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 chashier 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.

WILLIAM HARVEY, one of the earliest settlers of Champaign County, is widely and favorably known as one of the most valuable residents of this section, to whose development and growth he has materially contributed during the period of forty-eight years in which he has lived here. He first settled in the embryo village of Urbana, where he engaged as a contractor and builder. Afterward he purchased a farm of 250 acres, part of which, in 1870, he laid off as an addition to Urbana, the lots being readily taken up by those desirous of establishing a permanent home in that locality. This was called the harvey addition, and now forms an important part of the city.

Mr. Harvey was born in Bucks County, Pa., Aug. 23, 1814. His parents were Job and Mary (FIX) HARVEY, who were also natives of the Keystone State, descending on the father's side from English ancestry, and on the mothers' from the German. Job Harvey, in 1818, when our subject was a small boy of four years of age, emigrated to Stark County, Ohio, and engaged in farming. Thence in 1839 he came to Illinois, settling near the Sangamon River on the western line of Champaign County. There the mother died in 1862 and the father followed four years later. During the period of his residence in Pennsylvania Job Harvey served as a soldier for a short time in the War of 1812. The parental household included eleven children, of whom five are now living, namely, Mary, William, Samuel, Moses and John S.

William Harvey was reared on the farm with his brothers and sisters, and received a limited education in the pioneer school. He remained a member of the family household until twenty-one years of age, and afterward served an apprenticeship of three years at the cabinet-maker's trade. In the meantime he pursued his studies as opportunity permitted, and taught school two winters after learning his trade. The present possessions of our subject are the result of his own industry, economy and good judgment. He had no resources to begin with aside from his resolute will and industrious hands, but he seldom speaks of the difficulties which he encountered while forming a substantial basis for the property he now possesses and enjoys.

In 1869 he erected the substantial brick dwelling on his farm in Urbana Township, and the following year built the house which he occupies in the village. Both his farms and village property are well cared for, the buildings kept in good repair, and everything about them denoting the wisdom and forethought of their proprietor. Mr. Harvey has served as Justice of the peace, Street Commissioner, City Marshal of Urbana and Deputy Sheriff of the county. He has represented his ward in the City Council for a period of six years. He was at one time owner of the carding-mill at Urbana, and has been interested in many of the enterprises leading to the advancement of its industrial interests. He is a stanch Democrat politically, and upholds the principles of his party by his vote and influence as opportunity affords.

The marriage of William Harvey and Miss Harriett HUTCHINSON took place in Stark County, Ohio, in 1837. Mrs. H. is the daughter of Alexander and Martha (CURRY) HUTCHINSON, natives of Ireland. Her father came to America early in life, and located in Lancaster County, Pa. Of the children of the parental household, eleven in number, only Mrs. Harvey survives. By her union with our subject she has become the mother of the following three children: Athalia became the wife of H. H. HARRIS, and has three children-William R., John H. and Charles H. Emily, Mrs. JOHNSON, of Urbana, has two children-William and Teddie; Jane, Mrs. HOFFMAN, has three children-Robert, Myrta and Frank.