Palmetto TimesVolume 16

No. 4October, 2013

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT By Cis Paulsen

COORDINATOR’S REPORT By Mandy Polson

been awarded a grant called the Legacy of Valor from the Pat-terson Foundation, so it seems only fitting to briefly discuss the word “valor.” “Origin: Middle English valour worth, worthiness, bravery, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin valor, from Latin valēre to be of worth, be strong. Its first known usage is attributed to the 14th century. “ Merriam Webster Dictionary Among its many definitions are: boldness or determination in facing great danger especially in battle; bravery; heroic; courageous and worthiness. These definitions also bring to mind this quote: “True valor is like honesty; it enters into all that man sees and does.” H.W. Shaw Abraham Lincoln is often referred to as Honest Abe; a reflection of his character and moral being. People relied upon his hon-esty, integrity and impartiality. As a commander in chief, Lincoln was straightforward, giving clear and precise directions. He was equally forthright in sharing his perceived strengths and weak-nesses of those serving under him as well. One such general to receive Lincoln’s direct observations was General Joseph Hook-er. In a letter written by Lincoln to Hooker on January 26, 1863, Lincoln speaks of placing Hooker at the head of the Army of the Potamac for what Lincoln describes as sufficient reasons. How-ever, he then goes on to announce his dissatisfaction with a state-ment made by Hooker that both the Army and the Government needed a Dictator. Lincoln’s response to this statement was: “Of course it was not for this, but in spite of it, that I have given you the command. Only those generals who gain successes, can set up dictators. What I now ask of you is military success, and I will risk the dictatorship.”Lincoln “believed in the great laws of truth, the right discharge of duty, his accountability to God, the ultimate triumph of the right, and the overthrow of wrong.” Leonard Swett A different type of valor, but valor all the same. Over the next year we will be honoring veterans through a series of event opportunities for both veterans and their families. Need-less to say these will be wonderful occasions to thank those who have given so much. We will kick off this series at our Christmas event with an emphasis on 1940’s WWII. We hope you will con-sider dressing the part for this special occasion and help us in decorating and perhaps loaning items for display to give the Park a real “step back in time” flavor. We will once again be hosting the Christmas Bake Shoppe and anticipate an even larger crowd, so lots and lots of goodies will be needed.

It is on the heels of September 11 that I sit down to write this column and I am keenly reminded of other days in history that will forever be emblazoned on our hearts and minds as a people and nation. As many of you know the Palmetto Historical Park has

Palmetto Historical Park staff are busily discussing and working on magic mirrors, a wicked stepmother, a handsome prince, caldrons, potions, apples and dwarfs! As I’m sure you’ve guessed: our theme in the library this Halloween is “Snow White.” We’re having fun planning, and can’t wait until all the little ghouls and goblins are here to enjoy our efforts. I imagine you’ve also guessed that we’ll need many volunteers. Watch out - we’ll be “lurking for you!”

Preparations are also underway for the annual yard sale. We have a couple of spaces left. If you’d like to participate, just give us a call. We’re in need of things to sell at the Palmetto Historical Commission table, so if you don’t want to go to the trouble of participating, but do have things you’d like to clear out of your house, just let us know!

September marked the beginning of our 2013-2014 school year field trips. Our new park employees were able to see and participate in all the fun activities we do with our elementary school visitors. Volunteers are needed to answer the phone and help with park visi-tors during field trips.

The last big event of the year is Palmetto’s Christ-mas in the Park. Help will be needed with prepara-tion, baked goods and volunteers for the event. The common thread running through this article - be it about Halloween, the Yard Sale, the School Program or Christmas in the Park - is our need for volunteers. We can’t do it without you and want all of our volun-teers to know how much you are appreciated!

Sincerely,Mandy Polson, COORDINATOR

Palmetto Times Page 2

Mini-Archives

HARRISON FAMILYby Evelyn Harrison Hoskins “SIS”

Graduated Palmetto High School, 1960

The first Harrison to enter Palmetto was Dr. Micajah Berry Harrison. He was a native of Greenville, SC and had served 4 years in Hampton’s Legion during the War Between the States, taking part in 29 battles. After the war he earned a medical degree from SC College in Charleston. He married Sallie Sullivan in 1865 and had one daughter, Sallie who married S.M. Parrish. His first wife died in 1867 and he married Cassie Miller in 1869. They had three daughters, Louise (Mrs. James Martin), Bessie (Mrs. George Dickie), Edith (Mrs. Cuthlert Bashford), and one son, Dr. Mac Miller Harrison.

