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History in
a Pecan Shell
The
area that now includes Harvey received its first settlers in the 1860s.
Established in 1879, Harvey was named in honor of Booneville's
blacksmith, Brazos
County clerk, sheriff, tax assessor/collector and surveyor, Harvey
Mitchell. In his spare time he was a minister, store owner, and hotel
keeper. Colonel Mitchell served all of these offices/ occupations
simultaneously and still found time to grow a beard. He was said to
have married a couple who was passing through the area and had come
to his blacksmith shop to have one of their horses shod.
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Portrait
of Harvey Mitchell aka The Father of Brazos
County
Photo
Courtesy Carnegie Center of Brazos Valley History |
Mitchell
was later known as the "Father of Brazos
County" and the man is remembered today by the above oil painting
hanging in the Carnegie Center of Brazos Valley History in downtown
Bryan. The center also has Mr. Mitchel's original brass surveying
compass on display.
In 1890 the Harvey, Texas post office opened in the grocery store
of J. W. Barron.
Cotton production, the mainstay
economy of the area, was eventually replaced by ranching
and the population of Harvey, a mere twenty-five persons in 1910,
increased to only 110 by the mid-1960s.
Bryan / CollegeStation Chamber of Commerce
979.260.5200
Website - http://www.b-cs.com/ |
Brazos
County 1907 postal map showing Harvey E of Bryan
From Texas state map #2090
Courtesy
Texas General Land Office |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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