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RICHARD D. HARRISON was born in East Hanover, Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, June 15, 1820. At the age of thirteen
years, he moved to Springfield, Ohio, where he remained about two years at school, under the instruction of M.
G. Williams, at that time one of the best educators in the West. He then returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained
about two years, the most of which time he attended school at the Lebanon Academy.
After the death of his father (General John Harrison), who was a large manufacturer of woolen goods, and extensively
known, he returned to Springfield, Ohio, where he resided- excepting two years, spent in Cincinnati, until 1865,
when he removed to Columbus, his present place of residence. During his residence in Springfield he was largely
engaged in business, and formed a very extended acquaintance. He filled many municipal offices, such as member
of City Council, School Board, &c. In politics, Mr. Harrison was originally a Whig, casting his first vote
for Henry Clay, in 1844. He was a delegate to the Pittsburgh Convention, in 1854, that organized the Republican
party, and has ever since been one of its active supporters. In 1861 he was elected a member of the Ohio Legislature,
from Clark county, and re-elected in 1863, thus serving four years in that capacity during the eventful period
of the War. In the organization of the Ohio National Guard, Mr. Harrison was appointed, by Governor BROUGH, , Quartermaster
of the Thirty-fifth Regiment. In May, 1864, by consolidation of regiments under the State order, the Thirtyfifth
regiment was disbanded, when, at the request of the Governor, as State Agent, he visited Virginia, to provide and
care for the wounded and sick Ohio soldiers then being sent there from the battles at that time in progress in
the Wilderness. Subsequently, in the same capacity, he visited Nashville, Tennessee, and other places. Mr. Harrison
is regarded as a radical Republican. He has served, for the last four years, on the Republican State Committee,
the first year as one of its members, the last three as Chairman of the State Executive Committee, which position
he now holds. He was appointed State Commissioner of Railroads and Telegraphs, October 25, 1871, by Governor Hayes,
and, in January, was unanimously confirmed, in open session.
From:
Biographical Sketches of the
State Officers and of the members
of the Sixtieth General Assembly
of the State of Ohio.
By: W. Sarwin Crabb.
Ohio State Journal Book and Job Rooms.
Columbus, Ohio 1872
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