Gone, but not forgotten: First families of Newton County, the Robert Harrison family

Robert Washington Harrison was born in Maury County, Tennessee, Sept. 26, 1810. He married Clarinda Austin there in 1834. He came to Newton County in 1841, where he settled on the Little Buffalo about a mile above Jasper.
He stayed there but a year, and then went to what would become Boone County, but soon returned to his farm in Newton County.
After three years, he moved to Jasper, where he remained the rest of his life. He was a successful lawyer and was elected to the State Legislature for 1859-1860.
He served as county judge for 10 years.
He and Clarinda had 10 children.

Robert passed away in Jasper March 5, 1882. After his death, Clarinda moved in with one of her daughters in Harrison and died there Feb. 16, 1905.
His son, George Washington Harrison, was born about 1840, and was a Confederate scout during the Civil War. He was killed in Carroll County while on scout there in 1864.
Thomas Fletcher Harrison, another son, was born in 1849 and died in Jasper in 1913. He taught school when he was a young man, still living with his parents. He married Nioba Boomer in 1882. In 1900, the family was living in Jackson Township, and Thomas ran a general store. He had seven children.
William Franklin Harrison (1857-1908) married Mary Ammons in 1878. He farmed for a bit, and then became a laborer. He was buried in Harrison Cemetery near Ben Hur.

Barbara LeRoy is the author of “Which Side Were They On?,” a 302 page book listing biographical sketches of the Newton Countians who were involved in the Civil War, available for sale either in the Bradley House Museum or by purchasing online at www.newtoncountyar.com. The book sells for $33.