Dwight H. Harrison

DWIGHT H. HARRISON. It was largely through the enterprise of the Harrison family that the State Bank of Downs was established and in over a quarter of a century of successful banking it has grown until it now enjoys a position among the strongest banks in the northern part of the state, having a capital of $35,000 and surplus and profits of $45,000.

The president of the bank is Dwight H. Harrison, one of its founders. Mr. Harrison was born at Chittenden, Vermont, October 3, 1869. This branch of the Harrison family originated in Derbyshire, England, and were colonial settlers in New England. The grandfather, William Henry Harrison, was born at Chittenden, Vermont, spent his life as a Vermont farmer, and died at Pittsford, in that state, before his grandson, Dwight, was born. He married Sallie Bogue, also a lifelong resident of Vermont.

William O. Harrison, father of the Downs banker, was born at Chittenden, Vermont, in 1823, grew up and married there, and spent his active career as a farmer. In 1882 he established his home at Holley, New York, and lived there the rest of his life. He had interests in Kansas with his sons, and he died here while visiting in Jewell County in 1895. He was an old-line republican in politics. William O. Harrison married Augusta Jane Garfield, who was born at Hague, New York, in 1827, and died at Holley in 1892, aged sixty-five years. Augusta, the oldest of their children, married J. E. Wilfong, a retired railroad man now living at Concordia, Kansas; William Henry is a farmer at Brandon, Vermont; Annie C. living at Santa Ana, California, is the widow of George H. Gale; G. G. Harrison is a retired farmer at Jewell City, Kansas; Hiland, a Vermont farmer, died at Brandon, that state, at the age of forty-three; Hugh is a retired farmer at Jewell City; Dan B. is cashier of the State Bank of Downs, and his personal record appears on another page; Elizabeth lives at Holley, New York, widow of H. R. Glidden, a banker.

Dwight H. Harrison, the ninth and youngest of the family, was thirteen years old when his parents moved to Holley, New York, and he finished his early education in the public schools there, graduating from high school and attending the Williams Business College at Rochester. In 1889, at the age of twenty, he came to Kansas, locating at Concordia, and for three years was connected with the Cloud County Bank and the Bankers Loan and Trust Company there. In 1892, associated with his father and brother Dan, he helped establish the State Bank of Downs, and has given that institution his very best service. The vice president of the bank is M. W. Hardman, the cashier, Dan B. Harrison, and the assistant cashier, D. H. Lockridge. Dwight H. Harrison is also a director in the Cloud County Bank at Concordia, and his bank is a member of the Kansas Bankers' and American Bankers' Association. He owns some business blocks at Downs and has a beautiful home surrounded with ample grounds and shade and fruit trees, the residence having been erected in 1916.

Mr. Harrison served as mayor of Downs for six years, is a republican, a member of Concordia Lodge of Elks, and in Masonry is affiliated with Downs Lodge No. 204, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Osborne Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, Beloit Commandery, Knights Templar, Topeka Consistory No. 1 of the Scottish Rite and Isis Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Salina.

In 1895, at Concordia, Mr. Harrison married Miss Ruby Paradis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Paradis, both now deceased. Her father was a butcher by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have one son, James O., born October 12, 1901, now a junior in the Downs High School.

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