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Nathan Calvin Harrison and Anna Botkin

“Botkin/--Curl/Richards

Charles Botkin, b. 8 Oct 1738 Northern Ireland, d. ca Mar 1820 Shelby Co., m/1 wife’s name unk., m/2ca 1782 Jemima Curl/Karl, b 6 Apr 1763, d ca Jul 1807 Shenandoah Co., VA, d/o Maj Isaac Curl/Karl, m/3 19 Nov 1807 Harrison Co., WV, Rebecca (Elsworth) Richards, b 9 Jan 1777, d 18 Aug 1812 Shelby Co., m/4 aft Aug 1812 Sarah Elsworth, ch:”

“13. Anna, b 1 Apr 1804, d 1 Mar 1877, m 7 Jun 1821 Nathan Calvin Harrison”

"Nathan Harrison 4 Chairs 0.75
same one shirt 0.75
same do [ditto] 0.75
same Cow and Calf 10.25
same 2 Coffee pots 0.06 1/4 "

"Nathan Calvin Harrison, born 6 July 1796, in Washington County, Pennsylvania, the son of Bazel Harrison and Martha Stilwell.  He was married on 7 Jun 1821, Clark County, Ohio to:  Anna "Annie" Botkin, b. 1804 d. 1887.

Nathan first appears in Kalamazoo County, Michigan: 80 acres Section 18 of  Schoolcraft Township on 25 September 1830; 80 acres Section 36 Charleston Township on 18 June 1831; 80 acres Section 9 Kalamazoo on 6-28-1831; 80 acres Section 9 Kalamazoo on 24 August 1832; 40 acres Section 15 Kalamazoo on 26 September 1832; 40 acres Section 26 Kalamazoo on 16 September 1834; and 40 acres Section 25 Kalamazoo on 14 September 1835.

Nathan's family is listed in Kalamazoo County on the 1837 Michigan State Census, and the 1840 Federal Census.

At the May 1834 term of court in Kalamazoo County, Nathan was licensed to operate a ferry over the Kalamazoo River.  He may been the second permanent settler locating in Kalamazoo following Titus Bronson.  After the bridge was built across the Kalamazoo River, Nathan moved to Illinois.  At a township meeting in April 1832, Nathan was elected as an overseer of the highways, then at a meeting November 24th, 1832, he was elected Collector.  In 1833, he was a constable of Kalamazoo Township.  Cooper Township lists Nathan Harrison as an early settler in 1834 in Section 3.  In 1838, he is listed as a taxpayer in Prairie Ronde Twp. with 120 acres, 3 horses, 2 oxen, 2 cows and a calf."
 

"Early Reminiscences", by V. Hascall, in a letter to Mrs. Henrietta S.T. Taylor, Secretary of the Ladies Library Association, page 57:

"At the foot of Main St., on the bank of the river, at this time was a cabin, occupied by Nathan Harrison, who had established a ferry there, consisting of a canoe or two, and a large skiff, with which to accommodate the immigrants and settlers who desired to cross the river.  "Uncle Nate" was known to the country through, for he was a great hunter, and foremost at all shooting matches, and hunting parties.  He was, however, one of those wandering pioneer spirits that could not long brook the advances of civilization; and he soon sought a new home, where the sound of the axe and the hammer had not yet disturbed the peaceful repose of nature."

   "Nathan was always known as "Uncle Doc/Uncle Nat" a nickname given to him by his father due to his ability to doctor all the families livestock and the fact Nathan knew how to do everything imaginable and yet remained grounded.  Nathan lived to be an old man, however was in ill health for many years, he was ailing when his father was still alive.  Nathan and Annie had 12 children; three dying in childhood; all together 7 daughters and 5 sons."

Probate file #27, 7 Mar 1836, Liber A - p. 71
7 Mar 1841, Guardian's Bond filed---Nathan Harrison & Stephen Eastland [Sheppard Eastland],
bondsmen in the amt of $3000.00, @ Bronson, MI (later Kalamazoo)
This was in regards to Maria Hounson, minor, see file # 17.
On 1 Feb 1841, court petitioned to sell wards ten acres in Range 11 West.
Granted  [That was a large sum of money in those days].

BAZEL HARRISON,} Justices of

(Signed) STEPHEN HYATT.} Co. Court.

"At a session of the same court held May 22d, 1834, the petition of Nathan Harrison was presented, for license to keep a ferry across the Kalamazoo river, opposite the village of Bronson. On reading and filing the petition in this matter, it is ordered by the court, that the said petitioner be authorized and licensed to keep a ferry across the said river, at the place aforesaid, for the term of one year from this date, on his entering into a recognizance pursuant to the statute, with one surety. and it is further ordered that the said Harrison do pay a territorial tax of three dollars."

