PVT, Co. H, 25th Illinois Infantry and Co. H, 40th Illinois Infantry, Civil War.
From Chapman Brothers, "William Henry Harrison," Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Ill., (Chicago, IL: 1887), pp. 238-240, https://archive.org/details/portraitchamp00chap/page/238/mode/2up
One fine spring morning in 1836 there started out from Pleasant Township, in Madison County, Ohio, two families, equipped with ox-teams for a journey overland to the prairies of Illinois. One of these was our subject, who, accompanied by his wife and child, had decided to seek his fortunes in the farther west. The thoroughfare in those days could scarcely be dignified by the name or a road, being merely a wagon track, over which at times they were compelled to wade through mud and water to the waist and to urge on the poor beasts, who had no western aspirations, and could not understand why they were leaving the more substantial soil of the Buckeye State.
The travelers finally passed the boundary line between Indiana and Illinois, and coming into Montgomery County our subject contracted to remain with his employer, Samuel Haller, the balance of the year. He was engaged in breaking prairie and hauling various commodities to and from the nearest market, a distance of sixty miles with ox-teams. Two months before his time was up, on account of his honesty and industry, his employer gave him the balance of the year to work for himself. He had in the meantime purchased eighty acres of wild land, and now set about breaking the sod on his own property. He was thus occupied in its improvement for a year following. Then, selling forty acres, he returned to Ohio, being afflicted with an attack of home-sickness, from which it took him twelve years to recover.
In the meantime our subject sold the remaining forty acres of his land in Montgomery County, IL, and his father having died in Ohio, himself and his brother attempted to buy out the other heirs of the estate. In this they failed, however, on account of ill-health, and lost much time and money. Our subject now concluded to return to Illinois, and coming into Coles County, pre-empted forty acres, for which he afterward paid $3.40 per acre. He put up a small house, as a temporary shelter for his family, rented a tract of improved land on the Elars' farm, in the meantime improving his own, as time permitted, and was finally enabled to purchase eighty acres more. In 1863 he sold out at a profit of more than $2000.
The outbreak of the Civil War now induced Mr. Harrison to lay aside his personal interests, and he volunteered as a Union soldier to assist in the sub-jection of the Confederates. Becoming a member of Co. H, 25th IL. Vol. Inf., he marched with his comrades to the scene of conflict but after six months was discharged, very much against his own wishes, on account of ill-health. He was then compelled to return to where he had left his family, and soon afterward purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, in Sadorus Township, Champaign County, IL, which constitutes a part of the present homestead. To this he afterward added forty acres, so that he has now 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. Being now seventy-five years of age, the farm is principally managed by his son, while Mr. Harrison has practically retired from the active labors of life.
The early years of our subject were spent in Pleasant Township, near London, the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, where his birth took place Nov. 7, 1812. He was the seventh of the thirteen children of Jonathan and Amelia (Wallace) Harrison, natives of Maryland, and born across the Bay, in Baltimore, where they spent their childhood and youth. Jonathan Harrison was a substantial farmer, and emigrated from his native state to Ohio during its early settlement, when Indians and wild animals were more plentiful than white men. He cleared ten acres from the forest, and for his first crop raised four acres of corn. He never became an extensive land-owner, but was content with a few acres, well tilled.
William Henry remained under the parental roof until after reaching his maturity, in the meantime gaining an intimate acquaintance with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, which bred within him the spirit of perseverance and self reliance which served him so well in after years. In laying his plans for the future, he selected for his wife Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Hempleman) Pucket, to whom he was married in the spring of 1834. The parents of Mrs. H. were natives of Adams County, Ohio, and spent their entire lives in that state. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Harrison with his young wife settled upon a tract of land in Pleasant Township, where he pursued farming on his own account for four years, after which he began making preparations for a change of location. The results of this we have already indicated.
