Harry J. Jamison
Harry Jamison, a well-known citizen and leading horse breeder of Delaware Township, was born November 22, 1865, in Delaware Township, Delaware County. Ohio, and is a son of George W. and Mary (Nye) Jamison.
Robert Jamison, the great-grandfather of Harry J., was a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Delaware Township, Delaware County, Ohio, in 1811, and settled in the wilderness as a pioneer. He was here engaged in farming until the outbreak of the War of 1812, when he enlisted therein and served faithfully. His death occurred on the old homestead, which was built by him on the east side of the river, and which is still standing, in 1840, aged 72 years. He married Esther Baird, who was a native of Virginia, and she died in 1852, aged 82 years.
James M. Jamison, grandfather of Harry J., was born in the "Pan-Handle" district, in Virginia, March 4, 1808, and came with his parents to Delaware Township, remaining on the old home farm until 1866. In that year he removed to Delaware, where his death occurred. In 1835 he was married to Elizabeth High, who was born in Berks County. Pennsylvania, in 1816, and was a daughter of Benjamin High, who came to Delaware County in 1832 and settled two miles north of Delaware, where he died in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Jamison had a family of eight children, two of whom died in infancy. By hard work and many sacrifices, three daughters—Angeline, Esther and Millie—qualified as teachers, and each had taught school about five years when they married. Angeline married George Martz; Esther married Jacob Martz of Darke County, Ohio; and Millie became the wife of William McGugin, one of the proprietors of the Olive Furnace, in Lawrence County. Of the other children, Annie Eliza died in 1876, and George W and Robert B. graduated from the Ohio Wesleyan University in 1879.
George W. Jamison, father of Harry J., was born January 18, 1841, in Delaware Township, Delaware County, Ohio, and until 13 years of age was employed on the home farm. At this time he removed to Darke County, Ohio, and was employed in the Court House at Greenville, as a clerk in the treasurer's and clerk's offices, for about six years. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted at Greenville in the Eleventh Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, serving his term of three months. In the same year he enlisted from Delaware County, in Company E, Sixty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, as a private, but was made sergeant on the organization of the regiment. He participated in all the movements of his regiment until November, 1862, when with about 800 other sick and wounded soldiers he was taken to Fairfax Seminary, Virginia, where his mother came to nurse him, and where he remained about two weeks. He was then transferred to Bellevue Hospital, New York, and remained there under Mrs. Jamison's care about four weeks, when he received an hororable discharge and returned home. Soon thereafter he went out with the Fifty-fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry as sutler, and remained about eight months, and on his return went to Greenville, where he filled the position of agent for the Columbus & Indianapolis Central Railroad for about 18 months. At the end of this time Mr. Jamison came to Delaware County, where he was occupied in farming and stock raising until his death, May 19, 1902. In 1864 he was married to Mary J. Nye, who was a daughter of William Nye, who came to Delaware County in 1832, and two children were born to them—Harry John and Mary Nye. Mary Nye married James Duckworth of Orange Township, Delaware County, in 1890, and to them was born one daughter, Darline, who is now living with her uncle, Harry J., and attending High school, her mother having died in 1904, at the age of 33 years.
Harry J. Jamison was reared in the home farm, and remained at home until 1895, when he removed to his present stock farm, where he raises stock, road horses being his favorite. From his boyhood Mr. Jamison has been fond of horses and engaged extensively in breeding them. His first colt, "Belle Casset." was bred by his father, and was taken by Harry J. Jamison when she was one year old, in 1889. She retired with a record of 13¼. Mr. Jamison now owns the trotting stallion "Hesperus 34379," and a number of cults by him—the fastest horse ewer brought into this section of the State, with a record of 2:09½, bought by Mr. Jamison when a yearling and developed by him. Hesperus is the sire of a number of fast horses. Mr. Jamison is acknowledged to he one of the best judges of horse flesh in the county, and his advice is often sought in this line. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks, Delaware Lodge, No. 76, and politically he is independent, voting rather for the man than for the party. .
Mr. Jamison was married to Nellie Furman, who is the daughter of Perry Furman of Scioto Township, and this union has been blessed by the birth of a son, Walter P. Mrs. Jamison is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908