Harris, James M. 1853 - 1930

HARRIS, JEMISON, RIDENOUR, MINER, LAUGHLIN, BARBER, SWENSON, FOLSOM, HAMMEL, MEYER

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/8/2012 at 20:25:40

Postville Herald, Thur., 7 Aug. 1930. Condensed from a much larger obit.

J. M. Harris Was A Resident Here For Seventy-Five Years. Was Active In Community Affairs For Many Years; Passed Away Monday.

On Monday morning, August 4th, death came to J. M. Harris as a kindly messenger and released him from his physical sufferings that have afflicted him over a period of years.

James M. Harris, son of Elisha and Margaret Harris, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, July 23, 1853, and came with his parents to Post township, Allamakee county, in October 1854, where his early life was spent on the farm home.

On September 4, 1874, he was united in marriage with Margaret Jane Jemison of Post township. Four children were the fruit of this union, all of whom except one son, Alton, died in early infancy. After their marriage they settled on a farm near Bethel, where they resided for 15 years, moving to Postville in November of 1899. In October of 1891 they returned to the farm, and again in February 1893 returned to Postville, where they lived the life of retired farmers until 1900.

In 1900 Mr. Harris bought a furniture store and undertaking business in Postville, selling the furniture store and retaining the undertaking business in 1907. Up to August 14, 1916, he had buried 554 persons. He sold 1/2 interest in this buisness at that time, and the firm became Harris & Schutte, which continued to January 12, 1929, when sickness in his home and his own frailty caused him to sell his 1/2 interest to his partner, Louis Schutte.

He joined the Bethel U.B. church in 1876 and transferred, in 1893, to the M.E. church of this community, where he became a class leader for 22 years, and Sunday School Superintendant for another 3 years.

He was a Post township trustee from 1895 to 1923, and was elected coroner of Allamakee county in 1924, serving one term. He served as secretary of the Postville Cemetery Assn. from 1913 to 1929.

His son, Alton, died in Minneapolis May 19, 1928, and his wife passed on March 30 of this year.

He is survived by three sisters -- Mrs. Delila Ann Ridenour of Stockton, Calif.; Mrs. Elizabeth Miner of Emporia, Kan.; and Mrs. Jane Laughlin of Postville. Two brothers-- Henry Harris of Los Angeles, Calif., and George W. Harris of Postville. One grandchild, Mrs. Genevieve Harris-Barber lives in Minneapolis, Minn. Their are also many other relatives and a host of friends.

The funeral will be held today (Thursday) from the Community Presbyterian church, Rev. R. B. Garten officiating. Interment in the family plot in Postville cemetery.

The pall bearers are all relatives-- W. H. Harris, Arthur Swenson, Loney Folsom, Leonard Hammel, H. W. Meyer and Lee B. Folsom.

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Submitter is not related.

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