November 19, 1988

Additional census records of the Thomas H. Harvey family have recently been discovered. "Uncle Jake" and "uncle Pleas" have been found, as well as previously unknown family members. Many of the census records are very difficult to read because of the extreme age, because of the hand writing of the census taker, or both. This may have resulted in errors in names, spelling or ages appearing in this report. If the uncertainty was very great, a question mark has been appended to the item. Perhaps the archives available to other researchers could clarify some of these uncertainties.

These discoveries correct several errors in previously reported events. For example, in the History of Newark book, quoted previously, it was suggested that Thomas H. Harvey came to Wise County in 1855 with the Marion Co, ILL. Wagon train. Actually, Thomas was still in Missouri as late as 1860.

The census record showing Thomas in Texas Co, Missouri in 1850 has been previously displayed in Footprints.

    NAME            AGE SEX BIRTHPLACE   Est YOB

Thomas Harvey        29  M  Tennessee    1821
Dianna Harvey        26  F  Tennessee    1824
Martha Jane Harvey    3  F  Missouri     1847

Thomas has now been located in 1860. At that time, he and Dianah have moved about forty miles west of their Texas Co, location to Union Township in Webster Co, Missouri. The nearest post office to them is Bristol, MO. The census shows John Harvey as seven years of age and Thomas Harvey Jr. as age 5.

    NAME             AGE     SEX  BIRTHPLACE  Est YOB

Thomas Harvey        39       M    Tenn        1821
Dianah Harvey        36       F     NC         1824
Martha J. Harvey     12       F     MO         1848
John Harvey           7       M     MO         1853
Thomas Harvey         5       M     MO         1855

In giving the year of birth the age of the individual was simply subtracted from the census year. Therefore the birth could be off by one year. For example if Thomas Harvey were born after the census date, his birth year could actually be 1820 and not 1821.

Union Township, Webster Co, is about 25-30 miles Northeast of Springfield. We now know that Thomas was in Webster Co, as early as January 8, 1853. The cryptic note at right states that John Washington Harvey was born in or near Springfield, MO, January 8, 1853.

John Washington Harvey had two wives. The 2nd wife was Iva Harvey. Ed was her son. This note was found in Iva Harvey's papers by Ed's wife. "C" in the note is Cletus Obra, son of John Harvey. The reference to Mitchell County, Colorado is actually referring to Colorado City, Mitchell Co, Texas which is just west of Abilene. Readers of Footprints will recall that the Letters written by John Washington to his sister Laura Francis were written from Buford, Texas. Buford is about two miles north of Colorado City.

It is believed that this note was sent to Sharlottie ("Lottie") Rozella (Nelson) Milson, oldest daughter of Laura Francis (Harvey) Nelson by Thelma Harvey and subsequently to Wanda Gayle (Nelson) Reed and then the author. However, its source is uncertain.

The discovery of Thomas Harvey in Webster County in 1860 had remarkable consequences. Note from the 1860 Thomas Harvey census that he lived in the 755th house that the census taker visited. Now in the 768th house visited by the census taker lives on John Harvey age 27. This house must be very close to Thomas Harvey's house. It could in fact be next door or across the road since we do not know the pattern of interviews used by the census taker. In any case it is near by. John Harvey was born in Tennessee in 1833. His wife Virginia Harvey was born in Virginia in 1838. They have a daughter Mary 5 years old, born in Missouri in 1855.

    NAME          AGE   SEX  BIRTHPLACE  Est YOB

John Harvey        27    M   Tenn         1833
Virginia Harvey    22    F   Virginia     1838
Mary Harvey         5    F   Missouri     1855
Elizabeth Harvey   52    F   Tenn         1805
Jane Harvey        20    F   Missouri     1840
Pleasant Harvey    16    M   Missouri     1844
Jacob Harvey       12    M   Missouri     1848

Living with John Harvey are four other persons who are not his children. The eldest is Elizabeth Harvey [his mother] who is 52 years old. Elizabeth was born in Tennessee in 1808. We also find Jane Harvey [his sister], age 20. Jane was born in Missouri in 1840. And we find one Pleasant Harvey [his brother], age 16, born in Missouri in 1844. And then one Jacob Harvey [his brother], age 12, born in Missouri 1848.

