A County and A Governor: James M. Harvey

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Roger Wilson served as director at HCHM until his retirement in June 2006.  During that time, he wrote several articles for the Newton Kansan and other publications on topics of interest to Harvey County.  Wilson passed away  April 5, 2007 in Topeka, Ks.

Roger Wilson

Roger Wilson

Originally published in the Newton Kansan, November 29, 2005

No, it wasn’t Paul or Fred. It was Jim. Or more properly James. The man for whom Harvey County was named was James Madison Harvey, fifth governor of Kansas.

The story of how the county came to be named after the Governor is interesting. Opposition to the creation of the new county developed in the Kansas State Senate in 1872. The act organizing the county had passed the House of Representatives without a dissenting vote. But in the Senate, the measure passed by only one vote. Opponents to the bill wanted to reconsider the vote but the Harvey County backers suggested they all go to lunch and take up the reconsideration afterward. The opponents went to lunch. The backers took the just-passed bill and went straight to the governor’s office to get him to sign it. They promised to name the county after him if he did. And he did!

Okay, that’s the interesting part of the story. But, just as interesting is the man.

James Madison Harvey was born in Monroe County Virginia on September 21, 1833, to Thomas and Margaret Harvey. The Harvey family moved to Indiana, then Iowa and then to Illinois. It was in the latter state that James received his education.  It was said that he was a superior student with a nearly photographic memory. He learned the profession of surveying. He married Charlotte Richardson Cutter of Adams County, Illinois in 1854 and the family moved to Riley County, Kansas. He practiced his surveying profession until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted as a soldier in the Union army and ultimately was promoted to captain and commanded the Fourth and Tenth regiments of the Kansas Volunteer infantry. He mustered out of the service in 1864 and returned to Riley County and his farm and family.

 

Gov. James M. Harvey (1833-1894) Served as Kansas' 5th Governor Jan. 11, 1869 - Jan. 13, 1873

Gov. James M. Harvey (1833-1894) Served as Kansas’ 5th Governor Jan. 11, 1869 – Jan. 13, 1873

Harvey then entered politics, being elected from Riley County to the Kansas House of  Representatives in 1865 and reelected in 1866. He then was elected to the state senate in 1867 and served about half his term before running for governor. He won his first term as governor in 1860 and was reelected to that office in 1870. In those days, gubernatorial terms were two years.
Following his time at the statehouse, Harvey returned to his Riley County farm and his surveying practice. But, in 1874, Alexander Caldwell resigned from the U.S. Senate and the state legislature elected Harvey to fill out his unexpired term. Again in those days, U.S. Senators were elected by state legislatures. He did not seek election to a full term in the U.S. Senate but chose to return again to the farm. He then spent several years surveying for the government in New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and Utah. In the early 1880s, Harvey developed Bright’s Disease, known today as nephritis, a kidney disease. As a result, the family moved back to Virginia in 1884 seeking a milder climate, but returned to Riley County in 1890. James Madison Harvey died of kidney failure on Sunday, April 15, 1894. He was 61 years old.

During his four years as governor. Kansas saw an increase in road construction, the formation of the state board of agriculture, the creation of the position of the state librarian, formation of several counties and cities, including Sedgwick, Newton, Halstead and Burrton. The Union Pacific Railroad completed its construction across Kansas to Denver and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad was nearing the final miles of is construction across the state. State historians agree; Harvey’s administration was one of great accomplishment.

For more on Gov. James M. Harvey visit:

  • http://www.kshs.org/p/james-madison-harvey-correspondence-speeches-and-papers-1834-1922/14033
  • http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=H000307

Ice House

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by Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

On a hot summer day, what sounds better than an ice cold drink?  Today, most of us take for granted that we can easily get ice when we want it, but what about years ago?

icedrink

Charlsen Ice Co.

Charles Charlsen arrived in Harvey County in the early 1870s.  After trying several businesses, he settled on an ice and produce business.   In 1872, he built an ice house on the bank of Sand Creek  at 811 N. Elm. He is credited with establishing the first ice business in Harvey County in November 1872. He owned about a block  of land on each side of the creek.  The basement of the house was the equivalent of a two story building and used to store ice year round.

