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THE HARRIS FAMILY
ORIGINAL PREFACE
BY SARAH J. (HARRIS) KEIFER
To write the history of my
ancestors, and to rescue from oblivion the records
and statistics of the
different families, has been with me a pleasant
pastime. While it has been
much labor to gather the material for this work, if
I shall be the means of preserving
for future gen-erations and historians,
records and matters
which are within the recollection of but very few now
living, my time and toil have
been well spent.
In collecting and compiling
the following sketches of The New Jersey branch of
the Harris family, I have
not had in view the production of a book that
shall edify or interest
the general public, for I am well aware that the dry
genealogical records of which
it is largely com-posed will only interest
those members of the large
family connections, whose history they profess to
give, into whose hands they
chance to fall.
There is nothing in the history
of the family to distinguish it above a
hundred other pioneering families
who crossed the Alleghany Mountains at the
close of the Revolutionary
War, to find homes and assist in developing the
resources of the great West,
excepting, perhaps, their great fruitfulness and
rather exceptionally fine
physical developement.
It is but little over
a century and a half since the progenitor of the
family, James Harris,
left the shores of England a single man. He was the
progenitor of the Harris family
in the United States that I shall edeavor to
trace out and give a sketch
of their lives, with their records, as far as can
be ascertained. It is only
two or three decades beyond the memory of persons
now living, since his death;
yet his posterity is dispersed from New York to
San Francisco, and from the
shores of Lake Erie to the plains of Texas. Some
of the oldest des-cendants
served as soldiers in the Revolution, some in the
War of 1812, and some in the
war between Mexico and the United States; and
still later, some of the younger
generations served as soldiers in the War of
the Rebellion, which occurred
from 1861 to 1865. In regard to the punctuality
and uprightness of the Harris
family, they can present as untarnished a record
as any other family. I have
never heard of any of them being imprisoned for
debt or other misdemeanor.
Their social standing has always been good. As to
mental capacity, I believe
they have generally been people of good common
sense. Although but few of
them have ever attained great eminence, but few
have ever sullied the fair
name of their ancestors. They have mainly followed
agricultural
pursuits, and I believe frugality
has ever been a leading charact-eristic of
the family in all its history,
and we find this trait of character still
predominant, despite the great
amount of prodigality and unthrift witnessed
today.
The Harrises have generally
been cultivators of the soil, and have been found
almost universally in the
middle class of society; it is not known for a
certainty that any royal blood
has ever coursed through their veins; but the
wife of James Harris was of
English parentage, and of the same name as the
wife of Henry the Eighth,
King of England. Let us look back more than a
hundred years ago, and see
our heroic ancestors hewing their way, step by
step, along a savage wilderness,
oppressed by foriegn foes and assailed by
murderous savages and wild
beasts, suffering cold, hunger, and disease, torn
from kindred ties.
ii
For what purpose? To build
up homes of peace and plenty for you and for me. To
open a highway of light and
liberty, and equal rights for us today: a country
that abounds with free institutions
of learning for all, and a right to
worship God after the dictates
of our own con-sciences all this they purchased
with a fortitude and suffering
which we of today do not appreciate half
enough: they bought all this
with their best abilities and also with their
hearts' blood.
To those who have taken so
much pains to aid me in making this a valuable book
to future generations, sincere
thanks are here returned, and as years roll on
and this book becomes more
and more cherished for its valuable information,
the thanks of future generations
will be still more sincere than ours. For the
history of some of the first
generations of the family I am indebted to Abram
Harris, of Utica, Ohio; Perry
A. Harris, of Saint Louisville, Ohio; Benjamin
Jackson, of Shelby, Iowa,
now in his eighty-first year, in April, 1887; George W. Harris, a
great-grandson of James Harris, the ancestor of the family, now in his
eighty-first year, and John
H. Harris, of Mendota, Illinois, now in his
eightieth year, one of the
oldest surviving members of the family, who has a
personal recollection of the
three youngest sons of James Harris (one of them
being his grandfather), and
of the only daughter of the emigrant ancestor of
the family. For my information
respecting the subsequent history and genealogy
of the family, I am indebted
to numerous correspondents in all parts of the
country, and to all of whom
I tender my warmest thanks. I may have overlooked
some names in putting the
manuscript to press, or improperly placed others,
but from the most reliable
data I have drawn my conclusions and made my
statements. In many of the
early families, as well as the families of a later
date, the exact order of names,
births, deaths, and marriages, could not be
ascertained, but have been
as nearly as possible. This book is mainly what
those who have kindly furnished
records and statistics have made it.
