Kansas City, Missouri
Wednesday, 17 February, 1897
Page 3
JOHN S. HARRIS DEAD.
Was Postmaster of Kansas City Un-
der General Grant--Had a
Varied Career
John S. Harris, a resident of Kansas City since it was a trading post, died at the Harris hotel in Westport last night of general debility. He had been confined to his bed for several weeks. The funeral will be held from First Baptist church in Westport this afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
John Harris was 69 years old and was born in Kentucky. He was the only son of a family of eight children. In 1833 the family emigrated to this county and settled in Westport, which was then an Indian trading post. For a few years his father engaged in farming, and then built a hotel at what is now the corner of Fortieth and Penn streets. This was burned down a short time after it was completed, but he immediately built the brick hotel which now occupies that corner. John Harris helped his father in the management of the hotel until the war broke out. He enlisted in the Union army. During Grant's first term as president, he was made postmaster of Kansas City, serving for four years. After leaving the post office he became president of the German Savings bank, which occupied the old Junction building. The bank and its contents were mysteriously burned one night and Harris was suspected of having been the incendiary. After several years of investigation by the courts, he was finally released. He lost his entire fortune in clearing himself, and since that time he has lived at the old Harris hotel, which was built by his father, but which has since passed into other hands. A son, John Harris, Jr., and a married daughter, live in Chicago, and a daughter, Miss Gertie Harris, is reported to have gone to Chicago yesterday morning to be married.
___
His Nephew is the well-known lawman John Harris "Johnny"Behan the Sheriff of Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona who was present at the O.K. Corral Gunfire.
[Thanks to - Brandon Smith (49570074)
___
From death record:
~ Harris, John H
~ 16 Feb 1897
~ Male
~ White
~ Age: 69
~ Born: Missouri
~ Place of death: Westport Ave & Penn [Pennsylvania]
~ Cause of death: LaGrippe with complications
Note: Death record reports incorrect middle initial and place of birth
___
John Simpson Harris Sr 1827-1897
Henrietta Simpson 1804-1881
Mother of John Simpson Harris Sr
Richard Simpson III 1760-1853
Father of Henrietta Simpson
Richard Simpson Jr 1719-1786
Father of Richard Simpson III
Nancy Ann Simpson 1750-1789
Daughter of Richard Simpson Jr
Upham Ann Tate 1770-1820
Daughter of Nancy Ann Simpson
Susannah Carlisle 1803-1845
Daughter of Upham Ann Tate
Almarinda Helen Osgathorpe 1830-1905
Daughter of Susannah Carlisle
Susan Permelia Smith 1864-1944
Daughter of Almarinda Helen Osgathorpe
William Matthew Crowder 1889-1959
Son of Susan Permelia Smith
Emma Jean Crowder 1932-2004
Daughter of William Matthew Crowder
[Thanks to - I'm John Harris's 2nd Cousin 6x Removed
MEMORIAL ID: 75745646
Kansas City, Missouri
Wednesday, 17 February, 1897
Page 3
JOHN S. HARRIS DEAD.
Was Postmaster of Kansas City Un-
der General Grant--Had a
Varied Career
John S. Harris, a resident of Kansas City since it was a trading post, died at the Harris hotel in Westport last night of general debility. He had been confined to his bed for several weeks. The funeral will be held from First Baptist church in Westport this afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
John Harris was 69 years old and was born in Kentucky. He was the only son of a family of eight children. In 1833 the family emigrated to this county and settled in Westport, which was then an Indian trading post. For a few years his father engaged in farming, and then built a hotel at what is now the corner of Fortieth and Penn streets. This was burned down a short time after it was completed, but he immediately built the brick hotel which now occupies that corner. John Harris helped his father in the management of the hotel until the war broke out. He enlisted in the Union army. During Grant's first term as president, he was made postmaster of Kansas City, serving for four years. After leaving the post office he became president of the German Savings bank, which occupied the old Junction building. The bank and its contents were mysteriously burned one night and Harris was suspected of having been the incendiary. After several years of investigation by the courts, he was finally released. He lost his entire fortune in clearing himself, and since that time he has lived at the old Harris hotel, which was built by his father, but which has since passed into other hands. A son, John Harris, Jr., and a married daughter, live in Chicago, and a daughter, Miss Gertie Harris, is reported to have gone to Chicago yesterday morning to be married.
___
His Nephew is the well-known lawman John Harris "Johnny"Behan the Sheriff of Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona who was present at the O.K. Corral Gunfire.
[Thanks to - Brandon Smith (49570074)
___
From death record:
~ Harris, John H
~ 16 Feb 1897
~ Male
~ White
~ Age: 69
~ Born: Missouri
~ Place of death: Westport Ave & Penn [Pennsylvania]
~ Cause of death: LaGrippe with complications
Note: Death record reports incorrect middle initial and place of birth
___
John Simpson Harris Sr 1827-1897
Henrietta Simpson 1804-1881
Mother of John Simpson Harris Sr
Richard Simpson III 1760-1853
Father of Henrietta Simpson
Richard Simpson Jr 1719-1786
Father of Richard Simpson III
Nancy Ann Simpson 1750-1789
Daughter of Richard Simpson Jr
Upham Ann Tate 1770-1820
Daughter of Nancy Ann Simpson
Susannah Carlisle 1803-1845
Daughter of Upham Ann Tate
Almarinda Helen Osgathorpe 1830-1905
Daughter of Susannah Carlisle
Susan Permelia Smith 1864-1944
Daughter of Almarinda Helen Osgathorpe
William Matthew Crowder 1889-1959
Son of Susan Permelia Smith
Emma Jean Crowder 1932-2004
Daughter of William Matthew Crowder
[Thanks to - I'm John Harris's 2nd Cousin 6x Removed
MEMORIAL ID: 75745646
Inscription
JOHN S. HARRIS
AUG. 22, 1827
FEB. 16, 1897
Gravesite Details
Replacement gray granite slant-face marker in good condition except for some berry staining. (25 Oct 2011) - located in middle third of cemetery; east of Union Road; next to daughter Virginia's grave.
Family Members
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement