1.John HARRIS was born on Jun 15 1799 in Marston,Bedfordshire England. He was a Laborer in Aug 1831,he was a Butcher in May 1844,he was a Baker in 1850 in Marston,Bedfordshire,England. Grampa John (I call him Grampa John 1)was one of nine children born to Richard and Sarah (Thomas) Harris. He had no formal education,but somehow in England he accummulated a fortune which he later lost. At age 5 he was hired to herd sheep.When he was 17 he worked for one shilling a day later he worked at farming and baking. At 21 he married Elizabeth Hillson. They had a total of 14 children In June of 1850 he immigrated to America and settled in Springfield township,Williams County,Stryker,Ohio. He purchased 160 acres of unimproved land for $3.50 per acre to this he added 581 acres. He continued to live the rest of his life on this land. He died on Apr 24 1891 in Stryker Springfield twp.He was buried in April 1891 in Oakwood Cemetery Stryker Ohio. He was 91 years 10 months and 9 days old at the time of his death. In 1861 Elizabeth 1 died. He remarried in Oct.of the same year to another Elizabeth. Elizabeth Laze. They had two children. He fathered a total of 16 children.The last being born when he was in his seventies. He is buried with both wives in the cemetary in Stryker. The headstone must have been breathe taking when it was new. Since it is now over 100 years old and I could still make out and see clearly many of the designs.It is nearly 6ft tall. It is marble so it is very weathered.I could see along the bottom of the base the name Harris on all four sides.The tall part is like a piler which is wider at the bottom and narrows at the top,but does not come to an exact point. About 2ft from the peak there is a design that looks like a roof or gable. In the center of this house like thing is what is either a pendant or coat of arms. I couldn't see it well,what I could see was a circle with a very fancy "H" with what felt like 3 flags behind it. Across the bottom and at the places on the face of the stone there are skrolls,at the base there are the cable like roofs on all four sides.The information of John and Elizabeth no1 are both on the Northside( front),Elizabeth no2 is on the westside of the same monument. It is completely gone except for her first name. John Harris and Elizabeth Hillson were Married In the Church of England in Marston-Moretaine,Bedfordshire England on July 2,1821. Apparently neither John or Elizabeth could read or write at the time of their marriage. Thier signatures as well as that of William Harris(his brother)one of thier witnesses was written by the same person followed by an X and the message her mark and his mark written behind them. The other witness was Thomas Luck. Elizabeth HILLSON was born on Dec 1 1805 in Marston-Moretaine,Bedfordshire,England. She died on May 5 1861 in Stryker Springfield twp Williams Ohio. She was buried in May 1861 in Oakwood Cemetery ,Stryker,Ohio. She was 56 years 6 mos.and 5 days old at the time of her death. John HARRIS and Elizabeth HILLSON had the following children: