Bio of HARRISON, Hugh Galbraith (b.1822 d.1891), Hennepin Co., MN
=========================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information
on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities,
as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is
obtained from the contributor of the file.
These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or
presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to
use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written
consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter,
and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent.

If you have found this file through a source other than the MNArchives 
Table Of Contents you can find other Minnesota related Archives at:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm
Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find 
the submitter information or other files for this county.
FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives

Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Laura Pruden
Submitted: June 2003
=========================================================================
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
========================================================
submitted by Laura Pruden, email Raisndustbunys@aol.com
========================================================

EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical

HUGH GALBRAITH HARRISON - Vol II, pg 102-106
It is a notable fact that the men of enterprise who become factors in the
pioneer development of the community do not usually confine their attention to a
single line of business. They see countless opportunities for progress and
development and into various fields direct their efforts with results that are
of substantial worth in shaping public progress. So it was with Hugh Galbraith
Harrison, who in the year 1859 cast in his lot with those who were formulating
the policy and making history in the new but growing city of Minneapolis. In the
years that followed he was identified with the lumber trade, with important
commercial activities and with the banking business, being at the time of his
death the president of the Security Bank and one of the oldest residents of this
city. He was born in Belleville, Illinois, April 23, 1822, and was the ninth in
order of birth in a family of ten children, whose father, Thomas Harrison, had
removed from North Carolina to Illinois in 1803, settling four miles southwest
of the village of Belleville fifteen years before the admission of that state
into the union. In fact, the region in which he located was a frontier district
and with the early settlement and development of the country he was closely
associated. He was a sturdy man of Scotch-Irish descent, keenly interested in
the material and moral progress of his community. His work as a local preacher
of the Methodist Episcopal church advanced progress along the latter line, while
his labors as a farmer enabled him to aid in the work of reclaiming wild lands
for the uses of civilization. He not only tilled the soil but became one of the
pioneers in the milling business of the Mississippi valley and in 1826 made
investment of three hundred dollars in a mill at Belleville that was operated by
his three older sons, who left the farm to assume the management of the mill.
Five years later the father removed to Belleville with his family and in keeping
with his progressive spirit installed in his mill the first steam engine that
was set up in the state of Illinois. The steady development of his trade led to
the erection of a larger mill in 1836 but this was destroyed by fire in 1843. A
new mill was erected the following year and the business increased steadily
until the annual sales reached a million dollars.
Liberal educational advantages for that day were accorded Hugh G. Harrison, who
completed his studies in McKendree College at Lebanon, Illinois, and afterward
became associated with his father and brothers in their milling enterprise at
Belleville. In the year 1859 the brothers, Thomas A., William and Hugh G.
Harrison, came to Minneapolis, where each erected a fine residence, that of Hugh
G. Harrison being on a double block at the corner of Nicollet and Eleventh
streets, then far removed from what was the business section of the town. The
tract of land was a hazel brush thicket when it came into his possession but his
labors readily converted it into an attractive family homestead.
With their arrival in Minneapolis the brothers made investments in property here
and became important factors in the business life of the growing city, which
constitutes the gateway of the Northwest. They held their interests in common
for a time but at length their diverse tastes and business opportunities
prompted them to sever their business connections and enter upon different lines
of activity. They were, however, among the original stockholders of the First
National Bank of St. Paul and became heavy investors in the St. Paul & Sioux
City Railroad. In 1862 they erected at the corner of Washington and Nicollet
avenues the Harrison Block, containing a hall that for many years was used for
public meetings and concerts, one of the most commodious and attractive
auditoriums of the city. In 1863 the Harrison brothers became identified with
the lumber trade as partners in the firm of Joseph Dean & Company and through
the succeeding fifteen years their operations as lumbermen exceeded those of any
other firm of the city. They made investments in splendid timber lands,
purchased a large sawmill at the mouth of Bassetts creek, which they rebuilt and
equipped with modern machinery and with the growth of their manufacturing
interests they established lumberyards in various sections. They also built the
Pacific mill on the river bank just above the suspension bridge, which was for
years the largest and best equipped sawmill in Minneapolis.
When the brothers retired from the lumber business in 1877, having won notable
success through their operations in that field, they were instrumental in
organizing the Security Bank with a capital stock exceeding that of any other
financial institution of the city. T. A. Harrison became the president of this
institution with H. G. Harrison as vice president and Joseph Dean as cashier.
From the beginning the bank grew and prospered, becoming the foremost financial
concern here. From time to time the capital stock was increased to meet the
demands of the growing business until it had reached one million dollars, while
the deposits of the bank amounted to nearly six million dollars. With the death
of his elder brother, H. G. Harrison was elected to the presidency of the bank
and gave to it his personal attention throughout the remainder of his days. He
became recognized as one of the foremost bankers of the Northwest, pursuing a
safe and conservative policy that, however, did not hamper growth and
progressiveness. He believed in the adequate protection of every depositor and
conducted the bank accordingly and the business principles adopted in its
management led to steady growth and increasing prosperity.
Into still other fields Mr. Harrison directed his efforts. He became one of the
organizers of the grocery house of B. S. Bull & Company in the '70s and later
was active in the establishment of the grocery house of George R. Newell &
Company. He was also associated with the Minneapolis Trust Company, filling the
position of vice president at the time of his demise, which occurred August 12.
1891.
Mr. Harrison was married twice. He first wedded Irene Robinson, who passed away
August 13, 1876. On the 25th of October, 1877, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Wood
Hunt of Allentown, Pennsylvania, who survives. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison had six
sons, only two of whom are living. They are: George Harrison and Brigadier
General Perry Harrison. The deceased sons are: Edwin J., Lewis, Hugh and James
Galbraith Harrison.
Mr. Harrison was always deeply interested in public affairs and gave hearty
cooperation and support to all plans and projects which he deemed of value in
the upbuilding of the city and the promotion of those substantial forces which
uphold civic standards and civic progress. In 1868 he served as mayor of
Minneapolis and his administration was thoroughly businesslike. He was ever a
generous contributor to Hamline University and his religious belief was
evidenced in his membership in the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Episcopal church,
of which he was one of the trustees. He was ever a man of strong and well
defined purposes. There was nothing of the genius in his make-up, for his was a
well-rounded development that followed a carefully balanced interest in all
those questions which are vital to the individual and to the community. As a
business man he readily recognized and utilized opportunities and his labors
were directed in fields which proved of great benefit to the public, as well as
to the advancement of his individual fortune. His civic interest and activities
marked him as a most public-spirited citizen and that he was an extensive
traveler shows that he was interested in the study of world history and the
progress made by nations and by people. He intensely loved music, was a reader
of the best literature and his liberal culture made association with him a
matter of expansion and development to all those who came within the radius of
his influence and his companionship.