We know that "Uncle Jake" and "Uncle Pleas" were half brothers of Thomas H. Harvey. Who is John Harvey? Is he Elizabeth's son and therefore also a half-brother of Thomas? Or could he be a brother of Thomas Harvey? There are arguments that could be put forth for either case.

Arguing for the case that John is a half brother to Thomas is the simple fact that Elizabeth is living with him which would be quite natural if he were her son. If he were her step-son, a brother to Thomas, then it would be more natural for her to live with Thomas, the older of her two step-sons.

It could be argued that John Harvey is actually Thomas's brother and Elizabeth is living with John because he is financially more secure than Thomas. Also, with only one small child it makes more sense for Elizabeth to live with John than with Thomas who has three children.

From the census, John owns $400 in real estate and $1300 in personal property. Checking the census to see the property value of others who live in Webster Co, it was determined that John Harvey was one of the wealthiest men in the county! How much land is $400 in 1860 Missouri? Data on land prices in 1860 Missouri is not available. To estimate John Harvey's property value in today's dollars we can use the price of gold as an indicator. In 1850 gold was valued at $20 per ounce. In recent years gold has been in the $450 per ounce range. On this basis, John Harvey's property value of $1700 would be about $40,000.00 in today's dollars. For a farmer who has neither housing nor food expenses, that is substantial. As another estimate of his property value in terms of today's dollar, in 1860 room and board for one month was $20. Today the minimum cost for a month room and board would probably be $500-$600. On the $600 basis, John's property value would be about $50,000.000 in today's dollars. Perhaps Thomas actually worked on John's farm! In any case he is clearly better able financially to support Elizabeth and the children even though he is 13 years younger than Thomas. (Below a suggestion is given as to where John obtained his net worth)

So which is he, a brother or half-brother to Thomas? There is no way to determine this with the information available at this time.

This John Harvey - 1860 census also tells us that Thomas Harvey's father, who I will refer to as the Senior Harvey since we do not know his name, is alive as late as 1848. So he must have died between 1848 and 1860. Therefore he may be in the 1850 census. He should be easy to spot since his wife would be Elizabeth and his children John (17), Jane (10), Pleasant (6), and Jacob (2).

      NAME         AGE     SEX      BIRTHPLACE    Est YOB

Austin Honeycut     28      M           NC         1832
Anna Honeycut       26      F           MO         1834
Jacob Honeycut       6      M           MO         1854
Caroline Honeycut    4      F           MO         1856
James M. Honeycut    3      M           MO         1857
Nathan Honeycut      1      M           MO         1859

But the 1860 Webster Co. Census held more surprises!

Recall that Thomas lived in House #755 visited by the census taker. Living near by in house #758 is a family headed by one Austin Honeycut! And right next door in house #759 is a family headed by one Sampson Honeycut. Now Honeycut is not a common name in the 1860 Missouri census, there are only a few in all of Missouri. Without doubt these Honeycut's are relatives of Thomas Harvey's wife Dianah Honeycut. Austin Honeycut is 28 years old, be was born in North Carolina in 1832. Dianah Honeycut was born in North Carolina in 1824. It is reasonable to assume that Dianah is Austin's older sister. He has four children, Jacob (6), Caroline (4), James (3), and Nathan (1). All the children were born in Missouri, so Austin has been in Missouri at least since 1854.

   NAME             AGE   SEX   BIRTHPLACE   Est. YOB

Sampson Honeycut    32     M       NC        1828
Sarah J. Honeycut   24     F       ARK       1836
Moses Honeycut       5     M       ARK       1855
Washington Honeycut  3     M       ARK       1857
William Honeycut   10/12   M       ARK   Nov 1859
Susanah Honeycut    50     F       NC        1810
Nancy Honeycut      33     F       NC        1827

Sampson Honeycut is 32 years old, born in North Carolina in 1828. His wife Sarah is 24 years old, born in Arkansas in 1836.

