The children of John S. Harrison and Minerva Jane Keeler  
Listed below are the children of John Strange Harrison and Minerva Jane Keeler.  John S. Harrison was the son of Ephraim Harrison.
 
        
John S. Harrison and Minerva Jane (Keeler) Harrison,
              photos contributed by Velma McKay.


13.4.2 John Strange Harrison  was born on 12 July 1833 in Albion, Calhoun County, Michigan and died on 9 March 1886, in Pierce County, Wisconsin.  John is buried in Ono Cemetery in Plum City, Salem Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin (photo of his grave).  He married Minerva Jane Keeler on 15 July 1860 in Florence, Goodhue County, Minnesota.  Minerva or Jane was born on 27 February 1838, the daughter of Henry Keeler and Abigail Bendure  (photo of Abigail (Bendure) Keeler).  Henry C. Keeler   also served in the Civil War in Company G, 8th Minnesota Infantry.  He volunteered on 26 February 1864, in St. Paul, Minnesota (enlistment record).  Minerva Jane died on 12 July 1895 and is also buried in Ono Cemetery, in Plum City, Wisconsin (Minerva Jane's obituary).  Many of the Reynolds, Perley, and Keeler family relationships are shown by Martin Cassidy, linked from Henry and Abigail's names above.

John Strange Harrison also served in the 2nd Minnesota Calvary during the Civil War.  He is listed in "Minnesota in the Civil and Indian Wars" in Company M.  It has him listed enlisting January 2, 1864, and mustering out on December 4, 1865, he served a blacksmith.  After John's death, Jane filed for a widow's pension submitted by Velma McKay, which also gave their date and place of marriage and dates of birth for their children.  In her sworn deposition dated 26 June 1894, she also outlined where the family lived and when they moved to Wisconsin from Minnesota.

The children of John Strange Harrison and Minerva Jane Keeler:
 

        

Emery Wilson and Sarah Ella (Harrison) Hill

13.4.2.1 Sarah Ella Harrison, was born on 19 March 1860, in Lake City, Minnesota and died after 1930.  She married Emery Wilson Hill on 24 October 1880 in Pierce County, Wisconsin.  In the 1900 Federal Census of the Town of Big Bend, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, ED# 37, sheet 7A, their household listed (both Emery and Ella stated that they had been married for 20 years; Ella stated that she had given birth to 5 children, three of whom were still living):

#121 124    Hill, Emery  Head  Mar  1857  43  Illinois  Kentucky Illinois Manager Genl Store
                     Ella        Wife   Mar  1860  40  Minnesota  Michigan  Michigan
                        Elmer   Son    Oct  1881  18  Wisconsin                   Salesman Genl [?]
                        Roy      Son   Sept 1884   15  Wisconsin                   at school
                        Guy       Son  Aug  1891    8   Wisconsin                   at school

In the 1910 Federal Census the Hill's were living in Ladysmith, Rusk County, 3rd Ward, sheet 49B.  Emery W. Hill listed his age as 53, occupation "abstracter" in an "Abstract Office"; Ella was 51, they both stated that they had been married for 29 years and Ella stated that she had given birth to 5 children, 3 of whom were still living.  Elmer, their oldest son was still living at home, single, age 28, and also listed his occupation as an "abstracter" in an "Abstract Office".  I did not locate their sons Roy or Guy in the 1910 census of Wisconsin.  Emery died before 1920, Ella was widowed and living alone in the 1920 Federal census of Ladysmith, Rusk County, ED# 188, sheet 5A, she listed her age as 60 years old, with no occupation.  There is an article dated 14 April 1922 published in the local newspaper the Ladysmith Budget, which is available online at the Wisconsin Historical Society, which mentions "E.W. Hill" and his part ownership in the newspaper (enter "Hill" as the keyword and "Ladysmith" as the location).  It also mentions that Mr. Hill had died a few years before the article was published and that he had held the office of register of deeds there for several years.  In the 1930 Federal Census she was again enumerated living alone in Ladysmith, ED# 17, sheet 1A, at age 71.  Ella stated that she was married at age 21.  Sarah Ella Harrison and Emery Wilson Hill's children were:
 


