Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 899.
 
WILLIAM HARVEY

     has been a continuous resident of Lake county, Oregon, for the past
thirty-two years, all of which time he has followed the sheep business, making
him, by a wide margin, one of the pioneer wool-growers of the county.
     Born August 21, 1845, in the northern part of Ireland, Mr. Harvey came to
the United States and direct to California in 1870. He lived for a time at
Tehama, California, and in August, 1872, came to Summer Lake valley, Lake
county, Oregon, at that time, however, Lake county was included in the county of
Jackson. The nearest store to him was that at the Willow ranch, in Modoc county,
California, distant seventy miles, and the nearest postoffice was at Hot Spring,
fifty miles away. There were no roads nor public improvements of any sort in the
valley, and at the time of Mr. Harvey's advent the valley contained only eleven,
inhabitants. Here our subject took a homestead and preemption, to make the
required improvements upon which required his working for wages, and in 1875 he
went to California and purchased a small flock of sheep. He brought his sheep to
his Summer Lake valley ranch, and from year to year he has continued to add to
the flock until he is now one of the wealthiest stockmen of the state. He owns
two ranches containing about four thousand acres each, but his headquarters are
at the Summer Lake ranch, which is situated at the southern border of Summer
lake, about twelve miles west from Paisley. He has here one of the finest homes
in Lake county, upon which he produces all varieties of fruit grown in this
latitude and upon which he has the best of improvements. He also owns a handsome
home in Lakeview.
     Mr. Harvey was married during April, 1892, to Ruby Aitken, of Tehama,
California. Two children have blessed this union: William Hamilton and Joseph
Balentine.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in February 2011 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.