The Harris Families of Knox County, Ohio

GEORGE A. HARRIS.

One of the self-made men of southeastern Knox county is George A. Harris, of Jackson township, farmer, contractor and carpenter, a man who began life’s struggles with little aid except such as his good strong arms, backed by a well defined purpose, afforded him, and he has never depended upon his friends and acquaintances to do his work or lay his plans, well knowing that life is a battle which each must fight out for the most part alone and learn to rely solely upon himself.

Mr. Harris was born in Jackson township, this county, January 21, 1852. He is the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Holtz) Harris. His paternal grandfather, Elijah Harris, was one of the early settlers of Knox county and here became very comfortably established through his industry and close application. The maternal grandparents, George and Susan Holtz, were also early settlers here, entering land from the government which they developed into a good farm on which they spent the remaining years of their lives.

The father of the subject was born in this county on September 1, 1830, and the mother on November 4, 1827. They devoted their lives to farming, owning a good place. The father died January 28, 1908, and the mother on December 30, 1903.

George A. Harris was educated in the public schools of Newcastle and in Indiana common schools. He was reared on the farm and has always followed farming. Early in his career he moved to a forty-acre farm which he bought in Jackson township, on which there were already good buildings and here he has carried on general farming and stock raising and he now has a good home. In connection with farming he has also engaged in the building trades, working as a stone mason for a period of thirty-eight years and for the past five years he has worked at carpentering, but he has lived on his farm all the while. He is now the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of excellent land which he has kept well improved and under good cultivation. He has been very successful in a business way, always a hard worker and is regarded as very skilled as a builder, his services being in great demand.

Politically, Mr. Harris is a Democrat and he has been more or less active in public affairs, always supporting such movements as make for the general upbuilding of the community and county. He has been justice of the peace for six years, the duties of which office he has discharged in an able and praiseworthy manner. He is a member of the Disciples church, as is also his wife, and fraternally Mr. Harris belongs to the Patrons of Industry.

On May 22, 1877, Mr. Harris was united in marriage at Mt. Vernon, Ohio, to Susanna Ashcraft, a native of Knox county, and the daughter of Simon Ashcraft and wife, old settlers of this county, both now deceased. To the subject and wife six children have been born, named as follows: Orpha Estella, wife of Willis Johnson, and they live in Licking county; Cary Douglas lives in Coshocton county; Aldice Ray, who lives in Harrison township, Knox county; Leota is the wife of Ben John, and they live near Gambier, Ohio; Grover G. and Jesse Carlisle live at home.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN CALVIN HARRIS.

One of the most painstaking and modern agriculturists of southeastern Knox county is John Calvin Harris, of near Bladensburg, Jackson township. He was fortunate in having good parents, who taught him from the start the duties of life — not ordinary instruction, but the higher duties which all owe to each other and to society. The result has been to give him broad ideas of life and its responsibilities and to fit him for upright and worthy citizenship.

Mr. Harris was born in Bladensburg, Ohio, August 10, 1856, and is the son of Jesse and Elizabeth (Holtz) Harris. The paternal grandparents, Elijah and Sarah Harris, were natives of Pennsylvania and they came to Ohio in a very early day. He was a farmer and he spent his last days here, becoming very well established through his industry, he and his wife dying in Clay township. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. The maternal grandparents, George and Susan Holtz, were also natives of Pennsylvania and from that state they, too, came to Knox county in pioneer times where they developed a good farm and spent the balance of their lives.

The parents of the subject were married in this county and here the father devoted his life to farming. He also conducted a tannery at Newcastle for a number of years, in connection with which he also did some farming. He lived a quiet and retired life. His family consisted of seven children, six of whom grew to maturity, and five of them are now living.

The death of Jesse Harris occurred on January 28, 1908, aged seventy-seven years, and his wife died on December 30, 1903, aged seventy-six years.

