Richard A. Harrison
Hon. Richard A. Harrison was born April 8. 1824, in the city of Thirsk, Yorkshire Co., England, where his parents then resided. In the spring of 1832, the family removed to the United States, and settled in Clark County, Ohio. He was educated in the common sohool, the Republic printing office, and in an academy under the charge of Rev. Chandler Robbins, Springfield, Ohio. He was obliged, on his arrival at twelve years of age, and until he commenced the practice of the law, to earn by daily labor as a typographer, the means requisite for his support and education. He studied law in the office of Judge Rodgers, Springfield, Ohio; graduated from the Cincinnati Law School April, 1846, and was admitted to the bar May 28, 1846, at a term of the Supreme Court, on the circuit held at London, Madison County, by Judges Hitchcock and Wood. He at once began the practice of the law in London. He was married. December 25, 1847, to Maria Warner, daughter of Henry Warner, of Madison County, and in the spring of 1848, he commenced a circuit practice, which he has ever since kept up. He was a member of the Legislature, from Madison County, during the sessions of 1858-59 and 1859—60, and served on the Judiciary Committee; was a member of the Senate from the district composed of the counties of Madison, Clark and Champaign, during the sessions of 1859—60 and 1860—61, serving as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and President, pro tem., of the Senate; was elected a Member of Congress from the district composed of the counties of Madison, Fayette, Clinton, Warren and Greene, at a special election held in May, 1861, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Gov. Corwin upon his appointment as Minister to Mexico; served during the special session held in July. 1861, and until the expiration of his term, March 8, 1868. He was nominated for Judge of the Supreme Court in 1870, but was defeated with the rest of the State ticket at the ensuing election. In January, l1876, he was appointed and commissioned by Gov. Hayes a member of the judicial commission, provided for in the amendment, of Article IV, of the Constitution of the State, but he declined the appointment. In the spring of l873, he formed a partnership with Joseph Olds, who had just retired from the Common Pleas bench, and removed to Columbus in the spring of 1874. His son-in-law, Mr. Marsh, is also now a member of the firm of Harrison, Olds & Marsh. Mr. Harrison attributes much fo whatever success he has met with to the encouragement and assistance which he received in his early struggles at the bar from Judge Rodgers, Judge J. R. Swan, P. B. Wilcox, Judge N. H. Swayne, and John W. Andrews. Mr. Harrison ranks as one of the best lawyers in the state; he is not only learned in the books, but presents his cases with great force to the court and jury. His reputation has extended his circuit practice all over the State, and in the Supreme Court he is engaged, on one side or the other, of many important cases. His success in the Boesel Railroad cases, reported in Granger’s Supreme Court reports, established his eminence as a lawyer on constitutional questions, while at the same time it saved the people from the imposition of an oppressive system of taxation that would yield no return. Mr. Harrison furnishes another example of the fact that a lawyer who desires to rise to the head of this honorable profession must subordinate every other consideration to the law, which is a jealous mistress and brooks no rival. One of the early students of Mr. Harrison was James S. Jones, a native of London, born July 31, 1830. He was admitted to the bar in 1853, and was Prosecuting Attorney of Madison County in 1854-55. His parents were William and Elizabeth Jones, natives of Tennessee, who settled at London in 1814. Soon after the expiration of his term as Prosecutor, he removed to Lincoln, Ill., where he engaged in teaching school and the practice of his profession, the latter not proving sufficiently remunerative to support him. He returned to London during the exciting period of the war, and thence went to Champaign City, Ill., where he was married to Eliza, daughter of Dr. Robert Houston, one of the pioneer physicians of Clark County, Ohio, who practiced at South Charleston, where Mrs. Jones was born, subsequently removing with her father to Champaign County, Ill. Mr. Jones has since continued to follow the legal profession at that place.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]