Joseph and Francis M. Harrison, sons of Ephraim Harrison The information below was transcribed from a family manuscript titled "Joseph Harrison: A Brief Sketch of His Ancestors and Descendants".  The manuscript was  written in 1975 by Milton L. Wagy, for his brother-in-law, Jerry Harrison.  Jerry Harrison is a descendant of Bazel and Martha (Stillwell) Harrison, by his son Ephraim (both spellings of Ephraim/Ephriam are found in several documents).  I have also included Milton's listing of the children of Joseph Harrison.  Biographical information for Joseph's brother Francis M. Harrison is also included below.  Francis M. Harrison's son, Clarence M. Harrison, later moved on to Snohomish County, Washington.

Joseph Harrison, portrait contributed by Milton L. Wagy and Jerry Harrison.

    "Joseph Harrison was born in Calhoun County, Michigan during the year of 1846.  Little is known about the childhood and early life of Joseph.  Sometime between the 1850 and 1855 he travelled with his parents to Wisconsin.  They lived for a while in Fond Du Lac County.  Later records indicate Joseph came to Minnesota during the mid 1850's.  There is proof on one brother, Francis M. Harrison.  Statistics of Joseph's family can be found in the accounts of Ephriam Harrison.

    There is one story of some interest about Joseph as a boy or very young man.  The incident occurred in either Michigan or Wisconsin.  The area in which the Harrison family had been living was plagued by a man eating panther.  Cougars or mountain lions were called panthers in the early day, especially in the eastern United States.  The panther had killed livestock and a few humans, so people travelled with guns just in case.  One day Joseph had gone to town or to a neighboring farm; as he rode home dusk fell upon him.  He looked around as he rode through the wooded area.  In a tree along the trail he chanced to get a glimpse of something move.  Focusing his vision more carefully as it was getting dark, he made out the the long, twitching tail of a panther.  Stopping his horse and stepping to the ground, Joseph made  out the panther hidden among the branches of the tree.  Careful and accurate aim was made.  A shot from the gun and the large cat was brought to the ground.  Very much relieved, Joseph rode home thankful he had caught sight of the moving tail.

    The Harrison family established themselves in Goodhue and Wabasha Counties, Minnesota and Pierce County, Wisconsin.  The Mississippi River separates the Minnesota and the Wisconsin Counties.  Ephriam and some of his sisters are recorded as having lived in these counties.

    In the United States 1861 brought the excitement of the newly begun Civil War or the War between the States.  Francis M. Harrison, the older brother of Joseph, born in 1844 was 18 years old.  He enlisted at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on July 31st, 1861 in the Second Regiment, Company I.  This was too much for younger Joseph who was not yet old enough to enlist.  Joseph was a large and well built young man.  He left home one fall day hardly a man of just 16 years old.  When and if he would return was uncertain.  The family was living in Lake City, Wabasha County, Minnesota.  Joseph went to Fort Snelling and said he was 18 years old.  Evidently he did not have to show any certificate of age for the Army accepted him on September 30th, 1861 and mustered him in on the same day.  He was now a private in the Minnesota Voluntary Infantry, Company I, Second Regiment for the term of three years or the duration of the war...[page omitted].

    Joseph, at the end of the war, returned home to Minnesota.  He faired far better than his older brother , Francis; who was captured and spent several months in the Confederate prison at Richmond, Virginia.

    Francis was detailed as a Division teamster from 1861 to September 1863.  He was then detailed to carry the wounded from the battlefield being captured on September 20, 1863 by the Confederate soldiers at Chicamauga.  Francis was returned from "Missing in Action" on June 18, 1864, that is released from prison, a broken man.  He never recovered fully his health from the stay in prison.  Francis was discharged July 27, 1864.  His prison war records read as follows:  "Francis M. Harrison, private, Second Regiment, Company I, was captured at Chicamauga, Georgia, September 20, 1863 and confined at Richmond, Virginia, September 29, 1863...Paroled at City Point, Virginia, April 30, 1864."

    From an application for individual pension record dated February 27, 1879, it states that Francis contacted a lung and chest sickness because of abuse and starvation while in Libby Prison in Virginia.

    Francis was married at Lake City, Wabasha County, Minnesota on April 23, 1865 to Janette Moore.  They were both from Florence, Goodhue County, Minnesota.

    Joseph returned to farming in Wabasha County, Minnesota after the war.  On July 3, 1866 he married Margaret Jordan Curtis at Red Wing, Minnesota.  The marriage ceremony was performed by Justice of the Peace Frank Ives and witnessed by John Thomas and John Jordan.

    Margaret Jordan, Maggie as she was called, was born on November 18, 1845, in Manchester, Lancaster, England.  She was the daughter of John and Ellen Miller Jordan who lived at 24 Davis Street, Salford District.  He was a calico printer in a textile mill.  John and Ellen Jordan were born in Cork County, Ireland.  Sometime before 1858 the family came to America.  The trip took seven weeks to cross the Atlantic Ocean.  It is not known if the Jordan family moved directly to Minnesota or stopped elsewhere.

