"Harter, Harvey, of Ionia, was born at Herkimer, Herkimer County, New York, November 14, 1824, and was the seventh of a family of thirteen children. His parents were Michael and Abigail Harter. The family were old settlers in the Mohawk Valley at the time of the Revolution. His father died in 1869. His mother is still living at Mohawk, at the ripe age of eighty-nine years, surrounded by a loving family. Harvey lived on the old homestead, and attended school at Herkimer until the age of sixteen, acquiring such an education at the place afforded. On leaving school, he at once entered upon business life as clerk in a store at Little Falls, where he remained three years, until a position was offered on a packet which plied on the canal between Schenectady, Utica, and Rochester. For two years he was steward of the packet, after which he held command as Captain for five years; in the winter season obtaining employment as clerk and telegraph operator. But confinement became irksome to him; and, being in correspondence with his brother, Benjamin, who had, for some time, been settled in Michigan, and had already made some purchases of land for Harvey with money which the latter forwarded to him, he was persuaded at length to join his brother in the West, and arrived at Ionia in the fall of 1849. The city was then in its infancy, but Mr. Harter, with characteristic sagacity, saw that it was a location which promised well for future prosperity, and laid his plans accordingly. In concert with his brother, he opened a store, on Main street, where he conducted a successful business for seven years; at the same time having built an ashery, he carried on the manufacture of saleratus and potash, for which Chicago afforded a very ready market. His gains were invested principally in the purchase of farm lands, of which he bought about six hundred acres. After giving up the dry goods business, he devoted a great deal of time to the supervision of all the details of his farming operations. Mr. Harter was pre-eminently fitted to shine in business life. Public office had no charms for him, as he claimed that his business was such as to demand all his attention. He has speculated considerably in land, and in all his transactions, evinced remarkable shrewdness at a bargain, combined with the highest business integrity. He has been actively connected with the First National Bank of the city of Ionia, since its organization, having been a stock-holder and its assistant cashier for twelve years; when the decline of his health, from too close application to business, warned him that he must take some relaxation, in order to secure its recovery. He spent two or three years in traveling in various parts of the country, and now, although not as robust and active as formerly, enjoys good health. While not devoting himself to active business life, he makes his influence felt in the community, and enjoys the solid comforts which he has well earned by the energy and determination with which he has conducted all his business ventures. Although he has held few offices of public trust and responsibility, yet wherever he has served in an official capacity he has discharged his duties with intelligence and fidelity. He married, October 29, 1850, Elizabeth M. Babcock of Ionia, whose father was one of the first settlers in the county. She is a lady of remarkable intelligence, and is highly esteemed in the community. They have a family of four children, three sons and one daughter. Mr. Harter is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and contributes freely to its support. He is agreeable and courteous in his manner, and is highly esteemed as a man and a citizen. His residence is one of the finest in Ionia County." – Excerpt from "American Biographical History of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Michigan, Volume," published by Western Biographical Publishing Co., Cincinnati, O., 1878.