Dr. Harrison first lived in Oak Hill (Parrish) and in the fall of 1889, he selected Palmetto as a preferable location. He was the first doctor north of the Manatee River and founded the first drug store (Palmetto Drug Co.). He did much of his out of town practice on horse-back but used a buggy in town. He would visit patients out of town and stay in their home until the patient was out of danger. In the 1888 yellow fever epidemic he was put in charge of the area north of the river by the US Surgeon General’s office. He purchased a house on 11th avenue across from the First Baptist Church where is found an area for park-ing. Dr. Harrison was of 22 charter members of the First Baptist Church in Palmetto in 1892. He was one of the founders and the first worshipful master of the Palmetto Masonic Lodge. He was also a member and president of Palmetto’s first City Council. After suffering injuries from a buggy accident, Dr. Harrison passed away February 22, 1912. The younger brother of Dr. M.B. Harrison was Wade Hampton Harrison. Born in 1854 in Greenville County, SC. Wade was only 11 when the war ended.

In 1878 he came down to farm part of the Alachua County property that had belong to his father and brought with him his wife, Elvira McCann Miller Harrison (sister to Dr. M.B. Harrison’s wife, Cassie) and their three oldest sons, Micajah Orr and Furman S and Wade, Jr. Wildes and James Lawrence were born in Alachua County. Their mother died there in 1887. So- there was Wade, with five little boys, the oldest only 11, and no wife. Mrs. M.B. Harrison wrote to Wade and asked him to come and visit at Oak Hill (Parrish). She had met a lovely widow, Tampa Anna Hendry Turner and wanted Wade to meet her. Wade came, met Anna and married her. In 1891 Wade sold his Alachua holdings and he, his wife, sons and step-daughter, Alice Turner along with new baby William Thomas all started for Manatee County. Wade, M.O. and Furman drove the stock through the then open range while the other members of the family rode in a covered wagon. At Ocala, Anna, her daughter and the small children got on a train and went to Tampa where they spent the night. The next morning the got on the old side-wheel steamer “Sadie” and came to Palmetto. The trip took all day. The family stayed with the Dr. M.B. Harrison family and eventually moved to the “Piney Woods” east of Parrish near Rye. Wade farmed and raised cattle and was a citrus grower. He became a member of Palmetto City Council, Manatee County School Board and was, like his older brother, a founding member and deacon in the First Baptist Church in Palmetto. His is the hand that wrote their Articles of Faith in 1898.

One more son was born to Wade and Anna: Clarence. This was a very “boy-heavy” family! Wade died February 8, 1918 from a heart attack at his son’s (Furman’s) home in Lily, FL.

There was one other brother to M.B. and Wade Harrison who was briefly in Palmetto, Dr. John William Harrison. He practiced medicine in Parrish but later moved to Sarasota becoming the first surgeon in that growing town.

Continued on page 3

Palmetto Times Page 3

MINI ARCHIVES, Page 2

Harrison Family

These three Harrison brothers are together again in Parrish Cemetery. Their descendants go by Harrison and many other names and have contributed in a multitude of ways to the growth and success of this area.

William Thomas Harrison was a circuit Judge for a number of yuears and his sons and grand children be-came lawyers, still practicing in Bradenton and Sarasota, Venice, Tampa and Inverness.

M.O. Harrison became both a representative and State Senator from Manatee County. He presented the bill to the Legislature which resulted in the state accepting Gamble Plantation and naming it Judah P. Benjamin Memorial.

H. Wildes became a leader in the Florida cattle Industry. He was a pioneer in the introduction of new grasses for cattle grazing, specializing in types that would stand long droughts. He was the first to grow Pensacola Bahia grass extensively. His ranch (now Harrison Ranch subdivision) became a show place for cattlemen and was visited by various groups, including officials of the National Department of Agriculture.His extensive holdings included control over the area that is now Lakewood Ranch.

