Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Timothy Harrison
Timothy Harrison, deceased, for many years a leading promoter of commercial and industrial interests in Wayne county, was born May 10, 1832, in Yorkshire, England, a son of Timothy and Mary (Smith) Harrison. The family is one of the old and eminently respectable families of Yorkshire, and historians have no difficulty in tracing the genealogy back to the time when Charles I. was on the throne of England. Strong intellectuality has ever been one of the marked characteristics of the Harrisons, and many prominent representatives of the name have left the impress of their individuality upon the public life of both America and England. Among these are William Henry Harrison, Benjamin Harrison and Carter H. Harrison. In England the family largely followed mechanical pursuits and were extensively engaged in the construction of locomotives.
The life record of Timothy Harrison is one which added new luster to a name already bright, for he manifested not only excellent business ability but also the higher traits of character which everywhere command respect and admiration. His mother died when he was only ten years of age, his father when he was eighteen. He was largely reared by his sister Rebecca, and when seventeen years of age completed his literary education at Rugby, one of the most famous preparatory schools of the world. He was fortunate in pursuing his studies under the superintendence of the celebrated Dr. Thomas Arnold, and his marked intellectuality and literary culture well fitted him for responsible duties in life. He dould speak seven different languages, and his scholarly tastes and habits remained with him throughout life, enriching his thought and broadening his mental vision. In accordance with the laws of his native land requiring that all boys should learn a trade, he served a seven-years apprenticeship at mechanical engineering, completing his term in the Leeds Locomotive Works. A natural predilection for mechanics led him into the field of endeavor and he became an expert workman.
In 1856, in company with his aunt, Rachel Smith, he emigrated to the United States, and making his way westward finally located in Newcastle, Henry county, Indiana, where he was engaged in the dry-goods trade for a short time. Subsequently he purchased a woolen mill at Raysville, Henry county, operating the same on an extensive scale and meeting with excellent success. He continued in that line of business until i860, and at the same time was associated with Charles Hubbard in the ownership of a large general store at Knightstown, Mr. Hubbard acting as its manager. Mr. Harrison, however, continued a partner in that enterprise until his death, when his son, Thomas H., closed out the business. In 1859 Timothy Harrison removed to Richmond and became one of the principal stockholders in the Quaker Machine Works, in which he served as bookkeeper for four years. In 1873 he became one of the organizers and directors of the Ezra Smith Manufacturing Association, now doing business under the name of the Richmond Casket Works. It was capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, with a paid-up capital of ninety-six thousand dollars. Mr. Harrison continued to serve as bookkeeper in that industry until his death, which occurred March 22, 1881, and his wise management and business ability contributed not a little to the success of the undertaking.
Mr. Harrison was likewise prominent in church work and was a recognized leader in the Friends' meeting, serving for many years as clerk of the Whitewater meeting and as elder of the Indiana yearly meeting. He was an earnest, zealous and untiring worker in the cause of the Master, and in connection with William Tate organized a Sunday-school for the colored children of Richmond. They began with only a few scholars, but developed the school until it became the largest ever held in Richmond. He gave his support to all measures which he believed to be of public benefit, and exercised his right of franchise in support of the Republican party, in whose principles he firmly believed, although he took no active part in politics. He was a man of good judgment and sound financial ability; and that he had the unlimited confidence of his fellow men was shown by the fact that he was frequently chosen to settle up estates.
Mr. Harrison was united in marriage, in 1858, to Miss Naomi W. Morgan, and to them were born the following: children: Mrs. Mary E. Titsworth, who was educated in the high school of Richmond and Westtown, and is now a resident of Chicago; Thomas H., whose sketch appears following this; Mrs. Susan R. Johnson, a graduate of Earlham College, now of Whittier, California; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; Anna R., who received a high-school education and became a trained nurse in the Ann Arbor Medical hospital, where she became head nurse, and when she handed in her resignation in the spring of 1896 received the unanimous vote of the medical faculty to the place again; Timothy, who was educated in Earlham, married Pearl, daughter of Senator Landers, a prominent Democratic politician of Indianapolis, and is now buyer for the Stubbs Construction Company, Chicago, having previously, in 1893, served as manager for the Chicago Wrecking Company, which was engaged in wrecking buildings after great conflagrations; Miriam Alice, a graduate of Earlham, who pursued a post-graduate course of education in Bryn Mawr.
Mr. Harrison was most devoted to his family and counted no effort or sacrifice too great that would enhance the welfare and happiness of his wife and children. He crossed the Atlantic ocean thirteen times, the first time after his arrival in America in 1858, when with his bride he went on a wedding tour to the land of his birth. In 1867 also he went abroad, accompanied by his wife and three of their children, visiting his brother, Thomas H. Harrison, who still resided in the mother country. Mr. Harrison of this review long ranked among the foremost representatives of business and religious interests in Richmond, and his death was a sad loss to the community. His widow still resides in West Richmond, in a resdence erected by Mr. Harrison soon after his arrival in this city, but which was remodeled, enlarged and improved in 1870. Like her husband she shares in the warm regard of his many friends, and is an earnest Christian lady.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899