HARRISON, Joseph William - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

J.W. Harrison, 81, president and founder of the Harrison Steel Castings Company of Attica died at the Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis Sunday evening. Mr. Harrison had been ill for several months but not in a critical condition until the past few weeks.

He was born in England and worked as a child laborer in that country in factorizes from the age of 10.  He learned to be a steel moulder and served a long apprenticeship in that country.  He came to this country in 1888, hearing of the great opportunities for young men. After working for several years in various steel mills in the east, he finally became superintendent of the National Car Coupler Company in Converse, Indiana and purchased stock in the company.  Eventually he became the major stockholder and in 1906 the company erected another foundry in Attica.

The Harrisons became sole owners of the company and made their home in Attica, where the steel concern became in the next few years the major industry in Fountain County.  In 1927 the corporation was changed to the Harrison Steel Casting Company.

Mr. Harrison was active in Attica civic and church affairs and has been a major influence in bettering the town.

He is survived by the widow and three sons: Roy, Glenn and Wade, all of Attica, and four grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at the First Methodist Church in Attica with burial in Riverside cemetery.   --- transcribed by kbz