BIOGRAPHY: Edwin P. HARVEY, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/
_______________________________________________ 

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 653.

  EDWIN P. HARVEY, Milroy, Mifflin county, Pa., was born in the valley of the 
Brandywine, near Coatesville, Chester county, Pa., March 20, 1829.  He is the 
son of Powell and Catharine (March) Harvey.  His paternal grandparents were 
members of the Society of Friends.  His maternal grandparents, John and 
Catharine (Wartman) March, were of German descent.  His parents had ten 
children:  Edwin P.;  George W., married Rachel Smith;  John W., died aged 
fifteen;  James Bayard, died at the age of fourteen;  Frank B.;  Phineas S. C.;  
Wilson D.;  Jane (Mrs. David Alcott);  and two who died in infancy.  Mr. Powell 
Harvey died in 1876, aged seventy-four, and his wife died in 1878, aged sixty-
five.
  Edwin P. Harvey attended the district schools of his native county until he 
was thirteen, when his parents removed to Mifflin county, and settled at Browns 
Mills, near Reedsville, Pa., and Edwin completed his education in the public 
schools of that town.  At sixteen he was apprenticed to Aaron Wagner, 
blacksmith, at Forks, Centre county, Pa.  After serving his full term of three 
years, he returned to Armagh township, and hired himself for one year to Henry 
Slack, receiving for his services his board and the privilege of attending 
school during the winter term.  At the end of the year he rented a shop from T. 
C. Williams, and began working at his trade, and two years later, he bought a 
house and shop near Lockes Mills, where he remained for eleven years.  
Encouraged by his success, Mr. Harvey determined to increase his business, and 
removing to Milroy, he formed a partnership with Ezra M. Hoopes.  The enterprise 
prospered, and the partnership was continued until Mr. Hoopes died, when the 
firm became Edwin P. Harvey & Sons.  They are general blacksmiths, wagon 
builders and dealers in agricultural implements.   Mr. Harvey is a self-made 
man.  The comfort and ease which he now enjoys are the result of his own 
industry and good management.  He is not a politician, but he has always 
identified himself with the Republican party, and is also a member of Lodge No. 
213, I. O. O. F., at Milroy.
  Edwin P. Harvey was married, October 2, 1851, to Amelia Ann, daughter of Peter 
Kemmerlin, of German descent.  Their children are:  Alice Mary, died in infancy;  
Frank, died in infancy;  Eldridge, married Mary Thompson, of Minnesota, has one 
child;  Edwin C., married and living in Arkansas;  Clay W.;  William E.;  Sarah 
(Mrs. O. H. Barkelass), has one child;  and Catharine E., teaching in Armagh 
township.  Mr. Harvey's eldest daughter taught for some time in Armagh township, 
and afterwards in the State Normal School at Bloomsburg, Columbia county, Pa.  
Mr. Harvey and his family attend the Presbyterian church.