Harvey B. Miner: b. Jefferson Co, OH, 1840

MINER, BYWATER, MERSHON, MENZIES

Posted By: Dianne Krogh (email)
Date: 7/29/2008 at 07:02:41

[Probably from Davenport Times] Article c. 1918

H. B. Miner, Pioneer Iowa Surveyor for Fifty Years

Special to Times-Journal.
Waukon, Iowa, August 16---Waukon is no doubt the home of a pioneer surveyor and is doubtful if there is another surveyor in Iowa that has had the record of Harvey B. Miner, who has been a surveyor for over fifty years.
Mr. Miner was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, January 24, 1840 and came to Allamakee county in 1856. He acquired his education in the public schools of Jefferson county, Ohio, and 16 years of age when he came to Iowa.
Mr. Miner was well educated for those days and when he began his independent career, turned his attention to teaching, having received his first teacher's certificate as early as 1860. He followed that occupation during the winter months, spending the summers assisting the work of the farm.

VOTED FOR LINCOLN
He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has voted for every Republican presidential nominee since that time. In 1879 he was elected county surveyor of Allamakee county and served so efficiently, conscientiously and capably that in the end of his term he was returned to office and there-with the work of the farm.
Mr. Miner's friends are fond of sayng that the only way he could be gotten out of his office was to be legislated out, for his service ended when the office of county surveyor was abolished in Iowa. He has, however, continued his work in a private capacity, having been since connected with important surveying projects in Allamakee and Clayton counties. He is in great demand for surveys calling for careful, expert and prompt labor and is particularly proficient in running and establishing lines and corners.
He has a remarkable memory and only the last few weeks has saved the city of Waukon many dollars in surveying for the paving. He is very proud of his son Lieut. Willis Miner, who is following the same profession and is now city engineer for Waukon.
Mr Miner was married March 17, 1864 to Hattie E. Bywater.
The children are Dr. Frank Miner, a dentist formerly at Hazelton, Dr. Cora, now the wife of Dr. Mershon of Fayette, Addie, a graduate nurse of Wesley Hospital, now the wife of Dr. Menzie who owns a hospital in Chicago, and Willis H., city engineer here. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge 154 F. & A. M. and is probably one of the best known and most influential residents of Waukon, where he has resided for so many years and where his work as a private citizen as a public official has commented him to the trust, goodwill and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact.

[Photo of Mr. Miner printed with article. Scans available on request. Contact: DianneSlipkid@comcast.net )

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