Harvey Heth
Encyclopedia
Harvey Heth was born on April 28, 1770 in Virginia. He was the son of Phoebe Miller Heth and Captain Henry Heth a new Irish
immigrant to the United States and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
.
in the late 18th century and was one of the first settlers in Harrison County, Indiana
. He later purchased a large tract of land from William Henry Harrison
. The land included much of present day Heth Township
and the south eastern corner of Corydon
. He built a mill on Buck Creek, one of the first in the state.
Harvey was among the first elected to the Indiana Territory
Legislative Council in 1809 when congress forced the dissolution of the existing legislature and permitted the state to begin electing their own representatives. It was his only participation in the legislature.
Harvey surveyed much of the county for the Territorial Legislature including the new capital of Corydon. Heth was part of the commission to select the new capital in 1810. He favored Corydon which was near his home and donated a portion of land he owned for the town.
Heth was a close friend of Squire Boone
. He helped to create Boone's original burial tomb and was going to be buried with Boone. Heth's family objected though and instead buried on the west side of Buck Creek.
Heth died in 1816 and is buried in the western part of Heth Township.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
immigrant to the United States and a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
.
Biography
Harvey moved to Indiana TerritoryIndiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
in the late 18th century and was one of the first settlers in Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County, Indiana
Harrison County is a county located in the far southern part of the U.S. state of Indiana along the Ohio River. It is divided into twelve townships, and the county seat is Corydon, the former capital of Indiana. The county is part of the larger Louisville/Jefferson County, KY–IN Metropolitan...
. He later purchased a large tract of land from William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison
William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...
. The land included much of present day Heth Township
Heth Township, Harrison County, Indiana
Heth Township is one of twelve townships in Harrison County, Indiana. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,199.-History:The township was named for Harvey Heth, the man who surveyed much of Southern Indiana...
and the south eastern corner of Corydon
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
. He built a mill on Buck Creek, one of the first in the state.
Harvey was among the first elected to the Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
Legislative Council in 1809 when congress forced the dissolution of the existing legislature and permitted the state to begin electing their own representatives. It was his only participation in the legislature.
Harvey surveyed much of the county for the Territorial Legislature including the new capital of Corydon. Heth was part of the commission to select the new capital in 1810. He favored Corydon which was near his home and donated a portion of land he owned for the town.
Heth was a close friend of Squire Boone
Squire Boone
Squire Boone Jr. was an American pioneer and brother of Daniel Boone. In 1780, he founded the first settlement in Shelby County, Kentucky. The tenth of eleven children, Squire Boone was born to Nathan "Squire" Boone Sr. and his wife Sarah Boone in Berks County, Pennsylvania at the Daniel Boone...
. He helped to create Boone's original burial tomb and was going to be buried with Boone. Heth's family objected though and instead buried on the west side of Buck Creek.
Heth died in 1816 and is buried in the western part of Heth Township.