Frank W still lives, and which was  destined to be his home the remaining years of a busy and  fruitful life. He engaged in mixed farming, raising considerable  grain and a good class of stock with which his farm was well  supplied. He left an estate of 200 acres of valuable land in good  condition. He was a man of genuine worth, of inflexible honesty  and was revered and trusted by all with whom he associated, who  deplored his loss when death removed him from their midst July  11, 1891. A Chrisitan in every sense, he was deeply attached to  the Christian Church, of which he was a devoted member until he  was called to his reward and was an elder therein 10 years, also  an earnest teacher in the Sunday School. For many years a member  of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Waynetown, his fellow  associated conducted his funeral with all the ceremonies of the  fraternity. Politically, he was allied with the Republicans, but  was not an office seeker. While the War of the Rebellion was  raging, however, he did noble service for his country for 3 years  as a member of the 32nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry. The wife who so  sadly assisted Joseph M. Harvey in his life work and to whom he  was married in Iowa in 1853 bore the maiden name of Sarah  Dwiggins, but she was known to her friends as "Sally." Their  union blessed with 9 children, of whom we have the following  record, 7 still living: Mary E, born in Iowa in 1853 was married  in Indiana to Thomas D. Young, a carpenter, who established their  home in E. St. Louis; Sarah E, born in Iowa Oct 17, 1856 married  Alphonso Sumner, a barber of Waynetown, Ind; Martha I, born in  Iowa, Nov 28, 1858 married W. Zuck of Waynetown; Albert H, born  in Iowa in 1860 died the following year; Houston L, born in Iowa  in 1862, married Laura Small and they began housekeeping on the  paternal homestead; Carrie, born in Montgomery County in 1866,  married Charles OWEN of Waynetown; Carl B, born in 1868, married  Lulu Small also began housekeeping on the home farm; Maud born in  1870 died in 1878; Frank W of this sketch, the youngest of the  children. The above named children were well educated in the high  school at Waynetown from which Carrie and Burt were graduated in  1886, and, with the exception of Frank W. have all taught school.  They have nearly all been teachers in theSunday School connected  with the Christian Church of which they are all active members,  their mother having also belonged to that church. The father of  these children was also a school teacher in early life. The  mother was born in June 1833, and she was called to rest April  29, 1897. She was a native of Indiana where she grew to womanhood  and, like her husband, received a common school education. Frank  W. Harvey grew to manhood on the home farm and helped his father  with the general work here, and in the winter months attended the  common schools in his neighborhood, later the high school at  Waynetown. In March, 1893, he wa sunited in marriage to Nellie  Williamson who also received a good common school education. To  our subject and wife 5 children have been born: Maude Esther born  Dec 26, 1893 is teaching school; Frank L. born Sept 1,1 897 is  attending school; Mary born Feb 24, 1900 is also attending  school; Doris born Aug 11, 1903 and ; Alice May born May 26,  1907. Frank W. Harvey has always lived on the home farm and has  followed general farming and stock raising. He is the owner of 80  acres of well improved and valuable land, all tillable. It lies  well and no tile is needed. Politically, he is a Republican but  is not active in public affairs. -- typed by kbz