Thankful to all who have generously
given their assistance, this work is sent
out as a small contribution
to the genealogical literature of the day, and in
hopes that a more full and
extensive book of the Harris chronicles may be
issued at no very distant
day. In conclusion let me say that in sending out
this work to the readers of
the United States I am not only sensible of past
failures, but impressed with
the belief that the future offers much room for
improvement. This little volume
that I now offer to the public is not the
result of an empty desire
to make a book, but to furnish a concise account of
lives and experiences of the
individuals whose names are appended within.
Hoping this little volume will
meet your approbation, and that my researches
will prove somewhat beneficial
to my fellow-beings, and may not fail to profit
those who may chance to read
it,
Yours, with love and respect,
Sarah J. (Harris) Keifer,
Spring Green, Wisconsin.
February 16th, 1888
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iii
PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION
I began the research for my Harris ancestors in 1982, first coming in
contact
with Wayne Harris of Owosso, Michigan. He gave me a group of family
history
charts compiled by a Mr. Earl D. Crawfis in 1953. On another
page of this
book I have included his letter to Mrs. Lavern Westervelt of Saginaw,
Michigan.
Having never met or corresponded with Mr. Crawfis I have to admire him
greatly
and emphatically agree with his statements in the fourth para-graph
of his
letter. To my knowledge Mr. Crawfis was never aware of Mrs. Keifer's
book.
What a pity! He would have been impressed.
I discovered quite by accident Mrs. Keifer's work on the Harris family.
I had
sent some family group sheets to the genealogical society in Licking
County,
Ohio, for inclusion in their library. They informed me of the existence
of the
book. Luckily, I was able to purchase an original edition. An
original is
almost impossible to locate now. You can still buy a Zerox copy from
booksellers who reproduce old genealogical books.
Later I found that an index to Mrs. Keifer's book was compiled and published
by a Mrs. Ruth J. (Boyer) Todd in 1980. I located a copy of the index
and
began a correspondence with Mrs. Todd. I have included her preface
to the
index on another page of this book which I think is interesting and
informative.
During our correspondence, Mrs. Todd decided to send me all of her research
papers and family group sheets. This was a fabulous gesture on her
part. She
had been researching the Harris family for many years before I became
interested in updating the original Keifer book.
Over the years many Harris family members have sent me family group
sheets,
family pictures, and other information, without which the book would
not be
very complete. Here I make mention of their names and extol my
many thanks
for their efforts which will never be forgotten: Bruce Harris Sinkey
of
Haworth, New Jersey, who sent me photos, one of which was Abram Harris
(1775-
1850), a grandson of James Harris who married Miss Boleyn. Mrs. Esther
Michels
of Portland, Oregon. Mrs.
Barbara Budnick of Harrison, Michigan. Mrs. Dortha Platner of Elsie,
Michigan,
Mrs. Eileen Kimber of Rockford, Illinois. Mrs. Joan Black Lund of Champaign,
Illinois. Miss Berta-Mae Blackmur of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. Dennis G.
Norvell
of Auburn. Nebraska, Mrs. Myrtle M. Van Dyke of Johnston, Iowa.
Mary Jane
Cowart, Lottsburg, Va and Terry Lynn Harris of Underwood, Iowa.
These are but a few of the people who have helped and encouraged me
in the
task of preparing this book.
I know that there are many scores of descendants not included in this
book.
It is impossible to locate all the families descended from James Harris.
Without a doubt as soon as this work goes to press I will receive a
letter or
two from an unknown descendant.
By all means send those letters, for a volume three, I hope, will be
written
in the future. If not by me, then by another descendant.
Some of the families I have been unable to trace or to contact any
descendants. The information on these families in the original
work will
remain intact and will be quoted nearly verbatim. This I will
signify with
quotation marks. The poetry scattered throughout the book is from the
pen of
Mrs. Keifer. (NOT FINISHED)
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iv
PREFACE TO THE INDEX OF THE ORIGINAL BOOK
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
#2895 9-10842
CS71.H315
Ruth B. Todd
It absolutely amazes me how my illustrious ancestor "cousin" was able
to
compile the statistics, biographical sketches and historical anec-dotes
that
are contained in her delightful book, "The New Jersey Branch of the
Harris
Family in the United States!"
Sarah J. (Harris) Keifer's book contains much more than mere gene-alogical
data. It also includes what churches people belonged to, what wars
they fought
in (including names of companies, commanding officers, battles, ranks),
what
their physical and mental characteristics were, what they did for a
living,
and what they did for fun.
As is pointed out in its preface, the posterity of James Harris (1700-1763)
"is dispersed from New York to San Francisco, and from the shores of
Lake Erie
to the plains of Texas". There is no doubt in my mind that his descendants
are
now in every state of the U.S.A. and some foriegn countries as well.