Guy and Bea Hill and Elmer and Mable Hill

13.4.2.1.1 Elmer W. Hill, was born in October 1881 in Wisconsin.  Elmer did marry, in the 1920 Federal Census of Rusk County, Ladysmith, Wisconsin, ED# 189, sheet 5B, Elmer, age 38, occupation "insurance and real estate" and his wife Mabel C., age 37, born in Illinois, gave her father's place of birth as Virginia, and her mother's birthplace as Minnesota.  They had no children in 1920.  In the 1930 Federal Census, Elmer W., age 48 and his wife Mabel C., age 45, were again enumerated living in Ladysmith, Rusk County, ED# 18, sheet 1A, at address 320 Worden St.  Elmer listed his occupation as the "county clerk".  There were no children living in their 1930 household.

Roy Hill

13.4.2.1.2 Roy Hill, was born in September 1884 in Wisconsin.  Roy was listed in the the 1920 and 1930 Federal Censuses of the city of Ashland, Ashland County, Wisconsin.  In 1920, ED# 4, sheet 8A, address 822 8th Ave. W., enumerated in January (no date listed) his household listed:
#150 185   Hill, Roy H. Head 35 Wisconsin Illinois  Wisconsin Clerk Postal  Railroad
                   Phyliss    Wife  31 Minnesota Canada Minnesota  none
                Ruth     Daughter  6  Wisconsin Wisconsin Minnesota
              Robert    Son       7/12  Wisconsin Wisconsin Minnesota
In the 1930 census, Roy and Phyllis were again enumerated living in Ashland City, 3rd Ward, Ashland County, ED# 4, sheet 3B, address 823 8th Ave. W.  Roy gave his age as 46 and his occupation as a Railway postal clerk.  Phyllis was age 41, the children listed in their household were: Ruth, age 15 and Robert, age 10.

Their two children were:

Ruth (Hill) Ellenbogen

13.4.2.1.2.1 Ruth Elizabeth (Hill) Ellenbogen was born on 4 October 1913 and passed away on the 20th of February 20, 2002.  Ruth's daughter, Barbara shared the following notes written by her mother about her heritage:
"There is not much known about the Keeler ancestry.  Abigail Ben Dure married Henry F. Keeler, she was born in York State.

He died soon after the Civil War from ailments received.  She lived to be 84 years of age and died in 1899.  She was born about May 24, 1815.  They had a large family mostly girls.  Melissa who married John Nelson.  Jane who married John Harrison, Mahala who died unwed, Loretta who married Rensler Merrill, Cynthia who married William Perley, Amy who married D.W. Hill, and Nancy who married E.M. Reynolds.  James died a bachelor so the family name died with him, although there are lots of descendants."

And the Hill family:

"....D.W. Hill married Rebecca Paisley Donnell in December 1855.  Two children were born to them: Emery Wilson born March 11, 1859 and Margie Eeliza born May 12, 1860.  Both were born in Bond County Illinois near Donnellson.  Rebecca Paisley Hill died October 2, 1866.  D.W. Hill married a second time to Amy R. Keeler in December, 1870.  They had six children: Arthur, Jennie, Bertha, May, Charles and Nellie.

D.W. Hill died May 7, 1900.
Eeliza Hill died October 1, 1866.
Amy R. Keeler Hill died March 6, 1922."

