"One of the most progressive and energetic citizens of Clinton, Vermillion, Indiana is Edgar R. Harrison, who has long been connected with the J.K. Deering mines in that part of the country. He is one of the foremost men in his community, always interested in every movement that tends to bring Clinton to the front in business and social life. He has used his influence to bring about cleaner political methods in that district, and has always stood for the rights of the laboring classes.
"Mr. Harrison is the son of Clarence and Sophia Weber Harrison, who are both natives of Indiana. Clarence Harrison was born May 30th, 1854, and is still living. His wife was born in 1861 and died in 1893. His father worked in the mines for a while, and was afterwards a policeman in Clinton. He had five children, all of whom are still living. Edgar R. Harrison was born Dec. 28th, 1878, in Covington, Indiana, but the family left there when he was very young and came to Clinton, where Mr. Harrison spent his boyhood and attended the common schools. He was married to June M. Johnston, who was a native of Illinois, born April 18th, 1884, and who received a common school education, supplemented by some special training. During 1896 and 1897 Mr. Harrison was interested in a bakery, but he soon found that his father's experience had a strong hold on his life and he decided to become a miner. He entered the mines of the J.K. Deering Mining Company and worked very faithfully there until he became a boss of mine No. 2. He now is the boss of J.K. Deering mine No. 5, having held this position since the first of January this year. Mr Harrison and his wife have had six children, all of whom are at home. They are Raymond, Margaret, Dorothy, Esther, Arthur, Katherine and Louise. They all live on the home that their father owns near the mine. Mr. Harrison belongs to Lodge No. 1199, Order of the Owls, in Clinton. He has always been progressive in politics, voting for the best man, rather than being restricted to conservative party demands. He was councilman for a while and was very careful and just in his performance of his duties during this time. Mr. Harrison's thrift and activities in the public welfare have made him a substantial citizen, and he is also highly respected by his neighbors and friends. Though we do not always appreciate the fact, it is the workers in a community who are representative of that community, for it is the product of their own toil, and with this as a standard, Edgar R. Harrison may well stand as a standard bearer in the ranks of Vermillion County."