“THE HARVEY SPUR”

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Frank M. Harvey was born 1876 in Wallisville, Texas and died August 2, 1944 in Crosby, Texas. His parents were Joel C. and Martha Nelson Harvey.  They are both buried in Liberty County, Texas in a remote wooded area known as the Harvey Cemetery.  Joel C. Harvey was predominately a wheelwright by profession, but did on occasion make some spurs. The 1880 Census of Chambers County shows that Joel and Martha had five children: Kitty, Dick (Richard), Ned, Frank, and Belle.

Frank worked with his father as a wheelwright and began making spurs and bits as a sideline to supplement his income. The spurs and bits were more profitable and so Frank decided to concentrate on only making spurs and bits. He would travel by train once a year to buy Mexican silver coins to be used to decorate his spurs.

He married Atta Pearl Ewell  and they had four children: Ora, J.C. Buck (Joe. C.), Earl Acker, and Naomi. At some time Frank and Atta moved to Cedar Bayou (not far from Wallisville). By this time the famous “Harvey Spur” was well known in Southeast Texas. There was a small school approximately 10 miles from the Harvey home in Cedar Bayou. Ora had to ride horseback to school and this was too much of a hardship so, in 1907, Frank and Atta moved to Crosby, Texas where they lived the rest of their lives. Crosby was originally named “Lick Skillet.” A local paper announced the move of the Harvey family, and the “famous Harvey spur,” to Crosby, Texas.  Frank built a home at 218 Kernohan a/k/a Main St. and next to his house he built his blacksmith shop, which burned in the 1950s. Across the road from his home were the stock pens where all the cattle were brought for inspection and shipping. He not only sold his spurs locally, but Stelzig’s in Houston carried his spurs.

As well as a renowned spur maker, he was also a constable and in 1913 he was one of the founders of the Crosby State Bank.  Frank Harvey spurs have been past down from generation to generation.

 The picture is of a pair of  “Harvey Spurs” given to Temple Dunaway by her uncle Bill Somers.

Information on Mr. Harvey obtained from grandson, Othello Oscar “Buddy” Hare, Jr.