He has three children, Moses (5), Washington (3), and William (10/12). All three children were born in Arkansas. It appears hat Sampson has moved to Webster Co. MO. Within the last 10 months since William was born in Arkansas. Sampson also owns substantial real estate valued at $800. His net worth is about half that of John Harvey. Sampson was in Arkansas in 1855. However he could not be located in the 1850 Arkansas census.

It is not unreasonable to assume that since Austin is a farm laborer, that he works on Sampson Honeycut's farm.

Living with Sampson is Susanah Honeycut, 50 years old, born in North Carolina in 1810. This could very well be Dianah's mother. If so she wold have been only 14 years old when Dianah was born.

Also living with Sampson is Nancy Honey cut, age 33, born 1827 in North Carolina. This may well be Dianah's younger sister.

An attempt was made to locate these two Honeycut families in the 1850 census. There was no Honeycut family in Arkansas which appeared related. However, in the 1850, Texas Co. Missouri, one Austin Honeycut was found working as a laborer in a grain mill owned by a Mr. Bates. This mill is apparently not to far from the home of Thomas H. Harvey.

   NAME            AGE   SEX   PLACE OF BIRTH   OCCUPATION    REO

?? A. Bates         37    M    Kentucky         Milling       $8501
Sarah Bates         35    F    Kentucky
Elizabeth Bates     11    F    Missouri
Mary Bates           9    F    Missouri
??  Bates            7    M    Missouri
Charles ??          33    M    Virginia         Laborer
Austin Honeycut     18    M    Not Known        Laborer
??  Webb            31    M    Tennessee        Laborer
William McManus     27    M    Tennessee        Laborer
James Harvey        25    M    Tennessee        Laborer
William ??          18    M    Missouri         Laborer

Bates Mill is providing lodging for six laborers, Austin Honeycut being one. But notice who is also working at Bates Mill, one James Harvey. James is the only Harvey other than Thomas H. Harvey in the entire county in 1850. Is James related to Thomas Harvey? There is some additional evidence that he is indeed a brother or half-brother to Thomas. This evidence will appear below.

Having made these census discoveries, it is now clear that it may be possible to locate The Senior Harvey in the 1850 census records. Since Jacob was born in Missouri, we know he is probably in Missouri, his wife is Elizabeth, children in the family will be John (17), Jane (10), Pleasant (6), Jacob (2)

      NAME       AGE  SEX   PLACE OF BIRTH     Est. DOB

Elizabeth Harvey  42   F    Tennessee            1808
Joel Z? Harvey    22   M    Tennessee   Farmer   1828
James Harvey      24   M    Tennessee   Farmer   1826
John Harvey       20   M    Tennessee   Farmer   1830
Bennet Harvey     17   M    Tennessee   Farmer   1833
Eirbee Harvey     16   M    Tennessee   Farmer   1834
Jane Harvey       11   F    Tennessee            1839
Pleasant Harvey    5   M    Missouri             1845
Jacob Harvey       2   M    Missouri             1848

Regrettably, the discovery of the Senior Harvey family shows that the Senior Harvey had already died by the time of the 1850 census. And so regrettably we still do not know even his name. We have however discovered many new brother and sisters (or half-brothers and sisters) of Thomas. From the census record it would appear that the Senior Harvey has recently died (within the past two to three years) and that the Harvey boys are continuing to run the family farm. Notice hat the Harvey boys are listed as Farmers, not as farm laborers. This indicates that they own the farm. Joel is 22 and was born in Tennessee in 1828. James is 24 and was born in Tennessee in 1826. Bennet is 17, born 1833 in Tennessee. Jane is 11, born in Tennessee in 1839 (the 1860 census lists Jane as having been born in Missouri n 1840 or 1839). Pleasant, 5 years old was born in Missouri in 1845, while Jacob, 2 years old and was also born in Missouri in 1848.

Also notice in the census that there is a son James Harvey age 24. Is it possible that this is the same James Harvey who is working at Bates Mill on September 25, 1850?

Congress designated one day in each census year as census day. The enumeration began on that day and included all persons living in each household on that one day, regardless of when the census-taker actually visited the dwelling. Persons who died after census day but before the census taker came were to be listed as if they were still alive. Babies born after census day were to be omitted. In 1850 census day was the first day of June.

