B KOI XX IXC, OF I [arrison The building of the Chicago ec Northwestern line through Sioux county put the first railroad within its limits. In eighteen eighty-six the work reached the present site of Harrison. The place was then called

Summit, because of its altitude which is forty-eight hundred and seventy-seven feet above sea level. Some distance north of the line of the survey was Bodarc, which as stated had a post-office, store, and newspaper, the Record.

The name of Summit was changed to Bowen by the railroad so naming the station. There was another Bowen in Nebraska and therefore the name was changed to Harrison. The town was incorporated May third, eighteen eighty-nine. W. R. Smith was the first chairman of the town board, D. P. Davis was town treasurer, and Theo. Timbers, marshall and street commissic'iier.

The railroad reached the town in June, eighteen eighty-six, and there were a number of temporary stores put in near the depot. These were generally boarded up a few feet from the ground, and had tents or canvas for the tops. Sellers & Griswold were the first to thus engage in merchandising. Anderson & Company opened the first drug store at the same time. Both were east of the depot as it is new located.

The first permanent building in the town for merchandising purposes was the Ranch Supply store, which building is now occupied by the Marstellers who are engaged in general merchandise trade.

The census of nineteen twenty gives Bowen precinct, including the village of Harrison, a population of six hundred twenty-one.