BackHarvey Dunlavey was one of the early lawyers of Davis County, and of considerable note. I recollect seeing him when I first came to the bar, for he used occasionally to come over from his own County to attend the courts of ours at Ottumwa. He was then somewhat along in years, old-fashioned in appearance, tall, rather bent, and somewhat irregular of features. I have but little data concerning his early life. He was, I think, a Kentuckian by birth, and a good specimen of the old-time pioneer gentleman. He was a sound lawyer, held in high esteem by his fellow citizens, and prominent in the early affairs of Davis County. In 1852 he was elected School Fund Commissioner; in 1859, a member of the House in the State Legislature, serving in the session which commenced on the eighth of January, 1860, and in the extra session of May, 1861. In 1861 he was re-elected and served in the session of the Ninth General Assembly, which convened on January 13, 1862, and in the extra session which convened on September 3, 1862. In 1870 he was a member of the Board of County Supervisors. In all of these positions he served with honor to himself and the State. As stated in the previous sketch, he was for some time a partner in the practice with M. H. Jones. He died many years ago. He was survived by his son, J. W. Dunlavey, who was also prominent in Davis County affairs, serving on the first board of supervisors in 1861, and again in 1862 and 1864.
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