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Surnames: Elser, Emley, Stewart & Mosslander
Classification: Biography
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/gh.2ADI/5371
Message Board Post:
"History of Huntington County, Indiana"1914 By Frank S. Bash pg. 759-60
Harvey W. Elser. As a contractor and builder, probably no Huntington business man has
fulfilled a more important and valuable contract than Harvey W. Elser. Mr. Elser is still
young in years, but has had a broad experience in business and in life generally, and is
one of the leading men of his home city of Huntington. He represents an old Huntington
county family.
Born in Clear Creek township of Huntington county, September 26, 1871, Harvey W. Elser is
the third son of Eli and Charlotte (Emley) Elser. His father, who was born in Mahoning
county, Ohio, in April, 1837, was reared on a farm, and some time after reaching manhood
went out as a soldier of the Civil war with the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
and gave three years of faithful service, during which time he fought in a number of
battles with the Southern army. In one he was taken prisoner, and spent some time in the
notorious prison of Andersonville, which at that time was commanded by the tyrannous and
much hated Captain Worze. The mother, Charlotte Emley, was a daughter of Samuel Emley, of
the pioneer family of that name in Clear Creek township. She was born in Clear Creek
township, in April, 1847, and she and her husband are still living, enjoying fair health.
Their children are: Clem V.; George E.; Harvey W.; Anna M., wife of Edward Snyder; and
Jessie, unmarried.
Harvey W. Elser spent his youth on the home farm, and his education was acquired largely
by attending the district schools, during the winter months, while in the summer and
spring and early fall he performed the various tasks allotted to farmer boys. This was the
mode of life until about eighteen years old, when he started out to see the world for
himself, visiting different states and localities, and earning his living as he went. He
took up the trade of carpenter, and his work as a journeyman gradually gave him a larger
outlook in business affairs. At the beginning of the Spanish-American war, he enlisted in
Company K of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Col. George W.
Gunder. With his comrades he spent some time in rendezvous, was then sent to Chattanooga,
Tennessee, in June, 1898, was moved to Newport News, Virginia, thence to Lexington,
Kentucky; on November 6, the regiment was ordered to Columbus, Georgia. On January 12, the
command was s!
ent to Matanzas, Cuba, and after some service on the Island returned to Savannah,
Georgia. Mr. Elser was in the army one year and one month and gave a faithful account of
himself as a volunteer. After getting his honorable discharge he returned home, and took
up work again as a carpenter. He was employed for a time by J.M. Wood, of Goshen, Indiana.
Gradually he began taking contracts on his own account, and his success in this line soon
led him into a large and important field of operations, in the construction of dwelling
houses, churches, and other structures. For several years Mr. Elser did more business in
the construction of theatres than in any other line. He has to his credit the construction
of the Lyric at Cincinnati, one of the finest and most attractive show houses in the
United States, and which cost two hundred and sixty thousand dollars. He also built the
Star Theatre at Toronto, Canada, which is one of the most costly theatres in the Dominion
of Canada. After!
the completion of that contract he returned to Huntington, and has si
nce done a large local business as a carpenter and contractor. During 1913 Mr. Elser was
engaged in making improvements on the First National Bank Building of Huntington, and on
the Huntington County Bank, contracts which amounted to many thousand dollars.
In 1900 Mr. Elser married Miss Clara E. Mosslander, a daughter of George and Hettie
(Stewart) Mosslander. They are the parents of four children: D. Young, Wilbur W., Chester
A. and Elser. Mr. Elser affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red
Men, the Modern Woodmen of America, and with the United Veterans of the Spanish-American
war. His home in Huntington is at 1902 North Guilford street.