In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912)
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 Past and present of Knox County, Ohio (1912). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1912. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.