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Harrison, John S. (1790-1838)
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Aler's History of Martinsburg and Berkeley County, West Virginia
by F. Vernon Aler, 1888
Printed for the Author by 
The Mail Publishing Company, Hagerstown, MD.

CHAPTER VIII.
Historical Pen Sketches of the Early Residents of Berkeley County
by the late Hon. Chas. James Faulkner.

Pages 144-146, JOHN S. HARRISON 

Was one of the most highly educated and accomplished physicians
that up to that day had sought a home in Berkeley county. Descended
from one of the most respected of the old families of Maryland, he
was born on West river, Anne Arundel county in 1790. At the age of
thirteen, he was sent to St. John's College, in Annapolis, and
there spent six years in completing his elementary, classical and
scientific studies. At the age of twenty he was sent to Europe,
where he spent four years in the medical and surgical instructions
of France and England, preparing himself for the practice of his
profession. In 1805 he was married to Holland Williams Stull, the
niece of that distinguished patriot and hero of the Revolution,
General Otho. Holland Williams, after whom she was named. In 1806
he removed with his young bride to Martin sburg, which he sought as
a permanent home, purchasing as a residence the property at the
northwest corner of King and German streets, which he occupied
during his life.

His pleasant and social manners, frank and manly deportment, with
the general recognition of his high attainments in his profession
soon introduced him to a profitable practice; and as there were no
physicians at that time in the county, beyond the limits of
Martinsburg, his practice was soon co-extensive with the county.
His patients had unbounded confidence in his skill and judgment and
his opinion upon all medical questions soon came to be regarded as
oracular.

He was a man of ardent temperament and gave expression to his views
on all subjects with frankness and decision. He was a Jeffersonian
Democrat, and regarded as one of the acknowledged leaders and
representatives of that minority party in this county.

At that day what were called the "Federalists" had complete control
of the county. Most of its then leading and influential families
adhered zealously to the principles of that party, such as the
Pendletons, Hunters, Colstons, Waggoners, Porterfields, Orricks,
Newkirks, Shearers, Snodgrasses, Campbells, Vanmetres, Gorrells,
Burns, Boyds, Tabbs, Stephensons, Wevers, Tates, &c. There was much
exclusiveness in the distribution of patronage, and it rarely
happened that one of the opposite party was honored by any official
or political preferment.

The Federalists wrecked their party by violent opposition to the
war of 1812-18 with Great Britain. The military and naval victories
of that war and its glorious and triumphant results utterly
annihilated all opposition to the conquering Democracy. From that
time a more conciliatory spirit was manifested by the ruling party,
and among the first evidences of that change of policy was the
recommendation in 1818, of Dr. Harrison for a seat as a justice of
the peace, upon the bench of the County Court of Berkeley. He
accepted the position and for near ten years discharged its duties
with intelligence and promptness.

Upon the death of Maj. Faulkner in 1817, he qualified under his
will, as one of his executors, and by his kind, generous and
parental attention to the writer of this sketch, justified the
confidence reposed in him.

For some years before his death he was confined to the house by a
severe attack of gout, under which he suffered until he expired in
October, 1838.

He left a large and interesting family of children, some of whom
and the descendants of others are still in this community.

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