THE HARRISON FAMILY OF ANAMOSA (ca. 1919)

Standing; Ernest Benjamin Harrison, Mildred Harrison, Ralph Harrison holding son Robert, Florence Weaver Harrison (Ralph's wife), Lourn Templin, Maisie Harrison Templin holding son Ralph, Marian Harrison, Beula Marguerite Harrison Ballou, Earl Ballou. Front: Pauline Basner Harrison (Ernest's wife) tending to daughter Lione, Leona Levisa Walbridge Harrison holding Benjamin (Ernest & Paulines's son) Ernest Wyant Harrison holding Ernest (Lourn and Maisie's son).

Benjamin F. Harrison of Jones county, son of William Harrison and Rebecca Keys, enlisted in the Iowa 9th Infantry, Company B, as a musician on 12 August 1861. These are some of his letters to his parents. They offer a poignant view of the thoughts and feelings of an ordinary Iowa farm boy and soldier.

Biography

Benjamin F. Harrison, son of William Harrison and Rebecca Keys, was born 15 July 1840, at Marion, Hancock county, Ohio. In 1851, the family removed to Jones county, Iowa, settling first in Jackson township, and before 1854, in Rome township. William Harrison was a farmer and Benjamin still lived with his family on the farm at the time of the 1860 census.
Benjamin enlisted in the Iowa 9th Infantry, Company B, as a Musician on 12 August 1861.

He died 30 April 1862, of typhoid pneumonia at Forsythe, Tanney county, Missouri. The list of his possessions included: "1 Forage cap & cover, 1 Great Coat, 1 Uniform Coat, 1 Trowers(sic), 1 Flannel Shirt, 1 Shoes, pair, 1 Socks, pairs, 3 Blankets, 1 pr. Wristbelts, 1 Pocket Mirror, 1 Knife & Belt, 1 drumhead and stickholder, 1 Port Folio, 1 Port Monnau (NOTE: prob. meant "Manteau") $,25 (NOTE: there is a comma which could have been a hurried decimal point gone crazy in front of the 25, so he either had $25 or $.25)."

Civil War Letters

We are deeply indebted to the following family members for saving these missives and additional memorabilia from the Harrison/Crow families: the original recipients, Wm. Henry & Rebecca (Keys) Harrison, Aquila Belt & Mary Susanna (Harrison) Crow, Ida Eldora (Crow) Washburne, Ben Harrison & Mary (Litchgy) Crow, Mary Ethel (Crow) Belangee, and Esther Lorraine (Crow) Spray.