Harvey Elmer Bruce is one of Kansas’ successful newspaper men, being owner and editor of The Marquette Tribune, which he acquired some years ago and which he had made an influential organ of public opinion in McPherson and adjoining counties of the state.
Mr. Bruce was born on a farm in Logan County, Ohio, March 12, 1865, but had lived in McPherson County, Kansas, since early boyhood. He was a successful schoolman in this state before he enrolled in the ranks of newspaper men.
His parents were Henry Clay and Louise Jane (Abel) Bruce. His father was born in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1838, and was reared in Ohio. He brought his family out to Kansas in November, 1878. He is now living retired at Marquette. He spent his active career as a miller and farmer. His wife was born in Logan County, Ohio, February 1, 1847, and died at McPherson, Kansas, January 8, 1887. They were married June 1, 1864, near Huntsville, Ohio, and their children were six in number, three sons and three daughters, namely: Harvey E.; Maude, who was born November 24, 1867, and died December 5, 1873; Frank Aubrey, born August 17, 1869, now living at Roy, New Mexico; Byrnina C., born July 31, 1873, now the wife of D. W. Hull, a farmer near McPherson, Kansas; Wynne D., born February 1, 1877, now wife of E. A. Falgren, of McPherson, Kansas; and Henry Kenneth, who was born February 7, 1882, and is associated with his brother Harvey in the newspaper business.
Harvey Elmer Bruce was thirteen years old when he came to Kansas, had attended public school in Logan County, Ohio, and continued his education in the McPherson High School, graduating with the class of ’84. For four years he was a country school teacher, was principal of the Canton public schools from 1888 to 1891, and from that year until 1893 was county superintendent of McPherson County. Mr. Bruce came to Marquette as principal of its public schools and filled that position from 1893 to 1900, founding the present high school department in 1894.
January 1, 1899, he bought the Marquette Tribune, and a year or so later resigned from school work to give all his attention to the editorial and business management of the paper. He had now a complete plant for newspaper publication and printing work, had linotype, binding machines, and all the equipment that a small modern newspaper office boasts. The Tribune is published as a news and town boosting organ and maintains an independent attitude in politics.
For many years Mr. Bruce had been known in some official capacity or other at Marquette. Since 1903 he had been president of the school board and his experience as a teacher gives him unusual qualifications for the administration of the local school system. For fifteen years he served as city clerk, and had been justice of the peace for eighteen years and is now also police judge. Mr. Bruce is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Presbyterian Church, had served as treasurer and recording secretary of the Kansas Editorial Association, and is a member of the National Editorial Association. He puts in odd hours as president of the Community Club, superintendent of the Sunday school, collector for half a dozen lodges and is a notary public.
All these years the inspiration of his work had been his home and family, consisting of wife and children. He was married at Canton, Kansas, July 11, 1888, to Miss Margaret Clark. Mrs. Bruce was born in Chicago, Illinois, November 13, 1865, and is a daughter of Thomas E. and Margaret (Benny) Clark, at this date both deceased. Their children are four sons and two daughters: Elmer Ivan, born July 9, 1889; Margaret Isla, born May 13, 1891; Vida Fay, born March 4, 1896; and Neal Dwight, born January 18, 1900. Two sons died in infancy. All the children have been given a college education.