Person:Ruth Harvey (10)

RUTH ADA HARVEY LINDSTROM, 1885-1978

    Ruth Ada Harvey was born in Henry County, Indiana January 9, 1885 to Samuel Downs Harvey and Elizabeth Beavers Harvey. During Ruth's early years her mother suffered from a digestive disorder which was alleviated by camping vacations in Michigan. Due to the near impossibility of making a living in the wilds of Michigan, Samuel and Elizabeth Harvey decided that he should seek a location for his family in the fast growing Alaskan Territory to which gold seekers were flocking, and seemed to offer excellent possibilities for her improved health. Mr. Harvey first operated a ferry on the approach to the Chilcoot Pass, the main, but very dangerous route to the Klondike. He built a stout cabin and had it well stocked with furs in preparation for his wife and children when he received word by the slow mail that she had died many months previously and that his children were scattered.
    Ruth went to California with her aunt Leonora Beavers Armstrong, but was homesick, and after about a year during which she completed 7th grade work, she returned to Indiana. Soon she was invited to make her home with William and Virginia Cory where her brother had preceded her. The Corys, long friends of the Harvey family, had no children of their own but were benevolent teachers of young people and helped sixteen young men and Ruth, to all receive a college education. In the delightful home atmosphere of learning and uplift which the Corys provided, Ruth spent four years at the Spiceland Academy, and then four more at Earlham College majoring in English which she later taught.
    On January 23, 1927 Ruth and Chester Lindstrom were married and lived briefly in Coral Gables, Florida. They then returned to Indiana and in a few years moved to Stockton, California, where Chester opened a typewriter and business machines agency which is still operative. Chester joined the Elks Lodge and Ruth, the Iris Club, the Women's Auxillary Club. Several years ago she was elected president of this organization, and for some time has been the oldest and a highly honored member. She has a wide circle of devoted friends in Stockton.
    Chester Lindstrom died a week before Christmas in 1947 after a brief illness. Ruth continued to live at their home in Stockton, across the street from beautiful Victory Park until January, 1976 when, after a fall and a short hospitalization, she came to Whittier, California to live with her niece Elizabeth, Mrs. Maurice W. Brainard. During the next year, Ruth made steady improvement and greatly enjoyed living in the hillside home for the remainder of her life. She died August 27, 1978 after a couple of falls and a series of small strokes. Ruth loved people and in return was loved by many. She was interested in nature, enjoyed art and painted some pictures. She especially liked poetry and "rhyming" as she called it, was a favorite pastime. Following are a few recent samples:

Jan. 1977 CITY LIGHTS

         When city lights come on at night
         They are indeed a lovely sight.
         I like to watch them all out there
         While sitting in my rocking chair.

         (MANY TIMES)
         There are so very many times
         I enjoy making easy rhymes
         When I see a lovely deep blue sky
         With white fluffy clouds floating by;
         And branches of evergreen trees
         Gently swaying in the evening breeze
         At once I want my pen in hand
         Whether I wish to sit or stand,
         To write about the beauties I see
         Which seem so wonderful to me.

From the Harvey File at the Henry County Museum and Research Library in New Castle, Indiana.

1. ↑ The Harvey file at the Henry County Museum & Research Library, New Castle, IN..