    Family tradition has it that Maggie travelled to the east or the South before the beginning of the Civil War.  While in this area she married a young eastern man named Hiram Lewis Curtis.  He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May of 1835.  Hiram and Maggie were married in September of of 1859.  They must have moved to Alexandria, Louisiana as a son was born to them on January 31, 1861.  The boy was named Hiram Lewis Curtis, Jr.  Sometime during the year of 1863, Hiram L. Curtis, the husband of Maggie, was killed in the Civil War.  We do know that he was a Union soldier.  However, Maggie never found out what happened.

    Maggie Curtis and her son were alone in a war torn country.  She felt she had to go home to be with her family in Minnesota who were living perhaps in Goodhue County.  The story goes that she worked her way walking from town to town from Louisiana to Minnesota.  A goodly distance for a woman and a small child.

    Joseph Harrison and Maggie Jordan Curtis must have met each other shortly after Joseph was discharged from the Army in July of 1865.  They were married the following year at Red Wing, Minnesota.

    Maggie's son, Hiram lived with his mother and step-father and family as it grew.  However, he never really felt part of the family so left at an early age.  he always kept in contact with the Harrison family, as does his children today.

    Hiram married Emma Cleora Hyde, daughter of Ebenezer C. Hyde and Matilda C. Gruhlke.  Emma was born at Green Lake, Wisconsin on October 14, 1863 and died at Stillwater, Minnesota on April 4, 1942.  Hiram and Emma were married in Gilmanton, Wisconsin on September 15, 1881.  Their children were: Matilda born 1883, Harvey born 1884, Albert born 1886, Addie, born 1888, Cleora born 1893, Farrand born 1896, George born 1898, Freddie born 1901, Alice born 1904 and two boys who died young.  Hiram died in Stillwater, Minnesota in June 1949.

    Joseph and Maggie Harrison farmed in Goodhue and Wabasha Counties, Minnesota.  Their first child, a daughter, was born on October 14, 1868.  Her name was Alice.  The second child and another daughter was born on August 3, 1870.  She was named Sharlotte Ellen.  Sharlotte died when only about seven or eight years old.

    The Harrison family must have moved across the Mississippi River to Pierce County, Wisconsin which they did throughout the later years.  Henry Jordan Harrison, the third child and first son, was born in Wisconsin on February 26, 1872.  On April 8, 1874 another child was born, a third daughter, Myrtle J. Harrison.  She is listed as having been born in Minnesota.

    When the 1875 Minnesota State census was taken the Harrison family was registered at Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota.  Francis M. Harrison, older brother, was living in the household.  His family was not listed.  Francis had a wife and a son.  Grace B. Harrison born on July 6, 1875 was a fifth child and fourth daughter.  The family was growing regularly and on March 10, 1877 another addition arrived.  A second son, Francis M. was born, named after his uncle.

    Sadness fell upon the family when the wife and mother of seven children died.  Margaret Jordan Curtis Harrison passed away on August 4, 1879 at Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota.  She died of inflammation of the bowels at the age of 33 years, 11 months.  Doctor Phil Skillman attended to Maggie during her illness.  We must assume that Maggie was buried in Red Wing.

    Joseph, now a widower with six children of his own, moved the family to Pierce County, Wisconsin.  Here in Diamond Bluff, Pierce County, Wisconsin on November 27, 1879, only four months after his first wife had died, he remarried.  He needed a mother for his children.  Jane Comstock became his second wife.  She was born on September 13, 1863 in Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin the daughter of Daniel Comstock born in Maine and Emilina "Emily" Coroner born in Ireland.  Joseph and Jane had a civil service performed by Enoch Quimby, Justice of the Peace, and witnessed by Dillie McCue and Hattie A. Larson.  Joseph did masonry work while they lived in Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin.

    So began the second family of Joseph Harrison with his new wife seventeen years younger than himself.  Jane was only five years older than her now eleven year old step-daughter, Alice.

    For the next twenty years the family grew and moved regularly.  On June 8, 1880 the Harrison family was living on Bush Street, Ward 2, Red Wing, Goodhue County, Minnesota.  Here Joseph was working as a plasterer.  It is strange that Alice, Grace, and Francis are not listed as living with the family.  However, it is known that Alice and her young step-mother never got along at all; which resulted in Alice leaving home at a very early age.

    Five children were born to Joseph and Jane Harrison.  This is known as the second family; which is exactly is what it was.  Ephriam was born on February 9, 1881 in Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota.  Joseph, Jr. was born in St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, on April 16, 1883.  Back to Wisconsin they travel and on November 17, 1885 in Diamond Bluff, Pierce County, Wisconsin, Lamaria E. was born.  She was called Alma.  Joseph's tenth child and fifth son was born in Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin on April 12, 1888.  This child was named Gilman C. Harrison.

