J.M. Harris Was a Resident Here For 75 Years

On Monday moning, August 4th, 1930, at a few minutes before eleven o''clock, death came to J.M. Harris of this city 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 couny, in October 1854, where his early life was spent on the home farm.

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. Following their marriage they settled down to housekeeping on a farm near Bethel, where they resided fifteen years, moving to Postville in November of 1899. In October 1891 they returned to the farm, where they resided until February 1893, when they again returned to Postville and lived as a retired farmer until 1900. 

In 1900 Mr. Harris engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in this
city. In 1907 he sold his furniture store, retaining the undertaking part of
the business. Up to August 14, 1916, he had buried 554 persons. At this date he sold a half interest in the undertaking business to Louis Schutte, and
the firm of Harris & Schutte, continued until January 12, 1929 when sickness
in his home and his own failing health caused him to voluntarily retire from
the business, which he sold to his partner. He joined the Bethel U.B. church
in 1876 and remained a faithful member of the same until 1893, when he moved to Postville and joined the M.E. church, in the activities of which he didwell his part, being a class leader for twenty-two years and Sunday Schoolsuperintendent for three years. He served as a trustee of the Post township from 1895 to 1923, when he voluntarily resigned the office. In 1924 he was elected coroner of Allamakee county and served one term. He administered public business with the same fidelity with which he served his own. He was secretary of the Postville Cemetery association from 1913 to 1929. His son Alton died in Minneapolis May 19th, 128, and his faithful wife and helpmeet passed on March 30th of this year. He is survived by three sisters -- Mrs. Delila Ann Ridenour of Stockton, Calif.; Mrs. Elizabeth Miner of Emporia, Kansas, and Mrs. Jane Laughlin of Postville; two brothers -- Henry Harris of Los Angeles, Calif., and George W. Harris of Postville; and one grandchild, Mrs. Genevieve Harris-Barber of Minneapolis, as well as many other relatives and a host of friends. The above is in brief the life story of a man known to every man, woman and child in this locality. Human frailties he may have had, but on the whole he was a gracious and upright man, who went about doing good in many places and at many times. He was ever thoughtful of the sick and the afflicted and the unfortunate, to all of whom he gave not only of his abundant sympathy, but in a more substantial way as well. 

Through his generosity flowers have lent their cheeriness and fragrance to
many a sick room and their grace and beauty to other occasions at church or school. He ever took an active interest in the plans for Memorial Day, and
for many years has given much of his time on these occasions to selecting
flower girls and seeing that were provided with flowers and the children
with flags that every soldier's grave should be lovingly and fittingly
decorated on Memorial Day. In this connection it is also appropriate to note
the love and devotion with which the daughterinlaw, Mrs. Alton Harris, has
not only cared for the home, and tenderly ministered to the comfort and care
of both Mr. and Mrs. Harris until each crossed over to the other shore.
The funeral will be held today (Thursday) at two o'clock p.m. from the
Community Presbyterian church, Rev. R.B. Garten officiating. Interment will
be made in the family plot in Postville cemetery. The pallbearers are all
his relatives -- W.H. Harris, Arthur Swenson, Loney Folsom, Leonard Hammel, H.W. Meyer and Lee B. Folsom.

Thanks to: Iowa Newspaper Abstracts
http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/IA/index.html