Benjamin J. Harrison
Minute Biographies
Springfield Leader-Press, May 14, 1938
"Bald, moon-faced Benjamin John Harrison, grocer who is a leader in efforts to re-open the Oberman plants here, and who is generally rated one of the city’s wealthy men, was broke and $15,000 in debt a few years ago…Now he owns 14 grocery stores, a bakery, a bottling plant, and ice cream and potato chip factories, and plans to open two more stores within 30 days…Born in a little house “back of the mill” between Phelps and Pine streets 42 years ago, the son of a miller, Harrison’s first job was selling papers…Later he shined shoes in a barber shop, worked for the Harvey House, drove grocery wagons, and for three years before the World War – a laundry wagon, from which he delivered laundry to the elaborate home at 1015 East Walnut which he purchased a year ago – the “old Jarrett place”…Served 18 months overseas during the war in a field artillery unit, escaped with no wounds… Returned to Springfield and opened a grocery store on Boonville Avenue, made a practice of calling his customers daily, saying “This is Ben. Anything you need today?”…Bought 13 old army planes after the war and sent them out as a sort of flying circus, made money at $5 and $10 a ride collected from passengers to whom planes were still a novelty…Still is intensely interested in flying, owns his own plane, can fly it himself if necessary but seldom does…When he found himself broke one day, he called in his creditors, promised to change his business methods to “cash-and–carry,” persuaded 
them not to close him, paid them off in a year…For several years, he has paid for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at the Salvation Army home for those who have no place else to eat…Is a frequent and generous contributor to numerous other charities …He’s a republican, was chairman of the Greene County Republican Committee for eight years, but has never run for office…Has two “horrors”: One that he might “have” to run for office, the other that he might have to sell life insurance…Carries a heavy amount of life insurance, is always polite to insurance salesmen… Despite his horror against running for office, likes to dabble in politics behind the scenes, nearly always does…Golf is his favorite sport, and he shoots in the high 90’s…Member of the state athletic commission for 12 years…Knows one-time Heavyweight Champion Jack Dempsey well, and through him has brought most of heavyweight champs of past 10 years to Springfield, including Dempsey, Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, Primo Carnera, Max Baer…Is proud of his home, his fine lawn, his “octagGONal” swimming pool, likes to have friends visit him and see his place…And he enjoys making generous gestures."
Minute Biographies were a regular feature in the Leader-Press. The articles provided an abbreviated, and oddly punctuated, sketch of the individual’s life.
The photograph, left, of a Model Market was printed in the May 10, 1945 Springfield Leader-Press. A car collision sent a Nash sedan crashing into a Model Market.
The driver of the Nash sustained cuts and bruises.
The photograph, right, taken by Michael Price, depicts of the Model Market's location in 2015.
The 1946 Springfield City Directory has the following entry for Model Markets with their approximate modern locations in brackets:
-Model Grocery & Baking Co. br mgr John M Douglass 212 W Phelps retail dept 861 Boonville ave
-Markets (Kroger Grocery & Baking Co.) office 212 W Phelps
No 1 531 Boonville ave [SW corner at Phelps]
No. 2 500 S. Campbell [SE corner at Elm]
No. 3 334 E. Commercial [near SW corner at Jefferson]
No. 4 500 College [SW corner at Market]
No. 5 1950 N. National [NW corner at Atlantic]
No. 7 1101 S. Dollison [approximately on the busway in front of Kemper Hall at MSU]
No. 9 503 S. National [SW corner at Elm]
No. 10 700 St. Louis [ SE corner at Kimbrough]
No. 11 1050 N. Grant [SE corner at Webster]
No. 12 993 S. Jefferson [probably NW corner at Grand]
No. 13 1021 W. State [near NE corner at New]
No. 16 237 W. Commercial [NE corner at Campbell]
No. 33 406 E. Elm [near the SE corner at Jefferson]
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