Manchester NH’s Harriman Park Namesake: WW1 Casualty 2nd Lieut. Lynn Harold Harriman (1892-1918)

Harriman Park is located at the corners of Hall Street and Lake Avenue.  The park was

View of Harriman Park in Manchester, New Hampshire

originally smaller and called Wilson Road Square. In June of 1905 the City Council voted to purchase adjacent land from Emma S. Richards. In February of 1906 the same Council voted that this new land would be added to the former land as a public park and the same kept for ornament and recreation. The Council also voted to rename the park East Side Park.

Emma S. (Morrison) Richards who sold the land was the second wife of Eliphalet Richards, a well-to-do lumberman from Goffstown, who had moved to Mast Road within the boundaries of Manchester.  Eliphalet had died in 1901 leaving his widow Emma, and a daughter Sophronia by his first wife.  Apparently Emma had either owned or inherited the property, and sold it to the City of Manchester before she moved to Newton, Massachusetts in 1906.

A few years later (1908-1909)  the Oak Hill Lodge #97 of the I.O.O.F. (Oddfellows) contracted with CMK Architects P.A. of Manchester who then built the four story “Odd Fellows Building” at 434 Lake Street, directly across the street from the East Side Park.  [Note: In 1920 the public hall on the second floor was called the Dearborn Memorial Hall.]

Fast forward to 1918.  The United States had been at war officially from April 6, 1917 (continuing until the war’s end on November 11, 1918). 2nd Lieut. Lynn H. Harriman, son of Daniel S. & Nellie E. (Boyd) Harriman had been sent to Europe, serving with the 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F.  He had left behind his mother, his wife, and his  young son.  The citation awarded in 1918 speaks for itself:  “The President of the United States of America, [then Woodrow Wilson] authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Second Lieutenant (Infantry) Lynn H. Harriman, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 101st Infantry Regiment, 26th Division, A.E.F., in the Humbert Plantation, France, 27 May 1918, while in command of his platoon. Second Lieutenant Harriman was viciously attacked by the enemy in greatly superior numbers. He led his men with determination and great courage, and himself stopped their advance in a side trench. He was mortally wounded but continued to fight on, calling upon and encouraging his men and participating with them in driving the enemy off.
General Orders: War Department, General Orders No. 88 (1918)
Action Date: 27-May-18
Service: Army
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Regiment: 101st Infantry Regiment
Division: 26th Division, American Expeditionary Forces

Lieut. Lynn Harriman’s was also awarded the Croix de Guerre.  Official records state that he died 31 May 1918 in France (4 days after his battlefield heroism), so it is obvious that he was not killed in action, but rather died from fatal wounds. He is buried in Coal Hearth Cemetery, in Warner, New Hampshire, the town where he was born.

Fast forward to 15 November 1922.  A ceremony is held with Lynn Harriman’s widow and young son present to rename the park from East Side Park to Harriman Park, in Lieut. Lynn Harriman’s honor.  Oak Hill Lodge I.O.O.F. members were influential in all the arrangements.

Editors Notes: I have been unable to discover why this park was named for Lieut. Lynn Harriman.  It is not the soldier’s bravery or awards that I question, nor that he deserved recognition. I simply wonder why a Manchester park was named after him when Lieut. Lynn Harriman was not born, nor did he live in Manchester, New Hampshire (though his son was reportedly born there).  At his death, Lynn’s widow was living in Concord, New Hampshire and that was considered his home. There are a few possibilities–one, is that he was the first New Hampshire soldier of World War 1 to merit these awards and thus the Manchester council was agreeable to this honor; or two, that he or another family member was a member of the Oak Hill Lodge I.O.O.F.

The Harriman family was prominent in New Hampshire at the time, with Walter C. Harriman a two time governor and brevet Brigadier General of the Civil War still in memory.  However, Walter C. Harriman and Lynn H. Harriman were only distant cousins.

His family tree is shown below.  If any reader has more knowledge about who requested that the park be named for him, or other details, I hope you will contact me.

