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1. SUBJECT:

Peachy Harrison Residence.

2. LOCATION:

Northwest corner of Court Square and Graham Street, Harrisonburg, Virginia.

3. DATE:

1820.

4. OWNERS:

• Thomas Harrison inclusive survey, November 13, 1770.
• George W. Harrison from John Ewing, June 4, 1819, $1,000 Deed Book 4, page 192.
• Dr. Peachy Harrison from George W. Harrison, September 1, 1920, $1,100 Deed Book 5, page 171.
• Mrs. Mary Effinger from Peachy Harrison’s Exrs. 1858, $4,000 Deed Book 31, page 343.
• Mrs. Bettie S. Effinger from Margaret L. Huston, January 2, 1871, $4,350 Deed Book 7, page 36.
• P.W. Effinger & c. by inheritance from Mrs. Bettie S. Effinger.
• E.B. Crawford from P.W. Effinger, $1,00 Deed Book 111, page 13.
• E.B. Crawford estate, present owner, 1927.

1. DESCRIPTION:

See form 3686, attached.

2. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Peachy Harrison 1777—1848, was the son of Benjamin Harrison and his wife Mary. By his father’s will he was devised the old home plantation at present Dayton, Virginia. Of all the children of the Colonel’s, Peachy appears to have been the only one to remain in Rockingham. He lived and died in Harrisonburg. His home there is still standing; the lower part now used for business and the upper part for residence purposes. Also the old home plantation owned and built by his grandfather, Daniel Harrison about 1749, which descended to Peachy by inheritance from his father, Colonel Benjamin Harrison. His education began very early, beginning when about four years old in a little country school at a place called Fishers Spring near Dayton. His teacher was Matthew Bowyers, and two of his kinsfolk, Joseph and James Craven, being fellow students, Joseph later becoming contemporary as a practicing physician in Harrisonburg. He finished school at the famous early medical school conducted by Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, from which he graduated. He settled in Harrisonburg where he became a distinguished practicing physician, as well as being engaged in other and various activities. He was an active Christian and Characterized through life by public spirit, integrity and benevolence. From 1824 to 1836 Dr. Harrison was Sheriff of Rockingham County, and later represented the County at Richmond as a member of the House of Delegates. He was also a member of the Convention, which met in Richmond in `829 to revise the State Constitution. He was contemporary with his cousin, Dr. Joseph Cravens, who also is thought to have attended the Rush Medical College. Dr. Harrison married February 29^th, 1804 Mary Stuart, the daughter of John and Frances Stuart, who was a descendent of Samuel, whose name was, spelled Stewart. John Stuart resided in the old Stone Church neighborhood. To this union was born eight children, three boys and five girls. Peachy Rush the youngest, born January 4, 1825, died May 22 1852. Chose as his life work his father’s profession. His prospects of becoming famous like his father in his profession were very bright, but he did not live to see the realization of his hopes. He died at the early age of twenty-seven years. He was one of the executors of his father’s estate, the other and surviving executor being William G. Stevens, who sold the home to Mary Effinger in 1858. Gessner Harrison, second child and second son, born June 26, 18-7, lived to become one of Virginias distinguished educators. Of him it has been said he was perhaps the most important figure in

Peachy Harrison Residence

Page 2

the education history in the Southern States in the period before the War Between the States. He was one of the nine first graduates of the University of Virginia, graduating in July 1828. On August 10^th of the same year, he was appointed Professor of the School of Ancient Languages at the University, a position which he held until near the time of his death, over thirty years. He was the author of an original work on the Greek preposition, a geography of Ancient Italy and southern Greece, and a Latin grammar, which for many years was a standard textbook. His memory is cherished by the University and his portrait now adorns the walls of its library in the rotunda at the head of the lawn. At the age of fifty-three he purchased a plantation in Nelson County, on which he founded a classical school known as Belmont Academy. While nursing a soldier son, invalided home from the war through illness, he contracted a fever from which he died. Dr. Harrison married December 15, 1830, Eliza Lewis Carter Tucker of Pittsylvania County, the daughter of George Tucker, professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Virginia. He was the author of a life of Jefferson and several works on political economy. Mrs. Harrison was the grandniece of George Washington through his sister, Bettie Lewis.

3. ART:
4. SOURCES OF INFORMATION: