Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison, farmer, P.O. Range, was born February 8, 1815. He was a son of Batteal and Elizabeth (Scott) Harrison, natives of West Virginia. The former came to Ohio with an uncle and aunt in 1797, and located in Belmont County, where he remained until the breaking-out of the war of 1812, when he enlisted and served until the close of the war. He married Miss Scott in Chillicothe, while acting as a United States recruiting officer. In the fall of 1815, he moved to Fayette county and engaged in raising stock until his death. He was a colonel of the militia in 1857, and in 1828 and 1836 represented Fayette County in the State Legislature. He had six children, viz.: Benjamin, Walter Scott, born February 13, 1817, and is deceased; William, born October, 1819; David G., born in January, 1822; John Joseph, born in 1824, died in Georgia while in a rebel prison in 1861; and May, born April 11, 1828. Our subject married on March 9, 1837, and has five children, all living. Mr. Harrison now owns 1,550 acres where he lives. He was twice elected County Commissioner, and has filled minor township offices. His wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]
Benjamin Harrison, a higiily respected farmer residing in Range Township, Madison County, Ohio, was born in Ross County this State, February 8, 1815, and is a son of Batteal and Elizabeth (Scott) Harrison. Our subject is a distant relative of President Harrison. His grandfather, Benjamin Harrison, served in the Revolutionary War, and his father was a soldier in the War of 1812, under William Henry Harrison. He was born about 1780, and when he was a young lad his parents moved from Virginia to Kentucky, but he remained with an uncle on account of the Indians in the locality to which his father went. In 1797, he accompanied his uncle's family to Belmont County, Ohio, where he was reared. At one time he went to join his father, who had removed to Missouri, but hearing that his mother was dead gave up the trip. He then joined the army, as before stated, and served as recruiting officer at Chillicothe, Ohio. During that time he was married, February 3, 1814, to Elizabeth Scott. During a portion of that time, he was Captain and commanded a company. Our subject was the eldest of their six children, all of whom grew to mature years, and had families, while three are still living. Two sons, Matthew Scott and John Joseph, served in the War of the Rebellion. The latter was taken a prisoner and died in Georgia. Matthew was a Captain, and after the war removed to Saline County, Mo., where he died.
Benjamin Harrison was taken by his parents to Fayette County when less than a year old. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and has since given his attention to farming and stock-raising. As a companion and helpmate on life's journey, he chose Miss Martha M. Reeves, of Range Township. She was born October 30, 1815, and is a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Howsman) Reeves, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Virginia. The union of our subject and his wife was celebrated March 9, 1837, and unto them have been born five children, four yet living: Mary E., born April 12, 1838, is the wife of S. W. Brown, of Fayette County, by whom she has two children; Batteal, born November 6, 1839, was married and died January 19, 1890, leaving five children; Angeline, born October 30, 1841, is the wife of M. L. Yates, a farmer of Range Township, and they have eight children; Isabel, born March 5, 1847, is the wife of Hon. Joseph Martin, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Winnie Scott, born May 12, 1850, is the wife of S. H. Farrar, of Holden, Johnson County, Mo., by whom she has four children.
Mr. Harrison made his first purchase of land in 1843, a tract on Deer Creek, Madison Township, Fayette County, where be resided some thirteen years. In 1850, he removed to Paint Township, where he resided five years, and since tliat time has made his home upon his present farm, purchasing seven hundred acres of land. He is one of the extensive land-owners of tlie county, his possessions aggregating fifteen hundred acres, all in one body and situated in Madison and Fayette Counties. By his own efforts, his success has been achieved, and from a humble position he has worked his way upward to one of affluence.
In 1830, Mr. Harrison cast his first vote for the Tippecanoe hero, and four years later again voted for him. In 1856, he supported Fillmore, and in 1860 voted for Bell and Everett. He has since followed the fortunes of the Democratic party, and has served as Township Trustee, was twice County Commissioner, and in 1870 was Land Appraiser.
From PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF FAYETTE, PICKAWAY AND MADISON COUNTIES, OHIO - Chapman Bros. [Chicago, 1892]