A Very Brief Account of the Harvey Family and the Johnny Appleseed Tree

Kathryn Harvey Algeo, our grandmother, Richard's mother, spent many hours in the peaceful shade of the very old apple tree in the front yard of her home. Her grandmother, Catharine Patterson Harvey (sometimes spelled Harvie) had told her the story of the tree when she was young. John Chapman, grandmother had said, used to come to the farm to visit. Catherine was married to John Harvey who lived on the farm with his parents John and Jane Harvey when John Chapman lived and visited the area. Catherine told the story, as many from that time did, of how John Chapman would come to visit and sit and tell stories and share his religion. She told the story of how he planted trees; many in the area, with an orchard just down the road. Jane and John Harvie and their son John came to the area of Clearcreek Township of what was then Richland County and is now part of Ashland County from Aberdeenshire, Scotland in the early 1800's. They were farmers of crops, made maple syrup, and raised sheep as many of the Scots who had come before them. 

Their son John married Catharine and stayed on the family farm. They were the parents of a son whom they named John also. This John married Martha Shire. Their children include our grandmother Kathryn. The apple tree was sheltered from the winds that usually come from behind the house by the original woodshed that is now part of the house. Pictures of the tree when our father Richard and brother John were young show the massive tree towering over the house. It would have been about 100 years old at that time, the 193 0's. The tree has been ruthlessly torn by winds and weather in spite of its shelter. Its large trunk is gone but for a small piece. New growth springs from its roots but has not born more than 2-3 apples these past 2 years. Today, Richard lives on the farm with his wife Phyllis. Their daughter, two grandchildren and several great grandchildren also live on the farm. Phyllis and Richard's great-grandchildren are the eight generation to live on the farm and continue the story of Johnny Appleseed and his tree.