Biography of Harvey O. Williams, pages 427/428. History of 
DeKalb County, Indiana; B. F. Bowen & Company, Inc., 
Indianapolis, 1914.



The office of biography is not to give voice to a man’s 
modest estimate of himself and his accomplishments, but 
rather to leave upon the record the verdict establishing his 
character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his 
neighbors and fellow citizens. In touching upon the life 
history of the subject of this sketch the writer aims to 
avoid fulsome encomium and extravagant praise; yet he 
desires to hold up for consideration those facts which have 
shown the distinction of a true,  useful and honorable life-
a life characterized by perseverance, energy, broad charity 
and well defined purpose. To do this will be but to 
reiterate the dictum pronounced upon the man by the people 
who have known him long and well. Harvey O. Williams was 
born on May 12, 1890, on his father’s farm one mile west of 
Auburn, and is the son of John and Mary (Rinehold) Williams. 
The father was born at Millersburg, Ohio, and when about 
eighteen years old came to DeKalb county, Indiana, with his 
parents, Cyrus and Amanda Williams. The family first located 
near Corunna, but subsequently the parents located near 
Huntertown, Allen county, Indiana, where they spent the 
remainder of their days. John Williams was reared to the 
life of a farmer, which vocation he followed as a day 
laborer up to the time of his marriage in 1879, when he went 
to farming for himself just east of Auburn on the Ashelman 
farm. About seven years later he was enabled to buy a farm 
of his own a mile west of Auburn, where he lived until 1897,  
when he disposed of that place and bought another farm of 
one hundred and twenty-five acres located about eight miles 
south of Auburn, where he still resides. He has all his life 
been an active supporter of the Democratic party and served 
as a member of the county council about six years. In 1902 
he made a close race for the office of sheriff. He has long 
been numbered among the leading men of this community.  
Harvey O. Williams was reared on the parental farmstead and 
attended Auburn public schools, graduating from the high 
school in 1910. His first employment after leaving school 
was in the office of the master mechanic of the Baltimore & 
Ohio Railroad shops at Garrett, Indiana, where he remained 
until April, 1913, when his father-in-law, Warren McNabb, 
county recorder, died, and when by the latter’s request, Mr. 
Williams was appointed to succeed him in this official 
position,  and he has since served as recorder, the 
appointment being made on the 18th of April. At the time of 
his appointment he was but twenty-two years of age, and is 
believed to be the youngest county official in Indiana.  
Though young in years, he is discharging his duties of his 
office in as efficient a manner as could be desired, and has 
earned the sincere regard of all who have dealings with him 
and with the office. On June 18, 1912, Harvey O. Williams 
was married to Edith J. McNabb, of Garrett, Indiana, the 
daughter of Warren McNabb, whose sketch appears elsewhere in 
this work. Politically, Mr. Williams is a supporter of the 
Democratic party, and fraternally is a member of the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with his wife belongs 
to the Daughters of Rebekah. They are also member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church, in which they take an active 
interest and to the support of which they contribute 
liberally of their means. Socially, Mr. Williams is a member 
of the  Phi Delta Kappa Greek letter fraternity. Mr. 
Williams has realized early that there is purpose in life 
and that there is no honor not founded on worth, and no 
respect not based on accomplishment. He has started right 
and his many friends predict for him a very successful 
career.

Submitted by:

Arlene Goodwin 

Auburn, Indiana

Agoodwin@ctlnet.com