Contra
Costa County
Biographies
CAPT. ALFRED B. HARRISON
CAPT.
ALFRED B. HARRISON. A seafaring man for
thirty years, Capt. Alfred B. Harrison was no less a success in land
pursuits when he decided to train his sons to an agricultural life, selecting
at that time as his place of residence Contra Costa county, Cal., where he
remained until his death. He was born in
Plymouth, England, June 4, 1821, a son of Edward Harrison, and was reared
and educated there until he was thirteen years old. He then went to sea as an apprentice on
merchant vessels, and in the course of time received promotions which
eventually brought to him a captaincy.
For thirty years he continued in this occupation, traveling in many
parts of the globe and becoming familiar with various localities. In New York
City he met and married Isabelle MacLeod, a native of Washington, D.C., and a
daughter of Donald and Jane (Smith) MacLeod.
Her grandfather, John MacLeod, came from his native land of Scotland
about 1790 and settled in Virginia, and there Donald MacLeod was born in the
city of Alexandria. In young manhood he
went to Scotland and attended college, while there meeting and marrying his
wife, a native of that country. He then
returned to the United States and followed the occupation of journalist until
his death. His wife is also deceased.
Captain
Harrison, as before mentioned, continued to follow a seafaring life for thirty
years, when he decided to settle down to land pursuits, and train his sons in
an agricultural line. He therefore came
to California, stopping in San Francisco until he had found a desirable
location. In 1877 he bought a ranch in
Contra Costa county, today known as Glen Rest, and
entered at once upon its cultivation and improvement. He followed general farming and also put out
various fruits, and during a part of the ten years that he lived there acted as
justice of the peace of Walnut Creek, the town nearest his ranch. Disposing of that property he then bought
ninety acres of the William Hemme ranch, the
beautiful property upon which his widow and sons now live. His second son, Wilfred, early took an
absorbing interest in horticulture, and began at once to plant the seeds of
almonds, prunes, apricots and walnuts, from which he raised trees and grafted a
fine orchard. He planted the almond
trees just where he wished them to grow and they were in splendid condition
until the late rains and frost, which quickly proved that they were not a
financial success. He therefore cut off
the tops and grafted peaches, which now make a fine display. A handsome residence, commodious barns and
out-houses, and well-kept grounds add to the beauty and value of the
property. The death of Captain Harrison
occurred June 7, 1896. In his
fraternal relations he was a member of the Masonic order.
Surviving
Captain Harrison are a widow and four sons, namely: Edward, in the internal revenue service;
Wilfred, universally considered to be the best pruner and grafter known in this
section, and whose orchard is among the finest the country affords; Ralph, constable
of the county, and prominent fraternally, being a Mason, Woodman of the World
and Forester, and Neil, a carpenter, also a member of Woodmen of the World and
the Eagles.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 740-741. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Donna Toole.
Contra Costa County Biographies