Washington Co., AR - Biographies - J. R. Harris *********************************************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: The Goodspeed Publishing Co Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************** J. R. Harris. Prominent in the business circles of Springdale, Ark., as a man of push, enterprise and intelligence, is J. R. Harris, who is a dealer in hardware and lumber, and is president of the Springdale Canning and Packing Company. He was born in Missouri in 1847, and is a son of James R. and Annie (Cunningham) Harris, who were born in South Carolina and Tennessee, February 17, 1814, and December 11, 1820, respectively. They grew to maturity and were married in Tennessee, emigrating to Missouri in 1836, and after a thirty years' residence in that State emigrated to Arkansas. Here the father died in 1880. His widow is still living, and resides with her son in Springdale. J. R. Harris was nineteen years old when he came to Arkansas. He received good educational advantages, and spent two consecutive years in the "Shiloh Baptist High-school." receiving in that institution sufficient mental training to fit him for the business affairs of life. After leaving school the first three years [p.952] were spent in pedagoguing. in which time he became well known as one of the successful educators of Northwestern Arkansas. At this period, as he had always wished to see something of the world, he began traveling. He left home, westward bound, and after reaching Oregon engaged in teaching school, which occupation he followed in that State for eight months. After a sojourn of one year in Oregon and California he returned to Benton County, Ark., and the following year was engaged in trading and speculating in stock. The next three years he officiated as chief assistant in the sheriff's office in Benton County, but his career in that direction was terminated owing to the death of his father, as he immediately left there and came to Springdale. Here he was successfully engaged in the milling business for five years, and at the end of that period sold his interest and engaged in the hard ware and lumber business, which he has as successfully managed. He is one of those men who always endeavor to promote the welfare and growth of the town, and was among the first to suggest a canning and packing company, and the first to take stock in the same, of which he is now president. Mr. Harris is unmarried, the family consisting of himself and mother. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, a Democrat in his political views, and is a Master Mason.