The
excerpts pertaining to my husband and wife ancestors and their courage
in crossing over the mountains on pack horses from New Jersey into Pennsylvania
and at a later date removing to Knox County, Ohio "then an almost unbroken
wilderness," fills me with great pride. If it weren't for their perseverance
and stamina in enduring "the hardships and privations of frontier life,"
I wouldn't be enjoying the following comforts: Electricity, automatic gas
for heating and cooking, radio, TV, all sorts of appliances to
save time and energy, and access to airplane, steamship, railroad,
bus and
automobile transportation to anywhere in the world. It is incredible
and "mind
boggling" what has transpired in the past 280 years.
The task of compiling this index was more monumental than anticipated.
An
endeavor was made to index every name, even though it was mentioned
only once.
That one time might be just the clue you are looking for in compiling
your own
family history. Married women's names were indexed under both their
maiden and
married names, with the thought that you might know only one of them.
Having been involved with my family genealogy for quite a few years,
I have
learned that a genealogy book is much more valuable if it has an index.
Without one, your search can be very frustrating and many times such
a book is
discarded even though it might contain the very infor-mation you have
been
unable to find elsewhere. Therefore, I humbly submit this index to
"The New
Jersey Branch of the Harris family" in the United States of America,"
with an
almost certainty that you will find Mrs. Keifer's book most informative
and
enjoyable, as I did. Good luck and happy ancestor hunting!
(This index to the original book is still
available from Mrs. Todd.
Contact me for further information.)
Ruth J. (Boyer) Todd
April 1980
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v
301 Kinsey Ave.
Mrs. Lavern Westervelt
Cincinnati, Ohio
7546 Gratiot Rd.
3 September 1953
Saginaw, Michigan
Dear Pearl,
Because of the fact that I am nearing the allotted "three score and
ten" I've
decided to close the open gates, and the Harris family tree (charts)
is the
first to get the axe. This doesn't in any sense mean that I've quit
trying to
gather more data or expect to slow down (or up) in an effort to make
personal
contact with those who are still among the living. What exactly
it does mean
is that I want to assemble the present final form which I have compiled
to
date, and distribute as many copies as possible where they will be
appreciated
best and have the best chance of preservation.
In this endeavor my greatest regret is that I started forty years too
late.
There would have been better opportunities (because of the older ones
still
living) at that time to have filled in most of the gaps which cannot
be filled
now. A brighter view however is the fact that those who may now or
at some
future date have a yen to establish their pedigree this much is available,
I
hope because after another 50 years it will be all but impossible.
It is suggested that these charts be placed in an appropiate folder
or some
book large enough to hold them flat with the edges smoothed out, for
preservation and availability. It is further suggested that they be
taken
along to any family reunion or visitation with other descendants in
the Harris
line, and some attempt made to fill in the blank spots.
As a matter of fact I would remind you, that it is the duty of the head
of any
family, or family member, to continue these charts, and to re-produce
them if
necessary, for the benefit of their own children or future generations.
"Pride
of ancestry".
Of course it will take an effort and determination to do this, but you
may be
sure it has taken nothing less to acquire and assemble the data for
the charts
here presented, and I'd be glad to have the information too, of any
corrections or insertions which may be made by anyone to these five
charts.
These charts end with the fifth generation, many of whom are still
living.
Good luck and good hunting.
Sincerely,
Earl D. Crawfis
Extra copies to: Alexander A. Harris Owosso, Michigan, Laura H.
Phillips Oak
Harbor, Ohio, Willard S. Jones Ottawa, Ohio, and Jenny Crawfis Ottawa,
Ohio.
Copies of these charts will be added to the Crawfis charts for the
reason
that; Nancy Jane Crawfis 1845-1880 married Alexander R. Harris and
all her
children were grandchildren of Lewis H. Crawfis and Mary Ann Henderson
Crawfis, her parents. Therefore all of the descendants of Nancy are
related to
all of the descendants of her father Lewis H. Crawfis.
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vi
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to Ruth J. (Boyer) Todd of Lakewood, Colorado,
without
whose help, encouragement, and advice this history would never have
been
written. In 1980 she published an index to the original book by Keifer,
which
made it much easier to use. In 1988 she was instru-mental in the placing
of a
monument marker on the grave of Thomas Harris (1743-1822), buried at
Martinsburg, in Knox County, Ohio, by the DAR. Thomas was a soldier
in the
Revolutionary War and the son of James Harris, the progenitor of this
family
in America. Mrs. Todd has unselfishly given her time, research,
and energy to
this project and her material has been invaluable in the preparation
of this
book. Without her aid the book would be wanting indeed. To her
I shall be
eternally greatful.