Under the leadership of Josephine Harrison (Mrs. Murray Harrison), a daughter-in-law of Furman Harrison, the Palmetto Historical Commission was formed in 1982.

Some of our Harrisons who reside and work in Manatee County are George Harrison who still is in law practice with his sons, Joe and Tom. George’s brother, Bill Harrison, still practices law in Sarasota.

Mickey Harrison, recently retired from accounting, is still in Palmetto, along with daughters Barbara Green, Vicki Williams and Suzanne Dillingham and their families. Jo and Murray Harrison’s daughter Peggy Long teaches in the area. Reverand Tom Winter pastors at Elwood Park Baptist Church in Oneco and George Dickie has returned home to Palmetto.

Margie Nanny just left Manatee County School Board and son James is just beginning to teach in Manatee County.

I am happy to be back in our county and thankful that one daughter, Nancy Jane Preston and her family have chosen to live here also.

We have become lawyers, accountants, nurses, school spokespersons, teachers and just about everything else you might think of. We have always been civic-minded, family loving and very proud of Palmetto and Manatee County. Look around you-- it just might be a Harrison there!

Continued on page 4

Palmetto Times Page 4

MINI ARCHIVES: Harrison Family, page 3

George Harrison Joseph Harrison Tom Harrison

Left to right on porch:Tampa Anna, Alice Turner Berry, Wade H. Harrison, Clarence (little boy)L to R on steps:Furman, M.O. (Mac), Wildes, Hampton, Will, and Bounty

Micajah Berry Harrison, MD

John William Harrison, MD

M.O. HarrisonFL Senator

Wildes Harrison

Palmetto Times Page 5

Gone FISHIN’ SUMMER SOCIAL - July 20, 2013Sure was a “reel” fun day. Social featured fishy activities and crafts including fish printing and “Fishing for a prize”. North River Kiwanis Club held a mini fishing clinic for kids, First Baptist Church of Palmetto ran their train and an exhibit of antique fishing tackle was on display. All activities were free. “Snack It To Me” was on site with lunch and snack items available for purchase and Alex’s Lemonade Stand will be raising funds to help fight childhood cancer.

Adam Chasey from the Audubon SocietyKiwanis CLub Casting Clinic

Fish Print Craft

Fish Print Craft

Fish Print CraftAmara Nash (Left) and Krystin Van Leruven from our “sister site” (FL Maritime Museum

ACTIVITIES

HELP!Alex’s Lemonade Stand needs dona-tions: Please help provide sugar and/or lemon juice for the stand.The Historical Commission sponsors this lemonade stand, and supplies are low. THANKS for any help you can give us!

PLEASE Watch the mail and e-mail for

flyers with additional details of

coming attractions

Palmetto TimesVolume 16 No. 4October, 2013A Publication of thePalmetto Historical CommissionP.O. Box 1192Palmetto, FL 34220

Palmetto Times

Prepared by e. lou perry

CALENDAR, 2013 Coming ActivitiesOctober 5 Yard Sale 9 AM - 1 PM

October 15 Park will be closed thru October 19th at 4:30 PM when it will reopen for the Halloween Social

October 19 Halloween Social 4:30 PM - 9 PM

December 6-7 Christmas In The Park 5 PM - 9 PM

December 24, 2013 - January 2, 2014 Park closed for Holidays Watch the mail and (E-mails) for information on additional Palmetto Historical Commission Meetings

Board Meetings October 19

November 16

Pametto Historical Commission MeetingsNovember 2 General Speaker Meeting 10 AM - 1 PM Speaker TBA

Page 6

Inside This Issue:

President’s Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Coordinator’s Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Mini Archives: Harrison Family . . . . . . . . . . . 2,3,4Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2013-14 PHC Board of Directors:

President Cis PaulsenPast-President Ken Burton Secretary Judy BurtonVice President Ron SchneiderTreasurer Richard PackAt-Large Members Jim Alderman Bob Marble Ann Marshall MaryAltaDowd-GriffinHistorian Jim Alderman

elp