The Dallas Co. Census was enumerated October 19, 1850, while the census at Bates Mill was enumerated September 25. The ages of the two James Harveys also differ by one year. If the rules were followed, the Two James Harveys could not be the same person. Often the rules were not followed. It is a possibility that the two James Harveys are the same person.

Notice John Harvey is 20 years old, not 17, in the 1850 census. He ages only seven years during the 50's decade. This happens often in the census records when a person is married to a younger spouse. John Harvey's property value in 1860 could actually be that of Elizabeth, from the probate of The Senior Harvey's estate. This would explain how a young farmer, unable to read or write could accumulate a substantial estate.

Of Elizabeth's seven children, we know only that Pleasant and Jacob are Thomas's half brothers. We do not know whether Joel, James, Bennet, Eirbee, John and Jane are full or half brothers and sister of Thomas.

None of these families are in Webster Co, in 1870, not Thomas, not John, Joel, James, Bennet or Eirbee. Also there are no Honeycuts remaining in Webster Co. There is only one Harvey in the entire county, a widow, Rebecca, with one child, Thomas.

  NAME              AGE   SEX    BIRTHPLACE     OCCUPATION

Rebecca Harvey      40     F     Tennessee     Keeping House
Thomas Harvey       17     M     Missouri      Works on farm

         
       

Is Rebecca Harvey the widow of one of the Harvey boys we already know? Her son Thomas was born in 1853 and could be the son of Joel, James, Bennet or Eirbee. It should be possible to locate these four Harvey families in the 1860 census. Is this the Thomas Harvey who corresponds with John Washington Harvey in the early 1900's (Footprints Vol 1, No 4)? A future article will explore this possibility.

Since no index exists for the 1870 census at this time, it is difficult to check surrounding counties to see if any of the Harveys or Honecuts are there.

Pleasant and Jacob were found in the 1880 census. Pleasant is living in Webb City, Jasper County, MO. As shown on the attached map, Webb city is about eighty miles west of Webster County, near Joplin, MO. It is very near the common point between Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

                                     BIRTHPLACE
   NAME            AGE   RELATION    SELF   F  M   Est YOB

Jacob Harvey        34                MO    -  -    1846
Rebecca A? Or H?    27      W         MO    - Tenn  1853
Martha E. Harvey     7      D         MO    MO MO   1873
Pleasant J. Harvey   5      S         MO    MO MO   1874
Annie J. Harvey      2      D         MO    MO MO   1878

                                     BIRTHPLACE
      NAME          AGE RELATION    SELF  F   M    Est YOB

Pleasant Harvey      35              MO Tenn Tenn   1845
Martha Harvey        35   W        Tenn Tenn Tenn   1845
Sarah E. Harvey      12   D          MO  MO  Tenn   1868
Theora Harvey        10   D          MO  MO  Tenn   1870
John R. Harvey        7   S          MO  MO  Tenn   1873
Jacob N. Harvey       5   S          MO  MO  Tenn   1875

By looking at the census pages surrounding Pleasant it is clear that Webb City was almost entirely a Lead Mining town. Pleasant now has two sons, Jacob and John, and two daughters, Sarah E, and Theora. The oldest child is 12, born in 1868. Pleasant is a miner. He also rents part of his house to boarders, a family with one child is boarding with the Harveys.

Jacob Harvey is a farmer in Elk Horn Township, McDonald County, Missouri in 1880. This is also about eighty miles West of Webster County. He lives about 30 miles south of Pleasant. Jacob has three children, Martha E, age 7, Pleasant J, age 5 and Annie J. age two.

The family of the Senior Harvey has been found. Since he was deceased before that census, we do not even know his name, although a good guess would be Thomas or John. The census records before 1850 recorded only the name of the head of household and the number of persons in the age brackets: under 5, 5- 10, 10-15, 15-20, 20-30, 30-40, 40-50, 50-60, 60-70, 70-80, 80-90, 90-100, and over 100. This makes it difficult to identify anyone with certainty, particularly when the given name is unknown. We will be fortunate indeed if we are able to learn the name or any particulars about the life and times of The Senior Harvey.