William Thomas Harrison

Revised 8/7/2014

I have very little to go on. William Thomas Harrison went by his middle name, Thomas, and was married twice. His Find A Grave # is 23810430 has the wrong birth date. I wrote to Highland to ask for more information and this was the response, "The City of Wichita manages Highland Cemetery for the State of Kansas through a maintenance trust. The original owners provided limited information when they relinquished management to the State. The only information I have regarding Highland Cemetery is grave location, which you already have. Unfortunately, I will not be able to provide additional information about the purchase of grave sites."

According to a Missouri Marriage Record, Thomas L. Harrison married his second wife, Mary Elizabeth Lowe, on March 22, 1871, in Shelby County, Missouri. She was the oldest daughter of Peter and Rosanna Lowe who had 12 children. Peter Lowe was working as a blacksmith in the 1860 and 1870 census records. He was born in New Jersey, and his wife, Rosanna in North Carolina. Thomas Harrison's first wife, Mary Ann Northcraft, had passed away in 1866, possibly from childbirth. She and Thomas had two sons, William H. in about 1864 and James L., in about 1866.

Per the 1880 U.S. Federal Census taken on the 18th day of June in Union Township, Marion County, Missouri, Thomas L. Harrison, 45, was living with his second wife, Mary Elizabeth, 38, and children (by his first wife) William H., 16, and James L,, 15, and their daughter, Ida M., 4, and son Peter K., two months old. Thomas was working as a farmer, his wife was keeping house, and his two older sons were working on the family farm. Thomas was born in Virginia, as was his father, his mother was born in Pennsylvania. Mary Elizabeth was born in Missouri, her father in New Jersey and her mother in Tennessee. All of the children were born in Missouri.

By the 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Towanda, Butler County, Kansas, Thomas Harrison, 65, and Mary Harrison, 58, were living with their 15 year old son, Homer. They had been married for 29 years, had 5 children and 4 were still living. Thomas was still working as a farmer. This census showed Thomas was born in Virginia, Mary in Missouri, her father in New Jersey and her mother in South Carolina. They owned their own farm free from a mortgage.

In the 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Butler, Hickory County, Kansas, Thomas Harrison, 75, and Mary, 68, were living with their son, Robert, 28, and his wife, Dora, 25, and their daughter Etzie, 6, son Wilbur, 3, and daughter Leatha, one month old. Also living in the home was a man named John Layton, 22, listed as a partner of Robert's. Robert was born in Missouri, Dora and their children in Kansas. Robert was working as a farmer on a rented farm. Thomas was no longer working and had his own income.

Eight years later Thomas passed away at the age of 83 on November 11, 1918, in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, and was buried in the Highland Cemetery there. The following year, his wife, Mary Elizabeth, passed away on August 31, 1919, at the age of 77, and was buried with her husband in the Highland Cemetery.

When Robert Elmer Harrison completed his U.S. world War I Draft Registration Card on September 12, 1918, in Wichita, Kansas, he described himself as being tall with a medium build and was 35 years old, having been born December 19, 1882. He was living at 2820 E. 9th Street with his wife, Dora, and was working as a farmer for himself but was employed by Earl Douglass in Wichita, Kansas.

By the 1920 U.S. Federal Census for Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, Robert Harrison, 36, was living in a rented home located at 1864 Silver Street with his wife, Dora, 34, and their children: Etsil, 15, Wilbur, 12, Peletha, 9, Willie, 7, and Lileth, 2 years, 4 months old. Robert was working as a laborer. Ten years later in the 1930 census, they were still living in Wichita in a home they were renting for $20.00 per month and were listed as Robert, 47, Dora, 44, Lileth, 12, and Floyd, 10. Robert was still working as a laborer in a broom factory and Dora as a hotel maid.

A 1940 U.S. Census record for Gallatin, Gordon, Montana, showed a Robert Harrison, 56, living with a wife named Mae Thelma Harrison, 56, and son Floyd E., 19, who was born in Kansas, so it appears that Robert and Dora had divorced. Robert and Mae Thelma had been living in the same place in 1935, but Floyd was living in Wichita, Sedgwick, Kansas, in 1935. Robert was working as a laborer, cutting wood in the timber, and Floyd was working as a sign shop man. Robert's income in 1939 working 52 weeks at 25 hours per week was $300.00. No income was listed for Floyd. Robert and Mae Thelma had an 8th grade education and Floyd had 1 year of high school.

Robert Elmer Harrison passed away on January 30, 1954, at the age of 72 in Yakima, Washington. His mother's name was listed as Mary Laue (Lowe) in the Washington State Death Records. Dora Harrison, born June 5, 1885, in Kansas, passed away in October 28, 1975, in Banning, Riverside County, California.