Malachi B. Harrison

SOURCE: The Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1889
Contributed by Michael Brown
18 Oct 1998

---------------------------------------------------------------------- SEBASTIAN CO

Malachi B. Harrison was born July 23, 1835, in Benton County, Tenn., his parents being Malachi and Nancy (Baggett) Harrison. The father was born in Sumner County, Tenn., December 9, 1805, and there grew to manhood. He then immigrated to Benton County, and there married Miss Baggett, who was born in North Carolina in 1805. Mrs. Harrison came to Tennessee by wagon when young, and settled in Benton County during its early history. She died in 1846, and was the mother of the following children: Matilda, Henry W., Malachi B. and Cynthia J. now living, and Nathaniel, John, Julia A. and James M., deceased. The following year Mr. Harrison married Polly Tittle, daughter of Anthony Tittle, of West Tennessee, by whom he had six children: George W., Dora A., William C., Victoria, Priscilla and Margaret (deceased). Mr. Harrison died in Franklin County January 13, 1888, aged eighty-two years, but his widow is still living in that county. The Harrison grandparents were natives of South Carolina, who immigrated to Tennessee in an early day, and were of French descent. They belonged to the family of which Benjamin Harrison is a descendant. The maternal grandparents were also natives of South Carolina, and early settlers of Tennessee. Our subject left his native State when nineteen, having passed his youth upon a farm, and received an ordinary education. He farmed one year in both Benton County, Ark., and Franklin County, and then spent two years in Denton County, Tex., after which he travcled a year in Arkansas. Returning to Denton County he remained ten years. He then passed one year in Franklin County, three years in Sebastian County, and eight years more in Denton County. He permanently located upon his present farm of seventy acres in 1881. He cultivates all his land, and is a successful farmer. During the war Mr. Harrison served one year in Company I, Choctaw Regiment, and three years in Company E, of the Twenty-ninth Texas. He was disbanded at Hempstead, Tex., in April, 1865, and had participated in the battles at Pea Ridge, Bird Creek, Poison Springs, Jenkins' Ferry and Cabin Creek. During the war he served as sergeant, and since coming to this county he has been justice of the peace two terms, and also served as school director. In 1862 he married Sarah L., daughter of Nimrod B. Tolle, of Texas. Mrs. Harrison was born in Lewis County, Mo., and has borne eleven children. Those living are Sidney M., Minnie R., Nancy C., Daisy D., Sarah A. and Thomas C. Those deceased: James E., Nimrod, Annie M., Ervin and Herman. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, and the former is a Mason and a Democrat.