Dekalb County GaArchives Biographies.....Harrison, Zadok Daniel November 26, 1842 - September 24, 1935 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Lois Harrison Colwell http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00031.html#0007623 January 25, 2012, 7:26 pm Source: Unpublished Family Biography Author: Lois Harrison Colwell Zadok Daniel Harrison 1842-1935 Zadok Daniel Harrison was born 26 November 1842 in Randolph County, Georgia, the third child of George W. and Frances S. Harrison.i When Zadok was only 8 years old, his father was elected Secretary of State of Georgia and the family moved to Milledgeville, then the Capital of Georgia. Zadok was only 12 years old when his father died in 1854. At this time Zadok was receiving his education from Professor A. L. Carrington.ii He wanted to attend Oglethorpe College, which was then at old Midway but in order to enter the sophomore class it was necessary that he take some special tutoring in Greek. Zadok arranged for this with the Presbyterian minister at Milledgeville, Dr. Flinn, who agreed, provided young Mr. Harrison would reach his house at daybreak each morning. This he did, without fail, although he had to walk more than a mile between the two homes. Around 1859 Zadok entered Oglethorpe University at Midway as a sophomore.iii At Oglethorpe there were two literary societies, the Thalian and the Phi Delta. Zadok joined the Phi Delta. Every year there was a contest between the two societies which was held in the main hall of the university, each society being represented by a sophomore declaimer, a junior debater and a senior essayist. Zadok was, elected by the Phi Delta as, their representative during the term 1860. The subject of the declamation that year was the blazing “Kansas Question”. Zadok was judged the winner and the following is an excerpt from the winning text: “Should we be forced to dissolve the Union in order to preserve southern institutions and southern civilization we will do it in peace if we can, in war if we must, and let the God of Battles decide between us. All before us now is darkness, gloom and desolation. The shadows, sir, of the coming storm already darken our pathway. It will soon be upon us with all its fury.” Sidney Lanier was also a student at Oglethorpe, and Zadok remembered the walks and talks they had along the pathways of the old Midway campus. In later years he remembered “the thin sweet notes that emanated from an upper dormitory window when the poet was playing on his flute, the flute that he carried with him through college and through the war.”iv Another memorable note of his college days included his winning the oratorical contest open to all students and the prize he received was a volume of Goldsmith’s works. Much later, in 1930 Zadok’s daughter Emily was looking through their personal home library and found an ancient Goldsmith volume with the inscription, “Awarded to Z. D. Harrison, second prize in the declamation contest of July 30, 1860, Oglethorpe College.” Miss Emily Harrison gave the volume to Dr. Thornwell Jacobs, then president of Oglethorpe University, who accepted it as one of the most prized possessions of the library. It remains there today.v Zadok left Oglethorpe of Midway without graduation, called away by war, and even in later years he could recall the secession convention at Milledgeville in 1861, which he attended with a group of former Oglethorpe students, standing next to the president, Dr. Samuel Talmadge, and as Herschel V. Johnson spoke against secession Dr. Johnson’s arm was thrown about his shoulder. Later Thomas R. R. Cobb carried the day and Georgia voted to secede.vi In 1861 the War Between the States breaks out. Zadok goes to work in the office of Governor Jenkins and studies the law under Col. William McKinley.vii He joins the Capital Guard as a private with his brother James. Their brother, John T. joined the regular Army. In 1867, Zadok D. Harrison, was admitted to the Georgia Bar by Judge Reese at Irwinton in Wilkinson County, Georgia. The Southern Recorder, Volume XII, 1866- 1872 notes: “Tuesday, July 2, 1867, Personal. Maj. J. T. Burns, Col. JW. G. McAdoo, Capt. T. Newell and Z. D. Harrison, Esq. of Baldwin County, and Capt. D. B. Sanford, of Green County, were admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia on the 21st ultimo.” Zadok’s first law practice was with William T. Newman, later to become Judge of the Federal Court. He then formed the firm of Harrison and Peeples. He began practice in the Federal Courts. His first fee was for clearing title to land surrounding Indian Spring which belonged to the State of Georgia, for which he was paid $500, a large fee for a young attorney in those days. Governor Jenkins sent Zadok to Atlanta to report to him on the proceedings of the convention which was to give Georgia the constitution of 1868, and which met in the old City Hall of Atlanta on the site of the present State Capital. He sent daily reports to the Governor, who knew he would soon be removed from office. Zadok made a booklet of the personnel of the convention, descriptive