History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 136

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532

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ISAAC K. HARRIS, of the firm of Harris & Co., manufacturing jewelers, Wilkes- Barre, was born in Elmira, N. Y., February 17, 1848, a son of S. B. and Getell (Anholt) Harris, natives of Prussia. His parents came to America about 1842, locating at Elmira, N. Y., where the father engaged in the grocery business for many years, and is now a resident of Scranton. Our subject was reared and educated in Elmira, N. Y. At the age of twenty he embarked in the dry-goods trade at Pittston, this county, continuing there several years. At a later date he removed to New York, where he was salesman for a cloak manufacturer and diamond broker, respectively, and in the fall of 1891 located in Wilkes-Barre, where, as a member of the firm of Harris & Co., he is conducting one of the largest jewelry houses in the city. In March, 1886, Mr. Harris married Miss Lillie, daughter of M. Schrier, of New York City.

JOHN A. HARRIS, miller and postmaster at Outlet, was born August 17, 1851, in Knowlton township, Warren Co., N. J., where he was reared and educated. He is a son of A. S. and Rebecca (Kinney) Harris, both natives of the same county. A. S. Harris is a farmer of considerable means, and still resides in Warren county, N. J. His family numbered eight children, five of whom are living, J. A. being the third in order of birth. In early life our subject learned the miller's trade, which he thoroughly understands, and at which he has worked all his life. He removed to this county in 1887, locating on the outlet of Harvey's lake, where he has rented the mill property of E. Troxell, of Wilkes-Barre. This mill was built by Hollen- back and Orkutt about 1857, and has been in continuous operation since that time; it has a capacity of 200 bushels per day, and is propelled by a forty-horse power water pressure. Mr. Harris in 1874 married, at Portland, Pa., Miss Laura, daugh- ter of Henry and Susanna Gangwere, and there were three children born to them, one of whom is living: Adam S. Mr. Harris is a man of intelligence and thought. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster at Outlet, and enjoys the full confidence of his fellow citizens.

JOHN B. HARRIS, retired merchant, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, March 10, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Bowen) Harris. He was reared in his native country, educated in the common schools, and when fifteen years of age began work about the mines as driver; at the age of eighteen he began mining, which he followed in Wales seven years. In 1865 he came to Amer- ica, and located at Kingston, Pa., where he worked in the mines two years. In 1867 he removed to Wilkes-Barre township, and was in the mines until 1882, when he embarked in general merchandising, continuing in same until 1888, when he retired. Mr. Harris is the inventor of an improvement on the safety lamp, consisting of match tube and smothering apparatus, to prevent the explosion of gas in the mines, which is destined to become one of the most useful inventions of the age for the

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safety of lives in mining. Mr. Harris was married February 10, 1861, to Ann, daughter of John and Rachel Evans, of Carmarthenshire, Wales, and has three children living: Thomas B., Mary A. (Mrs. John Wooden) and Rachel. He is a member of the Welsh Presbyterian Church, and in politics he is a Republican.

JOSEPH HARRIS, proprietor of restaurant, Plymouth, was born in Glamorgan- shire, South Wales, and is a son of Robert and Margaret (Sims) Harris, also natives of Wales. He was educated in the land of his birth, and in 1868 came to America, where he worked at painting four years. He then opened a tobacco and cigar store, following that business about three years. Afterward he embarked in his present prosperous business in Plymouth. In - Mr. Harris was married to Catharine, daughter of John and Ann (Beywon) Phillips, natives of Wales, and two chil- dren have been born to them: John P. and Margaret, the latter being deceased.

JOHN P. HARRIS was born at Lougher, Glamorganshire, South Wales, January 10, and was brought by his parents to this country when a child. The family first located at Hyde Park, Scranton, Pa., moving to Plymouth, this county, not long afterward, and John received his education in the public schools of the county. Early in life he learned the jeweler's trade, serving his apprenticeship at Scranton and Philadelphia, which occupied three years. Afterward he opened his store at Plymouth, Pa., where he has a choice and complete assortment of goods in his line. Mr. Harris was married April 17, 1888, to Miss Harriet, daughter of William and Hannah (Jones) Jones, natives of Breconshire, South Wales, which union has been blessed with two children: Annie, born August 30, 1889, and Catharine, born April 30, 1891. Joseph and John P. Harris are both stanch Republicans.