[Editor’s Note: This article is one of several I have written at the request of Don Pinard, Department of Public Works, Chief of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division, City of Manchester, New Hampshire.  It is a volunteer project (on my part) to better record and share the stories of the men memorialized by the city’s “Military Squares.”  All the information specifically within the body of this project is shared copyright free with the City of Manchester and its representatives, with the exception of photographs provided by family or friends who still retain whatever rights conveyed to them by law.]

*****ADDITIONAL READING*****

Harriman Park, Manchester NH – from the official City of Manchester web site [includes a nice photograph of the inscribed plaque for Lieut. Harriman.

Decorations, United States Army, 1862-1926

=====GENEALOGY of Lynn Harold Harriman=====

Leonard Harriman (1622-1691) & Margaret Palmer (c1628-1676) Rowley MA
Matthew Harriman (1652-1726) & Elizabeth Swan (1653-?)

Matthew Harriman, son of Matthew & Elizabeth (Swan) Harriman, was b. 26 January 1673 in Haverhill MA and d. 28 October 1743 in Haverill MA. He m. 19 Dec 1700 in Haverhill MA to Martha Page, dau of Joseph & Martha (Dow) Page. She b. 30 Sep 1653 in Methuen MA, and d. 17 February 1767 in Plaistow NH.
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Children of Matthew & Martha (Page) Harriman:
1. Stephen Harriman, b 25 Apr 1703 in Haverhill MA
2. +Joshua Harriman, b. 20 May 1707 in Haverhill MA
3. Nathaniel Harriman, b. 15 July 1709 in Haverhill MA
4. Susanna Harriman, b 20 Aug 1718 in Haverhill MA

Joshua Harriman, son of Matthew & Martha (Page) Harriman, b. 20 May 1707 in Haverhill MA and d. 23 April 1772 in Haverhill MA. He married 1) 19 Oct 1727 in Haverhill MA to Elizabeth Simons, dau of John & Elizabeth (Harris) Simons. She b. 14 May 1710 in Haverhill MA, and died 5 June 1752 in Plaistow NH; He m2) 13 November 1753 in Bradford MA to Dorcas Hardy Gage. She b. 18 Nov 1712 in Bradford MA, and d. 4 June 1783 in Haverhill MA.
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Children of Joshua & Elizabeth (Simons) Harriman:
1. Ebenezer Harriman, b. 26 March 1734 Haverill MA
2. Matthew Harriman, b. 14 November 1728, d. 21 April 1737
3. Hette Harriman, b.  1 March 1740 Haverhill MA; d. 1 January 1742
4. +Joshua Harriman, b. 2 June 1744 in Haverhill MA
5. Eldad Harriman, b. 11 April 1746
6. Abigail Harriman, b. 21 January 1747 Plaistow NH
7. Rachel Harriman, b. 15 October 1748 Plaistow NH
8. Sarah Harriman, b. 28 October 1750 Plaistow NH
Children of Joshua & Dorcas Hardy (Gage) Harriman:
9. Amos Harriman, b. 9 Dec 1754 in Plaistow NH

Joshua Harriman, son of Joshua & Elizabeth (Simons) Harriman, was b. 2 June 1744 in Haverhill MA and d. 15 March 1812 in Henniker NH. He married Ruth Dow. She b., d. 17 August 1818 in Henniker NH.
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Children of Joshua & Ruth (Dow) Harriman: [may be more]
1. +Moses Harriman, b. 14 Feb 1780 in Plaistow NH
2. Betsey Harriman, b. abt 1784 in Plaistown NH; died 1858 in Washington NH; married — Bailey.

