Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 710 - 713

JOHN W. HARRISON. Among the many pioneers of this county who came here to engage in stock-raising, none has met with a more assured success  than the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He was born in Morgan County, Ohio. Jan. 19, 1843. His parents were William and Catherine (Becraft) Harrison, natives of Maryland, in which State they were reared and married. They afterward left the place of their nativity and made their home in Morgan County, Ohio, where the father was actively engaged in farming, and there both he and his wife spent their last clays.

             To the parents of our subject were born seven sons and six daughters, he being the twelfth child in order of birth and youngest son. He was reared on a farm, and received a careful training from his parents. During his boyhood the great Civil War broke out; though but a small child he became greatly interested, and in 1865 the patriotic boy enlisted in Company B, 160th Ohio Regiment, and served four months. At the age of fourteen our subject commenced the study of dentistry with an uncle who was a dental surgeon. After he had obtained a thorough knowledge of his profession he commenced to practice it in his native county, with his office at McConnelsville, but working at many smaller towns within a radius of twenty-five miles. He became a very skillful practitioner, and continued very profitably employed in his profession in his native county until 1871. In that year he resolved to come to Kansas and turn his attention to farming on its alluvial soil. He took a leisurely, pleasant journey across the country, and on his arrival here he took up the northeast quarter of section 3, Union Township, securing his land under the provision of the homestead law; this was before the county of Sedgwick was organized.

             Since his residence here Mr. Harrison has dealt extensively in live stock, buying cattle in Southern Kansas and Indian Territory, and has built up a large and profitable trade in that line. He has also speculated in grain considerably, and has always been in business alone. He is the owner of 360 acres of land, situated in one of the most fertile regions of the West, and all of it in a highly improved condition. After coming here he practiced dentistry to some extent, and made the plates for the first artificial teeth ever constructed in Sedgwick County. He has contributed to the building enterprises in this town by the erection of the Commercial Hotel, in which he still retains a half-interest.

             Mr. Harrison was married, April 6, 1870, to Miss Mary Tedrow, daughter of Michael and Sarah Tedrow, and, like himself, a native of Morgan County, Ohio. Of their union three children have been born -- Sylvester, Arthur and Jasper.

             Mr. Harrison has achieved his success by unremitting toil, directed by sound business principles. He has accumulated all his property since coming to Kansas, as at that date he had not money enough to pay for a team but had to pay for it on time. He is an intelligent man and an independent thinker, and in politics does not confine himself to any party, but votes for the best men and measures. He takes an active interest in public affairs and has rendered efficient service in local offices.

[ Home ]