HULLINGER, Harvey L. and Vera Weaver

HULLINGER, HARVEY L and VERA WEAVER

(This story taken from Early Settlers in Lyman County 1974)

Harvey Jackson Hullinger was born on December 6, 1891,near Lorimer, Iowa, the firstborn child of Eli and Mary Elizabeth Siddens Hullinger. Other children to be born in the years to follow were: John, Elmer, Pearl, Lena and Mearl. 

Eli and his growing family lived on rented farms, with frequent moves to improve their economic situation. Harvey and the younger children began at an early age to help with the farm work.

Although he attended school irregularly, due to helping with farm work in the spring and fall, Harvey enjoyed the rural schools of the neighborhoods. As an eleven-year old, he was happy when the teacher paid him a nickel a day for starting the morning fire in the school house. He liked to read, and especially enjoyed studying history. He developed an interest in both memorizing and reciting poetry or humorous readings. In later years he was determined that his daughters were to have the educational opportunities that were denied him. 

In March of 1909, when Harvey was 17, the family moved from a farm near Mt. Ayr, in Iowa, to a farm 17 miles southwest of Vivian. The location was then part of Lyman County, becoming part of Jones County in 1916. Eli, taking John and Elmer, went ahead with a carload of possessions, by rail. Harvey was given the responsibility of accompanying his mother and two little sisters from Iowa to  South Dakota by train. Part of the journey included crossing the Missouri River at Chamberlain, accomplished by riding on a ferry amidst floating pieces of ice. 

Harvey and his brother Johnnie worked for other farmers and ranchers. Harvey worked for Ed Shives, Doug McLarnan, Emil Wilske, and for .... the Martin and Sheriff threshing crew. When working for Shives and McLarnan, Harvey and Johnnie did a great deal of breaking horses to work, and took pride in their work. Both brothers also spent some time picking corn or doing other farm work in south central Iowa. In 1914 Johnnie and Harvey began farming and ranching in partnership on the Turner place. They worked hard and did well financially, as well as having a lot of fun. 

There was a variety of types of recreation. Baseball was Harvey's favorite sport; both as a participant, and in later years, as an exuberant rooter from the sidelines. 

There was wrestling, boxing, foot races, skating or riding steers or bucking horses. The activities of literary societies were popular, often involving spirited debate teams. Entire families attended the community dances. The Hullinger family played chess or checkers at home. Young people sometimes gathered to play blind man's buff. The young men had great times playing jokes or pranks on each other. 


Mr and Mrs. Franklin S. Weaver operated a store and post office named for their daughter Vera. Mrs. Weaver taught in area schools. When she was grown, Vera too became a teacher. She and Harvey Hullinger were married on May 24, 1917. After their marriage Harvey rented the Hampton farm. That farm is now owned by John Peterson. World War I was in progress. Harvey was drafted, reporting for duty on October 6, 1917. He began training at Camp Fuston, Kansas, being placed in B. Company of the 342nd Machine Gun Battalion. In February of 1918 he was transferred to the Third Division, Company c., Fourth U.S. Infantry, which was training at Camp Stuart near Newport News, Virginia. In April he was sent overseas landing at St. Nazaire in France. A period of intensive training followed. In June, on the way to the front lines, he received a letter from Vera telling of the birth of their first child-a daughter, Elizabeth.

Cpl. Harvey J. Hullinger 

Harvey served in six major battles, was disabled when on duty, was wounded in action, and also served in the Army of Occupation. The men of his squad served as runners in the Argonne Forest, carrying messages through the front lines. There were more than 270 men in his company when it began its final action in the Argonne on September 29, 1918. Approximately 30 men were left when the company was relieved on October 27, 1918.


The survivors were promptly set to work training replacements. On November II, 1918, the men of the Fourth Infantry had their packs rolled in readiness to advance, possibly into a big battle at Metz. The kitchen and supply wagons had already begun moving, but the infantry was delayed in case the Armistice should be signed, which actually did happen. A wildly happy group unrolled packs.

Four days later Harvey began moving toward Germany in the Army of Occupation. He returned home to Vivian on September 1, 1919.

After renting the Joseph Matt farm for five years, Harvey purchased 160 acres of land from Vera's mother, Mrs. F.S. Weaver. The next years were difficult. The initial problems of getting started on the new place were followed by drought, grasshoppers, and depression. Many farmers lost their land. 

Those who have not lived in that period cannot fully appreciate the discouragements of those years. The only mitigating circumstance was that most people were in much the same situation. As conditions gradually improved, Harvey acquired more land (including the Ray Miller farm), more cattle, and machinery.In 1950 he was appointed Acting Postmaster in Vivian, later receiving the appointment as Postmaster. He and Vera moved to Vivian, eventually building a new home there. Harvey had attended the Vera Sunday School, and also the church services where they were held. When they moved to town, he and Vera joined the Methodist Church in Vivian. 

Two more daughters, Iris and Sylvia, had been born to the family. Iris married Willard Benware of Bloomington, New York. They became the parents of daughters, Barbara and Betty Ann (Lisa). Willard is now deceased. Sylvia married Floyd Fuoss of Draper. 

Five children were born to them - Kathlene, Paul, Glen, Althea, and Anita. Betty (Elizabeth) married Bennie Erickson. They rented the farm from Harvey for a time. Eventually Robert Boyles purchased the place. It was later resold to the present owner, Duane Thomas.

Harvey and Vera had some good years of traveling, renewing old acquaintances and making new ones. Visiting his relatives in Iowa and Wyoming meant much to him. Equally important was the opportunity to strengthen the ties between him and the men with whom he had served in the Army. He was a familiar figure at the local basketball games, being a loyal booster for the home team, and enjoyed attending boxing matches.

Harvey died in 1973 at the age of 81. Immediate relatives surviving him are his wife, his daughters and their families, and one brother, Mearl.