Harvey - Joseph M. - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

 

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. Death closed his career in 1891, and his  community thus lost one of its most useful and exemplary  citizens. He was born in Union County in 1829 and was 3 years of  age when the family settled in this county at Alamo. His parents  were Hudson and Sarah Rinker Harvey, the father also a native of  Union County. He died in Iowa in 1870 and the mother died in that  state in 1876. Our subject had one brother and three sisters:  Mary Ann, who was born in Union Co. in 1832, married John A.  Fisher of Iowa by whom she had six children and died in 1868;  Martha Jane who was born in this county in 1834 is the wife of  Will Roe of Iowa and is the mother of 7 children: Lydia, born  March 28, 1839 married Will Rayborn of Iowa and they ahve 5  children: George N, who was born in 1836, volunteered during the  late war in the10th Iowa Infantry and died while in thearmy in  1862, at Davenport Camp, leaving a wife (formerly Lucinda Roe)  and 3 children, who are still living in Iowa. Mr. 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 family  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 ane state 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. A Christian in every sense, he was deeply attached  tot he Christian Church, of which he was a devoted member until  he passed beyond, and he was an Elder therein 10 years, also an  earnest teacher in theSunday 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 was raging, however, he  did noble service for his country for 3 years as a member of the  32nd Iowa Infantry. The wife who so ably assisted Mr. Harvey in  his life work, and to whom he was married in Iowa in 1853, bore  the maiden name of Sarah DWIGGINS. Their union was belssed with 9  chldren, of whom we have the following record: Mary E, born in  Iowa in 1853, married in Indiana to Thomas D. YOUNG a carpenter  now residing in East St. Louis, ill and they have 8 children:  Sarah E, born in Iowa Oct 17, 1856 married Fouts SUMNER a barber  of Waynetown and they have 3 chidlren: martha I, born in Iowa Nov  28, 1856 is the wife of W. ZUCK of Wayentown; ALbert H, born in  Iowa in 1860 died the following year; Houston L, born in Iowa in  1862 married Laura SMALL and resides ont he paternal homestead;  Carrie, born in this county in 1866 and Carl B born in 1868 and  married Lulu SMALL reside on the old homestead; Maud, born in  1870 died in 1878; Frank W born in 1872 resides with his mother.  The children have been well educated in the HS at Waynetown from  which Carrie and Burt were graduated in 1886 and with the  exception of Frank have all taught school They have nearly all  been teachers int eh Sunday School connected with the Christian  Church, of which they are all active member, their mother also  belonging to the church. - typed by kbz