Walter S. Harrison Biography


	This biography appears on pages 165-166 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				WALTER S. HARRISON. 

	Walter S. Harrison, who owns and operates four hundred acres of 
fine land in Bon Homme county, was born near the old village of Bon 
Homme, August 11, 1875, a son of Francis W. and Martha (Abbott) 
Harrison, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The first 
part of his childhood was spent upon his birthplace, but he grew to 
manhood upon the farm where he still resides. He gave his time and 
labor to his parents until he attained his majority, and then he and 
his brother William started farming in partnership, renting the 
homestead. The brothers kept bachelor's hall until the older, William, 
married and brought his bride home. Fourteen months later Mr. Harrison 
of this review married and established a home of his own. In 1908 
William Harrison removed to his farm a few miles west, leaving Walter 
S. in entire possession of the homestead. He has since given his 
undivided attention to its operation and now owns four hundred acres of 
the finest land in the northwest. He is up-to-date and alert and is 
always willing to utilize the results of agricultural experiments, 
believing that by so doing he can secure greater efficiency in his 
work. His labor is rewarded by excellent crops and his annual income is 
a gratifying one. 

	Mr. Harrison was married at Tyndall, this state, March 1, 1906, 
to Miss Nellie Fenenga, who was born on the island of Schiermonicoog, 
Holland, on the 15th of January, 1879, a daughter of Jacob and Lolina 
(Viser) Fenenga. In 1881 the family sailed from Rotterdam for New York, 
and subsequently made their way to Chicago, where Mr. Fenenga found 
employment for two years in the Pullman shops, working as a fine 
cabinetmaker. Upon leaving Chicago, Mr. Fenenga and his family came to 
this state and purchased a farm in Douglas county, where they lived for 
twelve years. A removal was subsequently made to Lyman county, which 
remained the family home for about fifteen years. Mr. Fenenga 
eventually sold his farm and removed to Ashland, Wisconsin, but now 
spends a part of each year in Bon Homme county and part of the time 
with a married daughter who lives in Amsterdam, Holland. Another 
daughter is a missionary at Mardin, in eastern Turkey, between the 
Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and two sons are living in Oregon. Mr. and 
Mrs. Harrison have three children, Mabel, Francis and Lola. The wife 
and mother is a member of the Congregational church and quite active in 
church work. Mr. Harrison is a progressive in his political belief. 

	At the time of the memorable blizzard on the 12th of January, 
1888, Mr.. Harrison and his brothers were in school. He made his way 
for a half mile along a wire fence to his uncle's and remained there 
all night, but his brothers went on until they reached a neighbor's 
within a half mile of their home and spent the night there. Mr. 
Harrison is held in the highest esteem and honor in his native county 
and is loyal to the interests of South Dakota, believing firmly in her 
future.