This is brief history of Harrison taken from:

History of the Municipalities of Hudson County, New Jersey 1630-1923.  Editor in 
chief, Daniel Van Winkle.  Published by Lewis Historical Publishing, Inc.  New York 
and Chicago, 1924.

This text was typed by Mona Bross Hylton.  Thanks Mona!


HARRISON

Prior to 1840 when Hudson county was created as a separate 
organization, the township of Harrison extended northward to the 
southern line of the present town of Rutherford.  When that 
separation took place the territory now known as North Arlington, 
Kingsland, and Lyndhurst, took the name of Union township.  The 
Schuyler copper mines, the old settlement at Kingland, and a 
large part of the original estate owned by the first Arent 
Schuyler, by this division lost their identity with the West 
Hudson communities,  the new county line crossing the upland on 
the line of the old copper mine road, which is now called 
Belleville Turnpike and eastward across the meadows on the line 
of Sawmill creek to the Hackensack river, some distance north of 
Snake Hill.
There are apparently no records which give the comparative 
populations of these different early settlements, but it is 
evident that from the time of  the Revolution down to 1840, when 
Hudson county was formed, the upper or Bergen county end of the 
old township had a very considerable part of the population.  It 
is also evident that the people living in that section were 
largely of the land-owning and well-to-do-class.  These facts are 
shown by the records of the Harrison township committee of June 
9, 1852, twelve years after Hudson county was created, when an 
official division of the assets, debts, papers, and other matter 
of the old township took place, Harrison being awarded nine parts 
of the old assets, debts, etc., and Union township seven parts.  
It is to be remembered that Harrison then included the territory, 
now called Kearny and East Newark.
Very little has been recorded or  written of  the government 
of Harrison township prior to the year 1841, but in that year 
John S. Condit, who had apparently been township clerk for a 
number of years, noted in the minute book of the township the 
names of committeemen and other township officers, together with 
some of the most important events and transactions of the 
township authorities.  From these sources it appears that the 
first school superintendent appointed by township authority was 
C. C. Jerolamen, whose name is recorded in the minutes of 1843 as 
the first superintendent.  Mr. Condit, the township clerk, who 
began the official records in 1841, died in 1848.  Nothing of 
great importance appears from that date until 1852, when the 
minute book records the joint meeting of  the Harrison and Union 
township committees, appointed to make division of the old 
township's assets.  This old record reads:

June 9, 1852, the Committees of Harrison and Union Townships met for the 
division of moneys, debts, papers, etc. , of the old township of Harrison, 
John Boyd, W. S. Ogden, Charles Lee, for Harrison; John Vreeland, James K. 
Hasen, James A. Brown, Joseph M. Roy, and Robert Rutherford for Union 
Township.
We the committees of the townships of Harrison and Union agree to the 
division of the moneys now on hand and hereafter to be collected.  The debt 
owing to the township of Harrison previous to the last annual township 
meeting, and any debts that may accrue form any lawsuit of which the township 
of Harrison previous to the last township meeting was a  part, in the ratio of 
seven to nine; that is, Union township to pay or receive $7, and the township 
of Harrison $9.  The paupers supported by the township of Harrison previous to 
the last annual township meeting are all chargeable to the present township of 
Harrison.
Signed in the township of Harrison, the 9th day of June, A. D. 1852.

The names appended were identical with those mentioned in 
the first quoted paragraph.

It is curious to note that the amount of township money 
divided by this committee was $147.97 of which Harrison received 
$83.95 and the township of Union $64.77.  The minute book of 1859 
contains the copy of a letter of advice from Secretary of State 
Frederick T. Frelinghuysen, which throws a strong light on the 
crude governmental methods of that period.  The letter says in 
part:
The collector of the township shall pay over the moneys he received to 
the officers entitled to the positions (evidently meant for possession) 
thereof, as for school and county purposes, etc., any balance on hand.  After 
meeting all these demands he should account for and pay over to the township 
committee at their risk and for their convenience may appoint their own 
treasurer and entrust him with such balance.  The township superintendent 
gives bonds to be approved by the township committee, and his accounts shall 
be audited by them.  His accounting is with the committee.
Signed April 25, 1859.

According to the minute book of 1867, the first tax levy was 
made that year as follows:
Road tax $10; Poor tax $200; School tax $2 per capita.  There is no 
explanation of these items and it would appear that the tax levy that year was 
a  per capita one, amounting to $212, practically all of it for the poor.	

The list of township officials contains the names of a 
number of men who attained fame and reputation in various 
occupations and professions later in life.  Lawrence Fagan, for 
instance, appointed township clerk in 1869, and who retained that 
position until 1880, attained wide reputation as an artist.  
Later he opened a studio in New York City, and many of his 
paintings were exhibited at the different art galleries in New 
York and Philadelphia.  Patrick Riordan, who was township 
committeeman in 1863, was the father of the present Mayor Joseph 
P. Riordan.  Harrison officials are notable for long tenure of 
office, the voters evidently believing that when they get a good 
official, it is the part of wisdom to retain him in office as 
long as he will serve.  Edward J. Rice, elected to the township 
committee in 1884, when a young man, was reelected every year 
thereafter until 1919, when he was defeated by F. Joseph O'Hare, 
a young ex-service man, shortly after he returned from France.
John B. Fagan, elected alderman of the Third Ward in 1901, 
is a brother of former Mayor Fagan, of Jersey City.  Peter J. 
Goodman, appointed town clerk in 1909, still retains that office 
in 1923.