The blooming family which grew up around the hearthstone of our subject and his wife, with the exception of two, Benjamin E. and Elizabeth, have passed to the silent land. Nine times there was made a place in the country churchyard, over which the parents bowed with sorrowing tears, while a child was hidden from their sight. Their living son, Benjamin, married Miss Martha J, daughter of Eli and Emily (Shupp) Cook, and with his family occupies the homestead of his father. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were natives of this state and are now deceased. Elizabeth, the only remaining daughter of our subject, is the widow of Charles B. Monroe, and lives on a farm in the northern Part of Douglas County, IL. Mr. Monroe departed this life on the 4th of May, 1887, leaving a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, with means for their proper training and education.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison united with the Methodist Episcopal Church many years ago, since which time they have been consistent and active members, doing good as they have opportunity, and working faithfully for the Master. Although never a zealous politician, Mr. Harrison, a formerly Whig, is now a cordial supporter of Republican principles, believes in universal freedom and cheerfully supports every measure calculated for the most good to the greatest number. He has built up a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and receives his abundant reward in the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. Harrison in this connection, and as a fitting companion picture that of his wife. For over fifty-three years they have lived together, and during that time have worthily fulfilled all the duties of live, living up to the noble principles which for so many years they have professed.
From Chapman Brothers, "William Henry Harrison," Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Ill., (Chicago, IL: 1887), pp. 238-240, https://archive.org/details/portraitchamp00chap/page/238/mode/2up
One fine spring morning in 1836 there started out from Pleasant Township, in Madison County, Ohio, two families, equipped with ox-teams for a journey overland to the prairies of Illinois. One of these was our subject, who, accompanied by his wife and child, had decided to seek his fortunes in the farther west. The thoroughfare in those days could scarcely be dignified by the name or a road, being merely a wagon track, over which at times they were compelled to wade through mud and water to the waist and to urge on the poor beasts, who had no western aspirations, and could not understand why they were leaving the more substantial soil of the Buckeye State.
The travelers finally passed the boundary line between Indiana and Illinois, and coming into Montgomery County our subject contracted to remain with his employer, Samuel Haller, the balance of the year. He was engaged in breaking prairie and hauling various commodities to and from the nearest market, a distance of sixty miles with ox-teams. Two months before his time was up, on account of his honesty and industry, his employer gave him the balance of the year to work for himself. He had in the meantime purchased eighty acres of wild land, and now set about breaking the sod on his own property. He was thus occupied in its improvement for a year following. Then, selling forty acres, he returned to Ohio, being afflicted with an attack of home-sickness, from which it took him twelve years to recover.
In the meantime our subject sold the remaining forty acres of his land in Montgomery County, IL, and his father having died in Ohio, himself and his brother attempted to buy out the other heirs of the estate. In this they failed, however, on account of ill-health, and lost much time and money. Our subject now concluded to return to Illinois, and coming into Coles County, pre-empted forty acres, for which he afterward paid $3.40 per acre. He put up a small house, as a temporary shelter for his family, rented a tract of improved land on the Elars' farm, in the meantime improving his own, as time permitted, and was finally enabled to purchase eighty acres more. In 1863 he sold out at a profit of more than $2000.
The outbreak of the Civil War now induced Mr. Harrison to lay aside his personal interests, and he volunteered as a Union soldier to assist in the sub-jection of the Confederates. Becoming a member of Co. H, 25th IL. Vol. Inf., he marched with his comrades to the scene of conflict but after six months was discharged, very much against his own wishes, on account of ill-health. He was then compelled to return to where he had left his family, and soon afterward purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, in Sadorus Township, Champaign County, IL, which constitutes a part of the present homestead. To this he afterward added forty acres, so that he has now 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. Being now seventy-five years of age, the farm is principally managed by his son, while Mr. Harrison has practically retired from the active labors of life.
The early years of our subject were spent in Pleasant Township, near London, the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, where his birth took place Nov. 7, 1812. He was the seventh of the thirteen children of Jonathan and Amelia (Wallace) Harrison, natives of Maryland, and born across the Bay, in Baltimore, where they spent their childhood and youth. Jonathan Harrison was a substantial farmer, and emigrated from his native state to Ohio during its early settlement, when Indians and wild animals were more plentiful than white men. He cleared ten acres from the forest, and for his first crop raised four acres of corn. He never became an extensive land-owner, but was content with a few acres, well tilled.