John C. Harris was educated in the public schools of his native community and at Newcastle, and he went to school two years in Greene county, Indiana. When a young man he took up carpentering and farming, buying forty acres in Jackson township, which he later sold and bought fifteen acres. He now owns about forty-five acres in and around Bladensburg, also forty acres in Clay township. He farms in a general way and handles some good stock. For about twenty years he ran a nursery on his fifteen-acre farm, handling all kinds of fruit trees, and he became widely known in this connection. He made a special study of horticultural subjects and was very successful as a nurseryman, enjoying a large business.

Politically, Mr. Harris is a Democrat, and while he takes the interest of a good citizen in public affairs, he is not a seeker after public honors. He has served his community as road supervisor. He and his wife are members of the Disciples church, and he belongs to the Patrons of Industry.

Mr. Harris was married on August 31, 1880, to Hattie Larason, a native of Knox county and the daughter of Thomas and Melinda Larason, old settlers here, he having come to Knox county from New Jersey, the father accompanying his parents, James and Elizabeth Larason, when he was one year old. Here the parents established a comfortable home and spent the rest of their lives here. The mother of Mrs. Harris was a native of Muskingum county, Ohio. Eleven children were born to Thomas Larason and wife, six of whom are living, two daughters and four sons. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris, Odessa, who married Lloyd Hall, and Ethel, who lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are the parents of two children, Zelpha and John Thomas.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN O. HARRIS.

In these days of up-to-date farming it is a pleasure to note the essential facts in the career of a farmer who is in some ways a leader in his class in the community in which he lives. Such a farmer is John O. Harris, of Clay township, KnO'X county, Ohio, who is the owner of one hundred and eight acres of land comprising his homestead and one hundred and twenty acres constituting an independent farm in Harrison township.

Mr. Harris was born in Jackson township. Knox county, Ohio, March 29, 1849, son of Samuel Harris, a native of Ohio, who was an early settler in the county. Elijah Harris, father of Samuel Harris and grandfather of John O. Harris, was also a pioneer in Knox county. Sarah Hill, who married Samuel Harris and became the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Knox county. Samuel Harris died a the age of seventy-eight years; his wife at the age of sixty-five years. They were the parents of one daughter and two sons, and our subject was the youngest of their three children.

John O. Harris was reared in Clay township and educated in the common schools in his vicinity. He has become prominent as a farmer, is an active member of the Disciple church, and is locally influential in the Democratic party. He was married in June, 1876, to Miss Lydia Cochren, a native of Morrow county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Delia A. (Walker) Cochren. A biographical sketch of her father appears on another page of this work. She was reared in Howard township, Knox county, and is an accomplished woman, highly esteemed by all who know her. She has borne her husband a son and a daughter named Vincie Craig and Sallie.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CAPTAIN HENRY CLAY HARRIS.

The well known farmer of Miller township, Knox county, Ohio, whose name is above has an enviable record as a soldier and as a judicial officer, and his standing as a citizen is deservedly high. Therefore some account of his creditable career is absolutely necessary to the completeness of this work.

Henry Clay Harris, son of Emor and Sarah (Sweet) Harris, was born in the house in which he now lives, one of the oldest brick residences in the county, September 29, 1832, and it may be said that he practically has had no business except farming during all his active years. His father, Emor Hart4i ris, was born in Rhode Island, in 1792, and early connected himself with the minute men of his day and locality, who were ever ready to act instantly in defense of our then young nation. The fact that there is no record that he was ever called into active service does not dim the luster of his patriotic intentions. He emigrated to Ohio in 18 16 and located on land now owned by H. Grant Harris, which he secured as military land. He was a man of influence in the community. He married, in 1813 Miss Sarah Sweet, who bore him eight children: Caroline born in Rhode Island; and Emor B.; Sarah, May, Bessie, Lydia, Emily and Henry Clay, born in Ohio.. Of this family of children only Emor B., of Red Oak, Iowa, Caroline of Galena, Delaware county, Ohio, and Henry Clay are living. Sarah (Sweet) Harris was a daughter of Philip and Anfillis (Brown) Sweet, natives of Rhode Island, and her father was a soldier in the war for independence.

