From the book History of Walworth County Wisconsin, by Albert Clayton Beckwith, 
publ. 1912 - Pages 600 - 602
 
JOHN H. HARRIS.  Examples that impress force of character on all who study them 
are worthy of record in the annals of history wherever they are found.  By a 
few general observations the biographer hopes to convey in the following 
paragraphs, succinctly and yet without fulsome encomium, some ideas of the high 
standing of John H. HARRIS, of Elkhorn, as a business man and public 
benefactor, one of the representative citizens of Walworth county.  Those who 
know him best will readily acquiesce in the statement that many elements of a 
solid and practical nature are united in his composition and which during a 
series of years have brought him into prominent notice throughout the southern 
portion of the state, his life and achievements earning for him a conspicuous 
place among his compeers.
 
Mr. HARRIS was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 29, 1856.  He is the 
son of James B. and Rachael (CHENEY) HARRIS, the mother a native of Jefferson 
county, New York, daughter of an old family of that state.  James B. HARRIS was 
born in Glasgow, Scotland, and when a boy he emigrated to Ingersoll, Canada, 
with his parents, where his brother and other relatives had preceded him.  He 
came down into the state of New York, probably about 1850, and there married 
Rachael CHENEY, and he conducted a cheese factory in Jefferson county, that 
state, most of his life.
 
Two sons and three daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. James B. HARRIS, namely: 
John H., of this sketch; Minnie is the wife of John McKELVIE and they live in 
southern Kansas; Belle, who was a teacher in the New York schools, died there 
in 1910; Maria, the fourth child in order of birth, married C. O. ROBERTS, and 
they live in Philadelphia, Jefferson county, New York; George B., third in 
order of birth, was born February 1860, has always been in the creamery 
business, being at present associated with the subject in the management of the 
Wisconsin Butter & Cheese Company, of which there are several branches, he 
being in charge of the one at Waukesha, in which city he resides, having moved 
there in 1891 from Spring Prairie, where he had lived up to that time.  He 
married Alma COLEMAN, daughter of James COLEMAN and wife, an excellent family 
of Spring Prairie, and George B. and his wife have five children, John C., 
Hugh, George, Robert, and Helen.
 
John H. HARRIS grew to manhood in New York and there received his education, 
remaining in his native community until the spring of 1879, when he came to 
Clinton Junction, Wisconsin, where he lived something more than a year, then 
moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin in 1880, and located about seven miles east 
of Elkhorn, in Spring Prairie township.  There he operated a cheese factory 
until 1890, when he and Walter A. WEST, George B. HARRIS and George B. PUFFER 
formed the Wisconsin Butler & Cheese Company, one of the best known companies 
of its kind in the state, a large, prosperous and growing concern, a complete 
account of which is to be found on another page of this work.  The subject is 
president of this company and its splendid success is due largely to his able 
management.
 
Mr. HARRIS has long been active and influential in public affairs and is an 
ardent Republican.  In 1898 he was elected state senator, and he served his 
constituents in a manner that own their hearty approval and reflected much 
credit upon himself.
 
Mr. HARRIS has been very successful in a business way, being a man of 
progressive ideas, sound judgment and keen discernment.  Aside from his large 
cheese manufacturing interests, he owns a valuable and finely improved farm of 
one hundred acres in the southwestern part of the city limits of Elkhorn.  Here 
he has an excellent barn, worthy of special mention because of its size, 
convenience and completeness, a model dairy barn in every respect.  He is a 
breeder of full-blood Holstein cattle and is taking a great deal of interest in 
improving and enlarging his herd.
 
The domestic life of Mr. HARRIS began on September 5, 1882, when he was united 
in marriage with Effie G. WEBBER, daughter of Loring O. and Mary (FAIRBANKS) 
WEBBER.  She was born in Raymond, Racine county, this state.  Her mother's 
people came from the state of New York.  Luring O. WEBBER was one of the first 
settlers of Racine county, and his father erected the first frame house built 
in that county. 
 
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. HARRIS, namely: Cora Belle, wife 
of Clarence A. ARP, lives in Chicago, where he is connected with the Universal 
Cement Company; James L. lives with his father in Elkhorn; Robert Bruce and 
Ruth M. are also at home.
 
Mr. HARRIS is a thirty-second degree Mason, and he belongs to the Ancient 
Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

Submitted By:  Carol
(carolann612@charter.net)