Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1862-05-07
From the State Journal.
Incidents in the Early Lie on
Governor Harvey.

In our brief and hasty sketch of Gov.
Harvey the other day, some mistakes oc-
Cured as to dates, and there were some
omissions relative to his early life, which
we propose briefly to remedy, from the
best information We have been able to
obtain.
LOUIS POWELL HARVEY was born in
East Haddam, Connecticut, July 22d,
1920. In 1928, his father removed to
Strongville, Ohio. Ills parents not be-
ing wealthy, it was necessary that Louis
should be the artiicer of his own for
tune. In 1887 he entered the Freshman
Glass in the Western Reserve College at
Hunson, Ohio. Concerning his collegi-
ate course, a cIassmate. Rev. Mr.. Brown,
ut meeting in La Crosse, thus speaks:
As classmates and members Of the
same literary society and boarders in the
same family, our acquaintance was of
the most intimate kind. can bear tcs
ti,noDy to his early character. that IT was
without a stain. He was noble youth.
With brilliant talents, good sco!arship,
and pleasing manners, he became IA
vorite among his fellow students. I'm
pul.ive in temperament, of unboundei
wit and humor, vet chastcned by Chris
tian principle. He possessed that rare
quality of trme nobility, a promptness to
rctract nm error, or confess wrong.
When n sharp word or sally of wit had
wounded the feelings of a fellow student,
I have seen him repair to his room, and,
with warm grasp of his hand and
fear in his eye. say -
" Brother, forgive me if | have hurt
your feelings"
Being straitened in means, he worked
a portion of his leisure hours Mt book
binding. In the Junior year, he was
compelled to leave TO seek employment
to enable him still to pursue bis studies.
We understand that i'll health was the
cause of his leaving college previous to
graduating.
lie spent short time ms tencher in
Nicholsonville, KY, after which he OBJ
tanned situation ms tutor in Woodward
College. Cincinnati, and after remaining
in this position some two years, he turn
81 his steps in westerly direction, ard
heated at Southport (now Kenosha). in
this state. in the fall of ISL.
The kenosha Telegraph speaks of his
career in that place rs lollows:--
He came stranger, without infiuen-
tia friends to aid him. and without capt.
6sI, except n good character and well
.osttiyated mind. which are, after MI,
sLsssor foundation for young man to
!luiif apon than money.
Tie *rst business in which he engaged
here wns Coaching. He found building
which haf t,cen er.scted for tho purpose
of m aca,lensg, but which had never yet
been .oeeurlaa for educational purposes.
LIS im.2ediateig hired the building, put
out advertisements inviting stsdents, and
oncnel his schao: on tie 25ta OF Decem-
Der i64i. jill patronage was not large,
but all thai could seasonabi " be expected,
IN view Of the newneAs of tie town. In
the summer IF aSf3, he tooh the edIto-
rial charge of the Southport Ifnertcom
q wing paper which had been established
in the fall of 1854. He, however. did
pot relinqu;s!l the business ct tcaehin.F'
hut continued his school. Although, this
was his first attempt at @6iting a news
paper, he displayed tact and ability in
this new v"cntinn. Tie american.
while under his charge. was lively AMI
spirited paper. lie VAS aa ardent poll
,ician, but never INDUCED in personal in
vecitive. and was genrraflg courteous in
the discussion Of political differences
He was generous, genia. possessing
nh unusual flow Of humor; sad it was,
perhaps. combined with others of more
intrinsic worth, which rendered him pop
u:r among all classes. As an evidence
of the strong bold he had on the favor
of :he poci's, during his earl = political
career. it may he mentioned, that, after
the expiration of his first years residence
here. he was put forth annually by his
political friends, for some ward or town
office The contest nj the polls for these
offices was usually spirited, aud conduct
ed on party grounds. 1t is a noticeable
fact. seen hy referenee to the town cleo
ton returns Of those years, that Mr..
Harvey invariably ran ahead of bis tick
ct, and usually succeeded to an election,
even when his party was clearly minor
ty one.
Mr.. Harvey, in early life, exhibited
moro than ordinary talent rs n public
speaker, and possessed the elements of a
popular orator in good degree. While
engaged in the business Of teaching, be
was jealous in his endeavors to organize
the young men of the town into lyceums,
for public discussions on the important
topics Of the day. Doubtless this early
Practice of public speaking was the
means of giving him prominence in after
times, as good detater in the state
senate, and rs nm effective platform ora
tor. His example, in this respect is
well worthy the imitation of all young
MON ,,,bo oen;ra 70 ,os;t;one af ipf9uaneo