The subject of this sketch is a charter member of Syramore Valley Lodge, No. 553, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, having passed all its chairs, is one of its honored past noble grand. He has been once elected treasurer of Miller township and has by successive re-election filled the office of justice of the peace for four successive terms. His military career began early in 1864, when he recruited a company for the United States' service in Pleasant and Miller townships, which became Company C, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and of which he was elected captain at its organization, May 13, 1864. The organization was mustered into the service at Camp Chase, Columbus, and at once left for Fort Lvon and was under fire almost daily in Grant's line advancing on Richmond until it was mustered out at Camp Chase in September, 1864. He is a member of Fry Post, No.

When twenty-four years of age Captain Harris married Miss Dorcas Gates, who has borne him four children: Mary W., Cyrus G., Carrie A. and Grant. Mary W. married A. E. Lockwood and died in 1891. Carrie A. died in 1893, tinmarried. Cyrus G. is a teacher of Brandon. Grant Harris was born April 21, 1867, and was married December 7, 1892, to Miss Ella Barker, a daughter of George W. and Rachal (Moody) Barker, of Brandon. Five years ago he bought his father's old homestead, which was secured by his grandfather in 18 16. It comprises sixty-seven acres and devoted to general farming. Is a Republican in his political views. On his twenty-first birthday he was made an Odd Fellow, and has passed the chairs of Sycamore Lodge, and Lyman lodge of Rebeccas was organized under his jurisdiction as Noble Grand.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

OSMER JAMES HARRIS.

In this country it is easy for a strong young man to go out and make a good living for himself, that is, it is easy if he is willing to apply himself persistently to whatever he attempts, but this is not a land like the islands in the south Pacific ocean where one can live by practically no exertion, by merely partaking of nature’s great storehouse, cocoanuts, bread fruit, bananas and many another esculent largest of the lavish Cornucopia. Such a country has never produced one single great leader of men in any avenue. They live along the line of least resistance, putting forth no effort to do anything worth while for either themselves or their fellows. The lands that produce great and strong men are those where a living must be wrested from a resisting nature, where one must work or starve and freeze.

One of the citizens of Knox county who has depended solely upon his own exertions for what he has is Osmer James Harris, farmer of Jackson township. He was born in this county on September 10, 1866, and here he has spent his life. He is the son of Robert and Mary (Melick) Harris. The paternal grandparents, Samuel and Sarah Harris, were old settlers of Knox county, and the maternal grandparents, Greenberry Melick and wife, were also pioneers of this country, which they all helped develop. Both parents of the subject were born in Knox county, reared here, and here they were married and became the owners of a good farm. In politics the father was a Democrat, and they were both members of the Disciples church. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living at this writing. The father’s death occurred on November 20, 1907, but the mother is still living.

Osmer J. Harris grew to manhood on his parents’ farm and he received his education in the public schools of Bladensburg. When a young man he took up farming for a livelihood and this has been his life work. He worked by the month until he was married, then rented land for some time in order to get a start. In 1893 he bought a farm of eighty-three acres in Jackson township, Knox county, and here he has since remained successfully engaged in general farming, having added many valuable improvements to his place, and he always keeps sufficient live stock of various kinds to feed his crops to.

Politically, Mr. Harris is a Democrat, but he has never been an officeseeker. He and his wife belong to the Disciples church.

Mr. Harris was married on December 24, 1889, to Ella Horn, daughter of Martin and Elizabeth Horn, natives of Knox county, where they grew up and were married and here they spent their lives, the mother’s death occurring on March 10, 1883, the father surviving until October 9, 1910, reaching an advanced age. He was the son of Joseph and Susan Horn, who came to this county from Pennsylvania about 1810, and here by hard work hewed out a home from the forest. The Horn family has been well known here for over a century. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Horn, all of whom are living. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Harris, George and Mary Adrian, were natives of Pennsylvania and were also very early settlers in Knox county. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris has been without issue.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.