Josiah S. Harrison

JOSIAH S. HARRISON,

The subject of this sketch, was born in Clinton Township, Boone County, Ind., October 9, 1843. He spent his early life on the farm, and received his education from the common schools of the country. His father, Simpson Harrison, being one of the pioneers of the country, he was brought up to know the hardships and privations of early life in a new country. At the breaking out of the rebellion young Harrison became enthused with the love of country, and at an age less than eighteen years was enrolled in Co. G., 11th Ind. regiment, under Lew. Wallace, July 24, 1861, and was discharged at Crump's Landing, Tennessee, March 31, 1862, on account of general disability. On August 20, 1863, he was married to Miss Caroline Riley, daughter of James Riley, a well known farmer and stock dealer in this county. They lived on a farm in Washington Township, and to them was born three sons: Ira E., Edward J. and John B. Eddie died at the age of eight years and six months. On February 5, 1876, he was initiated into the I.O.O.F., at Mechanicsburg, and has held every office in the order. On December 14, 1877, he united with the M. E. Church.

In April, 1878, he was elected trustee of Washington Township, and in the spring of 1881 was appointed to fill the unexpired term of George E. Conrad, and in April, 1882, was again elected to the office of trustee, which he held till September, when he resigned and moved to Lebanon, to accept a deputyship under John W. Hawkins, treasurer of the county. In 1886 he received the nomination for county treasurer at the hands of the Republicans, and beat his opponent, John Huber, 51 votes, being elected November, 1886. He has not, at this writing, taken his office.

In February 15, 1880, the wife and mother died, leaving the husband and two sons to mourn the loss of an affectionate wife and mother. In August 11, 1880, he was again married, to Miss Elizabeth A. Keyes.
 

Transcribed by: Julie S. Townsend - June 28, 2007
Source: "Early Life and Times in Boone County, Indiana," Harden & Spahr, Lebanon, Ind., May, 1887, pp. 294-295

(2nd obituary)
 

JOSIAH S. HARRISON, who has been a resident of Lebanon, Ind., for eleven years descends from an old English family that came to this country over a hundred years before the Revolutionary war, several members of which settled in Maryland. Robert H. Harrison, Gen. Washington's private secretary in the war of the Revolution, and later one of the associate judges of the supreme court of the United States, was one of the same family.

Greenbery Harrison, great-grandfather of Josiah S., was born in Maryland. In 1784 he removed to Hardin county, Ky., and resided in the neighborhood of the grandfather of President Lincoln. Josiah Harrison, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was also born in Maryland, and Simpson Harrison, the father, was born in Kentucky, and later came to Boone county, Ind., where he married Martha Roberts in May, 1837, and settled on a farm on the north side of Sugar creek, in Clinton township, where he remained until his death in 1876, at the age of sixty-three. To Simpson and Martha Harrison were born seven children, viz: John, Amy R., Josiah S., Edward D., Avis G., Sarah A. and Flora, all of whom lived to years of maturity except John, who died at the age of three years. Politically he was a Whig until the dissolution of that party, then a republican, and strong in his convictions. He was a Methodist, and his home was a favorite stopping place for the itinerant preachers, and a preaching point for many years.

Josiah S. Harrison was born October 9, 1843, near Mechanicsburg, Boone county, Ind. He received an ordinary common school education. He has always been a republican, and cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and subsequently voted for Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Blaine and Harrison. With him principle was everything, but he regarded the republican party the proper medium through which principle was to be maintained. July 23, 1861, he enlisted in the Eleventh regiment of Indiana volunteers, called the Zouave regiment, and commanded by Lew Wallace, later Gen. Wallace. He was a true and faithful soldier until he was discharged at Crump's Landing. Tenn., March 31, 1862, on account of general disability.

August 20, 1863, he married Caroline Riley, daughter of James and Matilda E. (Garret) Riley To them were born three children, namely Ira F., Edward J. and John B. Edward J. died at the age of seven years; Ira F, was married in Lawrence, Douglas county, Kans., to Theodosia A. Bishop, in 1884, and moved to Lebanon, Boone county, Ind., where he resides at this writing.

April, 1878, the subject of this sketch was elected trustee of Washington township, and served two years, and afterward was appointed to fill the unexpired term of George E. Conrad, who had resigned. April, 1882, he was elected his own successor, which trust he held until September 10, 1883, when he resigned and moved to Lebanon, and accepted a deputy-ship under John W. Hawkins, county treasurer, In 1886 Mr. Harrison was elected county treasurer, and filled the office with so much ability and fidelity that, in 1888 he was re­elected with an increased majority. At the expiration of his office, he engaged in the abstract and loan business, at which he is still engaged. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, of the I. 0. 0. F. and of the Methodist church. After the death of Caroline (Riley) Harrison, he married Elizabeth A. Keys, August 11, 1880, daughter of John and Frances (Hawkins) Keys.

Transcribed by: T. Stover - September 24, 2008
Source Citation: Boone County Biographies [database online] Boone County INGenWeb. 2008. <http://www.rootsweb.com/~inboone> Original data: "A Portrait And Biographical Record of Boone and Clinton Counties, Ind.", A. W. Bowen & CO., Chicago. 1895, pp 326-327.