Moses Harriman, son of Joshua & Ruth (Dow) Harriman; b. 14 Feb 1780 in Plaistow NH, and died 11 December 1845 in Warner NH. He is buried in Pumpkin Hill Cemetery; He married 28 Aug 1806 to Lucy Ray, dau of Jonathan & Betty (Barnes) Ray of Henniker NH. She b 1784 in Henniker NH; d 19 Jan 1845 (? 1827) Warner, NH; 8 children
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Children of Moses & Lucy (Ray) Harriman:
1. +Joel Harriman, b 5 April 1807 in Henniker NH
2. John Harriman, b. 26 Sep 1808 Henniker NH
3. James M. Harriman, b. 30 March 1810 Henniker NH
4. Joshua Harriman, b. 17 Aug 1813 Henniker NH; d. 31 March 1862 in Warner NH; married
5. Louisa Harriman, b 21 Aug 1815 Henniker NH

Joel George Harriman, son of Moses & Lucy (Ray) Harriman, b 5 April 1807 in Henniker NH and d 13 August 1883 in Warner NH, of accidental fallings; He m1) 21 Nov 1837 in Newbury NH to Rebecca Adams. She d. 19 May 1841 in Newbury NH and buried in Coal Hearth Cemetery Warner NH; He m. 2nd) 28 March 1843 in Manchester NH to Ann “Hannah” Jacobs. She b. 5 August 1814 in Barnstead NH and d. 11 Nov 1887 in Manchester NH.
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1860 US Census > NH > Merrimack Co. > Warner
Joel Harriman M 53 NH
Ann Harriman F 44 NH
Lucy Ann Harriman F 16 NH
Daniel Harriman M 12 NH
George D. Harriman M 7 NH
Moses Harriman M 5 NH
John Frank Harriman M 10 NH
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Child of Joel & Rebecca (Adams) Harriman:
1. James William Harriman, b abt 1837; d. 2 Dec 1879 Concord NH, age 42; married.
Children of Joel & Ann (Jacobs) Harriman:
2. Lucy Ann Harriman, b abt 1844 NH; m. 25 Nov 1868 in Warner NH to Thomas J. Hardy, son of Thomas & Lucinda (?) Hardy. She d. 15 December 1898 in Clarksville NH. She is buried in Clarksville NH. Had 4 children.
3. Rosina Bell Harriman b abt 1846 Warner NH; d. 28 May 1905 in Lincoln, Lancaster Co. NE; She m. Peter Boewen Eno.
4. +Daniel S. Harriman, b April 1848 Warner NH; d 23 Dec 1912 in Warner NH.
5. John Frank Harriman, b 23 May 1850 NH; died 30 March 1878 in Webster NH; single
6. George Dearborn Harriman, b abt 1853 NH, 12 July 1915 in Franklin NH; m. 4 Aug 1896 in Warner NH to Dora Belle Lock(e), dau of Hamilton Locke and Mary Frances Abbott of Ossipee NH. She was b 27 Feb 1875 in Westboro NH, and d. 9 May 1912 in Warner NH. They had daughter: (1) Beatrice M. Harriman, b. 11 Sep 1901 in Warner NH; (2) Ruby Edna Harriman, b. 9 Feb 1903 in Warner NH, and d. 17 Nov 1984 in Delphi, Carroll Co. IN
7. Moses H. Harriman, b Oct 1855 Warner NH; died 16 Nov 1928 in NYC, New York, buried Warner NH

