Harrison - John - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Thanks to Esther Troutt for the Harrison biography below!

The Honorable John H. HARRISON was born near Ladoga, Indiana on February 22, 1830. He attended a subscription school held in a log building with slab benches, puncheon floor and a writing desk that ran along the side of the wall. He possessed the ability of a mechanic and early worked at that occupation, later devoting himself to carpentering. It was his custom to go into the woods, hew the timber, haul it to the sawmill, then take the lumber and use it in the construction of bridges, barns, etc. Coming to Kansas in 1869, Mr. Harrison bought a farm five miles south of Wellsville and the next year he located his family there. After farming a few years, he resumed contracting and building and soon became known as an expert in the business. In 1896 and 1898, Mr. Harrison was elected Franklin County Probate Judge. He also served one term as mayor of Wellsville, many years as town clerk and was a member of the school board and clerk of same. In Indiana, Mr. Harrison married Nancy WILSON where she also died leaving six children, namely: Lucy (Gregg), Sarah (Davis), Robert (who occupied the old home farm), Allen, Oliver (a contractor and builder in Wellsville), and Eva (Binford). Mr. Harrison married his second wife, Martha LAMB who was originally from Illinois, in Wellsville.