13.4.2.1.2.2 Robert Hill, was born in about 1919 in Wisconsin.
13.4.2.1.3 Guy Hill  was born in August 1891 in Wisconsin.  In the 1910 Federal Census, Military, ED# 173, sheet 2B, Guy D. Hill, was serving in the Navy at age 19, born in Wisconsin, father's birthplace listed as Illinois, mother's place of birth listed as Minnesota, he was a Petty Officer 2nd Class aboard the USS Idaho.  In the 1930 Federal Census, there is a Guy Hill living in nearby Chetek Township, Barron County, Wisconsin, ED# 8, sheet 9B [I cannot make out his middle initial, he is indexed as "Guy S. Hill"]:

#238 245 Hill, Guy [?] Head 28 Wisconsin Wisconsin Illinois Proprietor  Garage
           Beatrice I.    Wife    32 Illinois      Illinois     Wisconsin   none
               Harry G.    Son      1 2/12   Wisconsin  Wisconsin  Illinois

Hill family data and photos contributed by Barbara Maxwell.

13.4.2.2 Nellie Harrison.  We now understand from the obituary of Minerva Jane Harrison that Nellie, Viola, Elmer, and an Unnamed infant died young. I did not focus any investigation on them during my time in Plum City. We know that Elmer (8 years old at death) is buried with his father. We see in the Ono Cemetery listing that Emerson is not listed as buried there. Nellie and Viola are also not noted. I did not visit the Union Cemetery (sent by Brenda J. Douglas).
13.4.2.3 Viola Harrison.
13.4.2.4 Elmer Harrison.

Pierce County Herald, February 17, 1875

“The joys and sorrows of this life, at times, appear to be strangely intermingled. On the evening of the 5th inst. a little son put in an appearance at the residence of Mr. Jno. Harrison, of Union, and claimed his care and protection for the future. But, alas! All is not joy. On the afternoon of the 13th, little Elmer Harrison, about 8 years of age, glided from the shores of time into eternity.”  Actual image shown below:

Note:  Elmer is buried with his father and mother in Ono Cemetery, Plum City, Wisconsin. His name appears on the opposite side of his father's tombstone.  The “little son” mentioned above, who put in an appearance at the residence was Bert Harrison.

His marker reads:

Elmer Harrison
Son of
J.S. & M.J. Harrison
Died:  Feb 13, 1875  8 years & 1 day
1867 - 1875

Emery and Louisa C. "Lizzie" (Hofmeister) Harrison married 23 March 1892.  Photo contributed by Velma McKay.
13.4.2.5 Emery Harrison, was born 22 January 1869, in Mount Pleasant, Minnesota and died on 3 October 1949 in Shackleton, Saskatchewan.  He married Louisa "Lizzie" Carrie Hofmeister on 23 March 1892.  "Lizzie" was born on 2 July 1869, her parents were Jacob J. Hofmeister and Verena Lotscher from Switzerland.  Jacob and Verena are both buried in Union Cemetery, in Plum City.  "Lizzie" died on 13 September 1959 in Cabri, Saskatchewan, Canada.  Emery's great granddaughter, Brenda J. (Erickson) Douglas wrote about Emery Harrison and her discoveries after visiting Plum City in 1994 with her Mother, Evelyn Harrison Erickson.  Brenda has also compiled information pertaining to the Hofmeister family.  Velma Mckay contributed additional photos of Emery and Lizzie.
13.4.2.6 Emerson Harrison, was born on 12 August 1872 in Wisconsin.  Emery his older brother, was the guardian of Emerson, an incompetent person (see photo of Guardian's Deed). This deed was filed January 19, 1899.  I did not find any information as to what happened to Emerson after Emery left Wisconsin. I do not remember my Grandfather mentioning him – however, Grandpa was only 10 years of age when he moved with his parents to Canada.  His mother, Minerva Jane Harrison, passed away on the 12th July 1895 so he may have been in her care until this time. He was 20 years of age when she passed away.  After his mother's death, Emerson was located living in the St. Croix County Asylum in Star Prairie, Wisconsin (just north of Pierce County).  He is listed as a patient in the 1900 through 1920 censuses at the Asylum.  His was age 7 in the 1880 census--and was listed as age 47 in the 1920 census.
13.4.2.7 Bert Harrison, was born on 5 February 1875 in Wisconsin.  Bert married Matta J. "Mattie" Herbison (her maiden name is listed as "Herbson" in Pierce County Marriages) on 16 March 1895 (an unconfirmed listing of their children and grandchildren by another researcher).  Bert Harrison's obituary, from the Grand Rapids Herald Review, dated Wednesday, 23 March 1938, page 5:
    "Funeral services are being held at two o'clock this afternoon from the chapel at Libbey's Funeral Home for Bert Harrison Sr. of Nine Mile Corner who died at the Itasca hospital Sunday. Rev. H.J. Snyder will officiate at he services and burial will take place at Itasca cemetery.

