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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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HARVEY, ISOM, far., Sec. 14; P. O. St. Paul; was born in Randolph Co., N. C., March 9, 1806, and when 1 year of age, was taken by his parents (who were members of the Friends’ Church), to Wayne Co., Ind.; they first settled near Richmond, but afterward removed farther into the wilderness, settling near the center of the county, where, by the aid of an industrious family, consisting of a wife and six sons and three daughters, his father became one of the most extensive farmers of the State, owning at one time thirteen and one-quarter sections of land, beside 700 in another body, enabling him to provide each of his children with a large farm. Nov. 4, 1830, Isom Harvey married Elizabeth E., daughter of Elijah Fisher, who was born in Indiana, 1807; they settled near Richmond, Ind., where, in 1834, his wife died, leaving two children — John L., born Aug. 10, 1831, now a farmer of Pleasant Ridge Tp., and Elijah R., June 17, 1833, a merchant of his native city, Richmond; Sept. 17, 1839, he married Mary A., daughter of James Jones, a farmer near Baltimore, Md., where she was born Sept. 7, 1819. At the age of 13, came with her parents to Indiana, they settling near Richmond, where she was married. After being engaged in the grocery trade for several years at Centerville, the county seat of his native county, in 1843, Mr. Harvey removed to Lee Co., crossing the Mississippi the 22d of Oct., of that year; they first settled in Green Bay Tp., where his father had purchased a claim of a Mr. Small; six years previous they occupied a cabin erected by Small with the aid of twelve Indians and two white men; remained there for five and a-half years, and then removed to his present place of residence, consisting of 139 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre; he also owns a house and lot at Pilot Grove, valued at $500. They have had twelve children, six sons and six daughters — James A., born May 6, 1841; he enlisted in Co. I, 30th I. V. I., Aug. 15, 1862; participated at Vicksburg, Helena, Arkansas Post (where he was color-bearer); at both sieges of Jackson, the forced march to Chattanooga, and at Resaca, where he fought for three days, standing upon one foot, and taken thence to the hospital at Chattanooga, where he died June 27, 1864; Christenie J., born January, 1847; she married Henry Pickard, and died October, 1878; Jerusha A., Jan. 25, 1849 (the wife of J. W. Pretker, of Fort Madison); Willard C., Sept. 14, 1850, drowned at Portland, Oregon, July 11, 1877; Jemima E., April 8, 1853, the wife of James F. Wilson, of Henry Co.); Daniel, Jan. 14, 1855, now principal of schools at Portland, Oregon; Henry S., June 19, 1858, and Nathan B., Dec. 17, 1859, now attending school at Fort Madison; Republican. Mrs. H. and two daughters are members of the Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

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