From a short biography written about him in 1882, it is evident John Harvey had an interesting and eventful life. His birthplace in Virginia is described as a beautiful little valley in the mountains of Tazewell County. Not being born to wealth, John Harvey's early years were spent in no "flowery beds of ease."
Approximately 1838, he entered the Emery and Henry College in Virginia, working and teaching school to pay for his board. In about 1841, he (along with his mother, sisters and brothers James, David, Henry and Nicholas), went to Grant County, Wisconsin. From there, he became a school teacher in Mississippi, visited Louisville, Kentucky and ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota with his brothers James and David. He didn't make much money as a doctor in St. Paul and decided to try his fortunes in Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 1854 in Leavenworth, John was able to purchase about a third of the town site, and with the rise of property values, found himself to be worth about $80,000. He was offered this much for his holdings, but refused to sell, instead borrowing $10,000, and using his property as collateral. With the onset of the Civil War and the subsequent decline in property values, that and the interest on his loan left him with about $75 in assets.
Leaving Kansas behind, John Harvey headed for the Rocky Mountains, where he became an assayer in the Colorado territory and Nevada. Eventually, he settled in Walla Walla where in some time he was able to open a shop, pharmacy and doctor's practice. He toured Europe following his retirement and was regarded well and respected highly as a pioneer and citizen of the Walla Walla Valley.
Not mentioned in the biography but still worth mentioning is the fact that John Harvey, along with his brother David, served a term in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1854.
We are very grateful to Daisy and Larry for so kindly taking the photos of John Harvey's markers for us. It means more than we can say.
Approximately 1838, he entered the Emery and Henry College in Virginia, working and teaching school to pay for his board. In about 1841, he (along with his mother, sisters and brothers James, David, Henry and Nicholas), went to Grant County, Wisconsin. From there, he became a school teacher in Mississippi, visited Louisville, Kentucky and ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota with his brothers James and David. He didn't make much money as a doctor in St. Paul and decided to try his fortunes in Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 1854 in Leavenworth, John was able to purchase about a third of the town site, and with the rise of property values, found himself to be worth about $80,000. He was offered this much for his holdings, but refused to sell, instead borrowing $10,000, and using his property as collateral. With the onset of the Civil War and the subsequent decline in property values, that and the interest on his loan left him with about $75 in assets.
Leaving Kansas behind, John Harvey headed for the Rocky Mountains, where he became an assayer in the Colorado territory and Nevada. Eventually, he settled in Walla Walla where in some time he was able to open a shop, pharmacy and doctor's practice. He toured Europe following his retirement and was regarded well and respected highly as a pioneer and citizen of the Walla Walla Valley.
Not mentioned in the biography but still worth mentioning is the fact that John Harvey, along with his brother David, served a term in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1854.
We are very grateful to Daisy and Larry for so kindly taking the photos of John Harvey's markers for us. It means more than we can say.
From a short biography written about him in 1882, it is evident John Harvey had an interesting and eventful life. His birthplace in Virginia is described as a beautiful little valley in the mountains of Tazewell County. Not being born to wealth, John Harvey's early years were spent in no "flowery beds of ease."
Approximately 1838, he entered the Emery and Henry College in Virginia, working and teaching school to pay for his board. In about 1841, he (along with his mother, sisters and brothers James, David, Henry and Nicholas), went to Grant County, Wisconsin. From there, he became a school teacher in Mississippi, visited Louisville, Kentucky and ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota with his brothers James and David. He didn't make much money as a doctor in St. Paul and decided to try his fortunes in Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 1854 in Leavenworth, John was able to purchase about a third of the town site, and with the rise of property values, found himself to be worth about $80,000. He was offered this much for his holdings, but refused to sell, instead borrowing $10,000, and using his property as collateral. With the onset of the Civil War and the subsequent decline in property values, that and the interest on his loan left him with about $75 in assets.
Leaving Kansas behind, John Harvey headed for the Rocky Mountains, where he became an assayer in the Colorado territory and Nevada. Eventually, he settled in Walla Walla where in some time he was able to open a shop, pharmacy and doctor's practice. He toured Europe following his retirement and was regarded well and respected highly as a pioneer and citizen of the Walla Walla Valley.
Not mentioned in the biography but still worth mentioning is the fact that John Harvey, along with his brother David, served a term in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1854.
We are very grateful to Daisy and Larry for so kindly taking the photos of John Harvey's markers for us. It means more than we can say.
Approximately 1838, he entered the Emery and Henry College in Virginia, working and teaching school to pay for his board. In about 1841, he (along with his mother, sisters and brothers James, David, Henry and Nicholas), went to Grant County, Wisconsin. From there, he became a school teacher in Mississippi, visited Louisville, Kentucky and ended up in St. Paul, Minnesota with his brothers James and David. He didn't make much money as a doctor in St. Paul and decided to try his fortunes in Leavenworth, Kansas.
In 1854 in Leavenworth, John was able to purchase about a third of the town site, and with the rise of property values, found himself to be worth about $80,000. He was offered this much for his holdings, but refused to sell, instead borrowing $10,000, and using his property as collateral. With the onset of the Civil War and the subsequent decline in property values, that and the interest on his loan left him with about $75 in assets.
Leaving Kansas behind, John Harvey headed for the Rocky Mountains, where he became an assayer in the Colorado territory and Nevada. Eventually, he settled in Walla Walla where in some time he was able to open a shop, pharmacy and doctor's practice. He toured Europe following his retirement and was regarded well and respected highly as a pioneer and citizen of the Walla Walla Valley.
Not mentioned in the biography but still worth mentioning is the fact that John Harvey, along with his brother David, served a term in the Minnesota Territorial Legislature in 1854.
We are very grateful to Daisy and Larry for so kindly taking the photos of John Harvey's markers for us. It means more than we can say.
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