ROBERT W. HARRISON, deceased, was one of the most prominent and wealthy farmers of Princeville Township, who took a leading part in the development of this section of the county, and was one of its most honored citizens. His father was an early settler of this part of Illinois, and was very much prospered in his various enterprises. 

James Harrison was born in England in 1809, his birthplace being Yorkshire. He was a son of Robert Harrison, a blacksmith of that part of England. In 1822, when he was thirteen years old, his father emigrated to this country, and settled in Hampshire County, W. Va., where he established a home for his family, and there followed faming, and was also engaged as a blacksmith, and there he passed the remainder of his life. The father of our subject left his early English home with his father, and accompanied him to this country, an in Virginia learned the blacksmith’s trade of him, and carried it on there some years. In 1834 he came to Illinois with a wagon drawn by one horse, settling in Rosefield Township, on the Kickapoo, he  took up a claim there and erected a smith as soon as he could get tools from Springfield, which was not until two years later. He carried on farming in connection with blacksmithing, and in 1836 bought a tax title to some land near Princeville. He engaged in is cultivation for one year, and then removed to Akron Township, where he bought a tract of wild land. He put up a smithy there, and for some time was actively engaged as a blacksmith, besides managing his agricultural interests. He met with more than ordinary success, and became quite wealthy. He added to his farm until he possessed six hundred acres of as fine farming land as is to be found in this county. In 1871 he removed to Henry, Marshall County, where he lived retired until his death in 1879. He was in every respect a true, noble-hearted man, whom to know was to respect. In politics he used his influence in favor of the Republican party. He was actively identified with the religious interests of his community, as on of the prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he served as Class-Leader, and in various other capacities; and he also exerted his influence in behalf of education, and gave $20 toward the creation of the old stone schoolhouse which is still standing, and is now used for a residence. He was a man of great practical mechanical genius, and in early days used to make plows and manufacture some of the first that were ever used in this part of the State, and he made several other useful inventions. During his residence in Akron Township, he built a mill, and operated it very successfully for five years. The maiden name of his wife was Susan M. Evans, and she was born in Hampshire County, Va. Her father died in that county. She died in Henry, Marshall County. 

Eleven children were born to the parents of our subject: John R., a resident of Dunlap; Robert W., Elizabeth, Mrs. Little, of Princeville; Frances, who is deceased; Absalom, of Radnor Township; Ira D., of Madison County, Iowa; Ruth, who died in Iowa; James, of Marshall County; Paul, living near Huntsville, Ala.; Susan, Mrs. Gregory, Living near Henry; Jesse, a resident of Marshall County, Ill. Ira served in the war one hundred days. 

Robert Harrison was born in Rosefield Township, Dec. 13, 1834. He was reared on a farm in Akron Township, and was early set to work driving oxen, teaming wood, plowing, and at other farm labors. His education was conducted in the primitive log schoolhouse of pioneer times, and when thirteen years old, he went into the mill to learn the trade of a miller. He subsequently began to operate the mill on shares when he was twenty years old, and was engaged at that for three years, when his father sold it. He then turned his attention to farming, threshing, and cornshelling, and was employed in these pursuits two years. In 1856 he bought eighty acres of land in section 35, Princeville Township, which is included in his present farm. He acted upon its improvement, and in the years that followed, developed it from a tract of wild prairie to a productive and well cultivated farm. In the spring of 1854 he went to Boone County, Iowa, and entered eighty acres of land, but did not settle on it, and subsequently sold it at a good advance. He located on his farm in 1856, and has since bought more land until he has increased its acreage to four hundred acres lying on section 35, and he has besides, one hundred acres with improvements in Jubilee Township, the price he paid for it varying from $7.50 to $60 an acre. He has two sets of buildings in his land including ample barns, granaries, etc., and his residence is a substantial and well fitted up dwelling. His land is well fenced, and is well watered, having windmills, tank, etc., and he has a fine orchard and valuable groves of trees, and everything about the place shows care and excellent management on the part of the owner. Besides this fine farm, Mr. Harrison owns valuable city property, is owner of the Henry Hotel, and has town property in Princeville. Our subject grows large quantities of grain, and raises a good deal of stock, having eighteen head of improved Norman horses, using four teams on his farm, and he has high graded cattle, feeding and selling two car-loads each year, and raising two car-loads of hogs, shipping his own stock to market; he also raises sheep. 