of every member; So & So “Seallawag”, So & So “Negro”, So & So “Carpet Bagger”. This pamphlet became a campaign document and was widely sold, some thirty thousand, and made $3000.00 from its publication.viii In 1916 Zadok recalled how he became clerk of the Supreme Court. He said just after the adoption of the State Constitution in 1868, “A dozen young men, feeling that they must escape to a haven where the flag of their country was the emblem of protection, instead of oppression, agreed to meet in Atlanta and together go to California. Pursuant to that agreement I arrived in Atlanta on December 6, 1868. On the next day, in going from my hotel, without any special purpose, to the old city hall, I met B. B. deGraffenreid. He told me he had accepted an appointment as Secretary of the Executive Department, and would also be elected Clerk of the Supreme Court the next day, and offered to appoint me as its deputy. My surprise was complete. I asked for time to consider. He gave me one hour. Within that hour, I accepted, and within that hour my destiny became fixed. On the next day I was present when the court was organized, and then began the work I have continuously preformed. Mr. deGraffenreid qualified as Clerk announced my appointment as deputy; and immediately withdrew. I do not remember that he was ever afterward in the courtroom or the clerk’s office. I was most kindly inducted into my duties as deputy by the Reporter, Col. N. J. Hammond. Mr. deGraffenreid having died, I was elected as his successor in January, 1871.”ix It was in 1872 on the 18th of December that he married Miss Laura Ligon Hendree of Tuskegee, Macon County, Alabama. She was born on 17 May 1850, the daughter of Dr. George E. Reiley Hendree and Cornelia Vane Paine Hendree.x Laura had come to Atlanta following the War. As Miss Laura Hendree she was noted for her grace and beauty, and continued her prominence in social and religious affairs after her marriage to Zadok. In 1873, Zadok joined the Episcopal Church becoming a member of St. Philips Parish in Atlanta, Georgia. He soon became superintendent of its Sunday school and vestryman and in 1875, Senior Warden.xi In 1874 Zadok and Laura became the parents of Miss Emily Stewart Harrison, born on the 6th of January.xii She grew up to become a teacher and devoted to keeping “Fernbank” as a classroom for the children of the Atlanta area. In 1876 Zadok and Laura became parents to George Hendree Harrison born on the 2nd of September.xiii Hendree, as he was called, grew up to become an Episcopal priest. On the 23rd of October, 1878, Laura and Zadok became parents to Laura Hendree Harrison.xiv She grew up to marry Dr. Michael Hoke of North Carolina, a most respected surgeon and personal physician to President Roosevelt at Warm Springs, Ga. In the year of 1880 Zadok transferred his church membership to St. Luke’s Episcopal church and served this parish continuously as Senior Warden until his resignation in 1923, thus having been a Senior Warden in Atlanta for forty- eight years. In this same year, 1880, Zadok became a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. When he retired from this position in 1930, he had served for 50 years. He was also a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese and for 50 years he served as its secretary. He was also a member of both the Annual Diocesan Conventions and the triennial General Conventions for more than a half century. When he resigned his position with the Executive Committee of the University Board of Regents in 1928, the following was published in the minutes of the Board of Trustees meeting: “The Bishop of Kentucky reported for the special committee appointed to prepare at suitable expression of the Board’s regret at the resignation of Colonel Z. D. Harrison from the Board of Regents, and the Secretary was instructed to transmit a copy of the report to Colonel Harrison as follows, the report being adopted by a rising vote: It is with deep regret and with a sense of irreparable loss that we have learned of the resignation of Colonel Z. D. Harrison as a member of the Board of Regents. For forty-five years he has faithfully and loyally served the University of the South. As a member of the Board of Regents from its inauguration, he has given his best powers to further the welfare of Sewanee. We cannot find terms that to us seem adequate or worthy to express our appreciation for this devoted and unselfish service. Few, if any, have labored so many years for Sewanee; and none more wisely and unreservedly. It is a record that compels our admiration, commands our highest appreciation and wins our warm and enduring affection. Colonel Harrison’s contribution to the welfare and progress of the University of the South, both as Trustee and as Regent, is beyond all compensation. We feel our utter incompetency to do justice to our honored and beloved co-worker in describing his long and varied services. Through many years of anxious struggle and unparalleled sacrifices, in times of distress and uncertainty, his unwavering faith and incomparable leadership helped