Austin Harvey (1835 - 1866)

Born 1835 in Deavertown, York Township, Morgan County, Ohio

Died 25 Jul 1866 at about age 31 in Deavertown, York Township, Morgan County, Ohio

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Biography

Austin Harvey was born in 1835 in Deavertown, York Township, Morgan County, Ohio. His parents were John and Mary Harvey. He had two brothers, Hiram and George, and six sisters Lizzie, Martha Jane, Hester, Anna, Sarah Rosetta, and Lucy.

Around 1840 - 1850 the Harveys had a millwright on the Muskingum River east of Deavertown. One year there was a flood and the gate on the tail race broke, starting the mill. Austin realized that the millstones would be ruined if they ground against each other with no grain. So he swam over a quarter of a mile across the river to feed grain to the mill and save the millstones — and the family business.

There are at least two records for Austin Harvey of Ohio serving during the Civil War. The first was a Private in Company H, 17th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The 17th was mustered in August 30, 1861 under Colonel John M. Connell in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. The second, started as a Corporal and ended as a Sergeant in Company D, 97th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The 97th was mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel John Q. Lane on September 1, 1862 in Zainesville, Muskingum County, Ohio. Muskingum is adjacent to Morgan County, Ohio. Fairfield County is one county west (Perry County is inbetween).

This Austin Harvey had an younger brother, Hiram Cable Harvey, who had received a commission from the Governor of Ohio to raise a Company of Infantry in Deavertown. They organized and drilled, but weren't called, so he resigned his commission and enlisted in the Cavalry. He was probably in the 5th Ohio Cavalry. He was purportedly wounded and had a steel plate inserted into his head.

Their brother-in-law, Martha Jane's husband, Jeriah Cheney, enlisted in the 90th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was captured by the Confederates at the Battle of Stones River, taken to Libby Prison, starved and infected with typhoid, paroled and taken to Annapolis, Maryland where he died of typhoid fever and was buried in Annapolis National Cemetery.

Austin was working on a "big steam engine" when it exploded, killing him.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MXQR-5LM : accessed 09 Oct 2014), Austin Harvey in household of John Harvey, York, Morgan, Ohio, United States; citing family 344, NARA microfilm publication M432.

• "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MCG4-WMH : accessed 09 Oct 2014), Austin Harvey in household of John Harvey, York Township, Morgan, Ohio, United States; citing "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," Fold3.com; p. 280, household ID 1885, NARA microfilm publication M653; FHL microfilm 805016.

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FS93-Y5M : accessed 09 Oct 2014), Austin Harvey, 1861-1865; citing military unit 17th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Union Soldier, NARA microfilm publication M552, roll 45 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d); FHL microfilm 0882258.

• "United States Civil War Soldiers Index, 1861-1865," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FS93-Y59 : accessed 09 Oct 2014), Austin Harvey, 1861-1865; citing military unit 97th Regiment, Ohio Infantry, Union Soldier, NARA microfilm publication M552, roll 45 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d); FHL microfilm 0882258.

• Family History As Told To Me By Uncle Hiram, Grandma, Uncle George and Papa by Austin's grand-niece, the daughter of his sister Martha's son, Gilbert Harvey Cheney, Mary Ellen “May” Cheney Luke (22 Jan 1886 – 3 Nov 1967).

• Find A Grave Memorial #5938764 Created by Robert "Rob" Weller 08 Nov 2001.