My Genealogy Hound

Edward M. Harrison, M. D., was born in Nashville, Washington Co., Ill., in 1850, and is the son of Gen. M. LaRue Harrison, the present inspector of the money order system at Washington, D. C. Gen. M. LaRue Harrison was born in the State of New York, received his education in Yale College, and while there studied theology with a view to the ministry, his father being a Presbyterian minister. After leaving college he taught school in Southern Illinois, and was there married to Miss Axley, who became the mother of five children, only two now living. Gen. Harrison abandoned teaching, and engaged in railroad business until the breaking out of the Civil War, when he enlisted, in Illinois, as a private in the Federal army. He went through a series of promotions, and was finally raised to colonel of the First Arkansas Federal Cavalry, and was mustered out as general. In a few months after the war he was appointed special post-office inspector, and since the money order system was inaugurated he has been money order inspector, and has been in the mail service since 1865. He holds his position purely on the grounds of his being able to speak many different languages. His son, Edward M. Harrison, entered the army when quite young, and served three and a half years in the First Arkansas Cavalry. He commenced the practice of surgery during the war, and after cessation of hostilities studied medicine under a preceptor, practicing at the same time. He graduated from the Homeopathic College of St. Louis, Mo., and practiced medicine in that city for a number of years. Afterward he was ten years at Lebanon, Mo., and then came to Fort Smith, Ark. Dr. Harrison was married when eighteen years of age to Miss Mattie Mitchell, of Tennessee, and nine children were the result of this union, four now living: Katie, Della, Eleanor and Edward M., Jr. Dr. Harrison is a Republican Prohibitionist in his political opinions, is a member of the A. O. U. W., and a Select Knight; is president of the Arkansas Telephone Company, and inventor of the Harrison Microphone and the Fire Alarm System of Fort Smith. He is a member of the Congregational Church. His father, Gen. M. LaRue Harrison, is a relative of President-elect Harrison. Dr. Harrison is also the inventor of the Electric Air Machine, which he believes will cure consumption and kindred diseases.