Harrison, William 1836-1925

HARRISON, WORDEN, STORM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 5/2/2011 at 15:44:49

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; June 23, 1925

IOWA PIONEER TO FINAL REWARD

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William Harrison, Seventy-Six Years in Iowa, Buried in Hazelwood Monday.

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If we look back over a span of forty-one years we will recall the date when William Harrison and his family became citizens of Grinnell. These people were early residents of Iowa and they knew Iowa, its progress and its people, as well as any one who has ever lived here.

William Harrison was born at Daker Banks, Eng., Sept. 4, 1836. In 1849 at the age of thirteen with his parents he came to America, first to Chicago, which then had a population of about three thousand. They followed the Erie canal to Buffalo and from there took the lake route by boat to Chicago. From that point they traveled by a covered wagon, first to Fort Madison. The family were met here by an uncle of the deceased man, who lived in Van Buren county, and they went at once to the vicinity of Keosauqua. Here William Harrison lived until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the Nineteenth Iowa Infantry and served till the end of the war.

After his discharge he returned to Keosauqua and here met Alzie M. Worden, of Kellys Island in Lake Erie, who had come to Keosauqua on a visit. Soon after her return to her home he journeyed to Kelley's Island where they were married April 29, 1867. They returned to Keosauqua and lived there for seventeen years. Edgar Worden, a brother of Mrs. Harrison was attending college in Grinnell and persuaded them to move here, which they did in December, 1884.

After their arrival here they became active and influential members of the Methodist church.

He also took an active interest in the Grand Army and she in the Relief Corps, and both made friends by their quiet, simple habits of life and their generous Christian living.

They celebrated their Golden Anniversary in 1917 and received the congratulations of a large circle of warm hearted and enthusiastic friends. No people have lived here, who were more respected for their quiet Christian character than Mr. and Mrs. Harrison and none have left more warm hearted friends than they.

Mrs. Harrison died Feb. 15, 1920. Since then Mr. Harrison has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. H.B. Storm, of Chicago. He has visited in Grinnell since that time and was gladly welcomed by his old friends. His death occurred Saturday, June 20, 1925, and the body was brought to Grinnell by Mr. and Mrs. Storm to be buried by the side of his wife in Hazelwood. Six children were born to this marriage of whom three survive: Frank Harrison of Anaconda, Mont., Mrs. Grace Storm of Chicago, and Will Harrison of Brooklyn. Two sisters also survive him, Mrs. Muir of Keosauqua and Mrs. George C. Bonner of Omaha.

Funeral services were conducted at the Snyder undertaking parlors Monday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in charge of Rev. W.J. Todd. The singing was by Mrs. D.H. Snook and Mrs. A.S. Ennis. Pallbearers were M.W. Swisher, W.J. Nelson, M.M. Whiting, Carl Phelps, F.E. Spaulding and R.H. Perring.

Among the friends from out of town present to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hulsizer of Des Moines, Mrs. C.P. Roe of Oskaloosa and Mr. and Mrs. W.K. Simpson of Des Moines, and Mrs. J.P. Watson, of Des Moines.