    Mr. Harrison was born at  Maiden Rock, Wis., February 5, 1875. In 1895 he was married to Miss Matta Jane Harbison and in 1922 he moved with his family from Clark, S.D. to Grand Rapids and has lived here since that time.  His death was caused from complications which followed a recent operation.

    Surviving besides Mrs. Harrison is one daughter, Mrs. Jane Bastion of Clark, S.D. and five sons, John, Leonard, Bert, Frank and Joe, two sisters, Mrs. Lulu Collett and Miss Ella Hill of Wisconsin and one brother, Emery Harrison of Canada."

Below is Matta's obituary from the Herald Review , Grand Rapids, Minnesota dated June 26, 1961:

Bert and Matta along with their son John are all buried in on the same plot in Itasca Cemetery, Itasca County, Minnesota (photos).

I have not located the Bert Harrison family in the 1900 census, however their son John B. was born in Wisconsin in about 1897.  In the 1910 Federal Census of Cottonwood Township, Clark County, South Dakota, ED# 104, sheet 6B, their household consisted of (Bert and Matta both stated that they had been married for 15 years; Matta also stated that she had given birth to 6 living children):

#119 123  Harrison, Bert  Head  35 Wisconsin Pennsylvania  Minnesota  Well driller own rig
                         Matta    Wife  37  Wisconsin  Ireland         Ireland      None
                       John B.    Son    13  Wisconsin                                    None
                   Leonard F.    Son    10   South Dakota                              None
                       Bert W.    Son      9   Wisconsin                                   None
                   Jane G.  Daughter     6    South Dakota                              None
                          Frank    Son      4    South Dakota                               None
                        Ray V.    Son       1    South Dakota                               None

In the 1920 Federal Census of Thorp Township, Clark County, South Dakota, ED# 85, sheet 6A, enumerated on the 22nd of January, their household listed:

#98 98    Harrison, Bert  Head  45  Wisconsin  Michigan  Michigan  Farmer  Farm
                 Matta J.    Wife     47   Wisconsin   Ireland   Ireland    none
                  John B.    Son      23    Wisconsin                             Laborer  Farm
               Lenard F.    Son      19     So Dakota                             none
                 Bert W.    Son      18     Wisconsin                              none
                 Jane G.  Daughter 16     So Dakota                              none
                    Frank    Son      14     So Dakota                               none
              Joseph E.    Son        5     So Dakota                               none
In 1930 Bert and Matta were living in Minnesota, in Harris Township, Itasca County, ED# 28, sheet 4A:
#75 75  Harrison, Bert  Head  55 Wisconsin  Michigan New York Farmer    General
                     Matta    Wife   56 Wisconsin  Ireland    Ireland   none
               Joseph E.    Son     14  South Dakota  Wisconsin Wisconsin  none
      Leonard   Son  30 South Dakota  Wisconsin  Wisconsin  Laborer  Farm
The children of Bert and Matta Harrison were:
13.4.2.7.1 John Benjamin Harrison, was born on 9 February 1897 in Wisconsin and died on 14 November 1965.  He is buried next to his parents and Pearl M. Harrison, who was probably his wife, in Itasca Cemetery.

