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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hot Spring County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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James R. Harrison was born in Hardeman County, Tenn., on October 27, 1843, and is the son of David M. and Elizabeth (Forsythe) Harrison, natives of Maury County, Tenn. The father still lives in this county at the age of sixty-nine years, the mother dying in 1888, at the age of sixty-eight years. James Harrison came to Hot Spring County, Ark., with his parents in 1857, where he has since resided, remaining on his farm except during the war, when he served in the Confederate army as a member of the Eleventh Arkansas Infantry. He joined the cavalry after eighteen months’ service, and was taken prisoner at Island No. 10, from which place he was taken to Fort Douglas, and detained for seven months and eighteen days, suffering all the hardships and privation of northern prison life. After being exchanged, he returned to the Eleventh Arkansas Infantry, serving until the close of the war, when he returned to his farm. In 1866 he was married to Louisa Session, daughter of William Session, of Hardeman County, Tenn. The fruits of this marriage were seven children: Charles A. Daniel M., Mary E., Henry J. and James J. Mr. Harrison is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and an interested person in anything that pertains to the welfare of religious movements. He is Democratic, politically, and has served since 1882 as justice of the peace of his township, being successfully elected at each election. Nothing in the nature of an enterprise for public improvement fails for want of Mr. Harrison’s support. He is public spirited and philanthropic.

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This family biography is one of 52 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Hot Spring County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Hot Spring County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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