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BERKELEY COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA - BIOS: HARRISON, Peyton Randolph
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Submitted to the West Virginia Biographies Project by:
Valerie Crook
vfcrook@trellis.net
September 19, 1999
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The History of West Virginia, Old and New
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc.,
Chicago and New York, Volume III,
pg. 242-243
Berkeley County
PEYTON RANDOLPH HARRISON bears a historic name, is a
member of the third successive generation of that name,
and for many years has been an active and prominent citi-
zen and business man of Martinsburg.
He was born in that city. His father, Peyton Randolph
Harrison, was born at Clifton on the James River, and his
grandfather, Rev. Peyton Randolph Harrison, was born at
Brandon on the same river and represented the distin-
guished Harrison family of that state. Rev. Mr. Harrison
was a Presbyterian minister, and at an early time was iden-
tified with the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church at
Martinsburg. He finally removed to Baltimore, where he
spent his last years retired, dying at the age of eighty-one.
He married a daughter of Judge Carr, of Virginia. Their
children were: Mrs. William Hoge; Mrs. Lyle Turnbull;
Mary, who became the wife of Maj. Robert W. Hunter;
William Wirt; Peyton Randolph; and Henry Tucker.
Peyton Randolph Harrison, II, graduated from the law
department of Princeton University and achieved a very suc-
cessful practice at Martinsburg. He was appointed to de-
liver the oration at the 4th of July celebration at Martins-
burg in 1860. Immediately before the outbreak of the war
between the states he entered the Confederate Army, with
the commission of lieutenant, and he and two of his cousins
were killed in the first battle of Manassas. He married
Sarah Forrest Hunter, a native of Martinsburg and daugh-
ter of Edmund Pendleton and Martha Crawford (Abell)
Hunter. Edmund Pendleton Hunter was a native of Mar-
tinsburg, an attorney by profession, and died of cholera
in early life. He was a grand master of Virginia Masonry
before the state was divided, and was one of the first emi-
nent grand commanders of Knights Templars in West Vir-
ginia. In that capacity he laid the cornerstone of the old
Reformed Church at Martinsbnrg. Later, when this church
was burned down, his grandson, the present Peyton Ran-
dolph Harrison, as grand master officiated at the corner-
stone laying. E. P. Hunter's wife was born near Elkwood
in Jefferson County. Sarah F. Harrison is still living, at
the age of eighty-eight. She became the mother of the fol-
lowing children: Jane Cary, wife of Rev. Edward D.
Washburn; Edmund P.; Peyton Randolph.
Peyton Randolph Harrison, III, was educated in a pri-
vate school taught by John Sellers, a Scotchman, and fin-
ished his military and technical education in the Virginia
Military Institute at Lexington, where he specialized in
civil engineering. On returning to Martinsburg he took
up a business career, and since 1888 has been prominent in
the insurance and bonding field. He represents gome of the
standard companies of fire, life, accident and liability insur-
ance. His influence and capital have been identified with
a number of commercial enterprises. He helped organ-
ize and is principal owner of the Expert Apple Company,
being secretary, treasurer and general manager of this cor-
poration.
Soon after his college career Mr. Harrison was chosen a
magistrate. In 1896 he was candidate for re-election, but
suffered defeat with the republican landslide of that year.
Subsequently he was appointed by the County Court, and
served two and a half years. In 1912 he was elected mayor,
serving two years, and in 1916 was again chosen the city's
chief executive. In 1913 he was appointed deputy collector
of internal revenue, with office in the Federal Building at
Martinsburg, and he held that post until June 30, 1921,
when the office was abolished. In the meantime he had col-
lected for the Government a sum totalling $1,450,000. Mr.
Harrison is commissioner in chancery for the Circuit Court,
and several cases have been referred to him from the Fed-
eral Court.
He has been twice married. His first wife was Lillian
Gorham, a native of Rockford, Illinois, and daughter of
Marquis L. and Helen (Meade) Gorham. She died in 1890,
leaving a daughter, Lillian, who is the wife of Forrest A.
Brown, only son of Forrest W. Brown, of Charles Town,
and they have three children, Sarah Forrest, Forrest Wash-
ington and Peyton Randolph Brown. For his second wife
Mr. Harrison married a daughter of E. Holmes and Lily
(Dandridge) Boyd, of Winchester. The two children of
this marriage are Peyton Randolph and Ann Spotswood.
The family are members of the Presbyterian Church. Judge
Harrison is affiliated with Equality Lodge, A. F. and A. M.,
Lebanon Chapter No. 2, R. A. M., Palestine Commandery
No. 2, K. T., of which he is a past eminent commander, and
Osiris Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wheeling.
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