Luther S. Harrison

Mr. and Mrs. Luther S. Harrison

    Now enjoying prosperity and the esteem of friends and neighbors, at a comfortable country estate on Section Two of Fairmount Township, Luther S. Harrison is one of the older native sons of Grant County, was born here during the later pioneer epoch, and is a graduate of one of the old-time log school houses,   which some fifty years ago were so common throughout this part of the State. His life has been led along liens of industry, thrift and honesty, and practically every one in Fairmount Township knows, and has word of kindly regard for Luther S. Harrison.

    His grandfather, John Harrison was a native of Virginia. From there he moved to Ohio, and while there his death occurred in the rime of life as the result of an accident. In endeavoring to rescue his son, John Jr., from underneath a falling tree, he was stricken down and killed. This branch of the Harrison family is thought to be related more or less closely with the family which produced William Henry Harrison, President of the United States, during the forties. John Harrison had three children: John Jr., Sarah, who married William Leach, and lived and died in Grant county, both of them passing away in advanced age, and after acquiring a large estate in Fairmount Township.

    Louis Harrison, father of Luther S. was born in Ohio between the years 1808 and 1810. During the Mexican War he served in Captain Ramsey's Company from Indiana, then reenlisted to drive pack horses in the same war, and on his return from the war settled and lived for a time in Franklin County, whither he had first settled with some kinsmen from Ohio a number of years before. When he was still young he moved to Grant County, and his first home in this vicinity was built of split rails, and was little more than a shed, covered with bark. That house stood on land now occupied by his son Luther. After a little while the rail hut was replaced with a good log house. Louis Harrison owned one hundred and sixty acres of land attained directly from the government, and spent the rest of his life in its clearing and cultivation. He died in October, 1860. His church was the Methodist, and in politics he was a Democrat. About 1841, he was married in Fairmount Township of Grant County to Elizabeth Searls, who was born in Kentucky in 1814 or 1815, coming of Kentucky parents and family. She was a young woman, when she came to Grant County, and a few years later her parents left Indiana, and lived the rest of their lives in Illinois. Mrs. Louis Harrison survived her husband many years and received a pension for her husband's service in the Mexican War. Her death occurred in February, 1897, and she was likewise a member of the Methodist Church. Of their five children three grew up. John Harrison died in 1901, and his son Lawrence is now living in Henry County. The daughter Rachael is the wife of Henry DeShaun of Fairmount Township.

    Luther S. Harrison, second in age of the three children, just mentioned, was born in Fairmount Township of Grant County, January 13, 1845. His early years were spent on his father's farm, and his schooling was obtained b attendance at a log cabin school. The light was admitted to the rooms through greased paper windows, and all the facilities of that primitive temple of learning were exceedingly crude, while the instruction itself was confined largely to the three R's. After reaching manhood he bought some land from his father, gradually acquiring more until his place amounted to one hundred and thirty acres. This is now one of the fine country estates of Fairmount Township, nearly all of it under cultivation, and its buildings are of the very best comprising a large red barn and a comfortable white house. He is a general farmer, growing large crops of grain and forage, and feeds all the farm products to his hogs, horses and cattle. In cattle his specialty is the short-horn breed.

    Mr. Harris was first married in Fairmount Township to Miss Sarah Richards, who was born in Jefferson Township in 1863. She died in the prime of life from lung trouble, and left two children: Louis, born August 12, 1890, lives at home; Bessie, is the wife of Urshel Kimes, a farmer in Jefferson Township, and they have one son, Thomas. In 1897, Mr. Harrison married for his second wife, Mrs. Emma Leach, whose maiden name was Ailes. She was born in Franklin County, Indiana, and is the widow of George Leach, who was killed in a saw-mill Boiler explosion. Her children by Mr. Leach were: Rev. Perry B. Leach, a minister of the Methodist Church, living south of Indianapolis, and having one son and one daughter; Lulu is the wife of Carl Mittank, employed in the post office at Marion, and they have three children; Arthur aged twenty-five lies at home with MR. and Mrs. Harrison. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of no church, and in politics he is an Independent Democrat.

Centennial History of Grant County Indiana 1812-1912. The Lewis Publishing Co., 1914.