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William O. Harrison, a well known
resident of Dallas
County, is a son of
Jonathan Tyler and Jemima Delina (Osborne) Harrison of English ancestry. The first ancestor of that name who first
came to America was Terrell
Harrison, a Presbyterian Minister, who settled in Virginia. His son, Jonathan, was born in
that state and afterward settled in Fairfield
District, South Carolina,
where he was a planter and at one time was Sheriff of that District. His son Burr, Harrison, was the father of
Jonathan Tyler, the father of the subject of this sketch.
Jonathan Tyler Harrison was born and reared in
Fairfield District and in early life was engaged as an overseer. He worked four years as such for Governor
Means and was also overseer for his estate after the Governors death. Mr. Harrison then moved to Anderson District,
same state, where he was engaged for some years in the Mercantile business and
still later was a contractor for railroad work, having assisted in building the
Blue Ridge Railroad in 1860. He was engaged
in that occupation when the war came on and he then enlisted in the Confederate
Army, in the Second Rifles, which was raised in Anderson County. He entered as Third Lieutenant and was
afterward promoted to Second Lieutenant and was in Longstreet’s Corps, Jenkins
Brigade and took part in all the battles which were fought by his command. He served until fall of 1864, when he
resigned on account of rheumatism; also received a flesh would in the Battle of the
Wilderness. After the close of the war,
Mr. Harrison returned to his farm in Anderson District where he was engaged in
agricultural pursuits until his death, March 14, 1870. He was a member of the Missionary
Baptist Church
throughout life and was twice married, first to Jemima Delina Osborne, a daughter
of W.M. Osborne of Fairfield District,
South Carolina, where Mrs.
Harrison was born and reared. They had
the following children” William O., our
subject; Sallie, who died when young; Jonathan B., of Dallas County, a sketch
of whom appears in this work; James W. of Denton County, this state; Thomas
Jefferson of Dallas County and Fannie, the wife of Sanford Wilburne, of Union District,
South Carolina. The wife and mother died
in Anderson District June 8, 1858 and Mr. Harrison was afterward married to
Eliza McDaniel, also of Anderson District and they had four children: Jefferson Davis of this county; Carrie, who
became the wife of W.N. Sanders of Dallas County and is now deceased; Susan,
the wife of P.F. Sanders of Dallas County;
Mamie, the wife of J.B. Hammel of Tarrant County, Texas.
William O. Harrison, the subject of
this sketch was born in Fairfield District, South Carolina, November 3, 1847
and was reared in that and Anderson District.
He emigrated to Rush County, Texas in the winter of 1870 where he
remained one year and then went to Marion
County and two years later to Dallas County
settling on Grapevine Prairie, near where he now lives. He bought his present farm of ninety acres in
1875 all of which was open prairie and he has since added to this until he now
owns 166 acres, most is under cultivation.
Mr. Harrison began the mercantile
business at Gibbs about three years ago under the firm name Harrison &
Co. His partners being his brothers
Jonathan B. Harrison and
T.J. Harrison and he is also
engaged in the gin business. Mr.
Harrison secured the Post Office at Gibbs in 1887 and soon afterward became the
Postmaster, which position he has since held and is also Notary Public and
general counsel for the neighborhood.
He was married in Elbert County, Georgia,
June 20, 1865, to Laura McDaniel, the daughter of Edward and Frances (White)
McDaniel, of that County. Mr. And Mrs.
Harrison have had the following children:
Minnie, the wife of Byron L. Nicks, of the county; Lena,
the wife of W.N. Sanders; Emma, now Mrs. C.A. Corbin; Fannie; Laura; Edward F.;
and Bertie. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are
members of the Baptist
Church. Politically, Mr. Harrison is a Democrat.
This book was published in
1892.
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