Biography of Harvey A. Truskett

Harvey A. Truskett was a prominent figure in Montgomery County, known for his significant contributions to the community and his role as president of the Home National Bank of Caney. Born on October 7, 1855, in Ohio, he faced early hardships that shaped his strong character and work ethic. After serving in the Civil War, he became a successful businessman in farming, stock raising, and the banking industry. Truskett was respected for his civic engagement and charitable nature, greatly impacting the lives of those in his community.

HARVEY A. TRUSKETT—The readers of this volume are here introduced to one of the best and most favorably known men of Montgomery county; one whose connection with the business interests of the enterprising community of Caney has been of great value, and whose wide acquaintance among financiers makes him a potent factor in the development of this section. As president of one of Montgomery county’s solid financial institutions, the Home National Bank of Caney, he wields an influence widespread in its beneficent character, and always exerted in the interest of good government and right living.

Harvey A. Truskett is a “Buckeye” by birth, born in Monroe county, October 7, 1855, the son of Thomas W. and Elizabeth (Williams) Truskett, pioneer settlers of that county. They were both natives of Pennsylvania, Thomas having been born November 25, 1822, the wife the previous year on the first day of August. Reared to maturity in the “Keystone State”, they there married and at once began life in the then “far west,” the county in which our subject was born. They were farmers by occupation and well fitted to play their part in the development of a new agricultural community. Remaining in Ohio until 1859, the family removed to Cooper county, Missouri, where they continued tilling the soil. Morgan county, of the same state, and Vernon county, Missouri, then became their home until 1880, when they settled on a farm in Montgomery county, Kansas. Here the parents were worthy and respected citizens until their death, the father passing to rest on the 16th of January, 1887, the mother on September 20, 1894. Mr. Truskett is remembered as one of the immortal band who, in the dark days of ’61–’65, offered themselves as living sacrifices for the principle of equality before the law. He became a member of the First Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, in which regiment he fought valiantly to the end. While in the service he suffered capture and imprisonment, but was fortunate enough to be exchanged. Mr. and Mrs. Truskett became the parents of eight children, of whom six are yet living.

Of the family Harvey A. was the seventh child. Though born within the confines of the “Buckeye State” he is by rights a true westerner, as he was but four years of age when he crossed the Mississippi. The cruel war and the disturbed condition of the country immediately succeeding it deprived him, as well as thousands of others, of that precious boon, a good education. The school of adversity through which he passed, however, taught him many valuable lessons of thrift and economy, which compensated to some extent the loss of book knowledge. He early became his own business man and engaged successfully in farming and stock raising, accompanying the family to Montgomery county in 1880. He was occupied at a point known as Elgin, Chautauqua county, for a period of two years, when he went down into the Territory and for the following twelve years was extensively engaged in farming and stock raising. In the year 1892, Mr. Truskett located in Caney, engaging in the lumber and grain business until 1896, when he organized the present financial institution, of which he has since been president. The Home Bank is capitalized at $25,000 and carries a list of deposits aggregating some ninety to one hundred thousand dollars.

Mr. Truskett is held in high esteem in his community, where he has been honored by membership in the town council and has also served as township clerk. Politically he affiliates with the party of reform and is looked upon as one of its trusted advisers.

Marriage was contracted by our subject in Elgin, Kansas, on the 8th of December, 1880. Mrs. Truskett was Ida F. Gepford, daughter of Silas H. and Jennie Gepford, early pioneers of Bourbon county, Kansas. She is the mother of four promising children—Edwin E., Harvey H., Arthur F. and Lita M. To this family was added a niece, Miss Elsie Truskett, whom they reared and educated, and who is now an efficient employee of the bank.

Reared to exacting and toilsome labor, schooled by adversity’s hard knocks and fighting his way step by step from penury to prosperity, Harvey A. Truskett has reached a plane, while yet in the prime of life, where he can give full rein to the promptings of a nature benevolent and full of the milk of human kindness. No worthy case of need is ever turned from his door unaided and the struggling youth finds in him a sympathetic and kindly adviser and helper. He and his family merit the large place which they are accorded in the hearts of friends and neighbors in Caney and Montgomery county. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the family are members of the Christian church.