Biographies

Source:
The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio
To Which is Added an Elaborate Compendium of National Biography
Illustrated
Publ. Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Company
1902
 

	CAPTAIN HENRY CLAY HARRIS.   The well known farmer of Miller township, Knox county, Ohio, whose name is above has an enviable record as a soldier and as a judicial officer, and his standing as a citizen is deservedly high.  Therefore some account of his creditable career is absolutely necessary to the completeness of this work.      Henry Clay Harris, son of Emor and Sarah (Sweet) Harris, was born in the house in which he now lives, one of the oldest brick residences in the county, Sept. 29, 1832, and it may be said that he practically has had no business except farming during all his active years.  His father, Emor Harris, was born in Rhode Island, in 1792, and early connected himself with the minute men of his day and locality, who were ever ready to act instantly in defense of our then young nation.  The fact that there is no record that he was ever called into active service does not dim the luster of his patriotic intentions.  He emigrated to Ohio in 1816 and located on land now owned by H. Grant Harris, which he secured as military land.  He was a man of influence in the community.  He married, in 1813 Miss Sarah Sweet, who bore him eight children: Caroline born in Rhode Island; and Emor B.; Sarah, May, Bessie, Lydia, Emily and Henry Clay, born in Ohio.  Of this family of children only Emor B., of Red Oak, Iowa, Caroline of Galena, Delaware county, Ohio, and Henry Clay are living.  Sarah (Sweet) Harris was a daughter of Philip and Anfillis (Brown) Sweet, natives of Rhode Island, and her father was a soldier in the war for independence.      The subject of this sketch is a charter member of Syramore Valley Lodge, No. 553, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, having passed all its chairs, is one of its honored past noble grands.  He has been once elected treasurer of Miller township and has by successive re-election filled the office of justice of the peace for four successive terms.  His military career began early in 1864, when he recruited a company for the United States' service in Pleasant and Miller townships, which became Company C, One Hundred and Forty-second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry and of which he was elected captain at its organiation, May 13, 1864. The organization was mustered into the service at Camp Chase, Columbus, and at once left for Fort Lyon and was under fire almost daily in Grant's line advancing on Richmond until it was mustered out at Camp Chase in September, 1864.  He is a member of Fry Post, No. 706.      When twenty- four years of age Captain Harris married Miss Dorcas Gates, who has borne him four children: Mary W., Cyrus G., Carrie A. and Grant.   Mary W. married A. E. Lockwood and died in 1891.  Carrie A. died in 1893, unmarried.  Cyrus G. is a teacher of Brandon. Grant Harris was born Apr. 21, 1867, and was married Dec. 7, 1892, to Miss Ella Barker, a daughter of George W. and Rachal (Moody) Barker, of Brandon.  Five years ago he bought his father's old homestead, which was secured by his grandfather in 1816.  It comprises sixty-seven acres and devoted to general farming.  Is a Republican in his political views.  On his twenty-first birthday he was made an Odd Fellow, and has passed the chairs of Sycamore Lodge, and Lyman lodge of Rebeccas was organized under his jurisdiction as Noble Grand. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 - Page 140
	JOHN O. HARRIS.   In these days of up-to-date farming it is a pleasure to note the essential facts in the career of a farmer who is in some ways a leader in his class in the community in which he lives.  Such a farmer is John O. Harris, of Clay township, Knox county, Ohio, who is the owner of one hundred and eight acres of land comprising his homestead and one hundred and twenty acres constituting an independent farm in Harrison township.      Mr. Harris was born in Jackson township.  Knox county, Ohio, Mar. 29, 1849, son of Samuel Harris, a native of Ohio, who was an early settler in the county.  Elijah arris, father of Samuel Harris and grandfather of John O. Harris, was also a pioneer in Knox county.  Sarah Hill, who married Samuel Harris and became the mother of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Knox county.  Samuel Harris died a the age of seventy-eight years; his wife at the age of sixty-five years.  They were the parents of one daughter and two sons, and our subject was the youngest of their three children.      John O. Harris was reared in Clay township and educated in the common schools in his vicinity.  He has become prominent as a farmer, is an active member of the Disciple church, and is locally influential in the Democratic party.  He was married in June, 1876, to Miss Lydia Cochren, a native of Morrow county, Ohio, and a daughter of John and Delia A. (Walker) Cochren.  A biographical sketch of her father appears on another page of this work.  She was reared in Howard township, Knox county, and is an accomplished woman, highly esteemed by all who know her.  She has borne her husband a son and a daughter named Vincie Craig and Sallie. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 - Page 71
