Rufus A. Harvey
SOURCE: "Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County, Illinois," by Milton W. Mathews and Lewis A. McLean, editors of the Champaign County Herald, published by the Champaign County Herald, 1886
RUFUS A. HARVEY was born August 30, 1845, at Urbana, Illinois. His father and mother were Moses D. and Olive (TOWNER) HARVEY, early pioneers of the county, and settled at Urbana in 1839, coming from Ohio. Rufus received a good education in the schools of Urbana, which were then as they are now, equal to any in the state.
Although but nineteen years old and rather small for one of his age, he succeeded in being accepted in the army of the union, having made two efforts to get in the army prior thereto. March 15, 1864, he enlisted in company A, 10th Illinois cavalry, and served until the close of the war.
He was in the grocery business in Urbana after his return under firm name of Tiernan & Harvey, and later he clerked for F. Schweizer in the clothing business. He read law one year with Somers & Black, and one year with Sheldon & Jaques, but did not enter the practice. In 1872 he engaged with A. W. McNichols in drug and grocery business in Tolono, in which he is still engaged. Soon after he started in business at Tolono a young lady named Miss Lucia M. VAUGHN, came there to teach in the public schools of that thriving village. Her vivacity, culture and refined manner naturally attracted the young bachelor's attention, although he had almost become proof against woman's charms. Soon there sprang up a mutual regard which grew to genuine love, and the result was that they were married in 1874. They have had born to them three children, Guy, Ada and Lola. Mr. Harvey is not a member of any church, but his habits are steady and he has always kept those injunctions which a strict morality imposes on all good citizens. Although he was brought up in the strictest democratic faith the agitation of the slavery question and his experience in the army made of him an unflinching republican. He has been a member of the school board four years and is now the present of the board of trustees of Tolono. He was a charter member of the Tolono Post, G.A.R., was its first commander and served two terms. In 1880 he started a branch store at Pesotum under the management of S. M. HARVEY, his brother, where they did an extensive business for several years in the way of general merchandise and in buying grain for Buckingham, of Chicago. He is one of the most successful business men in the county.
McNichols & Harvey. As before stated this firm commenced business in Tolono in 1872. At that time P. Richards, now cashier of the First National Bank, of Urbana, was engaged there in a similar business, that of drugs and groceries. He was well established and popular, and the young men found in him a competitor that was not to be ignored. They gave their personal attention to the details of the business and it was not long until they had won their share of it. They were sharp, shrewd, and were of the stuff of which successful business men are made and the result has been that their establishment has long been the leading one in the town of Tolono, and is a very bee-hive of business from morning until night every business day in the year. They have made a grand success and are making money as fast as it can be made in a legitimate way. They are public-spirited and take a front seat in all matters where the public interest is at stake. (Photo available)