Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HARRIETT
NEWELL HARVEY
Among the most worthy and
esteemed residents of Santa Clara county, in the neighborhood of Coyote, is
Miss Harriett Newell Harvey, who is located upon a ranch of fifty-three acres,
which she is successfully conducting. She is the western representative of an
old New England family. Her grandfather, Elias Harvey, a native of Rhode
island, removed to Connecticut and followed the occupation of farmer until his
death, which occurred in Colchester, that state. In his family was a son also
called Elias, who was born in Colchester, Conn., and in manhood became a
merchant, continuing this occupation for six years, when he took up agricultural
work. He remained so engaged on the old home place up
to the time of his death. He became prominent in both local and state affairs,
as a Republican in politics representing his district in the state legislature
for one term. In local affairs he served as school director and selectman for
many terms. His wife, formerly Sallie Maria Ransom, was a native of Salem,
Conn., and also died in Colchester. Her grandfather, John Ransom, was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war.
Of a family of two sons and three
daughters, Harriett Newell Harvey was the youngest daughter and next to the
youngest child. She was born in Colchester, Conn., November 19, 1843, and was
there reared to womanhood. Her education was received through the medium of the
public schools and the academy at Colchester. After the death of her father,
Marcy 17, 1879, she remained at home nine years, taking care of her mother who
died March 16, 1888. In 1890 Miss Harvey came as far west as Kansas, where she
visited her relatives. Following this trip she came to Madrone,
Cal., making her home with an uncle for seven months, after which, in 1892, she
returned to Connecticut and spent three months. In the same year she again came
to California and became a member of Joel W. Ransom’s family, her mother’s brother,
who was born in Connecticut in 1821. He was one of the gold-hunters of ’49 who
visited all the principal mines of the state, and also followed mining in
Montana. His death occurred July 11, 1897, on the farm where Miss Harvey now
resides, which her uncle willed to her three years previous to his death. Of
the fifty-three acres, forty acres are devoted to the cultivation of prunes one
to apples and the balance to pasture. In the management of her ranch Miss
Harvey shows a marked adaptability for the work. The property is located on the
Monterey road, one-half mile south of Coyote. Miss Harvey is a faithful member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Coyote and is active in its various
departments, now serving as president of the Ladies’ Aid Society, one of the
most efficient societies in the county. She is also one of the trustees and
stewards of the church and is an honored member of this enterprising community.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 428-431. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.