“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

WILLIAM O. HARRISON, a well-known resident of Dallas county, is a son of 
Jonathan Tyler and Jemima Delina (Osborne) Harrison, of English ancestry.  The 
first ancestor of that name who first came to America, was Terrell Harrison, a 
Presbyterian minister, who settled in Virginia.  His son, Jonathan, was born in 
that State, and afterward settled in Fairfield district, South Carolina, where he 
was a planter, and at one time was Sheriff of that district.  His son, Burr Harrison, 
was the father of Jonathan Tyler, the father of the subject of this sketch.  
Jonathan Tyler Harrison was born and reared in Fairfield district, and in early life 
was engaged as an overseer.  He worked four years as such for Governor 
Means, and was also overseer for his estate after the Governor’s death.  Mr. 
Harrison then moved to Anderson district, same State, where he was engaged 
for some years in the mercantile business and still later was a contractor for 
railroad work, having assisted in building the Blue Ridge railroad, in 1860.  He 
was engaged in that occupation when the war came on, and he then enlisted in 
the Confederate army, in the Second Rifles, which was raised in Anderson 
county.  He entered as Third Lieutenant, and was afterward promoted Second 
Lieutenant, and was in Longstreet’s Corps, Jenkins’ Brigade, and took part in all 
the battles which were fought by his command.  He served until the fall of 1864, 
when he resigned, on account of rheumatism, and also received a flesh wound in 
the battle of the Wilderness.  After the close of the war Mr. Harrison returned to 
his farm in Anderson district, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his 
death, March 14, 1870.  He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church 
throughout life and was twice married, first to Jemima Delina Osborne, a 
daughter of W. M. Osborne, of Fairfield district, South Carolina, where Mrs. 
Harrison was born and reared.  They had the following children:  William O., our 
subject; Sallie, who died when young; Jonathan B., of Dallas county, a sketch of 
whom appears in this work; James W., of Denton county, this State; Thomas 
Jefferson, of Dallas county; and Fannie, the wife of Sanford Wilburne, of Union 
district, South Carolina.  The wife and mother died in Anderson district, June 8, 
1858, and Mr. Harrison was afterward married to Eliza McDaniel, also of 
Anderson district, and they had four children:  Jefferson Davis, of this county; 
Carrie, who became the wife of W. N. Sanders, of Dallas county, and is now 
deceased; Susan, the wife of P. F. Sanders, of Dallas county; Mamie, the wife of 
J. B. Hammel, of Tarrant county, Texas.

William O. Harrison, the subject of this sketch, was born in Fairfield district, South 
Carolina, November 3, 1847, and was reared in that and Anderson district.  He 
emigrated to Rusk county, Texas, in the winter of 1870, where he remained one 
year, and then went to Marion county, and two years later to Dallas county, 
settling on Grapevine Prairie, near where he now lives.  He bought his present 
farm of ninety acres in 1875, all of which was open prairie, and he has since 
added to this place until he now owns 166 acres, most of which is under 
cultivation.

Mr. Harrison began the mercantile business at Gibbs about three years ago, 
under the firm name of Harrison & Co., his partners being his brothers, Jonathan 
B. Harrison and T. J. Harrison, and he is also engaged in the gin business.  Mr. 
Harrison secured the post office at Gibbs in 1887, and soon afterward became 
the Postmaster, which position he has since held, and is also Notary Public and 
general counsel for the neighborhood.  He was married in Elbert county, Georgia, 
June 20, 1865, to Laura McDaniel, a daughter of Edward and Frances (White) 
McDaniel, of that county.  Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have had the following children:  
Minnie, the wife of Byron L. Nix, of this county; Lena, wife of W. N. Sanders; 
Emma, now Mrs. C. A. Corbin; Fannie, Laura, Edward T. and Birdie.  Mr. and 
Mrs. Harrison are members of the Baptist Church.  Politically, Mr. Harrison is a 
Democrat.

Submitted by: L. Pingel