LORENZO D. HARRIS, farmer, P. O. Trucksville, was born in Carverton, in 1817, son of Samuel and Ann (Ayers) Harris. Samuel was a son of Elijah who removed from Connecticut to this county, locating in Kingston township where he remained for several years; he then removed beyond the Kingston mountain on the property now owned by D. Heft. He was an experienced hunter and trapper, and, during the Indian war, took an active part in the struggle. He owned about four hundred acres of land, and being a hard-working man, improved about one hundred acres during his lifetime. Like most pioneers of his day, his life was uneventful. Elijah Harris died at the good old age of eighty-five years, having reared a family of six

children. His son, Samuel, began life as a farmer in the same township, owning about ninety acres of land. He was a practical man in his way, honest and industri- ous. Samuel and Ann (Ayers) Harris reared a family of six children, four of whom are now living. L. D. is the second in the family, was reared and educated at the common schools of Kingston township, and chose agricultural pursuits as his life vocation. He resided on the old homestead in Carverton till 1880, when he removed to Trucksville, on a small farm of twenty-five acres, where he enjoys life, carrying on general farming on a small scale. In September, 1854, he married Miss Phoebe, daughter of Thomas and Amelia Chrispell, and they had seven children who grew to maturity, six of whom are now living: John, Charles (married to Miss Jane Nul- ton), Harry, William, Edgar and Estella. Mrs. Phoebe (Chrispell) Harris, died November 16, 1891. Mr. Harris is a worthy and respected man of sound Christian principles, observing in all his experience the Golden Rule; he is a member of the M. E. Church in good standing.

LYMAN HARRIA, saddler, Luzerne, was born in Kingston township, September 22, 1837, and is a son of Hiram and Mary (Heft) Harris, the former of Connecticut ori- gin, the latter of German lineage. Our subject was educated in Luzerne county, and followed farming until September 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, First Corps, Third Divis- ion, which was under command of Reynolds. The first battle in which our subject engaged was the bloody fight of the Wilderness, where he was severely wounded and later, taken prisoner. Upon examination of his wound, it was found necessary to amputate his limb, which was done on the battle-field. After being kept a pris- oner for about four months, he was paroled, and he remained at Annapolis, Md.,

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

until January 24, 1865, when he received his discharge. After returning home he engaged in the harness business at Dallas for eight years, and then removed to Luzerne, where he has a general harness store. Mr. Harris was married July 4, 1868, to Miss Catherine, daughter of Jacob and Jane (De Long) Hoover, the former a native of New Jersey, the latter of Pennsylvania. Two children were born of this union: Lester, who is a bookkeeper at Wilkes-Barre, and Walter, at home, working with his father. It can indeed be said of the Harris family that they have con- tributed their share toward defending our country's rights; the great-grandfather of our subject having been in the Wyoming Massacre, the grandfather, who was only ten years of age, being in the fort, and then our subject losing a limb in defense of the Union-all speaking more than pages of history can for the bravery of the family. In politics Mr. Harris is a stanch Republican, and he is a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F.

PHILLIP HARRIS, miner, Parsons, was born in Wales, October 20, 1844, and is a son of William and Jane (Thomas) Harris. He was educated in Scotland, and at the age of eighteen came to America, settling in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in mining at Minersville, Schuylkill county. He remained there about a year, and then went to Mahanoy City, where he worked in the mines two years; then removed to Wilkes-Barre, remaining there a short time, and in 1868 came to Parsons, where he has since been engaged in mining. Mr. Harris was married April 1, 1861, to Mrs. Naomi Jenkins, formerly Miss Naomi Thomas, daughter of Evan and Jenett (Jones) Thomas, and they have nine children living, viz. : Thomas, born December 8, 1863; Margaret, born November 8, 1866; Jennie, born September 13, 1868; John, born January 10, 1870; William, born December 20, 1872; Phillip, born October 28, 1874; Hayes, born November 10, 1876; Naomi, born March 10, 1879, aud Gar- field, born June 29, 1881. Mr. Harris and his family are members of the Baptist Church; politically he is a Republican, and has held the office of borough councilman two years.

