My Genealogy Hound

Robert S. Harvey, merchant at Aurora Springs, was born in Cooper County, Mo., November, 22, 1855, and is the third in a family of five born to Noah and Lucinda (Reynolds) Harvey, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Martin Harvey, came to Missouri at an early date, settling in the southern part of Cooper County, where he entered land, and made that his home for a long time. He then sold his farm, went to Henry County, bought land, and there passed the remainder of his life. Noah Harvey died in 1864. Robert S. Harvey spent his youth at farm labor until eighteen years of age, when he went to the store of T. J. Hart, of High Point, and there remained for six years. In 1880 Mr. Harvey married Mary C. Franklin, daughter of W. T. Franklin, of Miller County, and the results of this union were two children: Ralph and Bertram. Immediately after marriage Mr. Harvey and W. T. Franklin opened the store at Aurora Springs, and began buying wood, railroad ties, hogs and land, until he soon built up a large and thriving trade. In 1885, in partnership with James S. Franklin, Mr. Harvey opened a store at Bagnell. One year later, in partnership with J. B. Franklin, he started a store at Olean, under the name of R. S. Harvey & Co. The long mercantile experience of Mr. Harvey enabled him to take advantage of the extensive trade in the early days of Aurora Springs, and he soon became the leading merchant of that place. He still does the most extensive trade there, and his dealings in wood and railroad ties gives employment to a large number of men.