Daniel S. Harriman, son of Joel & Ann (Jacobs) Harriman; b. 29 April 1848 Warner NH, d. 23 December 1912 in Warner NH; He married 1st) —-; He married 2nd) 2 Feb 1884 in Manchester NH to Emma J. Way, daughter of George & Achsah Way. She b abt Sept. 1850 in Bedford NH, and died 14 May 1890 in Manchester NH by suffocation by smoke. Her tombstone reads “Burned in Elliot Hospital.” ; He married 3rd) 14 January 1891 in Manchester NH to Nellie Estella Boyd. She b. February 1867 Cowensville, PQ, Canada; she d after 1930 possibly in Warner NH. At the time of their marriage his occupation is janitor. He is buried in Warner NH.
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Collections, Volume 1, By Manchester Historic Association, page 286
On Wednesday, May 14, [1890] at 9:15 p.m. fire broke out in the Elliot hospital building. It originated in the kitchen or pantry adjoining, from some cause not definitely known, but Chief Lane thinks probably from the explosion of a kerosene lamp. Mrs. Daniel Harriman, who occupied a room directly over the kitchen, was suffocated in the early stages of the fire, and it was impossible to rescue her body until the flames were almost extinguished. The building and contents were damaged to the extent of $2,600.”
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1900 US Census > NH > Merrimack County > Warner
Daniel S. Harriman M 52 NH Apr 1848 married 9 yrs NH NH NH farmer
Nellie E. Harriman F 32 Canada-English wife Feb 1868 married 9 yrs 2 ch 2 living Can Scot VT
Lynn H. Harriman M 8 NH son May 1892 NH NH Canada
Charles M. Harriman M 6 NH son May 1894 NH NH Canada
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1910 US Census > NH > Merrimack County > Warner
Head S. Daniel Harriman M 62 NH
Wife Nellie E. Harriman F 43 NH
son Lynn H. Harriman M 17 NH
son Charles M. Harriman M 15 NH
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Children of Daniel S. & Nellie E. (Boyd) Harriman:
1. +Lynn Harold Harriman, b. 8 May 1892 Warner, Merrimack Co. NH; he d. 31 May 1918 in France
2. Charles Mayland Harriman, b. 2 May 1894 Warner, Merrimack Co., NH, and died 15 Jan 1964 in Homestead, Dade Co. FL; he married 12 Nov 1917 in Warner NH to Edith Maude Smith, dau of Jessie W. & Alice (Pierce) Smith. She was b 7 March 1895 in Hillsboro NH, and d Feb 1983 in Port Arthur, Jefferson Co. TX. She is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Warner NH; at their marriage: his occupation farmer, hers a teacher. The 1940 US census shows them living in Warner NH with son Mayland E. Harriman 18 yrs old, 3 yrs HS b. NH, an electrician working in his father’s electrician business

Lynn Harold Harriman, son of Daniel S. & Nellie E. (Boyd) Harriman, b. May 1892 Warner NH and d. 31 May 1918 in France. He married 9 March 1914 in Bradford NH to Annie M. Johnson, dau of James H. & Clarabell (Bates) Johnson. She was b. abt 1893 in South Sutton NH. Marriage record occupations: Farrier, and Teacher.  [This blog post is written about him]
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1930 US Census of NH > Merrimack Co. > Warner > North Village Road
Nellie Harriman F 48 Vermont Head widow F W VT VT VT [b abt 1882 VT]
Byron Harriman M 14 NH son M W single NH NH NH
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U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 about Byron L Harriman
Name: Byron L Harriman
Birth Year: 1916
Race: White, citizen (White)
Nativity State or Country: New Hampshire
State of Residence: New Hampshire
Enlistment Date: 17 Oct 1942
Enlistment State: Pennsylvania
Enlistment City: Philadelphia
Branch: Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA
Branch Code: Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA
Grade: Private
Grade Code: Private
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men)
Source: Civil Life
Education: 4 years of college
Civil Occupation: Salesmen and sales agents, except to consumers
Marital Status: Married
Height: 72
Weight: 151
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Byron L. Harriman
Born: 1916 Died: 1992
State of last residence: Alabama
State issued: Pennsylvania
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Professor Byron Harriman director of testing at Lebanon Valley [Lebanon PA]
1952-Asst. Professor of Psychology at Lebanon Valley College, Annville PA
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Birth: 30 Mar 1916
Death: 23 Aug 1992
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Child of Lynn H. & Annie M. (Johnson) Harriman:
1. Byron Lynn Harriman, b. 31 March 1916 in Manchester, Hillsborough Co. NH
Byron Lynn Harriman, born 30 March 1916 Manchester NH, son of Lt. Lynn Harold Harriman and Annie May Johnson. He received his Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University in 1956, and is a career officer (psychologist) with the U.S. Public Health Service. He is Scientist Director of the N.I.M.H. Clinical Research Center at Lexington KY. He married 6 June 1942 in Philadelphia PA to Adaline Heritage Edson, dau of William Henszey & Adaline (Gabell) Edson. She was b. 22 Feb 1915 in Philadelphia PA. [from Edson Family History and Genealogy: Descendants of Samuel Edson of Salem and Bridgewater, Massachusetts, Volume 2] Child of Byron L. & Adaline H. (Edson) Harriman: Andrea Edson Harriman, b. 1947 in Philadelphia PA