Harvey J. Sconce

HARVEY J. SCONCE.

Scientific farming finds an exponent in Harvey J. Sconce. All that pertains to progressive agriculture is a matter of deep interest to him and his studies have covered a wide range in relation to soil, climatic conditions and plant propagation. He has watched with interest the work of the bureau of agriculture and is constantly broadening his knowledge along lines that are at once practical and at the same time give the keenest understanding of the great scientific principles which constitute the basis of agriculture. His success has resulted from a wise use of his innate talents and powers, of the natural resources of the country and the opportunities which are open to all.

He was born March 7, 1875, at Fairview, the beautiful country home of his father, James S. Sconce, who was a man prominent in all the affairs of the county and widely known throughout the state as a prominent agriculturist and stock-raiser. He was born near Brook’s Point in Vermilion county, November 14, 1831 — a representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of this part of the state. Concerning his lineage, a contemporary biographer has said: “Back to an early epoch in American history can the ancestry of the family be traced and in many events which left their impress upon improvement and progress representatives of the name were active. When civilization made its way into the wilderness of Kentucky the Sconces joined the vanguard and the great grandfather of James S. Sconce was one of the pioneers of Bourbon county, Kentucky, where he lived in a large log house, built especially to resist Indian attacks. There were eight brothers in the family and they were among the brave early settlers who reclaimed that beautiful country from the domain of the savages. Nearly all of these brothers emigrated to the south and west, bearing part in the reclamation of wild districts for the purpose of civilization. There are now many representatives of the name in Texas.”

“Samuel Sconce, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1802, and was there reared amid the scenes of frontier life, sharing in the hardships and trials of the pioneer settlers until the year 1828, when he came to Illinois, settling in Vermilion county the following year. Here he was married to Miss Nancy Waters, who was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1808, and in 1829 came with her parents to Brook’s Point, Vermilion county, where the marriage was celebrated. For a few years they resided in that locality and Mr. Sconce gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed very successfully. In 1852 he turned his attention to merchandising in Indianola as a member of the firm of Bailey & Sconce, which proved a prof table venture until the store was destroyed by fire, when Mr. Sconce retired from business life. He died in 1874, at the age of seventy-one years, and his widow passed away in 1897, at the age of eighty-nine. They were the parents of three children who reached mature years: James S.; America J. of Indianola, who is the widow of Dr. Oliver Calvert, by whom she had a daughter who died at the age of sixteen years; and Thomas J., who was for many years a resident of Carroll township, Vermilion county, and died January 1, 1888.”

After mastering the preliminary branches of learning taught in the district schools James S. Sconce continued his education in Danville and later in George town Academy, then the best educational institution of eastern Illinois. His training at farm work was also broad and varied, and he received instruction and experience in commercial lines when, at the age of twenty-four years, he became a clerk in his father’s store, where he received a salary of three hundred dollars per annum for four years. In 1859 he went to Kansas and there pre empted one hundred and sixty acres of land in Lyons county. Three months sufficed to convince him that he preferred Illinois as a place of residence and at the end of that time he traded his property for a smaller tract of land in Illinois and turned his attention to his live-stock interests, in which connection he be came widely known by reason of the extent and importance of his operations in that direction.

It was during that period that James S. Sconce was united in marriage in September, 1861, to Miss Emma Sodowsky, the only daughter of Harvey Sodowsky. She was reared at Woodlawn, her father’s country home, and completed her education in Georgetown Academy. For a year after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sconce lived with her father and then took up their residence at Fairview. Success attended him in his business ventures and wisely making investments in real estate, he became the owner of twenty-one hundred acres of valuable Illinois farm land and developed one of the finest farm properties in the state. In the midst of a broad and well kept lawn adorned by the arts of the landscape gardener he erected a commodious and beautiful residence, to which Mrs. Sconce gave the name of Fairview. Fine old shade trees surround the place, and flowers and shrubs are an attractive feature of the home. In the rear of the residence were built large barns and all the necessary outbuildings for the shelter of grain, stock and farm machinery. The latest improved agricultural implements were secured for the cultivation of the soil and the care of the crops. Year by year bounteous harvests were gathered, showing that the methods employed in the cultivation of the fields were practical and result ant. Not only did Mr. Sconce give his supervision to the development of the fields but also became extensively engaged in the raising and selling of stock and from that branch of his business derived a large annual revenue. His success is indicated in the fact that the estate left by him was one of the largest ever probated in Vermilion county and careful analysis of his life record showed that the methods he employed in its attainment were such as could bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, there being not a single esoteric phase in his career.

