August 1898 - The death of the aged mother of John Harrison, Of Clayton, occurred last week. She was ninety years of age. She had been a great sufferer and had been confined to her bed for many years.

--by Shirley 2009,

Special to The Indianapolis News. Clayton, Ind., Nov 29; posted by NJK (50661153) 4-13-24

The 90th birthday anniversary of Mrs. Nancy Harrison, living five miles south of this place was celebrated yesterday by her relatives and friends.

She was born in Tennessee in 1807 and came to this county with her husband Thomas Harrison in 1832. The country then was an unbroken wilderness and they reached here on Christmas day with the nearest town six miles away. A rude log cabin was hastily constructed and her husband entered two hundred acres of land. She assisted in clearing away the timber and it is an unusual fact that the original two hundred acres still remain in possession of members of the family, while the forty acres upon which the homestead stands is still controlled under the original land patent.

Her husband Thomas Harrison died in 1846 leaving her to battle for existence for herself and children. In 1865 she was attacked by a vicious cow, breaking her leg at the thigh and crippling her for life. For thirty-two years she has not taken a step except with the aid of crutches, and for twelve years she has not been outside of her room.

She is the mother of six children, three of whom are living: John Harrison, a merchant of this place whose home is at Indianapolis, is a son. There are twelve grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Notwithstanding her crippled condition, her general health is good and she bids fair to live for several years.