H. H. HARRIS, tracklayer, Wilkes-Barre, was born in Wales, October 12, 1840, a son of Henry and Rachel (Davis) Harris. His parents came to America in 1840, locating at Carbondale, Pa., where the father worked in the mines until his death, in 1853. Their children were four: William H., John, Mary A. (Mrs. Morgan Griswold), and George. Our subject was reared in Carbondale, educated in the common schools, and began life in the mines when but eight years of age. He worked in various capacities there until the breaking out of the Civil war, and in April, 1861, enlisted in Company H, Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, and served three months, when he was honorably discharged; he then re-enlisted in Company C, Ninety-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment, and after serving two months was trans- ferred to Company I, Fifty-second Pennsylvania Regiment,. and after three years and three months' service was honorably discharged. He returned home November 5, 1865, since which time he has held his present position of tracklayer for the Wilkes-Barre Coal Company. June 19, 1867, Mr. Harris married Miss Mary, daughter of John and Sarah (Borris) Jones, of Wales, and has three children living: Willie, John, and Rachel (Mrs. Charles Sprague). Mr. Harris is a member of the G. A. R., and of the K. of P. In politics he is a Republican.

BRADLEY HARRISON, farmer, P. O. Irish Lane, was born in Huntington township, February 4, 1831, a son of Stephen and Elizabeth (Bonham) Harrison, the former born in Huntington in 1804, the latter in 1805, in one of the adjoining townships. Stephen was a son of William Harrison and a native of Connecticut, who removed to this county when a young man. He located in Huntington township, where he owned a farm of 200 acres, and was a man of influence, who did much for the advancement of agriculture. He was an Old-school Baptist, conscientious in all his dealings with his fellow men. Politically, he was a Whig through and through. He lived to be about seventy years of age. His family consisted of six children, all of whom are now dead. His son, Stephen, began life on the homestead, but on an improved part of it- a lot of seventy-five acres - to which he added 280

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

more. He was a thorough-going man, full of business and push, and was a strict member of the M. E. Church. After a life of usefulness, he died in 1854, at the age of thirty-five years. His children numbered six, five of whom are now living, Bradley being the third in the family. Our subject was reared and educated in Huntington township, and when twenty-one years of age removed to Ross town- ship, where he has since been a resident, a leading man and a practical farmer. He owns 105 acres of valuable land under fair cultivation. In 1852 he married Miss Mary, daughter of Isaac Benscoter, and by her he had six children, all of whom are living: S. D., C. C., E. E., C. H., West Erie, and May. Mrs. Mary Harrison died in 1872, and for his second wife, Mr. Harrison in 1873 married Miss Mary, daughter of Philip and Julia A. Wilson, and to this union were born four children, three of whom are living: Alice, Lilly, and Lena. Mr. Harrison is a man of intelligence and deep thought, and is very popular in his township. Politi- cally he is a Republican, and has held the office of justice of the peace one term, besides other minor positions of trust. Mrs. Harrison is a member of the M. E. Church.

DR. C. OLIN HARRISON, dentist, Plymouth, was born June 13, 1863, and is a son of Joseph H. and Mary M. (Glace) Harrison, natives of Luzerne county. There were eleven children in the family, ten of whom are living. The subject of this sketch was educated in the common schools of Luzerne county, and subse- quently taught five years in the same schools. He then prepared for a medical course of dentistry, and entered the Philadelphia Dental College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1888. He came directly to Plymouth, where he opened an office, and has since continued to practice his profession at that enter- prising place. The Doctor was married February 22, 1888, to Marjorie E., daughter of Samuel and Jeanette (Baldwin) Wilkins, natives of Pennsylvania. One child has blessed this union, Edna M., born March 20, 1889. Politically, Dr. Harrison affiliates with the Democratic party, and, socially, he is a member of the P. O. S. of A.

E. E. HARRISON, farmer, P. O. Prichard, was born December 9, 1862, in Ross township, where he was reared and educated. He is a son of Bradley and Mary (Benscoter) Harrison, both of whom were born in Huntington township. Bradley is a son of Stephen Harrison, an early settler in this county, who located at Town Line, where he lived the remainder of his days as a tiller of the soil, much respected by his fellow citizens. His son, Bradley, began his public and active life in Ross township, on a farm where he has lived ever since, and where he now resides. His farm contains 100 acres of valuable land, and he himself is a practical agricultur- ist. He is now (1892) sixty years of age. He reared a family of nine children, all of whom are living, E. E. being the fourth by birth. Our subject has chosen for himself a farmer's life, which he diligently follows. On December 25, 1888, he married Miss Clara Benscoter, who was born in Hunlock township, in 1865, a daughter of Jacob and Susanna Benscoter, and to this union was born one child, Raymond. In the same year in which he married, our subject removed to Hunlock township, where he now resides on a farm of fifty-six acres well under improvement. Mr. Harrison is a worthy and promising young man of good habits and pure morals. He and his good wife are members of the Baptist Church, and politically he is a Republican.

