Osmer James Harris

As printed in 1912

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 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.