William Henry remained under the parental roof until after reaching his maturity, in the meantime gaining an intimate acquaintance with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, which bred within him the spirit of perseverance and self reliance which served him so well in after years. In laying his plans for the future, he selected for his wife Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Hempleman) Pucket, to whom he was married in the spring of 1834. The parents of Mrs. H. were natives of Adams County, Ohio, and spent their entire lives in that state. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Harrison with his young wife settled upon a tract of land in Pleasant Township, where he pursued farming on his own account for four years, after which he began making preparations for a change of location. The results of this we have already indicated.
The blooming family which grew up around the hearthstone of our subject and his wife, with the exception of two, Benjamin E. and Elizabeth, have passed to the silent land. Nine times there was made a place in the country churchyard, over which the parents bowed with sorrowing tears, while a child was hidden from their sight. Their living son, Benjamin, married Miss Martha J, daughter of Eli and Emily (Shupp) Cook, and with his family occupies the homestead of his father. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were natives of this state and are now deceased. Elizabeth, the only remaining daughter of our subject, is the widow of Charles B. Monroe, and lives on a farm in the northern Part of Douglas County, IL. Mr. Monroe departed this life on the 4th of May, 1887, leaving a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, with means for their proper training and education.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison united with the Methodist Episcopal Church many years ago, since which time they have been consistent and active members, doing good as they have opportunity, and working faithfully for the Master. Although never a zealous politician, Mr. Harrison, a formerly Whig, is now a cordial supporter of Republican principles, believes in universal freedom and cheerfully supports every measure calculated for the most good to the greatest number. He has built up a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and receives his abundant reward in the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. Harrison in this connection, and as a fitting companion picture that of his wife. For over fifty-three years they have lived together, and during that time have worthily fulfilled all the duties of live, living up to the noble principles which for so many years they have professed.
PVT, Co. H, 25th Illinois Infantry and Co. H, 40th Illinois Infantry, Civil War.
From Chapman Brothers, "William Henry Harrison," Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Ill., (Chicago, IL: 1887), pp. 238-240, https://archive.org/details/portraitchamp00chap/page/238/mode/2up
One fine spring morning in 1836 there started out from Pleasant Township, in Madison County, Ohio, two families, equipped with ox-teams for a journey overland to the prairies of Illinois. One of these was our subject, who, accompanied by his wife and child, had decided to seek his fortunes in the farther west. The thoroughfare in those days could scarcely be dignified by the name or a road, being merely a wagon track, over which at times they were compelled to wade through mud and water to the waist and to urge on the poor beasts, who had no western aspirations, and could not understand why they were leaving the more substantial soil of the Buckeye State.
The travelers finally passed the boundary line between Indiana and Illinois, and coming into Montgomery County our subject contracted to remain with his employer, Samuel Haller, the balance of the year. He was engaged in breaking prairie and hauling various commodities to and from the nearest market, a distance of sixty miles with ox-teams. Two months before his time was up, on account of his honesty and industry, his employer gave him the balance of the year to work for himself. He had in the meantime purchased eighty acres of wild land, and now set about breaking the sod on his own property. He was thus occupied in its improvement for a year following. Then, selling forty acres, he returned to Ohio, being afflicted with an attack of home-sickness, from which it took him twelve years to recover.
In the meantime our subject sold the remaining forty acres of his land in Montgomery County, IL, and his father having died in Ohio, himself and his brother attempted to buy out the other heirs of the estate. In this they failed, however, on account of ill-health, and lost much time and money. Our subject now concluded to return to Illinois, and coming into Coles County, pre-empted forty acres, for which he afterward paid $3.40 per acre. He put up a small house, as a temporary shelter for his family, rented a tract of improved land on the Elars' farm, in the meantime improving his own, as time permitted, and was finally enabled to purchase eighty acres more. In 1863 he sold out at a profit of more than $2000.
