Living in Missouri and Indiana in the 1840s with his wife Sara, young Isaac became a sucessful businessman. He invested in prairie and timberland, flat bottom boats, served as consul and judge, and organized a new county. He headed west in 1850, returned by the Nicaragua route, and headed west again, this time with his family. He was typical of his generation of merchants, engineers, craftsmen, and businessmen, who arrived in California, seeking silver, gold, and excitement but staying to build new homes for their families. In 1872 he became the first Mayor of Salinas City.
Sarah Mellett Harvey (1819 - 1891)
Sarah's life mirrored her husband's, moving many times with her restless tireless husband from Indiana to Missouri, across the plains in a covered wagon to California and to the gold rush towns of Forbestown, Marysville, Susanville, and Spanish Ranch, and then to the agricultural towns of Healdsburg, Suisun City, and, finally, Salinas City.
Along the way Sarah gave birth to ten children; she buried five of them as infants and one as a young man of 16.
Sophronia Harvey
1848-1946
After coming west to California in 1852, Sophronia Elizabeth Harvey spent winters in Marysville, attending Miss Postman's School for girls and summers at Spanish Ranch, a mining community near Quincy, CA. After her family moved to Salinas City in 1868, Sophronia became the town's first teacher. Her school consisted of an old saloon, an unpainted boarded shack with a few chairs, boxes and table, and just 9 students, including youngest sister Mabel.Sophronia married Nathan Clark. The Clarks would stay together in Salinas City the remainder of their lives.
Absolom Benton Harvey (1837 - 1894)
Benton was the oldest, born near New Castle, Indiana. He was a companion to his father, working in his stores and accompanying him on mining and business ventures. Benton was a sorrowful character, perhaps it was the loss of his left arm, which can be see dangling in the photograph. But Benton was typical of his generation, accepting without complaining.
"Each one should be strong enough to bear his own griefs. I think this is the first time I ever complained. It will be the last ..."
Circa: 1873
Eleanor Josephine Harvey (1853 - 1941)
Eleanor Josephine was born on Roud Mountain in Butte County, California. In the winters, Josephine and her family lived in Marysville. and in the spring and summer at Spanish Ranch. At the age of 15, Josephine and her family moved to Salinas City where, after pulling back her long hair to look older, joined her sister, Sophronia, teaching school. We would know little about Joselphine but, fortunately, she would record many of her memories in "Growing up at Spanish Ranch". These short stories, written with her memory for detail and sense of humor, provide us with a special look into these remarkable times.
Circa: 1850
William Harvey (1848 - 1864)
Willie came to California in a covered wagon and spent his entire life in the gold country, living in Marysville, Spanish Ranch and finally, Susanville. Willie was a great companion to his little sister, Mabel; together they panned for gold, played "cat's cradle, or just romped throuigh the house."
Willlie died at the age of 14 of a "sort of mountain fever". Willie's death was a great blow to his mother who kept his picture by her bedside in her Salinas home; it can still be found there today.
Circa: 1874
Mabel Harvey (1860 - 1944)
Mabel was the 10th child born in Marysville in a little brown house on K Street.
At 8 years, Mabel and her family moved to Salinas City. She married Frank Sawin Baker in 1881 in the House ; the wedding was held at 5 am so the young couple could catch the 6 am train to San Francisco.
Mabel and her husband moved into the family home on Monterey Street after her mother's death, where they raised three children.