 

Names of heads of families	males under 5 years	males of 5 and under 10	males of 15 and under 20	males of 20 and under 30	males of 30 and under 40	males of 40 under 50	females under 5 years	females of 5 and under 10	females of 10 and under 15	females of 15 and under 20	females of 20 and under 30
Nathan Harrison	1	1	0	0	0	1	2	2	0	0	1

 

Names of heads of families	males under 5 years	males of 5 and under 10	males of 10 and under 15	males of 15 and under 20	males of 20 and under 30	males of 30 under 40	males of 40 and under 50	females under 5 years	females of of 5 and under 10	females of 10 and under 15	females of 15 and under 20	females 20 and under 30	females 30 and under 40
Nathan Harrison	0	1	0	1	0	0	1	2	2	1	2	0	1

1850 Census of McHenry County, Illinois
page 461, Town of Hebron, recorded on 20 November:

#15-15
Nathan Harrison, 49, farmer, $1000, Ohio
Ann B., 44, Ohio
Sally, 27, Ohio
Chas., 16, Mich.
Matilda, 14, Mich., att. school
Edna A., 12, Mich., att. school
Jemima, 9, Mich., att. school
Wesley M., 7, Mich., att. school

Harrison, Nathan    69    m    Retired Farmer    2000    1400    Pennsylvania
             Anna       66     f     Keeping house                         Ohio
Hinsion, Clarinda    57     f    House Keeper     1000       200   New York

         #134     Harrison, Nathan    m    79                     mail carrier        Penn
                                  Anna        f     76    wife            keeps house      Ohio
                     Burgett,  Fred         m    16    grandson    laborer              Illinois
                     Whittiers, Mary       f     45                     Servant              NY
                                   Frank      m    10    boarder                               NY
                                   Nellie J.   f      2     boarder                               NY

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The children of Nathan Harrison and Anna Botkin were:

(13.5.2) female Harrison.

(13.5.3) female Harrison.

(13.5.4) Sally Harrison, an unconfirmed daughter--was born in about 1822 in Ohio.  A Sally Harrison appears in Ross H. Coller’s notes, as Bazel and Martha Harrison's daughter, and a Sally is noted as a daughter in James H. Stone's "A Biographical Sketch of Judge Bazel Harrison, The First White Settler of Kalamazoo County", published in 1874.  Sally, in Stone's biography is said to have been born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, before Bazel and Martha moved to Ohio.  Sally is not mentioned as living or as a daughter in Stone's biography at the time of Bazel Harrison's death in 1874 (Sally Harrison who married John Barber was living in 1874).

I can not positively say that Sally (Harrison) Barber was Bazel and Martha's daughter, it is possible that she may have also been the daughter of Nathan and Anna Harrison based on some of the names of her sons.  However, I can say that the Sally (Harrison) Barber who moved to Wisconsin and later Minnesota is the same Sally Harrison whose marriage is listed below.  From the “Marriages-Kalamazoo County, Michigan 1831-1852”, complied by Mrs. John P. Everett, in Liber I, the following marriage was transcribed from County Records:

"Barber-John  lawful age
Harrison-Sally lawful age
July 6, 1840 by P.J. McCreary, JP
Wit: Bazel Harrison, Martha Harrison & others all of Prairie Ronde".

(13.5.5) Ruhamia or Ruhama (or possibly Ruhamah) Harrison.  Mildred Wambold had contact with Diane Reichwein, who had access to a letter from a sister of Ephraim Harrison, ca. 1852.  In the letter, written by Ruhamia or Ruhama, she refers to Nathan Harrison as "Pa".  There are references in the letter to James Burgett, and Matilda Harrison who married Corneilus Burgett.  Ruhama spoke of her brother Ephraim as being with them in Placerville, California.  She may be the "Sally" listed living in the household of her parents in the 1850 census who was born in about 1823 in Ohio.

(13.5.6) Ephraim Harrison, was born on 23 November 1823 in Ohio.  He was already living on his own by the 1850 census.  Ephraim filed a land patent dated 1848 in Walworth County, Wisconsin near his father Nathan Harrison.  Ephraim reportedly made many trips from the east to California with wagon trains.  Cathy Gowdy confirmed Ephraim Harrison as a son of Nathan and Anna with the records shown below from various California counties.  Ephraim married Isabelle Springer, in Calavaras County, California, Marriage Book B, page 87:

EPHRIAM (sic) HARRISON of Copperopolis and
ISABELLE SPRINGER of Copperopolis
were married  November 4, 1863
by M. C. Mosher, M.G."

