Descendants of Augustus Harrison Gather for Reunion
Augustus and Elizabeth Harrison
The descendants of Augustus “General” and Elizabeth Harrison gathered for a family reunion on Saturday at Olive United Methodist Church. “The Harrison children and grandchildren have always tried to get together as often as possible,” said Linda Reed whose husband is a descendant of Augustus Harrison. “Avery, Jr. is 95 years old and he and his family host the reunion and keep it going.”
Born on October 18, 1836 in Logan County, Kentucky, Augustus Harrison came to Marshall County when he was only 18 years old. With the settlers moving further west in the 1850s, Harrison made the journey to the Jackson Purchase with a two-wheel cart, a cow and a mare and settled in the unchartered territory in southeastern Marshall County. Harrison and his brother, Henry, went to the courthouse in Benton to apply for the homestead rights to the section of land in southeastern part of the county. It was during this time that Augustus received the nickname of “General” which he went by for the remainder of his life. While applying for the rights to the homestead land in Olive, Harrison did most of the talking and negotiating with the County Clerk which garnered him the nickname “General.”
The land that Harrison purchased in Olive was along the stage coach route at the intersection of HWY 402 and Old Olive Road and it was along this route that Harrison and others within the community began to develop the town of Olive. Harrison donated the land for the Olive cemetery and opened up a blacksmith shop and sawmill. By the 1860s, he had acquired a great deal of land which included 4 acres of apricot, apple, peach, and grape orchards. Harrison also owned sheep and made yarn. When Harrison first settled in Olive, he lived in a log cabin house on what became known as “Harrison Hill”, but shortly after, he built one of the very first frame houses in Olive. According to Harrison family records, Augustus Harrison hired an Irishman to build the home, but his name was never given. It was constructed from lumber from the Harrison sawmill and was made out of cypress wood. The impressive home took a year and a half to complete. The home had a seventy foot porch, a master bedroom, children’s room, a visitor’s room, a dining room, and a back porch with a cistern. The kitchen was at the back of the house.
Harrison family in 1910.
Harrison family reunion
July 1, 2017
On April 19, 1863, Augustus Harrison married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Finley of Bishop Mills (now located under water near Jonathan Creek) and they had twelve children: Oscar Turner Harrison, John Henry Harrison, William Wallace Harrison, Emma Harrison, Robert E. Lee Harrison, James Nicholas Harrison, Richard Kelley Harrison, C.A. Harrison, Avery Jackson Harrison, Lula May Harrison, Finley Ray Harrison, and Kate Harrison.
The eldest member of the Harrison clan, Avery Harrison, Jr. poses with one of the younger members of the Harrison family at Saturday’s reunion.
Augustus Harrison passed away in 1902 and his land was divided among his family, many who still live in the Olive community. “There are few us of that live out of town and with our family being so large, these reunions are a great way to see everyone,” said Lee Ann Harrison Denham who is the principal organizer of the reunions. “My father is the last surviving offspring of Avery Harrison, Sr. and all of the nieces and nephews enjoy coming in to see him.”
