John Wesley Harrison (1838 - 1920)

Born 28 Feb 1838 in Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza C. (Ovens) Harrison — married 3 Feb 1859 in Missouri

Descendants

Died 11 Oct 1920 at age 82 in Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, United States

Biography

From History of Johnson County

J. Wesley Harrison was reared on his father's farm in Hazel Hill township and educated in the public schools of Johnson county. His boyhood was spent much as is the early life of the average boy on the farm and until he was seventeen years of age he remained at home with his parents. He then began life for himself driving ox teams across the plains for Russell Majors. Daniel White, and Mr. Wadell.

Mr. Harrison recalls a blinding snowstorm which occurred May 3, 1856, the day the train started from Old Westport, Missouri for Ft. Union, New Mexico. At the time the Mountain Meadow massacre happened, his train was within forty miles of the train which was in the massacre. Mr. Harrison made these trips across the plains prior to the Civil War. During the war he lived in Leavenworth county, Kansas. After the war he returned to Johnson countj% in 1865, and lived on the farm for about four years. He opened a livery stable, which he conducted in connection with farming. Mr. Harrison was (Page 470 HISTORY OF JOHNSON COUNTY ) thus engaged for about thirteen years. He erected a business house on Holden street in Warrensburg, and in addition to his city residence, which he purchased in 1904 and remodeled, owns a fine farm of several hundred acres in Warrensburg and Hazel Hill townships. His time is spent looking after his farming interests and managing his city property.

J. Wesley Harrison was united in marriage with Eliza C. Ovens in 1859 by Reverend Jonathan Gott in Hazel Hill township. To J. Wesley and Eliza C. (Ovens) Harrison were born four children: Mrs. Emma Zilphia Shryack, Kirksville, Missouri: Charles Harvey, Warrensburg; Lee, died at the age of ten years; and Ada, died at the age of five years. Mrs. Harrison died in 1901. In 1904 Mr. Harrison married Georgia Dennis, daughter of George H. and Ann R. (Osborne) Dennis, of Monmouth, Illinois. George H. Dennis was engaged in the harness business in Monmouth. He and Mrs. Dennis were the parents of the following children: Mrs. T. B. Montgomery, Warrensburg; Mrs. Ella Carrigan, Calumet, Oklahoma; and Mrs. J. Wesley Harrison, the wife of the subject of this review.

Mr. Harrison has in his possession a Seth Thomas clock, which was purchased prior to 1846 by his father, Harvey Harrison. The clock is not only priceless as a relic but is still valuable as a timepiece, always keeping good time. This clock has brass parts and old-fashioned weights that must be wound every twenty-four hours. He also has another relic of the days long gone b}', a highly valued heirloom. This is an embroidered counterpane, made by his mother, Zilphia (Bell)

Occupation

Occupation: teamster

Date: Abt 1846

Place: Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Note: Agency: Russel Majors, Daniel White and Mr. Wadell

Santa Fe Trail

Occupation: livery stable operator

Date: Aft 1865

Place: Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, USA

Event

Event:

Type: Lived

Date: 1860-1865

Place: Leavenworth, Kansas, USA

Marriage

Husband: John Wesley Harrison

Wife: Eliza C. Ovens

Marriage:

Date: 3 Feb 1859^[1]

Child: Emma Zilpha Harrison

Child: Charles Harvy Harrison

Child: Lee Harrison

Child: Ada Harrison

Burial

Burial:

Place: Warrensburg, Johnson, Missouri, USA

Sunset Hill Cemetery - Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, USA^[2]

Research Notes

Bell Family has:

"E-9 John Wesley Harrison, b 2-28-1838, d 10-11-1920,*

"m 1st 2-3-1859 Eliza C. Ovens, b 7-21-1843,d 3-27-1901. Informant was Mrs. Emma Zepha Schryack. They are bur Sunset Hill Cem in Warrensburg, MO. He began work driving ox-teams across the plains for Russell Majors, Daniel White, and Mr. Wadell. He recalled a blinding snow storm which occurred 5-3-1846, the day the train started from Old Westport, MO for Fort Union, NM. At the time of the Mountain Meadow Massacre, his train was within 40 miles of it. During the Civil War he lived in Leavenworth Co, KS. After the war he returned to Johnson Co, MO, where he opened a livery stable."

It is unclear to whom 'Mrs. Emma Zepha Schryak" refers. It may be Zilpha Shryack. If this were the case, then the 'Mrs.' would appear to be incorrect.

"John m 2nd 1904 Georgia Dennis, dau of George H. and Ann R. (Osborn) Dennis of Monmouth, IL. John has a Seth Thomas Clock that was purchased before 1846 by his father. He also has an embroidered counterpane made by his mother in 1818, when she was 15 years old. The cotton was raised, picked, spun and woven by her."

It is unclear to whom 'John" in the above refers. There appear to be no decedents named 'John'.

See also:

• Bell Family Genealogy archive at Internet Archive Wayback Machine

History of Johnson County - at https://archive.org/details/historyofjohnson00cock

Sources

1. ↑ "Missouri Marriages, 1750-1920", database, FamilySearch [1] : 18 January 2020, John W. Harrison, 1859.
2. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 22 April 2020), memorial page for John Wesley Harrison (28 Feb 1838–11 Oct 1920), Find A Grave: Memorial #73147749, citing Sunset Hill Cemetery, Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri, USA ; Maintained by Alma Darling (contributor 47106545) .

Acknowledgements

• This person was created through the import of JDS_09_17_10.ged on 09 February 2011.