Son of William Hawthorn and Mary McNary Hervey. George served in the Civil War representing the state of Ohio. His enlistment date was August 22nd, 1862. He married Laura Jane Campbell in Indiana in 1878. Their children were Earl Campbell, Clara, William, George, Ola, and David. During his first years as a married man George was a farmer in Ohio and Indiana. By 1889 George was an editorial writer in Omaha. He was the owner and business manager of the "Western Stockman and Cultivator" periodical. He later became the editor of the "20th Century Farmer". He also held the position of Agricultural Editor for the Omaha World Herald. George compiled books: A Condensed History of Nebraska for Fifty Years to Date ... comp. by Geo. W. Hervey. This book was published by the Nebraska Farmer Company in 1903. The book is held by the University of Wisconsin and is available to read online here: http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89063864870;view=1up;seq=11 There are some great photos and the book was certainly written to appeal to the people of the era. He also wrote: "Twentieth Century Farmer" which was about the layout of a cornbelt farm. In the 1920 Census George is still an editor but now working for a newspaper. George continued writing and editing until shortly before his death.
On January 21, 1923, George W. Hervey passed away at his home in Omaha, and Nebraska lost one of its foremost citizens. He was born on the Hervey homestead, near Unionport, Ohio, July 27, 1846. He was educated in the public schools and in Hopedale College, Ohio.
Mr. Hervey was married September 10, 1878, to Laura J. Campbell of Harrison County, Ohio, sister of D.A. Campbell, formerly clerk of the Supreme Court of Nebraska. She is of the American family of Campbells, direct descendants of the Duke of Argyll; also a lineal descendant of General Winfield Scott. Mr. Hervey was survived by Mrs. Hervey and their six children: Earl Campbell, Clara May, William Hawthorne, George Edgar, Ola Bell and David Stewart.
Speaking of Mr. Hervey’s career, a newspaper writer called it “a pioneer life”. No phrase better describes it. His early life in his native state shows his pioneering spirit. In boyhood, his chief ambition was to own and breed fine stock. Before he was of age, he had a flock of purebred Merino sheep which rapidly came into prominence as one of the best in the country. An enthusiastic believer in improved stock of all kinds, he early went into the ring as an exhibitor, showing regularly at the leading fairs and livestock exhibitions.
Mr. Hervey was a firm believer in organized effort. In 1876 he organized the Jefferson County, Ohio, Sheep Breeders’ Association, of which he was secretary until he came to Nebraska. He was among the first to advocate the registry system for purebred sheep, and was one of five to call a meeting of Ohio sheep breeders in 1881 to organize an Ohio association, and was made chairman of the pedigree committee. In connection with Illinois capitalists in 1873, he accompanied the first sheep enterprise into the Indian territory.
Mr. Hervey moved to Nebraska in 1883 and took a homestead near Creighton, Knox County. Here by purchase and lease he made a stock farm of 920 acres. He was secretary of the Knox County Land Co. and president of the county fair association. Disposing of his ranch interests in 1887, he moved to Omaha, engaging in the real estate business. He soon became active in the Douglas county agricultural society and was a member of the board of managers and secretary from 1890 to 1904. He was active in advocating the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, being appointed a member of the Douglas county commission, consisting of himself and two others, for making the county display and the same men served as superintendents of the agricultural exhibit. Mr. Hervey was an expert judge of fine wool sheep and served in the capacity not only at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition, but also many times at the Iowa and Nebraska State Fairs.
Thirty-four years of Mr. Hervey’s life in Nebraska was devoted to agricultural editorial work. His experience as a farmer, stock raiser and breeder, combined with his good common sense and a well balanced judicial mind made him a valuable man as the editor of a farm paper. He started in this line of work as the owner of the Western Stockman and Cultivator, published at Omaha, which he purchased in 1888. He sold the paper a year later to Campbell & McIntosh and became agricultural editor of the World-Herald, which position he filled for twelve years, resigning July, 1901, to take the position of associate editor of the Nebraska Farmer with H.F. McIntosh. On April 1, 1903, he became managing editor of the Nebraska Farmer, and in May of the same year was elected president of the Nebraska Farmer Publishing Co., which positions he filled until July 31, 1905, when he resigned to become associate editor of the Twentieth Century Farmer.
He was in active editorial work for over a third of a century, during which time a literature of agriculture has grown up and agricultural science has been wonderfully developed. As a pioneer in this field he had a very large part. His prediction on many important agricultural subjects have developed into prophesies, as his original conception of the possibilities for development of the natural resources of our state – which are wholly agricultural – have become realities.
At the time Mr. Hervey quit his active editorial work he was optimistic and up-to-date in his thinking. To him the “good old days” were not the best. His goal for Nebraska agricultural achievement had not been reached. No one knew better than he that his life task had been only foundation work and that it must be left to future generations to complete the superstructure of Nebraska agricultural achievement. This thought was the impelling motive that made him an enthusiastic and loyal supporter of every agency – educational or economic – engaged in helping to make the next generation more efficient.
How can we explain the power and influence of this quiet, unassuming man, who, as much as any other, was instrumental in laying the foundation for the agricultural development of Nebraska? Can we discern some of the elements of character which made it possible for him to so serve his state – without seeking public office – that your society would want to preserve and exhibit his achievements?
Hervey was a Dependable Man – In every walk of life he did his part. His loyalty was first to his home where he was loved and respected for the sterling qualities which made him a mane to be trusted by friends and business associates. In his political views, he was a Republican, but could always be depended upon to vote for the candidate he believed to be the best, even though he was not on his party ticket. In affiliation he was a Presbyterian, which showed the good Scotch training he had when a boy.
He was a Worker – One of the greatest men the world has produced had this to say concerning his own success; “I was very poor and my education was limited, but I worked very hard and always sought opportunities. There is no secret about success except that it requires hard work, devotion to the cause undertaken to accomplish, and strict integrity in dealing with men”. The secret of Mr. Hervey’s success was: Hard work, devotion to his consuming ambition – the betterment of agriculture – and integrity in all his dealings.
He Knew no Self-Interest – In my forty years’ acquaintance with Mr. Hervey, which was very close and intimate, I never knew him to seek recognition for himself. He was very reluctant to criticize, but always ready to boost. His committee work for agricultural organizations made a large demand upon his time. I personally know many who have won recognition and honor, whose success was due to the friendly advice and help of Mr. Hervey. His reward was in seeing the agricultural interests of the state advanced.
His Life Had an Objective – The life of a man who strives o reach a definite goal has direction. The objective in Mr. Hervey’s life was always the advancement of better agriculture in Nebraska. He had unbounded confidence in the manhood of the state. He believed its natural resources could not be excelled. His energies were devoted to developing both. Throughout his entire life, he kept his mind fixed on his objective, never allowing incidental or accidental circumstances to divert him. Thus he attained great success.
Mr. Hervey was not like a ship at sea driven hither and yon by every breeze, for his Ship of Life had direction because of the set of the sails. This thought is beautifully expressed by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in the following language:
One ship drives east, and one drives west,
By the selfsame wind that blows;
It’s the set of the sails, and not the gales,
Which determines the way it goes.
