Person:William Harrison (95)

Civil War Career^S3

William enlisted as a private in Co. G, 1st Kentucky Vet. Inf (CSA), 1 June 1861 at Owensboro, Daviess County, Kentucky, for a term of 1 year. This unit actually was formed by consolidation of various independently raised companies & battalions in August 1861. In October 1861, he was "sent to the rear sick" and later was reported as "sick in hospital at Richmond." He appears on the Hospital Muster Roll (General Hosp. no. 18, formerly Greaner's Hosp.): admitted 9 Oct 1861, detached to hospital as a nurse 1 November 1861 to 8 May 1862, readmitted (complaining of "debility") 8 May 1862. His regiment was mustered out 13 May 1862 by order of the Secretary of War, CSA; he was transferred to Cape Winder, 14 May 1862. No records have been located of any further service.

There is a family tradition that William was captured & spent some time in a Federal prison camp; also, that he made claim for a pension in later years (possibly from Kentucky), but was unable to document his service or imprisonment.

Actually, it looks like he was simply a reluctant soldier. Also note that his daughter married the son of George Frakes, a sergeant in the Union Army. The Harrisons and the Frakes, by all accounts, were never particularly close, and it may be that the P.O.W. tradition was an attempt to make up for having been on the wrong side in the War.

Also, William said he was living in Warrick County when he married in Daviess County in 1863. He was no longer in the Confederate Army, and it appears he was not called for (or managed to avoid) service in the Union Army. But why was he living there in Indiana?

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Pike County, Indiana, 1880 census:^[4]

Harrison, William H. 46 yrs b. KY (parents, b. KY) Farmer

      Martha wife 39 yrs b. KY (parents, b. KY)

      Lizzie dau 13 yrs b. IN

      Larena dau 9 yrs b. IN

      Sarah dau 6 yrs b. IN

      Mary dau 3 yrs b. IN

Dews, John M. F. "brother-in-law" [?!] 24 yrs b. KY

[I believe Dews was simply a hired hand or ordinary boarder. There is no evidence in either the Harrison or McAllister families of a daughter marrying someone by this name.]

Warrick County, Indiana, 1900 census:^[6]

Harrison, William H. 66 yrs (b. May 1834) (marr. 35 yrs) b. Kentucky (parents, b. Kentucky) Farm Laborer

      Martha 58 yrs (b. Sep 1841) (6 children, 6 living) b. Kentucky (parents, b. Kentucky)

      Sarah M. 24 yrs (b. Jul 1875) (single) b. Indiana (parents, b. Kentucky) House Keeper

      Mollie E. 22 yrs (b. Jul 1877) (single) b. Indiana (parents, b. Kentucky) House Keeper

      Charles W. 18 yrs (b. Dec 1881) (single) b. Indiana (parents, b. Kentucky) Farm Laborer

      Thelda M. 12 yrs (b. Aug 1887) b. Indiana (parents, b. Kentucky) at school

Probably published in his church newspaper.

1. ↑ Indiana Death Certificate.
2. ↑ Grave marker, Crown Hill Cemetery (Indianapolis, Indiana).

   "William H. Harrison / 1834 - 1910" Masonic stone, in the Masonic charity plot, 4th row down from the main directory stone, on the driveway. He was buried with full Masonic honors.

3. ↑ William Henry Harrison Civil War file.

   NOTE: FILE IS REPRODUCED ON THE SOURCE PAGE.

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Pike, Indiana, United States. 1880 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T9)
   Lockhart Twp, ED 172, p. 45.
5. ↑ Marion, Indiana, United States. Probates
   aft 18 Feb 1910.

   No estate opened.

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Warrick, Indiana, United States. 1900 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration Publication T623)
   ED 160, p. 5A, dwelling/family 84/84.