Robert J. Harrison Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1119-1120 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				ROBERT J. HARRISON. 

	The history of Robert J. Harrison is that of a man who, correctly 
judging of life's opportunities, has made his career one of steady 
progression, his course at all times being characterized by adherence 
to the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and 
unfaltering enterprise. He was born in Linn county, Iowa, February 9, 
1881, and is the eldest child and only son of William H. and Jennie 
(Berry) Harrison, who were also natives of Iowa. They were married on 
the 30th of March, 1880, and are now residents of Cedar Rapids, where 
the father lives retired. The son and daughters of the family are: Eva, 
who is the wife of R. W. Beach, of Marion, Iowa, by whom she has one 
child, Ruth; Nellie, who married David Paul, of Springfield, Iowa, and 
has two children, Myrtle and Ruth; and Robert J., of this review. The 
paternal grandparents of Robert J. Harrison were J. and Matilda 
Harrison, natives of New Jersey and pioneer settlers of Iowa, who 
established their home in Linn county, where the father resided for 
many years. They now make their home in Pasadena, California. The 
maternal grandparents were Robert and Nancy Berry, the former now 
deceased and the latter a resident of Linn county, Iowa. He was born in 
Ohio, while his wife is a native of Indiana. 

	Robert J. Harrison pursued a common-school education in Iowa and 
afterward attended the Marion (Ia.) high school and the Cedar Rapids 
Business College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900. 
He made his initial step in the business world as a farmer but after 
his marriage entered the Tuttle Land & Loan Company of Cedar Rapids, 
with which he was connected for two years. At the end of that time he 
embarked in the real estate business on his own account and was thus 
engaged until he came to South Dakota in January, 1910. He then became 
identified with the Citizens State Bank at Lane, acting in the capacity 
of cashier for two years, at the end of which time he was elected to 
the presidency and has since thus served, carefully guiding and 
directing the affairs of the institution and making it one of the 
strong banks of the state. At the same time he is engaged in the real-
estate and farm-loan business. In January, 1915, he purchased a large 
interest in the First National Bank of Mitchell and was elected its 
cashier, so that he adds the duties of that position to his other 
interests, He is a man of resourceful ability. He finds it best to 
concentrate his thought and effort entirely upon the proposition or 
work at hand and then turn with equal readiness to the next duty. His 
business affairs are systematically conducted and a spirit of 
enterprise guides him in all his undertakings. In addition to his 
banking and real-estate business he owns a half interest in about four 
hundred acres of land in Jerauld county devoted to farming and stock-
raising. 

	On the 10th of July, 1901, Mr. Harrison was united in marriage to 
Miss Julia M. Douglass, a daughter of James W. and Carrie Douglass, of 
Johnson county, Iowa, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of 
Vermont. They became early residents of Iowa and are now living in New 
Hampshire. To Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have been born a son and daughter: 
Norman, whose natal day was April 15, 1902; and Florence, born May 29, 
1903. 

	The parents attend the Methodist church and Mr. Harrison holds 
membership with the Masons and the Odd Fellows. Politically he is 
identified with the republican party and was elected to represent 
Jerauld county in the state legislature in 1912 and again in 1914. 
During his connection with the general assembly he has carefully 
considered every question coming up for settlement and his support of 
or opposition to a measure is the result of a firm belief in the 
righteousness and value of his course. In community affairs, too, he 
has been active, serving as town treasurer and as president of the Lane 
school board. He meets all of life's duties and obligations fully and 
freely, being willing to perform his part in the world's work, and his 
influence has been a stimulating force for public progress and 
improvement.