Frederick-Loudoun County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Biographies.....Harrison, Judge Thomas Walker 1856 - 
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Alice Warner http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00015.html#0003503 August 12, 2008, 7:31 pm

Author: Lyon G. Tyler LLD

HARRISON, THOMAS WALKER, judge of the seventeenth judicial circuit of Virginia,
was born in Leesburg, Loudoun county, Virginia, August 5, 1856. His father,
Matthew Harrison, was commonwealth's attorney, and represented his county in the
house of delegates of Virginia. His marked characteristics were earnestness,
energy, industry,
and great activity in everything with which he connected himself. Judge
Harrison's mother was Harriet Jones, a lineal descendant of Richard Henry Lee,
the "Cicero of Virginia," and "mover" of the Declaration of Independence. On his
father's side Judge
Harrison belongs to the famous Virginia family which has furnished "signers," 
governors, soldiers, presidents in days gone by, and which is still capable of
furnishing men of mark to Virginia and other commonwealths.

After receiving his early academic training under such teachers as Virginius
Dabney, the author and scholar, and Hilary P. Jones, the noted principal of
Hanover academy, young Harrison entered the University of Virginia, where he
took the degrees of Master of Arts and Bachelor of Law. With this superb
equipment and a grit never surpassed, he began the practice of law in
Winchester, Virginia, September 1, 1879. For about five years, while
establishing himself in his profession, he edited a newspaper.

In 1887, Mr. Harrison was elected to the State senate of Virginia, and was
reelected in 1891. In the senate he was marked by conservatism, energy and
devotion to duty. The way to success, in his opinion, is through honesty,
industry, and attention to detail; and those virtues he practices in his career
as lawyer, as senator, and as judge. His constituents have always found him a
faithful and conscientious representative. From
the senate chamber he was raised to the circuit bench in 1893. This was under
the old constitution of Virginia, which expired July 10, 1902, at 12 M. In 1901,
he was elected a member of the constitutional convention of Virginia. Under the
new constitution,
Judge Harrison was elected judge of the seventeenth judicial circuit —- a
position which he fills at present. His circuit embraces the counties of
Frederick, Clarke, Warren, Shenandoah, and Page, and the city of Winchester.

As said already, Judge Harrison belongs to the distinguished Harrison family,
and to the no less eminent family of Lee. With such antecedents and the
educational advantages
already spoken of, success would seem inevitable; but, when to these elements of
inspiration, we add the virtues named above, we may well expect success of a
high order.

From early youth, Judge Harrison has been fond of books, especially of history
and historical novels. It was in good ground, then, that his noble teachers,
Dabney and Jones, and the professors at the University, sowed their seed; and it
sprang up
and bore fruit an hundred fold. In the hurry of a busy practice and of his
duties as judge, he finds time to extend his knowledge of the English
historians, poets, and novelists. With such standard literature he relaxes his
mind, while too many of our
people read great masses of trash that add nothing to their culture, but merely
kill time, and oftentimes kill character no less.

To young Americans eager for true, and honorable success, Judge Harrison's
advice is to be scrupulously honest in all business dealings, to work, and pay
strict attention to details, to be frugal and sober.

Judge Harrison has been twice married : first to Julia Knight, who died January
19, 1899; second, to Nellie Cover. By his first marriage, he had six children,
of whom four are now living (1906). By his second marriage, he has had one
child, now living. Judge Harrison resides in Winchester, Virginia, and can be
found there, except when his duties as judge oblige him to be elsewhere.

In politics, Judge Harrison is a Democrat. He has never been a professional
politician, but, as already seen, has served his people in a representative
capacity. His success in life is due to a combination of causes, such as home
training, laudable family
pride, example of his elders, education, culture, energy, integrity, ability. It
is a great thing for the state when such scions of her most honored families
stand at the front, to steer the ship of state, and to wear judicial ermine.

The postoffice address of Judge Harrison is Winchester, Virginia.

Additional Comments:
from 
Men of Mark in Virginia, Vol. II, 1907.

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