Initially, Charlsen sold ice from a covered ice wagon  to individuals.  People would put out signs indicating how much ice they wanted.  He also sold ice to meat markets and grocery stores.  The last ice cut from Sand Creek for Charlsen was in 1927.   Early in January 1928, Charlsen was inspecting the Sand Creek ice when suffered a stroke and fell.  He died January 5, 1928.  His son, George continued with the produce business.

North Side Ice Co. ca. 1890s Possible location: north of the west end of 12th Street, possibly owned by Daniel Ainsworth.

North Side Ice Co. ca. 1890s Possible location: north of the west end of 12th Street, possibly owned by Daniel Ainsworth.

Harvesting Ice  from Sand Creek

 Ice was harvested annually from Sand Creek until the late 1920s.

Sections were marked off with an iron mark which would measure to the equivalency of a 300 pound chunk of ice.  Using a double cut saw, the worker would cut around the mark.  They would usually mark off three at a time.

ice-6

ice-7

After the first piece was cut, the men, with the use of a pick or hook on the end of a long pole and ice tongs, would lift the first piece  out and place it on a ramp.  The other pieces would then float to were they could get a hold of them with the tongs.  The chunks would be pulled up the ramp with ropes and pulleys and then released to go down another ramp into the basement of the ice house.  Two men were in the basement stacking the blocks of ice.

The floor of the ice house was covered with about 12 inches of straw.   Eventually, the basement would be stacked to the ceiling with ice blocks.

Newton Ice Co.

In addition to Carlson, other ice companies served Harvey County.  The Newton Ice Co. began delivering ice to homes in 1898.

Newton Ice Co., 1922

Newton Ice Co., Oak Street Plant, 1922

Customers would indicate the amount of ice needed, either 25 or 50 pounds, with a sign on their door.

Polar Ice Co., 1922

Polar Ice Co Delivery Wagon., 1922 The Polar Ice Co. was purchased by the Newton Ice Co. in 1915.

The Railroad also needed ice.  In 1906, the Sand Creek Ice Plant of the Newton Ice  Co., had a daily capacity of 75 tons of ice.  By 1922, 100 tons of ice were  manufactured with a storage capacity of 10 thousand tons.  The Plant served the city of Newton, the Santa Fe Railroad and surrounding communities.

Posing in front of the Newton Ice Co.

Posing in front of the Newton Ice Co.

The Plant employed 25 men and operated 24 hours  a day.  An additional 75-100 men were employed during the busy times.

So, next time you fill your glass with ice, remember it used to be a whole lot harder to come by.

 Sources

  • Newton Kansan, 10 January 1928.  Obituary for Charles C. Charlsen (1848-1928).
  • Newton Kansan 50th Anniversary Edition,  22 August 1922.
  • Newton Kansan 7 February 1979 “Newton’s First Ice House Dates Back to 1872” by Betty Reeves.
  •  Toews, Dudley Dodgion.  Newton:  Remembering Yesterday Today.

 

Queen of Your Home!

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By Kristine Schmucker, HCHM Curator

A recent donation of objects to the museum included a Suzy Homemaker Clothes Washer made by Topper Toys from 1966-1971.

The washer was the first in a line of fully functional toy household appliances made by Topper Toys marketed as “Suzy Homemaker.”  The toys were designed to “look and  work” just like a real machine. “Suzy Homemaker” appliances were made for  “every little girl who wants to be just like her mother,” the washing machine included an agitator action, jet spray and a spin dry cycle. 

By the 1970s appliances included stoves – that could “bake a cake that serves six”; vacuums – complete with attachments; and irons that have “a jet spray sprinkler and it really heats!”

Through various ads Topper Toys  “promised that your daughter won’t turn into a hippie if you’ll buy her an Easy Bake Oven.”

suzy-homemaker-2

A Topper Toys Advertisment

The following video advertisement from 1960s assures young girls that they will become “Queen of your home” if they use the Suzy Homemaker appliances. 

Suzy Homemaker Toy Commercial:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rAiii4LA3k

For more favorite things, come visit our new exhibit, “Stuff We Love!” which opens July 19, 2014.