News of the Town of Harvey in 1898

ANDREWS, BAYLISS, DENNIS, MARMON, MOORE, REDDING, WILSON

Posted By: MCGS Volunteer
Date: 4/12/2026 at 10:04:19

The Journal pulled the latch string in Harvey Monday and had a pleasant visit with her people. There are some boss story tellers around town. For instance, J. J. Wilson, proprietor of “Island No. 10,” J. Bayliss, ex-storekeeper and W. H. Dennis, ward politician, were talking over events at the corner grocery when a conversation turned to a good joke they have on J. M. Redding, Sr., who, with his wife, is now visiting in southeastern Kansas with a daughter. It was at a very early day, they say, Redding was leading a gang of harvesters in the old way – cradles, rakes, etc., - in Ross county, Ohio, when a large buck sprang out of the wheat just in front of them. They made a dash for him, Redding in the lead, and the deer leaped over the high fence and fell into a know bank where he got fast and froze stiff. He is there, petrified, now.
Harvey is a product of the railroad. Had a small beginning with the Rock Island in 1876 and was much improved by the building of the Wabash at a later date. It has since had a steady growth. There is one general store in the place, now owned by Jay Marmon, formerly of Oskaloosa, who bought the property from J. Bayliss about a month ago. It is a very neat, clean stock of goods and Mr. Marmon is a first-class, up-to-date merchant, having been schooled in this business all his life. Mr. Bayliss is yet postmaster but the office will probably be turned over to Mr. Marmon in due time.
J. Bayliss returned Friday from the G.A.R. excursion at Cincinnati.
Gilbert Andrews, late of Des Moines, is a painter, and a good one.
Farmers hereabouts are raising tomatoes for the factories at Pella and Knoxville.
Mrs. Reeta Dennis teaches the Harvey school, began Sept. 5. There are twelve enrolled.
Joe Moore, the past eighteen months, has kept a lumber yard and bought grain. He has a good business.
The Thompson House affords first-class entertainment for sojourners. It is a new place, built six years ago.
Eugene Dennis has purchased a lot just south of the store, has stone on the ground for a foundation and expects to build a new house.
The mother of W. H. Dennis was recently buried at Gladstone, Summerset county, N J., at the age of 78 years. W. H. came to Harvey in 1874.
The C.R.I. & P. section gang, Geo, Dennis, foreman, has also charge of the gravel pit. Mr. Dennis has been with them five years. There are twelve men and they make business hum.
The Baptist church is the only one in Harvey and for the past month has been without a pastor. Religious services were held last Sunday by Rev. Smith of Pella. They have a well organized Sunday school which meets at 10 o’clock each Sunday, H. Branscomb, superintendent.
C. M. Redding came to Harvey in 1852 from Ross county, Ohio, saw the boats plying in the waters of the Des Moines and is well acquainted with the lore of ye ancient times. Twelve years ago he bought a place at Harvey, and later sold and built another. He keeps boarders, farms and runs a livery.
Farmer J J. Wilson, who six years ago bought 281 acres of timber land north of Harvey on what they call the island has cleared it out and now has a fine farm. He has recently bought the seventy-three acre place adjoining Harvey owned by J. Bayliss, paying therefor $50 an acre. He will move over in the spring.
The directors of the Wabash line at their meeting in St. Louis Sept. 13, decided to build the road between Albia and Moulton. They have recently distributed 3,000 ties on the Albia branch south of Harvey, have put a new span over Cedar below Tracy, and will proceed at once to put the track in first-class condition.
Source: Knoxville (IA) Journal; Saturday, 24 September 1898, page 3, col 5