Richard G. Boyd [email protected]
March 1991
_________________________________________________________________
vii
THE HARRIS FAMILY
EPILOGUE TO THE
ORIGINAL WORK
BY
SARAH
J. (HARRIS) KEIFER
To the readers:
To gather up, compile and write such a book as this, I believe I would
rather
do ordinary household work. Did you ever think what the labor of writing
is,
not merely moving the pen over the paper, to say nothing of the mental
strain
on the mind and nerves in writing an ordinary book? As a general
thing, it is
written over two or three times before it is left to the printer. When
you
consider that the labor of writing is, of course, the merest trifle
compared
with other labors, you can see there is no picnic about it. When I
think of
the amount of work it has taken to gather up and arrange this book,
I am
amazed at my own perseverance. I am not insensible to the fact
that I have,
in the estimation of some, written things which I ought not to have
done, and
left unwritten things which I ought to have done. The field was entirely
new,
but very few records and statistics were accessible only through the
medium of
the pen. I simply give you plain statements of old matters as were
given me.
If any names have been omitted, it has been unintentional, or through
neglect
of correspondents. I, therefore, submit it to your perusal, hoping
it may
prove advantageous to those who succeed me.
_________________________
viii
Obituary*
Spring Green Home News 2 May 1907
MRS. KEIFER DEAD
Mrs. Henry Keifer died at her home in this village, Wednesday morning,
May
1st, 1907, at 9 o'clock. Mrs. Keifer had been ailing but a few days
and on
Tuesday evening was stricken with apoplexy.
The funeral will be held next Saturday morning at 10 o'clock, at the
Congregational Church. An obituary will be printed next week.
Spring Green Home News
9 May 1907
DEATH
OF MRS. KEIFER
Sarah Jane (Harris) Keifer was born in Richland Co., Ohio on October
9, 1824, and died at Spring Green, Wisconsin, May 1st 1907. She was
married to
John Henry Keifer, January 4th, 1844 with whom she trod the pathway
of life
for nearly fifty-six years. To them were born two children, a son and
a
daughter. She leaves to mourn, her daughter, Mrs. C.W. Farrington,
Falls
City, Nebraska, three grandchildren, Edwin H. Keifer, Madison, Wisconsin,
Fred
Farrington and Mrs. E.H. Towle, and one great grandchild, Mary Towle,
all of
Falls City, Nebraska, also one brother, A.L. Harris of Reedsburg, and
two
sisters, Mrs. W. Hood of Spring Green, and Mrs. Twist of Madison.
Thus, one by one, our pioneer fathers and mothers are passing away.
Aunt
Jane, as she was lovingly called by nearly everyone in the place, came
to the
territory of Wisconsin, in the year of 1846, and with her young husband
braved
the trials and hardships all settlers at that time had to endure, and
at the
time of her death was the oldest actual settler in this part of the
country,
having lived in Sauk Co. almost sixty-one years. She was a member of
the old
settlers association of Sauk County, many of whom have read with interest
and
pleasure her sketches of early days published in the Home News of Spring
Green. But she has gone to her reward.
No more will the familiar face and kindly smile greet us, no more the
form,
with step growing each year a little slower and more faltering, will
be seen
among us, and though we know she has rounded out a full life of love
and
usefulness, yet how hard for the sad heart to say, "Thy will be done."
Mrs. Keifer in her early married life embraced the Christian religion,
united
with the United Bretheren Church and was baptized in that faith.
Some years
later she united with the Congregational church, of which she was a
member at
the time of her death.
Friends from away who attended the funeral, were the daughter, Mrs.
C.W.
Farrington, from Falls City, Nebraska; grandson, Edwin H. Keifer, Madison;
her
brother, A.L. Harris, Reedsburg; a sister, Mrs. Twist and daughter,
Miss Ruth
of Madison; Mrs. W.H. Harris of Reedsburg; Mrs. L.C. Starr
and son Robert,
Mineral Point; H.D. Hood and daughter Isabelle, Blue River.
Funeral Services were held from the Congregational Church at 10:30 Saturday
morning, conducted by the Reverand Harding R. Hogan, and she
was laid to rest
in the Spring Green cemetery by the side of her husband and son, the
latter
having preceded her by less than a year.
Darling, thou art gone to rest!
Thine is an earthly tomb;
But Jesus summoned thee away,
Thy savior called thee home.
Darling, thou art gone to rest!
Thy sins are all forgiven,
And Saints on high have welcomed thee,
To share the joys of Heaven
*Obituaries
courtesy Dennis
Norvell
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