JOSEPH C. HARRIS is the leading merchant of Millville, Shasta County.  He is a native of Nevada, born May 1, 1864, and came with his parents to California in 1865, when one year old.  He was educated in San Francisco.  His father, Isaac Harris, came to California in 1851; was a native of Germany, born in 1833, being only eighteen years of age when he came to this State.  He was married in San Francisco in 1863, to Miss Mary Sultan, a native of Germany, and they had eight children, of whom six are living.  For years the father did business in Inyo County, where Joseph C. Harris learned the mercantile business in his father’s store.  His father died in Santa Cruz and was buried at San Francisco, where they then resided.  Mr. Harris came to Millville in July, 1887, and bought the business now conducted by the firm of Joseph C. Harris & Co., his mother being a partner.  They have a new store of their own, do a large general merchandise business, their trade extending to the ranches fifty miles in some directions.  Mr. Harris is a very obliging and capable business man, preferring a large business with moderate profits to a small business and exorbitant prices.  Consequently his trade is constantly growing.

            In October, 1887, Mr. Harris was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Joseph, a native of Germany, and they have two children, namely:  Irma, born in San Francisco, and Ralph, born at Millville.  Mr. and Mrs. Harris are highly spoken of by their neighbors.  The county <country> from which they and their ancestors came  has furnished the United States and California with many of its best and enterprising citizens, who by their industry, frugality and business ability have reached the very pinnacle in all the professions and business of the country.

Source: Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler