Fresno County Biographies

GEORGE HARRIS

Submitted by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://calarchives4u.com/

These electronic 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, OR the legal representative of 
the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to 
their own work.

 Antelope Canon is one of the wildest yet most picturesquely 
beautiful nooks of the Tehachapi mountain region, and Mr. Harris has the honor 
of being one of its most independent denizens. In point of altitude he holds the 
vantage ground, being located nearer the head of this gorge than any other 
settler. He has been a resident of California since 1883. Mr. Harris was born in 
Sullivan County, New York, November 3, 1840, and remained at home in his native 
State until he was twenty-one years of age. His father, W. D. Harris, was a 
blacksmith by trade, and of his six children the subject of this sketch was the 
second born. In 1861, Mr. Harris enlisted for the defense of the Union, joining 
the Eighty-ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, and serving as a soldier until 
1863, a little less than two years. He was in the Ninth Army Corps, and did some 
lively fighting, but fortunately received no wounds. After the close of the war 
he spent about eight years as a stationary engineer in the oil regions of 
Pennsylvania, then traveled extensively throughout the United States, Mexico, 
and British Columbia, and in 1885, located on his present ranch. His property is 
located in section ten, and comprises 240 acres, timber and farming land. He has 
also some mining property which he jointly holds with Mr. S. D. Furber. Mr. 
Harris is a single man, and his hospitality and great generous heart makes him 
popular, and class him among the old-time Californians. As a business man and a 
citizen, none stand higher in the estimation of the local public than George Harris.

Source: "The Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare 
and Kern, California," Lewis Publ. Co., 1892, pp. 305-306.