13.4.2.7.2 Leonard F. Harrison, was born on 23 March 1900 in South Dakota and died in March 1976 in Grand Rapids, Itasca County, Minnesota (SSN# Death Index).  Leonard married Selma Thorson, on 4 December 1936, she was born on 7 October 1903 and died on 8 November 1975 (not listed in the Minnesota Death Index or the SSN# Death Index as Selma Harrison) [another researcher listed their two children as: Barbara Jane and Allen Lee Harrison].

13.4.2.7.3 Bert W. Harrison, was born in about 1901 in Wisconsin.

13.4.2.7.4 Jane G. Harrison, was born in about 1904 in South Dakota.  She is listed as Jane Bastian in both of her parents obituaries.  From the 1930 Federal Census of Thorp Township, Clark County, South Dakota, ED# 29, sheet 1B:

#20 20 Bastian, Everett C. Head 27 South Dakota  Canada Michigan Farmer  Farm
                     Jane B.   Wife     26  South Dakota  Wisconsin   Wisconsin    none
                  Betty J.  daughter    6  South Dakota
                Donna M.  daughter    2  South Dakota
 Harrison, John B.    Brother in Law  33 Wisconsin  Wisconsin Wisconsin  laborer  mill work
               Bert W.   Brother in Law  28  Wisconsin  Wisconsin Wisconsin laborer  mill work
  Blais, Bernard G.   Boarder            24   Minnesota  Canada    Sweden    laborer  mill work
 Rosene, Henry H.   Boarder            31   Illinois       Illinois     Sweden    laborer  mill work
 
13.4.2.7.5 Frank Harrison, was born on 9 December 1905 in South Dakota and died on 23 May 1957 in Tucson, Arizona.  Frank married Genevieve Ellen Averill on 3 July 1928, she was born on 28 October 1910 in Minnesota and died in July 1987 in Tucson, Arizona (SSN# Death Index).  In 1930 they were living in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where Frank was working in a paper mill.  They had one daughter in 1930, Alice L., age 1 year and 3 months [another researcher listed their four daughters as: Alice Louise, June Marie, Shirley Ann, and Majorie Jean Harrison].

13.4.2.7.6 Ray V. Harrison, was born in about 1909 in South Dakota and died in 1911.  His name is listed as "Vergal Harrison", in the transcription of Prairie Hill Cemetery, in Cottonwood Township, Clark County, South Dakota, about 1 mile west of Bradley.  The data listed in the transcription lists:

Harrison, Vergal - 1909/1911 - Blk C, Lot 22, Gr 1 - Son of Mr & Mrs. Bert

13.4.2.7.7 Joseph Emery Harrison, was born in about 1915 in South Dakota [another researcher listed his wife as Marie Papscott, and his three children as Joe Roger, Thomas Ray and Sharon Ann Harrison].

13.4.2.8 Lula Marie Harrison, was born 16 August 1879 in Union, Pierce County, Minnesota.  She married Albert "Bert" Collett on 25 November 1894  in Maiden Rock, Wisconsin.  Bert died on 15 December 1936.  Albert and his sons, Lyle and Russell and Lyle's wife, Caroline are all listed in the transcription of Ono Methodist Church Cemetery, in
Salem Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.  Lula married (2nd) Aug Wilkins on 5 November 1938.  Lula died on 20 May 1949.

In the 1900 Federal Census of Union Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin, ED# 120, sheet 4A, enumerated on the 7th of June, their household listed (Lulu and Albert both stated that they had been married for 5 years; Lulu stated that she had given birth to 2 living children--note Henry and Eva Collett, ages 31 and 27 respectively, were enumerated on the same page):

#68 68  Collett, Albert B.  Head  Feb  1874  26  Wisconsin   England   England    Farmer
                           Lulu    Wife   Aug  1879  20  Wisconsin    [blank]   Minnesota
                      Gracie  Daughter Nov  1895   4   Wisconsin    Wisconsin   Wisconsin
                        Lyle     Son     Sept  1899  9/12 Wisconsin    Wisconsin   Wisconsin

