My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES A. HARRIS, Secretary and Treasurer of the Citizens’ Street Railway, of Springfield, was one of the original incorporators of this company about the time of its organization, in 1883, and was at once elected to his present position. He is well fitted, both by nature and acquirements, for pushing an enterprise which is naturally calculated to be of great value to the public. His native place was at Port William, Clinton County, this State, and the date of his birth November 5, 1841. His parents were Joel and Charlotte (Compton’) Harris, the former a native of Giles County, Tenn., and the latter of Fairfield, Greene County, this State.

This branch of the Harris family traces its descent from English ancestry and the father of our subject was one of the early settlers of Clinton County, Ohio. Subsequently he removed to Champaign County, of which he was a resident ten years. Thence he went to New Carlisle, Ind., and spent the closing years of his life, dying in February, 1887, in the seventy-third year of his age. For more than fifty years he had been a practicing physician and became widely and favorably known both in Ohio and Indiana. The wife and mother is still living and makes her home at New Carlisle, Ind. The parental family included five sons and one daughter, the latter being Catherine, the wife of Ellis Taylor, a resident of New Carlisle, Ind.; Edward H., is engaged in the grocery trade, William F. is a dealer in boots and shoes, Joseph C. is a grocery man, and Ralph W., occupies himself as a banker; all are residents of New Carlisle, Ind.

The subject of this notice was the eldest son of his parents and pursued his studies in a country school in the vicinity of King’s Creek, Ohio. When seventeen years old he entered the grocery store of his uncle, J. C. Coulson, of Urbana, with whom he remained as a clerk until approaching his majority. Going then to La Porte, Ind., he employed himself as a clerk in a dry-goods store for six years. Desirous now of brightning up his business knowledge he entered Duff’s Commercial College, at Columbus, Ohio, where he took a full course of study which proved of great benefit.

We next find Mr. Harris in the employ of the Merchant’s Express Company at Urbana, with which he remained until it was consolidated with the American. In 1872 he came to Springfield and entered the employ of P. P. Mast & Co., as bookkeeper, a position which he filled acceptably five years and at the expiration of this time he was elected Cashier of the Springfield National Bank, which was organized in 1882. This position he held three years.

The marriage of Charles A. Harris and Miss Lydia Mast was celebrated at the bride’s home on May 5, 1865. This lady was born June 27, 1842, in King’s Creek, and is a daughter of Joseph and Susan (Byers) Mast. Of this union there have been born four children, namely: Herbert M., Lottie M., Ada C. and Hettie. The family residence is pleasantly situated at No. 197 West Jefferson Street. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are members in good standing of St. Paul’s Methodist Episcopal Church in which Mr. Harris officiates as Steward and is looked upon as one of its chief pillars. He cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln and is a fervent supporter of the principles of the Republican party.