Western Pennsylvania Genealogy
Compiled by Douglas H. Lusher


Family Group Record



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Hon. William Harris and Mary Fairlamb




Husband Hon. William Harris 1 2

           Born: 12 Jul 1799 - Bellefonte, Centre Co, PA 1 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 25 Oct 1865 - Bellefonte, Centre Co, PA 1 2
         Buried: 


         Father: James Harris, Esq. (1755-1826/1828) 3 4
         Mother: Ann Dunlop (1768-1844) 4 5


       Marriage: 12 Oct 1837 1 6

   Other Spouse: Margaret McLanahan (      -      ) 2 - 1820 2

   Other Spouse: Adaline Miles (      -      ) 1 6 - 21 Dec 1847 1 6



Wife Mary Fairlamb 1 7

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 13 Jul 1845 1 7
         Buried: 


         Father: George A. Fairlamb, M.D. (1787-1829) 8
         Mother: Annette Miller (      -      ) 8




Children
1 M Dr. George F. Harris 7 9

           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 
         Spouse: Mary W. Curtin (      -      ) 7 9



General Notes: Husband - Hon. William Harris


He was born in Bellefonte on the 12th of July, 1799, adopted the profession of a civil engineer, and early in life look part with his father, James Harris, in the location and construction of the various public works of that day, and the later public improvements in connection with his brother, James D., from which time until his death, his services as civil engineer, or in connection with the land titles of the county, were constantly in demand as a result of his skill, efficiency and painstaking accuracy. He was for several years largely engaged in the foundry and machine business, which in those days embraced the manufacture of all the more important articles of farm and home use, as plows, harrows, and all kinds of stoves, etc. He located and had charge of the construction of the Bald Eagle canal, of which he had also direction and control of the business management, as well as the engineering department, directing its maintenance, improvement, repairs and contracting for the same until 1865 when it was so damaged by flood as to be abandoned. He located and constructed the Bellefonte and Snow Shoe R. R., and when built he had the supervision of all the engineering work as well as the exclusive charge of the lands and coal mines of the Snow Shoe Land Association, a corporation connected with the Railroad Company, establishing the lines of tracts, locating of the mines, and the improvements thereon, and to whose careful and prudent management was mainly due the largely appreciated value of the stock of the company. He had fine social qualities, was fond of the society of his friends and acquaintances, kind hearted and liberal even to his injury, beloved by young and old. He was the most popular man in the county, and although the Whig party, of which he was an adherent, was largely in the minority in the county and district, he could be elected to any office for which he would permit his name to be used as a candidate, and without effort upon his part, as he was naturally averse to political preferment. In the councils of the different political parties the common remarks heard were "I wish we could persuade William Harris to accept," or "I fear they will persuade William Harris to run." He was elected treasurer of the county for two terms, and was State Senator from 1847 to 1850.


General Notes: Wife - Mary Fairlamb

from West Chester, Chester Co, PA

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Sources


1 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 200.

2 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 187.

3 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 198.

4 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 182.

5 John Blair Linn, History of Centre and Clinton Counties, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1883), Pg 190, 199.

6 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clinton, Union and Snyder. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 188.

7 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 188.

8 —, Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania, Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion. (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1898), Pg 85.

9 G. O. Seilhamer, Esq, The Bard Family (Chambersburg, PA: Kittochtinny Press, 1908), Pg 341.


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