Martin Harris Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1151-1152 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.


	MARTIN HARRIS, of Clark, Clark county, is a native of the old 
Buckeye state, having been born in Portage county, Ohio, on the 2d of 
December, 1831, and he is a son of Hosea and Caroline (Skinner) Harris, 
the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter in 
Massachusetts, while both families were early founded in America. The 
father of the subject removed to Ohio in the pioneer era in that state, 
and there passed the remainder of his life, having been a mason by trade 
and vocation. Both he and his wife were persons of lofty integrity, 
living earnest and worthy lives. Of their four children one is now 
living, the subject of this review, he having been the second in order 
of birth. His mother died when he was a lad of twelve years, and his 
father passed to his final rest about six years later. 

	Martin Harris remained at the parental home until the same was 
broken up by the death of his mother, having in the meanwhile secured 
such advantages as were afforded in the common schools of his native 
county. At the age of twelve years he became largely dependent upon his 
own resources, and thus began the stern battle of life when a mere boy. 
He was employed at farm work for several years, and then learned the 
carpenter trade, as well as that of cabinetmaking, while thereafter he 
was employed as a builder and in car shops, learning to be a skilled 
draftsman in the meanwhile. About 1866 he purchased a farm in Geauga 
county, Ohio, devoting his attention to its cultivation about seven 
years, after which he was similarly engaged in Marshall county, Indiana, 
until he came to South Dakota. In 1885 he disposed of his farm in the 
Hoosier state, and came to Dakota territory, locating in Clark county, 
where he has ever since resided. He took up two hundred acres of 
government land, in Merton township, and reclaimed the same from its 
primitive condition, making it a fertile and productive farm, while to 
the original claim he added until he was the owner of a well-improved 
ranch of two hundred acres, equipped with high-grade buildings, in 
distinct contrast to those which he built upon first coming to the 
county, for his original dwelling was a primitive sod house. Mr. Harris 
devoted himself zealously and indefatigably to the cultivation and 
improvement of his land, and with the passing of the years gained a 
competency, which enables him to pass the evening of his life in that 
quiet and dignified repose which constitute the just reward for his long 
years of earnest toil and endeavor. In the spring of 19OI he disposed of 
his farm and purchased a good residence property in the county seat, 
where he has since lived retired from active business. In politics Mr. 
Harris was formerly a Republican, but in later years has given his 
support to the Prohibition party, being a zealous advocate of the 
temperance cause. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal 
church, and have been active in good works and kindly deeds. 

	On the 12th of November, 1865, in Kent, Portage county, Ohio, was 
solemnized the marriage of Mr. Harris to Miss Eliza Ferris, who was born 
in New York on the 31st of January, 1832, being a daughter of John and 
Hannah (Black) Ferris, the former a native of New York and the latter of 
Massachusetts. They removed to Ohio in 1834, and there passed the 
remainder of their lives, Mr. Ferris having been a shoemaker by trade 
and vocation. Mrs. Harris was the youngest in a family of ten children, 
of whom she is the only one yet living. The subject and his estimable 
wife, who has been to him a devoted companion and helpmeet, have three 
children. Emma is the wife of Albert Bull, who is engaged in the 
creamery business in Parkston; Grant, who married Miss Ora Page, deals 
in farm machinery in Clark, and Frank, who married Miss Sadie Keling, 
now deceased, is employed in the real-estate business in Clark.