A contemporary biographer has said of him: “While his success excited the admiration of those who knew him, it was his personal characteristics that drew around him so many warm friends. He was a man of fine appearance, six feet in height, broad shouldered, and with the keen blue eye so characteristic of the family. He would have attracted attention in any gathering. Politically he was a democrat from conviction and principle and in 1882 he consented to become a candidate for state senator. He made a brilliant race, running far ahead of his ticket in a county which is strongly republican. He served as supervisor of Carroll township and always took a deep interest in public affairs. A well filled library indicated his literary taste, and he read broadly and deeply, spending many of his most pleasant hours with his favorite authors. Educational matters always awakened his earnest interest and hearty cooperation and for a number of years he was one of the regents of the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois, which was also favored by his generosity. He was a consistent and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and he was buried with Masonic honors in the Woodlawn cemetery at Indianola. The funeral was attended by an immense throng and the cortege, headed by three hundred Masons in morning, was over three miles in length, probably the largest funeral ever held in Vermilion county. It was remarked by one who knew Mr. Sconce well that ‘a secret society which commanded the fealty of a man like James S. Sconce must have something in it.’ If he loved Masonry it was also true that the brethren of the craft loved him. He lived a life of simplicity, gentleness, kindness and charity, and he never allowed the accumulation of wealth to in any way influence his action toward those less fortunate, unless it was to make him more considerate and gracious. He regarded only the worth of character in those whom he made his friends and he had the highest regard for upright manhood. It was therefore a logical result that he should draw around him a circle of friends that was almost coextensive with his circle of acquaintances, and that his death should come as a personal bereavement to a great majority who knew him.

“His widow still lives at beautiful Fairview. She is well versed in literature and art and ‘one is never alone who has the companionship of the old masters.’ As a friend remarked to the writer: ‘It matters not who goes to the home of Mrs. Sconce, be they rich or poor, they all receive the same gracious welcome.’ To her husband she was a devoted companion and helpmate and for more than a quarter of a century they traveled life’s journey together in a most congenial companionship that made her bereavement very heavy, yet left her with many precious memories of happy years of wedded life.”

The family of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Sconce included three children: Anna, the wife of William G. Cathcart, a banker of Sidell; Harvey J.; and Samuel, who died in infancy. The surviving son, reared at the beautiful country estate of his father, where he yet makes his home, pursued his education in the pub lie schools of Vermilion county and afterward specialized in the agricultural course at the University of Illinois, taking a special course of three years. While he made a good record in his studies he was also interested in athletics and college sports, playing for three years on the football team and for one year was a member of the baseball team. His father’s estate, which had been under the supervision of his mother during his minority, came under the immediate charge of Harvey J. Sconce following his return from college. He brought to bear in the work which he now assumed a comprehensive scientific knowledge which he continued to broaden by reading and investigation and no fine farm land in Illinois can be found than the three thousand one hundred and forty acres comprised within the Sconce farm, belonging to our subject and his sister Anna. The usual features of farm life, the cultivation of the fields and the raising of stock, constitute the branches of his business. Both are carried on extensively and as a breeder and raiser of shorthorn cattle Harvey J. Sconce is widely known not only in Illinois but throughout the country. Moreover, he has made a specialty of the raising of corn, in which connection he has won prizes at the national exhibitions. The element of luck does not enter into his business. Wherever science has penetrated into the mysteries of nature Harvey J. Sconce has followed, thus coming into an understanding of the conditions of plant life, the food needs and the soil requirements. He is numbered among those who have raised farming from an occupation to a profession.

Mr. Sconce was married June 2, 1897, to Miss Eva Fisher, who was born July 22, 1876, and is a daughter of Michael and Marietta Fisher of Indianola. Three children bless this union: Emma Frances, who was born May 9, 1898; Marietta Louise, born September 9, 1904; and James S., bom October 13, 1906. Their home is lacking in none of the accessories, conveniences and equipments of the most modern city residence. All that is tasteful and rich in furnishing may here be found in a house lighted by electricity and embellished with the adornments of art, music and a fine conservatory.

Mr. Sconce is a republican stanch in his advocacy of party principles and policy. He belongs to the Kappa Sigma Greek letter fraternity and the Elks Lodge at Danville and to the Masonic Lodge at Sidell. He has attained to the thirty-second degree in the latter order and is a member of the Chicago Con history. While his financial position affords him opportunity for travel, his interest yet centers in the county and state of his nativity and his generous co operation can always be counted upon to further any measure or project for the welfare, improvement and upbuilding of Vermilion county. He is too broadgauged, however, to center his thought here without manifesting an interest in national affairs and questions of widespread and vital importance. Whereever known, and he has a wide acquaintance, he is recognized as a scholar and financier as well as one of the most prominent exponents of scientific and advanced agriculture.

As printed in History of Vermilion County, Illinois : a tale of its evolution, settlement, and progress for nearly a century (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.