(Published in History of Idaho: The Gem of the Mountains Vol. 3 by James H. Hawley 1920)

George H. B. Harris was for many years prominently identified with farming interests near Rexburg but at length put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in the town. Soon after his arrival in Rexburg the Farmers Implement Company solicited his assistance as collector and salesman, in which capacity he served for about six months, and since that time has been floor salesman for the company.

Mr. Harris was born in Pleasant Grove, Utah county, Utah, April 10, 1857, and is a son of George H. A. and Ann (Burraston) Harris, who were natives of England and came to America in 1852. For a time the father was clerk of the courts of Provo, Utah, and finally became a resident of Pleasant Grove. For several years he taught school and later he worked as a farm hand, while next he engaged in general merchandising for some time. He then bought land and continued its cultivation for a considerable period, or until 1887, when he came to Rexburg, Madison county, then a part of Bingfiam county. He afterward made his home with his children throughout his remaining days passing away April 3, 1919, at the age of eighty-eight years. The mother had died in May, 1863.

George H. B. Harris was reared at Pleasant Grove and pursued his education in the public schools there. He remained with his father until he attained his majority but worked for others during that period, as there was a large family and he was the eldest son. He began to provide for his own support when eleven years of age, going to the mines with his father and there working for a time. He cut wood in American Fork canyon when the snow was up to his shoulders and for some time herded cattle and in fact did almost every kind of work. He is truly a self-made man and one who deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. He met many hardships and difficulties in the early days but resolutely pushed his way forward. He went to Frisco, Utah, where he burned charcoal, and later he worked in the Horn silver mine, working one shift. He left there because his wages were cut and then turned his attention to getting out wood, which he sold at four dollars per cord. He continued in that work until 1881, or for a period of six years. In 1882 he made his way to Wood river, Idaho, and was employed in the vicinity of Hailey, Bellevue and Ketchum for one summer in teaming. He then returned home, where he continued through the winter, and the next spring he once more went to Wood river, Idaho, where he contracted to furnish wood, which he hauled for nine dollars per cord. On the afternoon of the 2d of October one of the wheels of his wagon broke when he was in the mountains, but he managed to fix it and make his way into the open. On October 17, 1883, he arrived at Roberts, then Market Lake, in Bingham county, but did not remain there very long. He and his brother James journeyed up the north fork of Snake river and across Rocky Ford near Parker to Teton island and on the 23d of October, 1883, filed on the southwest quarter of section 8, township 6 north, range 40 east, B. M. He then hauled a set of house logs to his land and returned to Pleasant Grove, Utah.

On the 3d of April, 1884, Mr. Harris was married to Miss Victoria Sandgreen and in the month of May they came to Idaho with three span of horses and two wagons, one team being driven by a half-brother, Carlos Vivian Harris, now in Canada. They arrived at the north fork of the Snake river, six miles west of Rexburg, but oil reaching the ferry found that the river had overflowed its banks from a quarter to a half mile, but they managed to cross on the ferry to the south bank. The goods in each wagon had to be divided into several small boatloads, which were taken from the south bank of the river to the edge of the flood waters. The horses were led through the water, the men going in up to their armpits. Mr. and Mrs. Harris finally arrived at the homestead and they lived in the wagon box that summer while he built a log house. He also erected, other buildings and continued the further development and improvement of the farm until 1917, when he removed to Rexburg. He now rents the farm for two thousand dollars per annum. His land is splendidly irrigated and was brought under a high state of cultivation by Mr. Harris, who transformed a wild tract of sagebrush land into one of the rich and productive farms of his section of the country. He was the originator of the Salem Canal Company and has assisted in digging many ditches which have constituted important additions to the irrigation interests of the state. While he has won a very substantial measure of success, in the early days the crops were very poor and it required unremitting labor to bring about the changes that have been wrought. With his removal to Rexburg, Mr. Harris found that he could not content himself to remain idle and entered the employ of the Farmers Implement Company, of which his son, Cyrus A., is manager.

Mr. Harris has always been a prominent churchman. In August, 1885, the High Council of Bannock was organized and Mr. Harris was made a member. On the 23d of November, 1885, he was chosen and ordained bishop of Salem ward, in the Bannock stake, and remained bishop for fifteen or sixteen years. He filled a four months' mission to the northwestern states, has held various offices in the church and is now a high priest and bishop. He has also been prominent in secular affairs and served as assessor and collector in 1905 and 1906, while for three years previous he had been deputy assessor and for a number of years was road overseer.

To Mr. and Mrs. Harris have been born thirteen children, eleven of whom are still living, namely: George V., who was born July 23, 1885, and is still at home; Geneva V.; Cyrus A., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Ida C, at home; Alvin Edward, who during the World war served in France with Twentieth Engineers from October, 1917, until his discharge in August, 1919; Lilly Eliza, who is teaching school in Salt Lake City, Utah; Shorland A., who was also in France in the aviation service, having enlisted in November, 1917, and being honorably discharged in .Tune, 1919; Nina, Effie, Lydia and Edna Viola, all of whom are yet at home. Those deceased are: Florence, who died in 1904; and Norma Beatrice, who died when two weeks old.

Mr. Harris and his family remain devoted members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later-day Saints and in politics he is a republican. He stands for all that is of worth to the community and his aid and influence have always been on the side of progress and improvement. He certainly deserved much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way. Starting out in life empty-handed when a lad of but eleven years, he has advanced step by step as the result of his industry, his perseverance and his faithfulness He has made judicious investments, has wisely conducted his business affairs and is now one of the men of affluence in Madison county.