The outbreak of the Civil War now induced Mr. Harrison to lay aside his personal interests, and he volunteered as a Union soldier to assist in the sub-jection of the Confederates. Becoming a member of Co. H, 25th IL. Vol. Inf., he marched with his comrades to the scene of conflict but after six months was discharged, very much against his own wishes, on account of ill-health. He was then compelled to return to where he had left his family, and soon afterward purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, in Sadorus Township, Champaign County, IL, which constitutes a part of the present homestead. To this he afterward added forty acres, so that he has now 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. Being now seventy-five years of age, the farm is principally managed by his son, while Mr. Harrison has practically retired from the active labors of life.
The early years of our subject were spent in Pleasant Township, near London, the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, where his birth took place Nov. 7, 1812. He was the seventh of the thirteen children of Jonathan and Amelia (Wallace) Harrison, natives of Maryland, and born across the Bay, in Baltimore, where they spent their childhood and youth. Jonathan Harrison was a substantial farmer, and emigrated from his native state to Ohio during its early settlement, when Indians and wild animals were more plentiful than white men. He cleared ten acres from the forest, and for his first crop raised four acres of corn. He never became an extensive land-owner, but was content with a few acres, well tilled.
William Henry remained under the parental roof until after reaching his maturity, in the meantime gaining an intimate acquaintance with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, which bred within him the spirit of perseverance and self reliance which served him so well in after years. In laying his plans for the future, he selected for his wife Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Hempleman) Pucket, to whom he was married in the spring of 1834. The parents of Mrs. H. were natives of Adams County, Ohio, and spent their entire lives in that state. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Harrison with his young wife settled upon a tract of land in Pleasant Township, where he pursued farming on his own account for four years, after which he began making preparations for a change of location. The results of this we have already indicated.
The blooming family which grew up around the hearthstone of our subject and his wife, with the exception of two, Benjamin E. and Elizabeth, have passed to the silent land. Nine times there was made a place in the country churchyard, over which the parents bowed with sorrowing tears, while a child was hidden from their sight. Their living son, Benjamin, married Miss Martha J, daughter of Eli and Emily (Shupp) Cook, and with his family occupies the homestead of his father. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were natives of this state and are now deceased. Elizabeth, the only remaining daughter of our subject, is the widow of Charles B. Monroe, and lives on a farm in the northern Part of Douglas County, IL. Mr. Monroe departed this life on the 4th of May, 1887, leaving a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, with means for their proper training and education.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison united with the Methodist Episcopal Church many years ago, since which time they have been consistent and active members, doing good as they have opportunity, and working faithfully for the Master. Although never a zealous politician, Mr. Harrison, a formerly Whig, is now a cordial supporter of Republican principles, believes in universal freedom and cheerfully supports every measure calculated for the most good to the greatest number. He has built up a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and receives his abundant reward in the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. Harrison in this connection, and as a fitting companion picture that of his wife. For over fifty-three years they have lived together, and during that time have worthily fulfilled all the duties of live, living up to the noble principles which for so many years they have professed.
From Chapman Brothers, "William Henry Harrison," Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Ill., (Chicago, IL: 1887), pp. 238-240, https://archive.org/details/portraitchamp00chap/page/238/mode/2up
One fine spring morning in 1836 there started out from Pleasant Township, in Madison County, Ohio, two families, equipped with ox-teams for a journey overland to the prairies of Illinois. One of these was our subject, who, accompanied by his wife and child, had decided to seek his fortunes in the farther west. The thoroughfare in those days could scarcely be dignified by the name or a road, being merely a wagon track, over which at times they were compelled to wade through mud and water to the waist and to urge on the poor beasts, who had no western aspirations, and could not understand why they were leaving the more substantial soil of the Buckeye State.
The travelers finally passed the boundary line between Indiana and Illinois, and coming into Montgomery County our subject contracted to remain with his employer, Samuel Haller, the balance of the year. He was engaged in breaking prairie and hauling various commodities to and from the nearest market, a distance of sixty miles with ox-teams. Two months before his time was up, on account of his honesty and industry, his employer gave him the balance of the year to work for himself. He had in the meantime purchased eighty acres of wild land, and now set about breaking the sod on his own property. He was thus occupied in its improvement for a year following. Then, selling forty acres, he returned to Ohio, being afflicted with an attack of home-sickness, from which it took him twelve years to recover.