	MARTIN J. HORN.   Washington county, Pennsylvania, furnished many pioneers to Ohio, and they were men of the highest character and ability and their descendants are leaders in various communities at the present time.  The old Pennsylvania family of Horn is represented in Harrison township, Knox county, and perhaps no one who bears the name is better known than Martin J. Horn, long a successful farmer and who is now living in well earned retirement.      Martin J. Horn was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, July 22, 1822, a son of John Horn, who was born in the same county, within six miles of the seat of justice, in 1799.  John Horn was reared to be a fanner and miller, and on his farm of three hundred and forty-five acres he owned a mill.  He was in all sense a man of success and prominence.  He was a Whig and Republican and an active and liberally helpful member of the Baptist church.  Martin Horn, father of John Horn and grandfather of Martin J. Horn, was born on the same farm in Washington county which was the birthplace of John Horn, and he lived to be eighty-four years old.  Hartman Horn, father of Martin Horn and great-grandfather of Martin J. Horn, was born in Germany, and was an early settler in Washington county, Pennsylvania, where he purchased public land and was in his time a well known farmer.      John Horn married Mary Gantz, who was born at Ten Mile Creek, Washington county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1799, and she died in 1866.  John Gantz, her father, who was a farmer, miller and distiller, was a native of Germany, as was also his wife.  He achieved success in his 'time and locality as a man of affairs.  John and Mary (Gantz) Horn had children as follows:  Martin J., the first born, is the immediate subject of this sketch.  Mary Ann is dead.  George lives on the old family homestead in Washington county, Pennsylvania.  Margaret is dead.  Jacob died in the service of his country in the Civil war.  Elizabeth, who is the widow of James Price, lives in California.  Hugh is engaged in farming in Henry county, Iowa.  Hannah lives in Iowa.  John is dead.  William owns and lives on a part of the old Horn property in Pennsylvania.  Maria is the wife of George Coogle, of Washington county, Pennsylvania.  Isaac is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Moultrie county, Illinois.      The subject of this sketch was reared at the old family home of Horn in Washington county, Pennsylvania, as a farmer and miller, but eventually engaged in teaming between Wheeling, West Virginia; Cumberland, Maryland; Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; and other points with six-horse teams, of which from time to time he owned several.  He came to Knox county in 1847 and began farming in Harrison township.  In May, 1848, in Butler township, he was married to Miss Sarah Eley, who was also born there, a daughter of Michael and Catharine Eley.  They were early settlers in that part of the county. Immediately after his marriage Mr. Horn brought his wife to the farm on which he now lives, and where he had "bached"' it for a time.  He has been successful in his business affairs, and at one time owned four hundred acres of excellent land.  He is regarded not only as a progressive farmer but as an influential citizen.  In politics he is a Democrat, and in religion he affiliates with the Christian church.  His wife, who died July 16, 1891, bore him four children,—Mary R., who is now Mrs. Jacob Black, and lives with her father; and Hugh, John and Eley, all of whom live in Harrison township, near their father.  Mr. Horn has given or sold to each of his children on favorable terms a good farm, and they have all entered upon active life with excellent prospects. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 - Page 94
	R. D. HORN.   Among the successful and capable physicians of Knox county is numbered Dr. Horn, who is engaged in practice in North Liberty.  He was born in Harrison township, Knox county, Oct. 16, 1858, and represents an old family of Pennsylvania, his grandfather, Joseph Horn, having been born in Washington county, that state.  When civilization was in its primitive period in Knox county, he took up his abode in this portion of Ohio and followed farming here for many years.  His son, Jacob Horn, was born on the old homestead in Harrison township, in 1825, and now resides in Mount Vernon, living retired from business cares.  He wedded Sarah Robinson, a native of Union township, Knox county, where she was born in 1830, a daughter of William Robinson, who was of English descent.  He came from Maryland to Ohio, and at an early date began farming here, following that pursuit as a life work.  Mr. and Mrs. Horn became the parents of three sons and a daughter.      The Doctor is their youngest child and his boyhood days were spent in his native township, where he attended the district schools, thus laying the foundation for the broad general knowledge upon which he has reared the superstructure of professional learning.  At the age of eighteen he began the study of medicine under the direction of Drs. Russell and McMiller of Mount Vernon.  He remained with them for four years, and in the meantime he attended two courses of lectures in the Wooster Medical College, at Cleveland, being graduated in that institution with the class of 1881.  Thus well equipped for his professional career.  Dr. Horn located in Jelloway, Ohio, where for four years he was in partnership with Dr. Hyatt. On the expiration of that period, he came to North Liberty, where he has now successfully practiced for seventeen years.      In 1885 occurred the marriage of Dr. Horn and Miss Alma B. Loney, a daughter of John C. Loney.  She was born in Vernon township and pursued her education in its common schools.  Four children blessed their marriage: Ida, Rufus H., Daniel L. and Donald.  The family is well known in the county and its members rank high in social circles.  The Doctor is unswerving in his advocacy of Republican principles, but has never been an aspirant for public office, proferring to devote his time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable success, resulting from his skill and ability.  He keeps thoroughly informed concerning the advancement made by the profession and is quick to adopt any ideas or methods of practice that he believes will prove of practical benefit in alleviating human suffering. Source: The Biographical Record of Knox County, Ohio - Publ. 1902 - Page 370

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