William A[nderson] HARVEY, was born in Licking County, Ohio, near Newark, July 12, 1826, the third child of James and Mary A. (BILLINGSLEY) HARVEY, the father a native of Maryland, and the mother of Licking County, Ohio. When he was two years old he was taken by his parents to Tazewell County, Illinois, and there he grew to manhood on a farm, his father being a farmer by occupation. In his youth he attended the common schools of Tazewell County, and later spent two years at the Rock River University, in Ogle County, Illinois, having previously taught school for two terms to defray his expenses while at that institution, and after completing his education he followed the teacher's profession for a time.

He was associated with Henry MILLER & Co., of Columbus, Ohio, for four years, after which he located in Peoria, Illinois and engaged in the dairy business. Later he engaged in the grocery business, after which he began dealing in marble, and alter dealt in osage orange trees.

He came to Iowa, and in 1867 settled in Mahaska County, where he remained till the spring of 1879, since which he has been a resident of Ringgold County. His farm is located on section 19, Washington Township, where he has 280 acres of choice land, all under fence and well improved. Mr. HARVEY having changed his farm from raw prairie to well-cultivated fields. In connection with his general farming he devoted considerable attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of hogs, in which he is meeting with success.

Mr. HARVEY was married in February, 1856, to Miss V[ienna] E. ERKENBRACK (sic), a native of the State of New York, but at the time of her marriage a resident of Ogle County, Illinois. To this union have been born three children - Frank S., living in Jasper County, Iowa: Jennie E., married Herbert W. MARSH, who is now deceased; and Ray E., at home.

Mr. HARVEY has held the office of justice of the peace four years, and is still holding that office. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for forty-two years, and has been steward of his church for many years. Mrs. HARVEY is a member of the same denomination.

Mr. HARVEY commenced life on his own account, entirely without means, and has by his own efforts accumulated his present fine property, becoming one of the prominent men of his township, and is a much-respected citizen. In politics he was formerly an old-line Whig, but has been a Republican since the organization of that party, casting his first Presidental vote for Zachary TAYLOR.

Mr. HARVEY's grandfather, William HARVEY, was a soldier in the war of the Rvolution. His father served in the war of 1812, and in the Black Hawk war.

The father settled in Licking County, Ohio, as early as 1813. He was twice married, taking for his first wife Nancy MILLER, by whom hehad five children, two sons and three daughters. By his marriage with Mary A. BILLINGSLEY he had eleven children, of whom ten grew to maturity, eight still living, our subject being the second son of this union. The parents of our subject moved to Tazwell County, Illinois, in 1828, where they made their home till their death.

NOTE: William's father James HARVEY was born December 17, 1792, Cecil County, Maryland, and died in Groveland, Tazewell County, Illinois, on October 19, 1859. William was the son of James' second wife, Mary Ann (BILLINGSLEY) HARVEY, born April 2, 1800, Stratford, Virginia, and died in Peoria, Peoria County, Illinois September 27, 1875. William was James and Mary Ann's third-born of eleven children.

Vienna (ERCANBRACK) HARVEY was the daughter of William Shepard ERCANBRACK, born May 20, 1807, Johnstown, Fulton County, New York, and died in 1909, McHenry County, Illinois. Vienna's mother Roxyett (RICE) ERCANBRACK, born June 13, 1812, Salisbury, Herkimer County, New York, and died in February of 1854, Bryon, Ogle County, Illinois. Vienna was the second of William and Roxyett's four children.

William Anderson HARVEY died at the age of 93 years and one day on July 13, 1919. Martha E. (HAMILTON) HARVEY was born Jun 6, 1826, and died at the age of 85 years on August 12, 1911. William and Martha were interred at Diagonal Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. The epitaph on their gravestone reads, "I have been young and now am old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken."

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 263-64, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

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