Harry Sullivan was born and raised in New York state where his father was listed as a farmer in the 1850 Census. It appears he traveled to Owyhee County with his brother John, who was eight years older than him. Both were listed as placer miners in the 1870 census and lived in a boarding house with several other miners in Boonville. Harry Sullivan was 65 years of age when he passed away on November 17, 1906.