Ten years later the Collett family was again enumerated in Union Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin, ED# 153, sheet 5B, enumerated on the 16th and 17th of June (Lulu and Albert both stated that they had been married for 15 years; Lulu stated that she had given birth to 6 children, 4 of whom were still living):

#23 23    Collett, Albert    head        36     Wisconsin    farmer    general farm
                       M. Lulu    wife         30      Wisconsin    none
                     M. Grace  daughter     14     Wisconsin    none
                        C. Lyle    son          10     Wisconsin    none
                   M. Burnice  daughter      5      Wisconsin    none
                         I. Ada  daughter      2      Wisconsin

In the 1920 Federal Census Albert and Lula were still living in Union Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin, ED# 165, sheet 5A:

#92 92   Collet, Albert    Head         45         Wisconsin    Farmer     General Farm
                         Lula    Wife          40         Wisconsin    none
                       Grace    Daughter    24         Wisconsin    Teacher    Grade School
                         Lyle    Son            20         Wisconsin    Laborer    Home Farm
                    Bernice    Daughter     15         Wisconsin    none
                         Ada    Daughter     12         Wisconsin    none

In the 1930 Federal Census, all the children were living on their own except for Bernice.  From the 1930 Census of Ellsworth Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin, ED# 6, sheet 7A (Albert stated that he was age 20 when first married; Lula stated that she was age 15 at the time of her marriage; Bernice stated that she was age 24 when married; Howard stated that he was age 23):

#186 196  Collett, Albert B.  Head   56  Wisconsin  Insurance Real Est.  general practice
                         Lula M.     Wife    50  Wisconsin   none
       Rieley, Howard J.  Son in law   24   Wisconsin   Retail Merchant   Clothing store
                    Bernice   Daughter    25    Wisconsin   Teacher             Rural school

Albert and Lula had six children:

13.4.2.8.1 Grace M. Collett was born on 7 November 1895 and died in 1992 at 97 years old (Grace wrote a letter to Velma McKay's Aunt Gladys, Eugene Harrison's wife, which provided much of this family information).

13.4.2.8.2 Russell H. Collett was born on 28 May 1897 and died on 17 February 1898.  He is buried in Ono Methodist Church Cemetery, in Salem Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.

13.4.2.8.3 Lyle C. Collett was born on 2 September 1899 and died in 1967.  He is buried in Ono Methodist Church Cemetery, in Salem Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.  Lyle was married and living in Salem Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin, ED# 22, sheet 5B, in the 1930 Federal Census (Lyle stated that he was married at age 24; Caroline stated that she was married at age 23):

#110 112    Collett, Lyle    Head    30    Wisconsin    Farmer    Farm
                      Caroline     Wife    29    Wisconsin    none

Caroline Collett died in 1980, she is also listed in the transcription of Ono Methodist Church Cemetery, in
Salem Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin.

13.4.2.8.4 Bernice Collett was born on 4 August 1904 and died in 1981.  She and her husband Howard Rieley were living with her parents in 1930 (see above).

13.4.2.8.5 Ada Isabelle Collett was born on 2 August 1907.  In the 1930 Federal Census of Spring Valley Township, Pierce County, Wisconsin, ED# 24, sheet 8B, Ada was age 22, single, and rooming in the household of Frank and Pearl Woods.  Ada listed her occupation as a stenographer in a general insurance office.

13.4.2.8.6 Herbert Collett died in infancy.

13.4.2.9 Infant daughter who died unnamed (I found reference on microfiche to the River Falls Journal, Dec. 3, 1885 of a daughter born to Mr & Mrs. John Harrison. I did not view or obtain a copy.  B. Douglas).
Compiled by Velma McKay, Brenda J. Douglas and Barbara Maxwell.

This web page is authored by Scott Duncan.  All information listed without a reference should be verified.  Any additions, questions, or comments should be sent to:
 


 
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