ISAIAH N. HARRISON, lumberman, Fairmount township, P. O. Fairmount Springs, was born in said township March 18, 1844, a son of Merritt and Harriet (Stevens) Harrison, natives of Pennsylvania, of English origin. The father was a farmer by occupation; he died November 7, 1867, aged sixty-eight years. He was a son of Stephen and Mary (Dodson) Harrison. Our subject is the seventh in order of birth in a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools, and began life for himself when twenty-one years of age, farming on shares on the homestead farm. This he followed for twelve years, when he spent a year in the West, and on his return worked the Davis farm for two years, when he bought the steam sawmill, and has since devoted his time to

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HISTORY OF LUZERNE COUNTY.

lumbering. He lives on his portion of the homestead, twenty-eight acres, one-half mile south of Fairmount Springs postoffice. He married, March 17, 1867, Miss Lottie, daughter of William and Savilla (Yaple) Lutz, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. She was born July 21, 1844, the second in a family of four children. This happy union is blessed with three children, viz .: Mary E., born October 3, 1868, married Charles Schultz; Willetta, born March 26, 1871, married George Davis; and Clinton H., born May 21, 1874. Mr. Harrison has held the offices of school director and constable, and politically is a Republican.

JACOB HARRISON, farmer, P. O. Plymouth, was born in Warren county, N. J., May 16, 1824. He is the son of William H. and Rebecca (Lippencott) Harrison, both of whom were born in Warren county, N. J., the former August 11, 1792, and the latter August 17, 1791. William H. was a farmer of some means, and a worthy citizen; he served in the war of 1812. He removed to this county about 1831, locating in Wilkes-Barre, where he resided for a few years, when he removed to Plymouth, remaining there till his death, which occured at the age of eighty-two years. He was a man of stern moral principles, who took an active part in political matters, and whose influence swayed as he leaned. His family consisted of eleven boys, two of whom are now (1892) living: John and Jacob. The latter is the sixth in order of birth, and was reared and educated in Plymouth. He was about seven years of age when he removed to this county with his father. He chose for himself a farmer's life, and, by hard and incessant toil, has made for himself and family a neat and comfortable home. In his early life, Mr. Harrison worked for a while in the mines, during which time he lived in Plymouth borough. He removed for a few years to Columbia county, where he followed farming. In 1866 he returned to Luzerne county, where he has since resided. He purchased a farm of thirty-eight acres of land in a good state of cultivation, under which is supposed to be a vein of coal. In June,. 1852, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Henry and Susan Barney. Nine children were born to them, six of whom grew to maturity and are now (1892) living: William H., Sarah E., Marilda E., Samuel W., Almira and . Bertha M. William H. married Miss Amanda S. Ransom; Sarah E., married John T. Jones; Marilda, married William Coates. Mrs. Harrison was born in Plymouth in 1831; she and the family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

J. H. HARRISON, farmer, P. O. Town Line, was born in Huntington township September 6, 1825, where he was also reared and educated. He is the eldest of a family of nine children born to Stephen and Elizabeth (Bonham) Harrison. J. H. has chosen for himself a farmer's life, and has followed it closely all his life with marked success. He resided at home until he had reached his majority, and, like other dutiful sons, was subject to his parents. On October 15, 1846, he married Miss Maria, daughter of George and Mary Glase. To this union were born eleven children, ten of whom grew to maturity: Mallissa E., Hannah E., George M., Florence A., Stephen W., T. B., W. D., C. O., E. J. and E. Y. In this family there is a county superintendent of schools, one M. D., one D. D. S., and a teacher. Mrs. Maria (Glase) Harrison died October 25, 1870. For his second wife he married, April 18, 1872, Miss Rhoda A., daughter of John Laubach. There was no issue by this marriage. Mrs. Rhoda A. Harrison died January 9, 1884. He was again mar- ried, June 4, 1886, to Mrs. Levina J., widow of John Shortz, and daughter of Will- iam and Jettie Santee. After his first marriage he removed to his present residence, a farm containing 111 acres, which he beautified and embellished to a surprising extent. Under his magic touch the forest gave way to the beautiful, golden and waving grain. The rude and rough log cabin gave place to a more modern struct- ure. Thus he helped the onward march to a higher civilization. Mr. Harrison is a practical farmer, as his surroundings show. He has been honored by his fellow citizens with several township offices; he is a member of good standing in the M. E. Church. Politically he is a Democrat. His father, Stephen Harrison, was born in Huntington; his mother, Elizabeth, in Union township. The former began his active life as a farmer in Huntington, on a part of the old homestead, on which his father

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had settled. He was a hard-working man, whose quiet life flowed on peacefully to the end, but whose current helped to swell the tide of usefulness. Stephen Harrison was a man of deep religious convictions, being first a Baptist in his belief, but as he grew in years and experience, he became a Methodist. He died at the age of fifty- four years. His family consisted of nine children, six of whom grew to maturity and five of whom are now living. Stephen was a son of "Billy" Harrison, who was born in Connecticut, and was nine years of age when he removed with his father to Hunt- ington. "Billy " owned considerable land on Huntington creek. He was a sturdy pioneer, and did much to promote the growth and settlement of Huntington town- ship. He reared a family of seven useful and well-trained children, who in their turn became a credit to their county. He lived to be an old man, and passed away in peace, after a life of toil and usefulness.

JOHN S. HARRISON, farmer, Fairmount township, P. O. Fairmount Springs, was born in that township May 14, 1839, a son of Merritt and Harriet (Stevens) Harrison, natives of Pennsylvania and of English origin. Merritt Harrison was a farmer by occupation, and died November 7, 1867, aged sixty-seven years; his wife Harriet died January 23, 1892, aged eighty-seven years. He was a son of Stephen and Mary (Dodson) Harrison. Our subject is the fourth in a family of eleven children, seven of whom are living, viz. : Mary A., lives with our subject; Susan (Mrs. Caspar Bailey); Matilda (Mrs. John Lutz); Isaiah N .; John S., the subject proper of this memoir; Lucy P. (Mrs. Fred Laubach); and Elizabeth R. (Mrs. Charles Park). The eldest son, Clinton D., enlisted during the Rebellion in Company A, Thirteenth Illinois Infantry, and gave up his life on the altar of his country November 11, 1862, at Bendon Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., at the age of twenty-six years. Our subject enlisted in the United States army, in Company F, Seventh Pennsylvania Reserves, on June 13, 1861, and participated in the following battles: Drainesville, Mechanics- ville and Gaines' Mills, where he was wounded and taken prisoner, and held for four weeks on account of disability and sickness; after this he was home for about five months, when he returned to his regiment and served until June 16, 1864, receiving an honorable discharge. After a short stay at home he went to Washington, and worked as clerk in a sutler's tent until the close of the war; he then returned and worked the homestead farm for one year; then worked out for one year, and again on the home farm a year. He next went to Williamsport, and worked at lumber jobs for several years; thence to Collomsville for ten years; and in 1886 moved to his portion of the homestead farm, where he now resides. Mr. Harrison married August 20, 1874, Miss Ellen, daughter of Fredrick and Elizabeth Bricker, natives of Pennsylvania, and of German origin. She is the ninth in a family of eleven chil- dren, and was born December 21, 1851. This union is blessed with three children, viz. : Leroy, born January 15, 1878; Jennie, born September 1, 1886; and Ida, born December 11, 1890. He is a member of the G. A. R. and is a Republican.

M. D. HARRISON, farmer and proprietor of the " Huntington Mills Hotel," Hunt- ington township, P. O. Huntington Mills, was born in that township, March 24, 1839. He is a son of Meritt and Sarah A. (Edwards) Harrison (both now deceased), natives of Pennsylvania and of English origin, the former of whom was a farmer by occupation, and died April 25, 1874. He was a son of Stephen and Hulda (Daboll) Harrison, natives of Connecticut, who came to the Huntington Valley about 1795. Our subject, who is the fourth in a family of eight children, seven of whom are now living, was reared ou a farm, educated in the common schools, and when nine years of age began life for himself at farm work; then after three years was taken by a cousin, Daniel F. Harrison, to be reared. This gentleman, who was also a farmer, died July 12, 1888, and our subject then inherited his property, comprising 110 acres of land, situated one mile south of Huntington Mills postoffice. In 1887 Mr. Harrison moved into the hotel, where he has since catered to the wants of the traveling public, and by careful attention, and an earnest desire to please, has won for himself a host of friends. He married, January 12, 186-, Miss Jane C., daughter of Martin and Ellen (Courtright) Line, natives of Pennsylvania and

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History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with biographical selections, Part 136

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.) Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1532

Author: Bradsby, H. C. (Henry C.)
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1532