JOHN R. HARRISON has been an almost life-long resident of Radnor Township, wherein he has successfully prosecuted the work of an agriculturist, winning from the fertile soil so large a share of its products that he has been enabled while still in the middle life to retire from active labors with the prospect of spending his remaining years without undue exertion. He is the owner of a fine property consisting of two hundred and ninety acres, the greater part of which is on section 10, Radnor Township. The estate is now rented. 

Mr. Harrison was born in Hampshire County, W. Va., where his parents had settled immediately after their marriage. His mother, Mary Susan (Evans) Harrison, was a native of that State, and his father, James Harrison, was born in England. In 1834, the worthy couple removed to Peoria County, Ill., setting in Rosefield Township, later residing in Princeville Township, and still later in Akron Township. They finally removed to Henry, Marshall County, where they passed their last days. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom our subject was the eldest. 

The natal day of John R. Harrison was June 25, 1838. He was therefore but a year old when his parents came to this county, in which he was reared to manhood, acquiring a good education and becoming skilled in agriculture, to which he has given his chief attention since youth. In the township in which he now resides he was married, August 21, 1855, to Miss Amanda Hatfield, soon after removing from Boone County, Iowa, where he and his bride sojourned for a short time. Returning to the Prairie State they located permanently and until December, 1888, Mr. Harrison was actively engaged in farming. He has held various offices, his intelligence, trustworthiness, and zeal for the public welfare, being recognized by his fellow-citizens. For four years he was Township Assessor, an office in which he is now serving satisfactorily. As School Director and School Trustee he has promoted the interests of education, and as an active member of the Republican party has labored for good government. 

The wife of Mr. Harrison is a native of the Hoosier State and a daughter of John and Phoebe (Coddington) Hatfield, who settled in this county about 1845. After residing in Radnor Township for a long term of years, they removed to Taylor County, Iowa, dying there some years later. Their family consisted of twelve children, Mrs. Harrison being the fifth in order of birth. She was born June 3, 1835, in Parke County, Ind., has received a good education, is an excellent housekeeper and has been a devoted mother to her offspring. She has made many and warm friends in the neighborhood in which she has long so reside. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Harrison eleven children have been born, the most of whom are married and occupying homes of the own. Mary S. is the wife of Samuel Lamay; Ida K., of John Brassfield; Levi I. married Miss Carrie Manker; Adelia is the wife of Wally Smith; Maggie, of Flavius S. Barrett; Alice, of George Newkirk; Rachel, of George Taylor; Lettie and Ella still linger under the parental roof; James H., who was the second child, died when about thirteen months old, and Phebe, who was the eighth, when two years old.

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