GEORGE
WASHINGTON HARRIS
GEORGE WASHINGTON HARRIS, son of Barnabas C. Harris and Esther
MILLER
was
born 21 June 1807 in Trumble, now Mahoning County, Ohio. He
married
ElizaMcBRIDE
29 November 1832. They lived in Mahoning County
until
about 1865,when he, like his ancestors, was imbued with the spirit of pioneer
life.
They
went to Iowa and settled in Washington County. They celebrated their
fiftieth
wedding anniversary November 29, 1882, attended by a large crowd
of
friends and neighbors. The following was taken from an Iowa newspaper,
where
it was published.
"The
golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. George Harris was celebrated at their
home
in Highland Township, Washington Co, IA on the evening of November
29,
1882. About 200 guests were present, including friends, neighbors and
children,
grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After the guests had as-
sembled,
Hon. E.F. Brockway was called to the chair, and letters of con-
gratulation
read from absent friends. A great many presents were given
among
which might be mentioned the following: gold headed cane for Mr.
Harris
and gold glasses for Mrs. Harris, from friends in Ohio; easy chair
for
Mr. Harris, from Bethel Church; easy chair for Mrs. Harris, from her
neighbors;
buffalo robe and gold glasses for Mr. Harris; hanging lamp,
set
of solid silver spoons, silk tidies, wedding cake, $15 in gold coin,
and
numerous smaller gifts, by friends and neighbors; gold ring, from
daughter
Hetta to mother; Turkish rug, from Mrs. John Lytle; china cups
and
saucers, from Mr. & Mrs. James Lytle; wedding cake, from Mrs. Waddle;
foot
warmers, from Mrs. Nicola; gold chain and pin, from Mr. and Mrs.
A.B.
Anderson; oil painting from Edgar and Ella Wilson; album, ottomans,
majolica
ware, silk handkerchiefs, articles of clothing and money, from
children,
grandchildren. Presentation speeches were made by Mr. Brockway,
Mrs.
Diehl, Mr. McKee and Mr. Edgar Wilson. Mr. Harris was too full---for
utterance,
but Prof. McKee came to his rescue, and made responses for him
and
Mrs. Harris. After the ceremonies were over, a supper, provided by
the
guests was served. The evening was enjoyed by all present.
I
will further add that very few set out hand in hand on life's pathway,
are
allowed the privilege at the close of half a century of married life,
to
clasp anew before family and friends, the same hands, and experience
the
enjoyment and congratulations of a Golden Wedding Anniversary. Still
fewer
can look back over that length of time and see with satisfaction,
the
completion of early plans and the realization of youthful hopes and
aspirations;
but such I trust, is the good fortune of Mr. and Mrs. George
Harris,
who celebrated their 50th anniversary of their marriage on 29
November
1882. Mr. Harris is a leading Elder in the Presbyterian Church,
in
which he and his wife belong.
Mr.
and Mrs. Harris had seven children, two sons and five daughters: 1.
Hannah
Harris born 8 September 1833 m. Samuel McKEE 1861 2. Esther Harris
born
15 March 1835 died 12 February 1888 m. James McGEEHAN 4 June 1856 3.
Pamelia
Harris born 21 January 1838 m. T.A. DIXON 4. Lydia S.
Harris
born
14 Jan 1840 died in infancy. 5. Samuel H. Harris born July 1824 died
in
infancy 6. Alexander C. Harris born 15 March 1845 died 13 September
1878
m. Lizzie CABEEN. 7. Clarissa Harris born 7 May 1847 died 22 July
1879
m. E.G. WILSON 13 September 1877. (The New
Jersey Branch of the
Harris
Family, Sarah Harris Kiefer, 1888)