In the meantime our subject sold the remaining forty acres of his land in Montgomery County, IL, and his father having died in Ohio, himself and his brother attempted to buy out the other heirs of the estate. In this they failed, however, on account of ill-health, and lost much time and money. Our subject now concluded to return to Illinois, and coming into Coles County, pre-empted forty acres, for which he afterward paid $3.40 per acre. He put up a small house, as a temporary shelter for his family, rented a tract of improved land on the Elars' farm, in the meantime improving his own, as time permitted, and was finally enabled to purchase eighty acres more. In 1863 he sold out at a profit of more than $2000.
The outbreak of the Civil War now induced Mr. Harrison to lay aside his personal interests, and he volunteered as a Union soldier to assist in the sub-jection of the Confederates. Becoming a member of Co. H, 25th IL. Vol. Inf., he marched with his comrades to the scene of conflict but after six months was discharged, very much against his own wishes, on account of ill-health. He was then compelled to return to where he had left his family, and soon afterward purchased 160 acres of land on section 28, in Sadorus Township, Champaign County, IL, which constitutes a part of the present homestead. To this he afterward added forty acres, so that he has now 200 acres, all under a good state of cultivation. Being now seventy-five years of age, the farm is principally managed by his son, while Mr. Harrison has practically retired from the active labors of life.
The early years of our subject were spent in Pleasant Township, near London, the county seat of Madison County, Ohio, where his birth took place Nov. 7, 1812. He was the seventh of the thirteen children of Jonathan and Amelia (Wallace) Harrison, natives of Maryland, and born across the Bay, in Baltimore, where they spent their childhood and youth. Jonathan Harrison was a substantial farmer, and emigrated from his native state to Ohio during its early settlement, when Indians and wild animals were more plentiful than white men. He cleared ten acres from the forest, and for his first crop raised four acres of corn. He never became an extensive land-owner, but was content with a few acres, well tilled.
William Henry remained under the parental roof until after reaching his maturity, in the meantime gaining an intimate acquaintance with the hardships and privations of pioneer life, which bred within him the spirit of perseverance and self reliance which served him so well in after years. In laying his plans for the future, he selected for his wife Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew and Catherine (Hempleman) Pucket, to whom he was married in the spring of 1834. The parents of Mrs. H. were natives of Adams County, Ohio, and spent their entire lives in that state. Soon after their marriage, Mr. Harrison with his young wife settled upon a tract of land in Pleasant Township, where he pursued farming on his own account for four years, after which he began making preparations for a change of location. The results of this we have already indicated.
The blooming family which grew up around the hearthstone of our subject and his wife, with the exception of two, Benjamin E. and Elizabeth, have passed to the silent land. Nine times there was made a place in the country churchyard, over which the parents bowed with sorrowing tears, while a child was hidden from their sight. Their living son, Benjamin, married Miss Martha J, daughter of Eli and Emily (Shupp) Cook, and with his family occupies the homestead of his father. The parents of Mrs. Benjamin Harrison were natives of this state and are now deceased. Elizabeth, the only remaining daughter of our subject, is the widow of Charles B. Monroe, and lives on a farm in the northern Part of Douglas County, IL. Mr. Monroe departed this life on the 4th of May, 1887, leaving a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, with means for their proper training and education.
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison united with the Methodist Episcopal Church many years ago, since which time they have been consistent and active members, doing good as they have opportunity, and working faithfully for the Master. Although never a zealous politician, Mr. Harrison, a formerly Whig, is now a cordial supporter of Republican principles, believes in universal freedom and cheerfully supports every measure calculated for the most good to the greatest number. He has built up a record as an honest man and a good citizen, and receives his abundant reward in the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
It is with pleasure we present the portrait of Mr. Harrison in this connection, and as a fitting companion picture that of his wife. For over fifty-three years they have lived together, and during that time have worthily fulfilled all the duties of live, living up to the noble principles which for so many years they have professed.
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