Born in Waukesha County, Wisconsin March 7, 1842, and died at his home in Topeka, Kansas May 21, 1910 after an illness of many months. His parents removed to Dodge County, Wisconsin. He was one of the early settlers and influential men of this community before his removal to Topeka and his frequent business visits back to his old home made him still well and favorably known to the people here. He was educated there in the common and high schools, and at the University of Michigan. In May, I861, he enlisted in the Tenth Wisconsin volunteer infantry and served with great distinction in the Army of the Cumberland under Generals Mitchell, Rosseau, Buell, Thomas, Rosecrans, Grant and Sherman. He remained in the army until August, 1865 and was commissioned lieutenant-colonel for meritorious services. After the war Colonel Harrison taught as principal in a graded school for one year and then attended the University of Michigan, and was graduated in 1869 from the law department. Upon his admission to the bar he moved to Iowa, and after practicing a short time at Independence, in 1870 came to the old town of Emmetsburg, which was then only a small cluster of small buildings on the bank of the river, and entered the law and real estate business. He was energetic and resourceful and soon built up a good business. He had studied surveying, and was elected County Surveyor in 1871. When the removal of the town was planned Mr. Harrison was active in support of the project and his office was the first building moved to the new town. He was one of the organizers and first Treasurer of the County Fair Association, a charter member of the Masonic Lodge of this city, and one of the organizers of the First Congregational church of Emmetsburg. He drew up the petition for the incorporation of the city and was always active in building up the town. In 1883 he was elected a member of the state legislature, and in a notable fight came within a very narrow margin of securing a state normal school for Emmetsburg. He was enthusiastic and always at work to build up the county and it was a distinct loss to the community when his health in 1887 compelled his removal with his family to Topeka, Kansas. Besides having been a Mason of high rank, a member of the Grand Army and Sons of the American Revolution, Colonel Harrison had led an active life in business in Topeka for more than twenty years and had served as mayor of the city, having been elected in 1893 on the Republican ticket. Although a lawyer by profession his time was largely absorbed by private business affairs. As a Mason he had never been especially active in purely local lodge affairs but he was for more than thirty years a 33rd degree Mason the highest and most exclusive in the order, and a sovereign grand inspector general for Kansas and active member for Kansas of the supreme council of Scottish Rite Masonry he held the highest position in that division of Masonry in that state. In politics he was always a staunch Republican and always took an active part in public affairs.