Progressive Men of Iowa
1899

HARRIMAN, Hon. W. P. Having represented Franklin county in the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth General Assemblies and being at the present time a member of the senate, Mr. Harriman is known, at least by reputation, by every person who pays any attention to the leading affairs of state.

He was born in Warner, N. H., August 16, 1841, and attended the high school in the city of his birth, and the New London Literary and Scientific institution, in his native state. His first money was earned by working sixteen hours a day on the farm, for which he was paid at the rate of $13 per month. By great personal effort he early obtained a certificate and had taught one term when, in 1860, his parents concluded to move to Iowa. The son accompanied them and upon their arrival at Rockford sought and obtained a position as teacher, which vocation was followed for several years. He read law while teaching and working on the farm, and in 1869 was admitted to the bar at Charles City. He immediately opened an office at Cherokee, but as there were few people in the county at that time the practice was very limited and he soon drifted into real estate as a means of making some ready money. It proved much the more profitable and received his whole attention, to the neglect of his law practice.  Soon he was the owner of several pieces of property, including a tract of 720 acres immediately west of the town of Cherokee and adjoining the site recently purchased for the new hospital. On this land in 1873 he planted ten acres of trees of various kinds, which was the first artificial grove in the county. They have made such a wonderful growth in the twenty-six years that they may be seen from almost any point within the county, and constitute a landmark that will be regarded with interest in years to come.

In 1876 he disposed of nearly all of the real estate and removed to Hampton, where he again took up the practice of law. He shortly formed a partnership with W. A.  Church, a former pupil and graduate of the law department of the Iowa State university, who later sold his interest to the late J. W. Luke, the business being conducted under the firm name of Harriman & Luke until 1888. At that time Mr.  Harriman was compelled to retire because of ill health and engage in some pursuit wherein he could have the benefit of pure air and sunshine. He chose farming and stock raising and in that work has been successfully employed to the present time.  He has held various offices, viz.: Member of school board in Rockford county; superintendent of schools in Cherokee county; member of town council of Hampton; mayor of Hampton; county attorney by appointment by board of supervisors under former statute; member of the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth General Assemblies, and was elected to the senate in 1895 to represent Franklin, Cerro Gordo and Hancock counties, and will be re-elected in the present year. In his legislative work he is able, conservative and always loyal to the interests of his constituents. Besides having a place on many of the important committees during each session, he is frequently asked to serve on special committees, always with the greatest satisfaction to all concerned. Members of the senate have often remarked that they could learn more of a subject in a ten-minute speech from Senator Harriman than in an hour of the average speaker, because his ideas are so clearly expressed. 

He is a member of the Congregational church and belongs to the Masonic and Odd Fellow orders. He was married December 29, 1864, to Miss Ellen E. Mitchell.  They have three sons: John W., who is professor of anatomy in the Iowa State university; Wilbert E., filling the chair of pathology, histology and physiology in the Iowa Agricultural college, and Charles B.  Harriman, attending the public schools of Hampton.

Mr. Harriman has long served as director and vice-president of the State Agricultural society, and is now its president.

The information on Trails to the Past © Copyright    may be used in personal family history research, with source citation. The pages in entirety may not be duplicated for publication in any fashion without the permission of the owner. Commercial use of any material on this site is not permitted.  Please respect the wishes of those who have contributed their time and efforts to make this free site possible.~Thank you!