Barbour County, West Virginia Biography of Ira HARRIS ************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: Material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor. Submitted by Valerie Crook, , March 2000 ************************************************************************** The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume III, pg. 357-358 IRA HARRIS has had an exceptionally busy and useful career extending over a period of thirty years. The founda- tion of his success was laid at farming. He was responsible for the development of and still owns one of the best farms in Barbour County. Upon removing to Philippi he engaged in business as a merchant. His people were pioneers in Barbour County. His great- grandfather was Simeon Harris, who first established a home in Glade District of Barbour County. The land he acquired remained as a farm in the hands of his sons. He built a generous chimney, marking the site of his home, and it is still standing on the farm. Simeon Harris was a Baptist preacher and did much to spread the gospel and religious work in the community. Besides preaching he married the young and buried the old. His own grave is near Meadowville. George Harris, grandfather of the Philippi merchant, was born in Glade District and devoted his life to farming in that locality. His enterprise and vigor enabled him to accumulate a large amount of real estate, and he was one of the real men of influence in his community. He was a Baptist and democrat, and he died about forty years ago, when seventy-five years of age. He married Christina Cross, who survived him many years. Their children were: William, who died in Roane County, leaving a large family, Henry, who is still living, at the age of ninety-two, at the old home farm; Barton, who spent his life near Spencer; John; Abraham, a farmer who died near Spencer; Draper, who was a farmer in Glade District, but died in Randolph County; Ingaby, who died at Philippi, wife of Solomon Smith; Minerva, who married Frank Gainer, of Glade Dis- trict; and another daughter went to Illinois, married and died in that state. John Harris, father of Ira Harris, was born in Glade District in June, 1833, and as a boy had only the advan- tages of the old-fashioned subscription school. Farming became his permanent vocation after he attained manhood, and his activities were in the vicinity of Meadowville. He was physically unable for service in the Civil war, was a democrat, was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church, but for some years before his death had been affiliated with the Methodist Protestant Church. John Harris, who died May 19, 1917, married Elizabeth Martini, who was born in Randolph County in 1835, daughter of Simeon Martini. She died December 24, 1910, the mother of the following children: Elias J., of Spencer; George W., of Belington; Euphrates, a farmer near Meadowville; Page B., of Elkins; Ira; Dee, of Belington; and Olive, wife of Hoy Harsh, of Elkins. Ira Harris was born March 30, 1872, and spent his early life on the farm in Glade District, acquiring a district school education. He has been one of the prominent men in that locality, and his splendid farm at Kalamazoo is rated as one of the best equipped and most profitably managed country places in the county. His home was on this farm until he removed his family to Philippi to secure better school advantages for his children. In Tucker County he owned 300 acres of grazing land, with build- ings and other improvements. For twenty years while on the farm Mr. Harris conducted a country store, and on removing to Philippi he utilized this experience by engag- ing in the grocery business. He is now a member of the firm Hauser and Harris, with a store devoted to ready-to- wear clothing for women and men. In politics Mr. Harris is one of the old campaigners of Barbour County, and for many years has carried the ban- ner of the democratic party. He first voted for Mr. Bryan in 1896, and at different times was a committeeman of Glade District, helped as a delegate in several state con- ventions, helped name Junior Brown for Congress and has frequently accepted a place on the party ticket for office. He was several times elected constable of Glade District and a member of the Board of Education, and at one time was president of the board. His son Grover was party candidate for county clerk in 1920. Mr. Harris is a Metho- dist and for sixteen years was steward of his church in Glade District. He is affiliated with Kassan Lodge, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Harris married Priscilla Holsberry, who was born in Glade District, daughter of Martin and Abigail (Stal- naker) Holsberry. Both the Holsberry and Stalnaker fam- ilies were old settlers at Glade District. Mrs. Harris has a brother, Henry, and a sister, Margaret, wife of Mella Stalnaker. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Harris are: Grover C., to whom a special paragraph is devoted; Virgil, associated with the Davis Drug Store at Philippi, married Lottie Boyles and has a daughter, Evelyn Gail; Bretts, a farmer; Martin, with the firm of Hauser and Harris in Philippi. Grover C. Harris is one of the very prominent and popu- lar young men of Barbour County. He carries a distin- guished service medal and for two years was with the army in the Telephone Engineering Department. On one particular occasion, when his comrades were being shelled heavily to destroy telephone connection, he and two others stuck to their posts and kept the wires open to the rear, and for this work he was cited for bravery and distinguished service and a Government medal conferred upon him. Since the war he has been engaged in educational work and is principal of the high school at Junior. He married Bertha Ritenour, and they have a son, Ira Odell.