    Francis M. Harrison, Joseph's brother, died in Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin on June 6, 1888.  He left a wife Janette and two children, Clarence and Janetta.  Wife Janette lived until January 4, 1895.  She died in Little Falls, Morrison County Minnesota.  She was living with her son Clarence at that time.

    Next we find the moving Harrison family in Morrison, County, Minnesota located at Green Prairie in June of 1895.  Joseph was farming and Jane, of course was keeping house.  The four oldest children, Alice, Henry, Myrtle, and Grace were not living at home at this time.  Francis "Frank" who was 18 years old was a laborer residing at home.  Also living in the town of Green prairie was Clarence Harrison, the son of Francis M. Harrison.  He was married to a young woman named Cory.  Henry Jordan Harrison, son of Joseph, was married in Morrison County to Mary Ellen Eddins in 1895.  The last child of Joseph and Jane Harrison was born in Morrison County, Minnesota at Little falls.  William D. Harrison was born on July 15, 1896.

    From about 1897 until his death, Joseph lived in the Crow Wing, Aitkin, Cass County area north of Minneapolis.  He moved his family here for probably two reasons.  One was the availability of land and job opportunities.  He had been having liver and kidney problems as well as rheumatism.  In fact, while living in the farming country of Morrison County, he could hardly walk.  usually getting around on his hands and knees.  Francis, the oldest son at home, had to do most of the farm work.  This nearly broke Joseph's heart to see his son do so much of the hard work.  Often he would crawl on hands and knees into the fields to help in any way possible.  He was such a tender, kind-hearted man.

    The move northeast proved to be wise  as a change in climate had a wonderful affect on Joseph's health.  He was never bothered again with rheumatism.  However, the liver and kidney problem still existed.

    The family, even though the older ones were married, all stayed somewhat close together.  While in the Crow Wing, Aitkin and Cass Counties area, the Harrisons were involved in farming and logging.  In May of 1897, Joseph and family were living in Crow Wing County.  Here he applied for additional pension and arrearage at Aitkin Village, Aitkin County.  Ross Lake, Crow Wing County was the site of the Harrison homestead.

    The 1905 state of Minnesota census shows the Harrison family living at Emily, Crow Wing County.  Joseph was now 59 years old and Jane was 41 years old.  Living at home were Gilman age 17 and William age 8.  Some of the older married children were also listed  as members of the household.  Almaria Harrison Spawn and husband, Arthur with a little three year old daughter, Alice were staying with Almaria's parents.  Art Spawn was born about 1879 in Iowa.  He was a farmer.  Son Ephraim age 24 was listed as well as Addie Harrison 17 year old wife of Joseph, Jr.  Tow small children, Francis age 2 and Albert age 1 were living here also, but it is not known to who they belonged.

    Even though the family is listed as living in Crow Wing County in the town of Emily, they were actually living in Cass County north of Outing, Township 139, Range 25.

    One late fall day Joseph went out into the woods hunting.  Being cold in Minnesota in mid November, he was dressed warm.  The heavy dark blue-black coat he wore and the gray knapsack made him look larger than he really was.  Stopping to rest about 9:30 that Sunday morning, he settled down on a log to look around for game.  What happened next will never truly be known.  Joseph, who had never had an enemy  or person who didn't like him, was shot.  Of course there was an inquisition into the death of Joseph.  The following is the final report.  "In the matter of the inquisition upon the dead body of Joseph Harrison.  We, the undersigned Jury having been duly summoned and being duly sworn to inquire into the cause of death of said Joseph Harrison, find as follows: That the deceased met his death at section 26, Township 139, Range 25 Cass County, Minnesota, Sunday the 12th, of November, 1905, at between the hours of 9 and 10 A.M.  That his death resulted from a rifle shot wound presumably a 38-65 or a 44 calibre Winchester, inflicted by an unknown hunter, by mistaking the deceased for a deer or other wild animal.  That it is our belief that the said shot was fired at close range. R.C. Masters, S.H. Meachau, Wm. Secrght, J.M. Lambert, George Eddins, James Robinson, Henry Comstock, and J.S. Scribner, Deputy Coroner.  Walker, Cass County, Minnesota December 23, 1905."

    Joseph Harrison died on Sunday, November 12, 1905 in Cass County, Minnesota.  He was buried in the Pine Ridge Cemetery about a mile west of the village of Emily, Crow Wing County, Minnesota.  A peaceful resting place with pine tree all around.

    Jane Harrison filed for widow's pension at Emily, Minnesota on February 12, 1906.  She had living with her one son, William, age nine and a half.

    Jane Comstock Harrison lived the remainder of her life in Crow Wing County near many of her children.  On October 11, 1948 at 11 A.M. at Crosby, Minnesota she died of myocarditis and senility.  Myocarditis is an inflammation of the muscular walls of the heart.  She was laid to rest next to her husband, Joseph, at the Pine Ridge cemetery at Emily on October 13, 1948.


Special thanks to Milton L. Wagy for his assistance with this branch of the Ephraim Harrison family.

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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