BIO: Hon. Frank G. HARRIS, Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 376-377.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  HON. FRANK G. HARRIS, formerly a member of the Pennsylvania House of 
Representatives, state treasurer during a period of national financial 
stringency, and a representative citizen in business and social life in 
Clearfield county as well as prominent in public affairs, was born in 
Karthaus township, Clearfield county, Pa., November 6, 1845.  His parents 
were John and Eleanor (Graham) Harris, and his maternal great-grandfather was 
Judge James Boggs, once a prominent jurist in Center county.
  When four years old, Frank G. Harris was left motherless and was taken to 
the home of his uncle and aunt, Clark and Hetty (Graham) Patchin, and he 
remained with them until he was old enough to begin to provide for himself.  
He was about twelve years of age when he started to work in the lumber 
regions and he continued lumbering, and rafting on the river, until he was 
twenty-five years of age.  This is sturdy man's work and Mr. Harris enjoyed 
its physical difficulties, but he possessed an ambition also that prompted 
him to prepare for a career in which his intellect would be called into play.  
Thus, while following lumbering during the regular season, he employed 
himself during the other months of the year in study and made excellent 
progress, so that in 1873 he was graduated from Dickinson Seminary, at 
Williamsport, Pa., and in 1876, from Lafayette College, at Easton, Pa.
  Mr. Harris followed teaching for the next five years, residing during this 
time at Clearfield, and put in all his spare time studying law, and in 1879 
he was admitted to the bar of Clearfield county.  With the broadening and 
training of his mind cam an interest in public affairs and his identification 
with the Republican party and for many years he has been an important factor 
in politics in his state.  From 1881 to 1883 he served as chairman of the 
Republican County Committee and served seven years as a member of the 
Clearfield borough council.  In 1896 he was first elected a member of the 
House of Representatives and was re-elected in 1898 and again in 1901.  In 
the latter year he was elected state treasurer and served two years in that 
position.  In all these and in other public capacities he served with 
circumspection, honesty and marked ability.  Since partially retiring from 
public life, Mr. Harris has given attention to his law practice, has traveled 
extensively and has also been interested in real estate and banking.
  Mr. Harris was married April 15, 1879, at Lock Haven, Pa., to Miss 
Elizabeth F. Baird, of one of the old families of Clinton County, and three 
children were born to them, all of whom died in infancy.  Mrs. Harris died in 
Philadelphia, May 1, 1904.  Mr. Harris later married Miss Glenora Gearhart, 
of Clearfield, Pa.  They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at 
Clearfield, of which he is an official.  He is a director in the Clearfield 
Trust Company and of the Clearfield Hospital.  In his fraternal relations he 
is an Odd Fellow and a Mason of high degree, being identified with the 
advanced branches of the order and is a Shriner.