The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-29
KNEW KING GEORGE.
Mrs. Harrison Passed Away at 100
Years-Traveled the World.
New York Sun.


There died in Brooklyn, 146 Lawrence
street, recently, a lady whose span OF life
covered an even century, whose memory
went back TO George III, who was twenty
dnree years old when Thomas Jefferson
dleo and who was mature woman of
thfrty-four when Samuel +. Morse fled
his caveat in the Washington Patent once
Tor the electromagnetic telegraph. She
was eight years old when Thackeray was
born.
old lady's name, and she was born I'm
Hampton parish, Middlesex, about twelve
miles from London, England. in the month
or November, 1903. Her father, she was
fond of telling, was bootmaker TO George
III. and 1t was in the vicinity OF Hampton
court palace that she frequently saw that
about the neighborhood which history de-
scribes Farmer George as fond OF taking
Mrs. Harrison was a handsome and
but her recollection OF him went back to
the time when she was a little child and
when one day as the King met her in his
chucked her under the chin. as Mrs Har-
rison always related In recalling the inci-
dent.
1t was not until she was a married vom-
an OF thirty-six years that she came with
her husband to this country, and for sixty
four years-longer than the average life
Time or people who are considered pretty
well on In years when they die-shs lived
In the United States.
John William Bristow Harrison. whom
Mrs Harrison married on the 18th OF
April. 1885. in st. Marks Church. Ken
sington, England, was in the dramatic
line, and when he came with his wife to
this country he Joined the dramatic COM
pany then engaged at Barnum'e Museum.
at Broadway and Ann street, where the
sky,scraping St Paul building now stands.
Both Mr.. Harrison and his wife became
celebrated in what were known as mon
ologue acts, and Mr.. Harrison got much
reputation as an impromptu singer, COM
Qnd fha rrnfnS
he went along, and often taking somebody
in the audience the topic and inspira-
ton OF his song The Harr1sons were long
associated with Barnum, and with him
In other theatrical ventures went all over
the country.
Their journeyings long ante-dated ths
time when railroads were IN general use.
and Mrs. Harrison used to relate many
incidents Of adventurous travelling in the
West and South, adventures that involved
stage coaches and horseback riding many
OF them humorous and others full OF that
excitement and element Of danter which
now has long gone out Of travel. together
One OF the things which Mrs Harrison
was particularly fond of recalling was
her Acquaintance with Tom Thumb La
vinia Warren. Commodore Mutt and ali that
bygone generation OF midgets. II was she
who was accustomed 20 introduce Tom
Thumb and all the rest OF them to tho
spectators, and 1t was her husband who
conceived the idea OF having a public GER
emony when General Thumb and Miss
1dNlnld warren were married.
Among the many curios which Mrs. Har-
r1son had got together in her long lifetime
and her wide travels were many of the
hliputian shoes and other articles OF wear
ing apparel which had been worn by the
celebrated midgets. Mrs Harrison treas
ured these particular mementoes highly,
for she very fond OF the little people
OF the Barnum world. a sentiment which
they. on their part. returned with much
cordially.
OF the many famous people she had met
both In England and in nearly every State
and Territory in this country. Mrs. Harri-
son had fund of interesting anecdotes to
tell, and she loved to recall the old days
in New York and contrast the size OF the
city she first knew IL with the greater
New York OF to-day. She lived in Brook
Ign nearly all the time she was In this
country; that is she always called Brook
Ign her home, and she could remember
when the site OF the present courthouse
and municipal building marked about the
extreme limit of the city's outer boun-
daries. And as TO her circle of acquaint-
ances, IL comprised nearly everybody who
attained distinction the American stags
during over half a century.