Rev Joseph Harrison and Nancy Price Harrison

Rev.'s occupation:  Ministr-Reg-Deeds. He was christened in Ordained Mins, Yadkin Bapt Ch, May 20, 1833. He was born the 4th day of February in the year of our Lord 1799 in then Iredell County, now Alexander County close to Black Oak Ridge. He professed the religion of Jesus Christ October 6, 1821 and joined the Baptist church. Although he started preaching in 1825 he didn't begin his ministry until 1833. He was ordained on May 20. Joseph Harrison was one of the founders of Bushy Fork Baptist Church. He died Jan 17, 1874.

I DO HEREBY CERTIFY WITH GREAT PLEASURE FROM PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCE AND RELIABLE INFORMATION THAT REV. JOSEPH HARRISON WAS A DIGNIFIED, MEEK, AND ACCOMPLISHED GENTLEMAN OF TALENT AND PRACTICAL SENSE, SOLID AND SOUND JUDGMENT, GREAT DEXTERITY OF THOUGHT, HONEST, HONORABLE, CIVIL, DECENT, PURE AN CIVIL PRINCIPLES, POLISHED, SOFT, FLOWERY, POLITE AND FASHIONABLE MANNERS, AND A SOCIAL AN A GOOD DISPOSITION. HE WAS UNIVERSALLY BELOVED AND HIGHLY ESTEEMED IN THE CIRCLE OF HIS ACQUAINTANCES. HE WAS IN GOOD AND RESPECTABLE STANDING.

IN THE REGULAR DISCHARGE OF HIS MINISTERIAL DUTIES WHICH HAD THE CARE OF SOULS HIS LABORS WERE GREATLY BLESSED. THE SOUND OF HIS DELIGHTFUL VOICE WILL LONG BE REMEMBERED BY THOSE WHO HAVE HEARD HIM. ALTHOUGH HE WAS DEAF SOME FIFTEEN OR TWENTY YEARS BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE CONTINUED TO PREACH WITH GREAT POWER AND SUCCESS. HE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT, HE KEPT THE FAITH; AND, HE WILL RECEIVE THAT CROWN OF GLORY WHICH IS LAID UP FOR HIM IN HEAVEN.

ON CONCLUSION, HE WAS ORDAINED AND SET APART TO THE MINISTRY IN YADKIN CHURCH IN WILDES COUNTY BY THE PRESBYTERY OF RICHARD PARK, PHILLIP POWELL, SMITH FERGUSON AND REV. LARKIN HODGES. HE HAS LEFT HIS FRIENDS AND BRETHREN TO MOURN HIS LOSS THROUGH THEIR AND OUR LOSS IS HIS ETERNAL GAIN. HE WAS A HOST, AND THERE WERE BUT FEW HIS EQUAL IN DOCTRINE AND DISCIPLINE.

Minutes of Stony Fork Association, 1875

Larkin Hodges, Moderator 18:06:31  11/16/1985

William E. Greene, Clerk

REV. JOSEPH HARRISON PREACHED FROM 1825 TILL HIS DEATH IN 1894. HE WAS REPEATEDLY ELECTED REGISTER OF DEEDS OF WATAUGA COUNTY, BUT DURING THE CIVIL WAR HE REMAINED LOYAL TO THE UNION, REFUSING TO TAKE THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE CONFEDERACY, WITH THE RESULT REV. D.C. HARMON SERVED DURING THAT TIME.

More About REV. JOSEPH HARRISON:

He was Register of Deeds from 1850 to 1860 and from 1865 to 1870.

end of notes from Bob Moretz.  I will also note that all of this information is public knowledge on the Harrison Repository on the World Wide Web.