(13.5.7) Charles Botkin Harrison   was born on 12 March 1834, in Kalamazoo Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan and died in 1915 in Antioch, Illinois.  According to the Illinois Database of Civil War Veterans, he served in Company K, 153 Illinois Infantry Regiment, his home of record was listed as Hebron, Illinois.  The Illinois Roll of Honor shows his burial in Hillside Cemetery, in Antioch, Lake County, Illinois (photos).  Charles married Chrysteen B. Breed in 1861 in Genoa City, Wisconsin.  Mildred Wambold contributed a great photo of the Charles and Chrysteen Harrison family.  Chrysteen was born in 1843, in New York, the daughter of Andrew and Lydia Breed, she died in 1929 and is buried next to Charles in Hillside Cemetery.  The Breed family was living in Truxton Township, Cortland County, New York in the 1850 Federal Census (all family members were born in New York):

#394 408    Andrew Breed        43    m    laborer
                 Lydia                    42     f
                 Deborah                17     f
                 Shabel                  16    m    laborer
                 Eliphalet               14    m
                 Wm.                     12    m
                 Ann                      10     f
                 Christina                 7     f
                 Calvin                    5     m

#489 15    Eledia Breed        50    f         widow             100    NY
               William               22    m        Farm Hand                do.
               Chrisgine             17    f                                        do.
               Calvin                 15    m                                       do.
               Robert Webster    27    m        Farm Hand       100     do.
               Ann E.    "           20     f

Chrysteen's brother Eliphalet Breed  is listed on the roster of the 5th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment.  Chyrsteen's brothers, Calvin and Shubal Breed, later settled in Trempealeau County, Wisconsin.  Her sister, Ann (Breed) Webster was living in Ottawa County, Kansas in the 1880 Census.

(13.5.8) Matilda Harrison, was born in about 1837 in Michigan.  Matilda married Corneilus Burgett, Corneilus Burgett was born in about 1834 in New York, he is listed in the 1850 Federal Census of Bloomfield Township, Walworth County, Wisconsin, in the household of Conrad and Elizabeth Burgett, enumerated on the 19th of September:

#769 779   Conrad Burgett    53    m    Farmer    1000    New York
                Elizabeth            52     f                               "     "
                Cornelius            16    m    Farmer                 "     "
                William              10    m                            Ohio
                John                   4     m                            Indiana

#1836 1772    Charles Harrison    25    m    Farmer    4000    1000    Mich
                    Jemima                19     f                                          "
                    M Burgit               23     f                                          "
                    Wm   "                  7     m                                       Ill
                    Celia  "                 5      f                                         "
                    Ella                      3      f                                         "
                    Infant                 1/12   m                                        "
                    Albert Crates        14     m                                       Pa
                    Anna Harrison       50     f                                        O

After 1860 I have been unable to locate Matilda or Cornelius in the 1870 or 1880 censuses.  Family data for her children is linked from her name.

(13.5.9) Edna Ann Harrison, was born in May 1838 in Michigan.  Edna married James Burgett on 1 January 1855, her death was recorded in Walworth County, as 10 February 1903, Volume 3, page 0166 (her daughter "Mertie" was recorded on the same page, Mertie died just 15 days after her mother).  James gave his birth as November 1829 in Ohio in the 1900 Federal Census of Bloomfield Township, Walworth County, Wisconsin.  He listed his occupation as a "landlord", Edna and James both stated that they had been married for 45 years, Edna stated that she had given birth to 9 living children.

(13.5.10) Jemima A. Harrison, was born in April 1841 in Michigan and died on 5 June 1900 (see her probate record below; the 1900 census was recorded on 1 June 4 days before her death).  In the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, Jemima Harrison married Irving Dix, the son of George H. Dix, in McHenry County, Illinois on 27 December 1860, volume A, page 62, license #2433.  In 1860, Jemima was living in the household of her brother, Charles Harrison (see above).  Just four household's away was enumerated the family of G.H Dix:

#1840 1776    G.H. Dix    46    m    do [farmer]    1000    200          Ct
                        Susan    42    f                                                  NY
                        Erving    20    m    do                                          "
                        Comilier 15     f                                                Wis
                        Eliza      12     f                                                  "
               Hamath Brask  70     f                                                 NH

(13.5.11) Wesley M. Harrison, was born in about 1843.

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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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