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 accumulated 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(by 1882 only 6 are accounted for in the account of his life that I read, I have since located all of them).
In 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.In 1861 Elizabeth 1 died.
He remarried in Oct.of the same year another Elizabeth Hartman. They had one daughter named Cora B.
He is buried with both of them in the cemetery 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 plier 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 cable. 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 other places on the face of the stone there are scrolls,at the base there are the cable like roofs on all four sides. The information of John and Elizabeth no 1 are both on the Northside( front), Elizabeth no2 is on the westside of the same monument.
The ages here very widely, this is the only Harris family I been able to locate immigrating in June of 1850. Still researching this:
From Liverpool to Philadelphia, June 12, 1850Report or Manifest of all the Passengers taken on board the ship Sea King, whereof John Gray is Master, from Liverpool, burthen 773 tons. (Transcriber’s note: numbers: "1796/2000" found here) and owned by Gibbs Bright and Co. of Liverpool and bound to Philadelphia. (Transcriber’s notes: The following information is not in columns: Occupation of all passengers, until last few names in Cabin class, was listed as"Farmers/Labourers." To what Country belonging: "Great Britain." Country of which it is thier intention to become Inhabitants: "U. States." No deaths were recorded. "Steerage Passengers Baggage Three Hundred Fifty Packages.") (Columns below represent: Name; Age; Sex.)
He was married to Elizabeth Hillson (daughter of George Hillson and Mary Gilham) on 2 Jul 1821 in Marston Bedfordshire England.Elizabeth Hillson was born on 1 Dec 1805 in Marston-Moretain, Bedfordshire, England. She was christened on 16 Nov 1806 in Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, England. She died on 5 May 1861 in Stryker, Springfield twp, Williams County, Ohio. She was buried on 7 May 1861 in Oakwood Cemetery, Springfield twp, Williams County, Ohio.
He was married to Elizabeth Hartman on 29 Oct 1861 in Stryker, Springfield twp, Williams County, Ohio. Elizabeth Hartman was born on 10 Oct 1833 in Pennsylvania. She died on 3 Jul 1896 in Stryker, Springfield twp, Williams County, Ohio. John Harris and Elizabeth Hartman had the following children:
