REV. J. R. HARRISON
Is a son of Joseph Harrison, foreman of the Iron Works of Franklin
county, Virginia, and his wife, Lucy, daughter of Peter Kennett, a pioneer
of Floyd county, Virginia. The Harrison and Kennett families
were both of Irish extraction. The subject of this sketch was born in
Franklin county, Virginia, on September 21, 1832, and was married
near Roanoke, Virginia, Rev. P. Brown, of Franklin county, uniting
him in wedlock with Sallie E. Lunsford. The issue of this marriage is
five children: Elizabeth D., Lulu M., John Wm. (deceased), James K.
and Charles T. Mrs. Harrison was born May 6, 1832, in Bedford county,
Virginia, and was raised in Roanoke county. Her father was Thomas
Lunsford, of Northumberland county, Virginia, her mother Elizabeth
Nelms, of Bedford county, in which county the Nelms family were early
seated.
A number of the immediate family of Mr. Harrison were in the Confederate
States service, during the late war, including two brothers, a
brother-in-law who died in service of sickness, and three nephews, one
killed in battle of second Manassas, one killed at Gettysburg, and the
third severely wounded in battle before Richmond.
Mr. Harrison is pastor in charge of the Baptist church at Glade
Spring, Washington county, and is the originator and founder of the
justly celebrated Southwest Virginia Institute, of which he is present
financial manager. This Institute is now in prosperous condition, having
a full corps of able directors, facilities for 150 pupils, and property
valued at $20,000. Mr. Harrison is well-known in Virginia, and adjacent
States, as a most successful laborer in revival meetings. More than
twelve thousand persons have made a public profession of faith in Jesus
Christ in meetings conducted by him. A male academy has been foundered
by him at Glade Spring, and is doing a good work for the education
of boys.
