BIOGRAPHY: William Harrison; Newburgh, Orange co., New York

transcribed by W. David Samuelsen for USGenWeb Archives

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Portrait and Biographical Record of Rockland and Orange Counties New York
Containing Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative
Citizens of the Counties.
Together with Biographies and Portraits of all the Presidents of the United
States.
New York and Chicago; Chapman Publishing Co., 1895

WILLIAM HARRISON is one of the leading contractors and builders of Newburgh,
and one of the oldest members of the City School Board in years of service, as
he is now entering upon his third term, and altogether has acted nine years in
this capacity. In 1892 and 1893 he was President of that honorable body, and
for some years previous had been Vice-President. He was Chairman of the
Building Committee a long time, and is still one of its members, besides being
on the City Library Committee and Chair-man of the Committee on Supplies.

In the days of Cromwell, our subject's ancestors fought for constitutional
liberty in his army in England, of which country they were natives. The
great-grandfather, Matthew, removed to the North of Ireland, where he became a
large landowner, as were also his son, William, and grandson, Robert. The
last-mentioned was the father of William Harrison, of this article. Robert
died in the Emerald Isle, when only forty-seven years of age, and was followed
to the grave a year afterwards by his good wife, known in maidenhood as Eliza
Alexander. Her grandfather, David, was a native of Glasgow, Scotland, but
moved to the North of Ireland, where he became an extensive land-owner. Both
families were adherents of the Presbyterian faith.

William Harrison was born in County Armagh, Ireland, May 9, 1832, and is the
eldest of seven children, of whom two sisters and a brother are in America.
From the time he was about twelve years old he has had to make his own way in
the world, and about 1845 emigrated to the New World. For eighteen months he
remained in New York, and then worked for farmers in Orange County until 1848,
when he came to Newburgh. He is truly a self-made man, and though he is now
exceptionally well informed, it is owing to his tireless efforts to obtain an
education. He attended night school to some extent and was a burner of the
"midnight oil." In 1850 he began an apprenticeship to the bricklayer's and
mason's trade with Gerard & Boyd, and la-ter worked as a journeyman for two
years in New York City.

In 1862 Mr. Harrison commenced building and taking contracts on his own
account. He is still engaged in the building business and stands ready to
execute any and all contracts in his line he may be entrusted with. In 1866 he
purchased five-eighths of an acre (then a cornfield) at what is now the corner
of Dubois Street and Gidney Avenue, and in 187o erected the residence thereon
in which he still makes his home. He superintended the construction of the new
free academy and many of the buildings of the city and locality. His success
in business was assured from the start, and he often has employed forty or
more men in the busy seasons.

The marriage of our subject, which occurred May 19, 1857, united him with
Sarah B. Duke. She was the youngest daughter of Matthew Duke,an old resident
of Newburgh, who for many years carried on a grocery on the corner of Third
and Smith Streets. She died December 14, 1891, leaving five children: William
R., of the firm of J. W. Matthews & Co.; Edwin H., of Brooklyn; Charles H.,
clerk for J. W. Matthews & Co.; Walter B., clerk in the Quassaick National
Bank; and Joseph, who is studying architecture in the office of F. E.
Estabrook. The children have all received good educations and are graduates of
the local academy. The family is now identified with Trinity Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which our subject has been Sunday-school Superintendent.
He has also served on the Official Board, and for years was a member of the
Orange County Bible Society.