Alfred Craven Harrison Explained

Alfred Craven Harrison (February 20, 1846 – July 30, 1927) was an American banker and sugar dealer.

Early life

Harrison was born on February 20, 1846, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a son of George Leib Harrison (1811–1885) and Sarah Ann (Waples) Harrison (1816–1850).^[1] Among his siblings was Charles Custis Harrison, Provost of the University of Pennsylvania, Harriet Morgan Harrison (wife of William W. Frazier)^[2] and William Welsh Harrison (who built Grey Towers Castle).^{[3] [4]}

He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in 1864, later receiving the degree of Master of Arts.^[1] In the summer of 1863, before the Battle of Gettysburg, Harrison enlisted in the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry and served three months during the U.S. Civil War.^[1]

Career

In October 1864, he joined Harrison, Havemeyer and Co. at the Franklin Sugar Refinery, the largest refinery in Philadelphia. He continued with his brother and brother-in-law until the "retirement of the company in 1892"^[1] when they sold their stock to H. O. Havemeyer and the American Sugar Refinery.^[5]

He erected the Alfred Craven Harrison Building, at 4 South 15th Street, in Philadelphia. It was built between 1894 and 1895 (demolished 1969) and was designed by architects Cope and Stewardson.^[1]

He served as a director of the Western Savings Fund, the Philadelphia National Bank. He was a trustee of the Franklin Institute, the Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Personal life

On April 4, 1872, Harrison was married to Catherine "Kate" DeForest Sheldon (1852–1918), a daughter of William Crawford Sheldon and Mary Eliza (DeForest) Sheldon. Her brother was New York banker George R. Sheldon.^[1] Together, they were the parents of five children:

• Mary deForest Harrison (1873–1952),^[6] who married banker John White Geary, a son of Gov. John W. Geary.^[7]
• Alfred Craven Harrison, Jr. (1875-1925), physician and ethnographer, colleague of William Henry Furness III and Hiram M. Hiller, Jr.
• Kate Harrison Prentice (1878–1941),^[8] who married John Hill Prentice in 1899.^[9]
• Mildred Harrison (1879–1942), who married Count Karl von Holnstein of Bavaria, son of Count Maximilian von Holnstein.^[10]
• William Frazier Harrison (1884–1942),^[11] who married Alison Gowen. They divorced in 1931 and he married Lisa Norris, a daughter of John Cushing Norris, 1932.^[11]

Harrison, a member of the Philadelphia Country Club, the Corinthian Yacht Club, the Union League Club and the Rittenhouse Club, died in Philadelphia on July 30, 1927.^[12] He left his estate to his four children valued at $6,445,357 which owed Federal taxes of $690,875.^[13]

Notes and References

1. Book: Harrison . William Welsh . Harrison, Waples and Allied Families: Being the Ancestry of George Leib Harrison of Philadelphia and of His Wife Sarah Ann Waples . 1910 . private circulation only . 88 . 18 April 2022 . en.
2. News: TIMES . Special to THE NEW YORK . W.W. FRAZIER JR., RETIRED EXECUTIVE; Vice President and General Manager of the Franklin Sugar Refinery Co. Dies . 18 April 2022 . . 26 August 1939.
3. News: Times . Special to The New York . JEWELS WORTH $17,000 STOLEN; William Welsh Harrison's Home, Near Philadelphia, Scene of Robbery. . 18 April 2022 . . 28 November 1903.
4. News: Times . Special to The New York . WILLIAM W . HARRISON DIES.; Retired Sugar Refiner Was Socially Prominent in Philadelphia . 18 April 2022 . . 5 March 1927.
5. Zerbe . Richard . 1969 . The American Sugar Refinery Company, 1887-1914: The Story of a Monopoly . The Journal of Law & Economics . 12 . 2 . 339–375 . 10.1086/466672 . 724757 . 154995370 . 0022-2186.
6. News: MRS. JOHN W. GEARY . 18 April 2022 . . 17 December 1952.
7. News: John White Geary . 18 April 2022 . . 26 February 1940.
8. News: MRS. JOHN H. PRENTICE . 18 April 2022 . . 30 December 1941.
9. News: PRENTICE LEFT $1,875,938.; Bulk of Broker's Estate Goes to Widow and Daughters. . 18 April 2022 . . 30 November 1926.
10. News: TIMES . Special to THE NEW YORK . COUNTESS VON HOLSTEIN . 18 April 2022 . . 1 February 1942.
11. News: WILLIAM F. HARRISON, NURSERY EXECUTIVE; Head of Philadelphia Concern Ensign in First World War . 18 April 2022 . . 27 July 1942.
12. News: ALFRED CRAVEN HARRISON; Wealthy Retired Sugar Dealer of Philadelphia Dies at Age of 81. . 18 April 2022 . . 31 July 1927.
13. News: Times . Special to The New York . HARRISON LEFT $6,445,357.; Pennsylvanian's Estate to Pay Federal Tax of $690,875. . 18 April 2022 . . 21 April 1930.