From History of the Saint Croix Valley (ARC F 587 .S14 E3 1909 v. 2 in the UWRF Archives):
Harvey Law comes of old Connecticut parentage, but was born in Freedom, Cattaraugus county, N. Y., March 23, 1838. His father, Harvey, Sr., was born in Connecticut and married Eleanor Spear. In western New York he worked at blacksmithing and saw milling until he came to Wisconsin and built the first blacksmith shop in New Richmond. J. Cook purchased this shop in 1860, but Mr. Law, Sr., continued to occupy a part of it for the purpose of making guns. He was closely identified with the early life of the town, swerving on the town and school boards and as councilman a number of years. He helped to build the first school house in New Richmond. In common with other boys of his age, Harvey, Jr., attended school and worked on the farm. Then he bought and improved forty acres of land, upon which he raised wheat and oats. After eighteen months he sold this tract to his brother and started work as a millwright and carpenter. He continued this for twelve years. Sine then he has been a contractor and builder of the city. Some years ago he bought a house and ten acres of land at the corner of Star and Third streets, where he now resides. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Twelfth Regiment, Wisconsin Infantry, and served under Grant and Sherman. For two years he was commissary sergeant and was service not only at the sieges of Vicksburg and Atlanta, but also in the famous march from Chattanooga to Atlanta. Upon his honorable discharge in July 1865, he returned to New Richmond. His civil record since then has been equally as noteworthy and includes service as marshal and school supervisor. Mr. and Mrs. Law have two children—Edith married W. W. Benham, superintendent of schools at Farmington, Minn. Both Mr. and Mrs. Benham are graduates of the Methodist University at Hammond, Wis. They have three children. Before her marriage Mrs. Benham was a school teacher. The other daughter, Aurelia, is married to Charles M. Todd, a railroad operator in Chicago. Mr. Law is a staunch Republican and a Methodist. He is the oldest past commander of ht B. I. Humphrey Post, G. A. R., No. 103, and has also served all the junior offices of the post. B. I. Humphrey, in whose honor the post is named, was a brother-in-law of the subject of this sketch.
The Civil War and Northwest Wisconsin 