See - George Harvey
ETCHED IN STONE: One by One – Harvey See
By Karen Zach, Around the County
Monday, June 3, 2019 11:06 AM
This fellow is the first “bronze” marker for our soldiers in the Etched in Stone series. Born in Denver, in Miami County, Indiana he married a local gal and spent much of his adult life here in Crawfordsville. George Harvey See, known to friends as Harvey, was born June 18th in 1892 and passed away December 4th 1965 as he entered a taxi cab. His parents were Walter Fernando and Alice Ikenbury See and they are buried in Denver, Indiana. There was a sister, Alverna and two brothers, Carl and Walter in the See family.
At age 25, Harvey enlisted in the Marines in Indianapolis and went immediately to Paris Island, SC. His wife, Zelma Abigail Jackson (born July 13, 1897 at Young’s Chapel in Montgomery County) daughter of David Chambers and Eliza Jane Messmore Jackson had to sign a waiver stating she knew he was enlisting and she was giving her consent to do what was needed at home while he served. On his registration he was listed with brown eyes, light hair and medium build and height. Also, he was listed as a farmer on his draft registration but as a clerk (in Peru) when he enlisted.
Kim Hancock received many papers on this man and we had quite a blast checking them out. One was literally a complete description. On the personal description paper, he is listed as having dark brown eyes, light brown hair, florid complexion and his height was specific at 67 ¾ “. He weighed 144 pounds His mean circumference was 35” and expansion 4”. His vision in both eyes was 20/20. Any inedible or permanent markings were listed as “S” in ½ of nose S in ½ right knee; S ¼ D left knee and posteriorly he had a PM on his right shoulder. Not exactly sure what that all meant but it is much more detailed and noteworthy in this paper than the normal WWI Draft listings that is noted above.
Harvey was awarded a Victory Medal and Good Conduct Medal from his US Marine Corps service. He also opted to keep his $10,000 life insurance but lowering it to $2,000 and would get the rest while a civilian. A true patriot, not wanting to take advantage, but only help his country!
Afterwards, he first went to work at the Peru Ford dealers, then was an accountant for six years for the Wabash RR at Peru, then the Grand Trunk RR, was in the State Fire Marshal’s office four years, and for three decades was examiner in the state board of accounts, specializing in utility work which landed him the job in Crawfordsville as a comptroller for the newly created Utility Service Board here, which put him in as the first comptroller for the municipality owned CEL&P. He was at that job when he had his heart attack while getting into the taxi in front of his home at 308 West Market Street. Zelma had preceded him in 1957.
This man was a true American. As a corporal when he was discharged out of the Marines on January 24, 1919, his character was listed as “excellent!” He was at first in Co Z but spent most of his time in the 9th Company, 10th Regiment. Although he was only tallied at first as 4.5 in Military Efficiency, 5 in obedience, 5 in Sobriety and 4.8 in Average Standing, he soon was 5 across the board. He was stationed in Quantico, Virginia.
Keep in mind here that Harvey See was not satisfied to have just served his country as a Marine in WWI. When WWII came about he sent a letter to the General Commandant of the US Marine Corps in Washington DC requesting to be okayed to enlist in the Marine Corps, Special Service. “Am an accountant with High School and about 4 years of college in accounting with 25 years experience in all types of Construction, served 8 years in Engineers Office as Chief Accountant. Have been on Municipal Utility examination the past 13 years. Have a desire to be of service in this emergency and desire to get back into my branch of the service, the US Marines!” It seemed he was offering his service for free, again, showing true patriotism. Of course, he was rejected because of his age, 50, but was duly thanked for his offer!
Patriotism prevailed with their only child, Byron Austin See. Byron was born in Crawfordsville October 17th, 1932 and passed away in College Station, Texas where he had lived for two decades. He attended school in Crawfordsville and graduated from Wabash College. For some time, he was an instructor at Culver Military Academy and retired from GTE. He, like his father was a Mason, and loved his country, having served as a Lt. in the US Army and Air Force in Language Intelligence.
The Sees were members of the First Baptist Church. Harvey was in Scottish Rites, F&AM, Shrine, Knights Templar, Elks and American Legion. Zelma was also active in many organizations and was a graduate of the Irvington School of Music. She belonged to the Crawfordsville Music Club, Morning Musicales, arranged programs over Radio Station WBBS, Eastern Star, Legion Auxiliary and was close to her brothers and sisters. All three Sees are buried in Oak Hill, Byron and Zelma with bronze markers, thus Kim and Suzi (Petrey) ordered Harvey See the first bronze marker to match theirs. As an added note, the man at the government office wrote an e-mail saying what a patriot Harvey was. Pretty sure that was a first for the girls while finding these soldiers. Certainly, we all agree and so glad that Harvey See is now one of our Etched In Stone soldiers! RIP.
Over the coming weeks and months I will write these columns highlighting each new stone. Karen Zach is the editor of Montgomery Memories, our monthly magazine all about Montgomery County. And she writes Around the County, which appears each Thursday in The Paper of Montgomery County. One by One: Etched in Stone is her latest offering and will appear periodically on Mondays in The Paper.