HARRIS, James



HARRIS, JAMES, ESQ., was the son of John Harris, who emigrated from Donegal, Ireland, to Lancaster County in 1752. James was born on the Swatara in 1755, but his father removed afterwards to the Juniata, and built a fine house on the site of Mifflintown, and laid out that town in 1790. Here with ample means and a good library his son James received his early training. He adopted the occupation of a surveyor, and April 19, 1785, was appointed deputy surveyor of Cumberland County, and Nov. 19, 1789, was appointed for all of Mifflin County. In September, 1787, he laid out the road from Frankstown to the Conemaugh River.

From 1789 his name is connected with the land titles of Centre County. He married, June 15, 1790, Ann, daughter of Col. James Dunlop, and removed to Spring Creek in 1795, in which year in connection with his father-in-law he laid out the town of Bellefonte. He was a State senator from Mifflin County, and the first postmaster at Bellefonte. After the erection of the county he was senator from 1800–8.

James Harris died Dec. 2, 1826, in the seventy-first year of his age; his wife, April 8, 1844, aged seventy-seven. Of their children, were Jane, married Rev. James Lewis; John Harris, M.D., late United States consul at Vienna; Eliza G. married Dr. Daniel Dobbins; James Dunlop Harris, the celebrated civil engineer; William Harris, county treasurer and senator; Joseph, who built the iron-works at Howard, and Andrew Harris.

Mrs. Ann Harris, who survived her husband eighteen years, was a woman of more than ordinary mental powers, and had talents for philosophical investigation, which she improved by study and converse with the able theologians of her day.

Andrew Harris married Ann Bella Johnston, by whom he had one son, Dr. Lucian Harris; all are deceased.








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