Sewanee to weather many storms and to cleave steadfastly to her ideals. When we speak of our personal associations with Colonel Harrison, we do so out of grateful hearts and loving memories. We turned to him for counsel, and he never failed us. We felt so sure of his motives, and always trusted him without misgivings. We summered and wintered with him to find in him “that chastity of honor that would feel a strain as a wound.” We are thankful for these many years of splendid service, and for the happy associations, and we sorrow over the circumstances that break our congenial relations which we shall ever hold in affection and heart-felt appreciation.”xv In 1881 Z. D. Harrison and J. J. Wynn bought and co-owned large plots of land on which “Fernbank Forest” is located. In 1889, Zadok assumed sole proprietorship. In 1893, Zadok D. Harrison deeded a large tract of land, which contained the forest, to his wife Laura H. Harrison. Zadok and Laura decided to build a summer cottage on the Southwest corner of the Forest. In order to provide access from Atlanta, Zadok constructed a plank road from Little Five Points to the forest area. It followed roughly the present course of Euclid Avenue, veered off near North Avenue (across the present Candler Park) and continued on into the forest. A wooded path existed along the route of present Ponce de Leon Avenue, but the main connection at that time between Decatur and Atlanta was the road known as Atlanta Avenue, which followed the railroad track.xvi On the 12th of June 1881 Zadok and Laura became parents to Cornelia Frances “Fanneal” Harrison in Decatur, Georgia.xvii Fanneal grew up to be a teacher and start a school known as “The Out of Door School” in Sarasota, Florida. On the 1st of June, 1883, Zadok Daniel Harrison, Jr. was born to Zadok and Laura Harrison.xviii Zadok, Jr. was a graduate of Georgia Tech with a career in sales. In 1884 Zadok Daniel Harrison became a charter member of the Georgia Bar Association at its organization.xix On the 7th of August 1888 Zadok and Laura became parents to Mary Courtenay Harrison who married Loring Raoul, businessman.xx On the 9th of March 1892, Miss Agnus Tinsley Harrison is born.xxi She is the youngest child of Zadok and Laura Harrison. She married attorney Brantley Weathers. In 1918 Zadok Daniel Harrison became an honorary life member of the Georgia Bar Association, and in 1922 he was elected President of the Association. He was treasurer of the Association for 32 years. In 1922 Zadok and Laura celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Here is an article from the Constitution newspaper describing the affair: “Colonel and Mrs. Z. D. Harrison celebrated their golden wedding anniversary Monday evening at “Fernbank”, their lovely Druid Hills home. They were surrounded by their children, who received with them and showered with good wishes from distinguished guests and the large family connection who were present. The spacious home, long known for its hospitality, and set on sloping hills in the deep woods beyond the Druid Hills Golf Club, was lighted by the soft glow of countless golden candles and decorated with spicy pines and graceful smilax vines. Candles in golden holders gleaned on mantles, tables, and bookcases throughout the lower floor. Yellow calendulas were the only blossoms used for the floral decorations and made lovely spots of golden color against the dark green of the foliage. The dining room table, from which supper was served at 6 o’clock, was covered with a handsome lace cover and held in the center a low plateau of golden calendulas encircled on the outer edge with fifty golden candlesticks holding golden candles gleaming softly. The white mints, which filled the golden bonbonieres used on the table, were embossed in golden letters with the monogram of the honored couple. Old-fashioned dishes of silver held golden wedding cake. Colonel and Mrs. Harrison received their guests in the wide front room at the north of the house. They were surrounded by their sons, Dan Harrison, of Rome, Ga., and Hendree Harrison, of Pensacola, Florida; and their daughters, Miss Emily Harrison, who is a member of the staff of the School of Technology, of Springfield, Mass.; Miss Fanneal Harrison, who has recently received an appointment from Herbert Hoover and will sail after the New Year for Belgium to continue her Red Cross welfare work; Mrs. Michael Hoke and Mrs. Loring Raoul. The little children of Dr. and Mrs. Hoke and of Mr. and Mrs. Raoul assisted in serving. Judge Marcus Beck, Judge W. H. Fish, Judge J. K. Hines, Judge Price Gilbert, Judge Warner Hill and Judge Samuel Atkinson, the six judges of the Supreme Court, with their wives, were guest of honor. In recognition of the event they presented Colonel and Mrs. Harrison with a handsome golden lined comport. The members of the Every Saturday class, of which Mrs. Harrison has been a member since it was founded, twenty-seven years ago, were also special guests. They presented Mrs. Harrison with a wonderful bouquet of golden wedding chysanthemums tied with golden tulle. During the day Colonel and Mrs. Harrison were the recipients of countless messages of good will, happiness and many beautiful floral tributes. Colonel Harrison is president of the Georgia Bar association, to which important office he was elected at the summer convention. For more than fifty years he has been clerk of the supreme court of Georgia. He is loved and honored throughout the state.”xxii In 1924 the University of the South conferred a degree of Doctor of Civil Law on Zadok Daniel Harrison.xxiii One of the most proud moments of Zadok’s life came in 1930 when he received his honorary Bachelor of Arts Degree from Oglethorpe University, some 70 years after the War Between the States stopped him from graduating and receiving his degree.xxiv In 1930 an Article in the Constitution stated, “As the years that have gone by, the record made by Mr. Harrison stands alone among living Georgians, perhaps. Briefly summarized, it is found that for 59 years he has been clerk of the state Supreme Court, 32 years treasurer of the Georgia Bar Association, 49 years trustee of the University of the South, 50 years Senior Warden in the Episcopal church in Atlanta, first Senior Warden of St. Philip’s Parish and later Senior Warden of St. Luke’s; 51 years a member of the Standing Committee of the diocese; 50 years secretary of the Standing Committee of the first diocese of Georgia, and 46 years a member of the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal church in America.” On the 21st of January 1931, Laura Hendree Harrison died at her winter home in Sarasota, Florida. She was brought back to Atlanta for burial at West View cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia. She was 81 years old, and wife of Zadok Daniel Harrison for 59 years.xxv In December of 1934 Zadok Daniel Harrison retired from his position as Clerk of the Supreme Court of Georgia, after 66 years. The Supreme Court began its history after his birth and he knew every Justice of the Court, except for two, Justice Starnes and McDonald.xxvi On the 24th of September, 1935 Zadok Daniel Harrison died. He was buried at West View Cemetery in Atlanta, Ga. beside his beloved wife, Laura Hendree Harrison.xxvii From the Memorial of Z. D. Harrison given by the Supreme Court in 1936: “When a man leaves this life, after nearly ninety-three years spent in it, one wonders what changes he has witnessed during so long a time. Z. D. Harrison had almost attained his majority when the Civil War began. Since then his country passed through three major wars, three Presidents of the United States have been assassinated, four dreadful monetary panics have come and gone, reconstruction and a woeful revolution have shaken this land. The telegraph, the railroad, the typewriter, the linotype, the radio, the telephone, the automobile, the airplane, the motion picture, the tractor, electric lighting, electric cooking, electric heating, new and devilish instruments of destruction on the ground, in the air, and under the sea, the use of anaesthetics, the combat with germ and accident, implements for cultivating the soil, methods for taking our mineral wealth all have first become known, or have first attained successful development, since his birth and while he was still with us; and this is but a partial list. In fact we marvel how existence was endurable without those things not known or not used before the time of his life’s beginnings.” Sources: 1. George W. Harrison Family Bible, copy provided by C.W.Harrison 2. The Constitution newspaper article dated Sep 25, 1935; and Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. 1, The Southern Historical Association 1895 (FSA) 3. Report of the Committee, Feb. 3, 1936 - Supreme Court Memorial of Z. D. Harrison, copy provided by Mrs. Edward H. Harrison. 4. The Constitution Newspaper, May 18, 1930; George W. Harrison Bible, Z. D. Harrison Bible. 5. The Atlanta Journal, May 18, 1930. 6. The Constitution Newspaper, May 18, 1930. 7. The Supreme Court's Memorial of Z. D. Harrison, 1936 8. Ibid. 9. Ibid. 10. Marriage license copy; Biographical Notes written by Z. D. Harrison for the GDAH. 11. Memorial of Z. D. Harrison by the Supreme Court, 1936. 12. Z. D. Harrison Family Bible - copy provided by Raoul Clarke. 13. Ibid. 14. Ibid. 15. Minutes of The Board of Trustees Meeting - University of the South, Sewanee, TN. - copy. 16. The Selected Chronology of "Fernbank", copy provided by James C. Smith. 17. Z. D. Harrison family Bible. 18. Ibid. 19. Report of Proceeding of the fifty-third Annual Session of the Georgia Bar Association, May 28,29,30, 1936 (GDAH) 20. Z. D. Harrison Family Bible. 21. Ibid. 22. The Constitution Newspaper, December 1922, "Fernbank" is Scene of Lovely Golden Wedding". 23. The Constitution Newspaper, Sept. 25, 1935. 24. Atlanta Journal, May 18, 1930. 25. Atlanta Constitution, Obit Laura Hendree Harrison, 1931. 26. 53rd Annual Session of the Georgia Bar Association. 27. West View Cemetery Tombstone pictures. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dekalb/bios/harrison1000gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 20.9 Kb