Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-25
SECRET DIED WITH HIM.
Man of Mystery Passed Away at Gen.
tralia, Ill.

tralia, Ill.
A dispatch from Centralia, ILL.,, to the
New York Herald says:
Two weeks ago bill" Harvey was buried
He was Centralia's mystery. The people
like to know something about persons who
form a part of their community. Harvey
told nothing about himself, and no effort
to find his relatives has been successful.
Harvey appeared in Centralia just about
the close of the civil war. He was content
to work on farms near by and take what
money was coming to him and say nothing.
He came to town but little-only when he
had money with which to buy drink. AS he
grew older he came to town more and was
Of less use for hard farm labor. Then he
moved to town and stopped working. 1t
was then that his good traits became
known.
Few men were more rarely gifted in the
matter of taking care Of horses, dogs and
other dumb brutes. He gained more than
local reputation for such work.
He was intelligent; his conversation was
evidence that he had been well raised: his
manner to women was courteous. He never
spoke Of himself, nor did he ever so far
forget himself as to allow a hint Of his
former home to slip from him.
For long time after coming to town he
ulu uRHl WOTk AROUND nOtel Stables. lie
could be depended upon absolutely to
awaken any one to be called. To add to
this mystery he never carried a watch, nor
would he allow clock around the stable.
He seemed to have an aversion to time
pieces Yet you could ask him at any time
for the hour and he would tell you. He
also knew astronomical signs and was gov
erned by them in his healing of animals
and later in his gardening.
A few years ago he quit working around
the stables and was allowed to move into a
room in a vacant business block belonging
to l. S. COe. a man of considerable wealth,
for whom he had worked near town.
Mr.. Coe was always kind to Harvey and
was counted by the latter as being a firm
friend. and Harvey never hesitated to state
his wants to Mr.. Coe, who died at lola,
Miss, within few days Of Harvcy's
death.
Harvey supported himself by gardening
on vacant lots. He raised specialties which
other gardeners neglected. and always did
. well.
After taking possession of these rooms
Harvey became possessed Of several dogs
Of good breeding but Indifferent appear
ance and lived with them as his sole COM
panions.
He seemed to enjoy the society of his
dumb friends. and they accompanied Har-
vey wherever he went. claimant has ap-
peared for each of the dogs. Harvey ar
ranged with men he knew to claim and
care for a certain dog after his death.
They were sworn to do this and not to
speak of the arrangement until he was
gone. This was his only preparation for
death
Last summer he grew very feeble. He
said that he had heart trouble, but abso-
lutely refused to answer any questions ask
ed him by physicians. One day while
working in his garden he was seen to fall.
When those near by reached him he was
dead.
Fred" Heppert. proprietor Of the LAM
Hotel. took charge of the body and paid
the funeral expenses. Friends Of the old
man carried him to the grave. Mr.. Hep
pert does not attempt to explain the life of
boy Harvey was cattle buyer living in
western Ohio and made regular trips to
Putnam county, Ind. where Heppert lived.
At that time he was wealthy.