Mr. Harrison was married in Princeville Township, March 2, 1859, to Miss Elinore Lawrence, a daughter of Francis Lawrence. She was born in Mamaroneck County, N.Y., March 28, 1841. She received excellent school advantages and remained an inmate of the parental home un5til her marriage. Her father was also a native of Westchester County, and was a son of Charles Lawrence, who was of English birth. He emigrated to this country, and engaged in farming in New York, and there died. Mrs. Harrison’s father was a stone-mason by trade, but after coming to Princeville Township, from his native State in 1854, he turned his attention to farming. He was thus engaged here two years, and then bought a farm in Jubilee Township, where he lived until his death in 1889, he having improved in the meantime a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was a Democrat in politics, and in religion was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, as one of its most faithful members. The maiden name of his wife was Mary S. Rodgers, and she was born in New York, a daughter of William Rodgers, who was of English parentage. She lives on the old homestead at the age of seventy-one years. She was the mother of the following six children: Caroline, Mrs. Moffatt, of Monica; Charles W., a farmer in Jubilee Township; Mary F., now Mrs. Beal, of Stark County; Rachael S., Now Mrs. Harrison of Princeville; Frank H., living on the old homestead. 

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison’s pleasant wedded life has blessed to them by the birth of nine children: two died in infancy; Agatha A., Hanford J., Emma J., Minnie S., Frank H., Ada M., and Bertha L. Agatha married Theodore Pierce, a farmer of Nodaway County, Mo., Hanford is farming on the home farm, Emma married George Smith, of Jubilee township, Minnie and Ada attended Princeville Academy, and the former has been a teacher. 

Mr. Harrison was a man of marked enterprise, and possessed more than ordinary energy, tact and business talent, as shown by the fact that he had acquired wealth by his own exertions, and occupied a conspicuous place among the representative citizens of Peoria County. His public spirit identified him with the leaders who bore an active part in promoting the material, social, and educational welfare of this part of the State, and he was active in public life. He was serving his third term as Commissioner of Highways; had been School Director for twenty-six years, with the exception of two years, and assisted in building the academy and placing it on a sound basis, and he was a member of the Detective Thief and Mutual Benefit Association, had been prominent in its management, and had held the office of Lieutenant. He was one of the leading Republicans of the county, had been a delegate to Congregational and County conventions, and was serving his second term as Central Committee man. He had been a member of the Grand and Petit Juries. Mr. Harrison died at his home in Princeville Township, August 8, 1890. 

The following obituary is taken from a local paper: “Robert W. Harrison was born December 13, 1834, and died August 8, 1890. His death was the result of an accident which resulted fatally in about thirty-six hours after the occurrence. The deceased often referred to his boyhood days, the difficulties and deprivations of the first settlers. He was a scion of the sturdy stock who first emigrated to Illinois. Like all young men in his day, he started in life with limited means, but being a careful manager, and very energetic, he had at the time of death accumulated a valuable estate. He was a man avowedly in favor of moral elevation and intellectual advancement. He was a studious reader, and consequently well informed in the history and current events of the day. He was plain and unassuming in his habits, and had no taste or desire to indulge in the fashions and frivolities of the times. In his intercourse with his fellow-men, he was kind, generous and obliging, and in the matter of private or public benefaction he never failed to respond when the object was worthy. He had frequently been elected to office by the voters of his town; at the time of his death he was in an official position. He was earnest and true to the principles of the political party to which he belonged, and was recognized as one of its local leaders. A few weeks before his demise he was a chosen delegate to a convention which placed in nomination a candidate for congressional honors. As an evidence of the respect and esteem in which he was held, there was a very large concourse of people in attendance at his obsequies. The funeral service was conducted at the Methodist Episcopal Church, by Rev. A. Smith, the pastor, in a very appropriate and impressive manner. His remains were laid away to rest in the Princeville cemetery--he is numbered with the inhabitants of the silent city. The sympathies of the public are extended to his respected companion and family in their bereavement.” M. W. 

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