John Harris Jr. (October 22, 1727 – July 29, 1791), was an American frontiersman and politician who operated a ferry along the

Susquehanna River The Susquehanna River ( ; Unami language, Lenape: ) is a major river located in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, crossing three lower Northeastern United States, Northeast states (New York, Pennsylvani ...

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg ( ; ) is the capital city of the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,099 as of 2020, Harrisburg is the ninth-most populous city in Pennsylvania. It is the larger of the two pr ...

and was later instrumental in the founding and growth of the city and support of the State through wartime. Harris was the son of John Harris Sr., who is considered the first settler to establish a trading post along the Susquehanna River at what would later become the state capital of Pennsylvania. Harris Jr. served in the Pennsylvania Assembly from 1776 to 1782.

Biography

John Harris Jr. was born in Harrisburg in 1727, then was baptized at

Christ Church, Philadelphia Christ Church is an Episcopal church in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1695 as a parish of the Church of England, it played an integral role in the founding of the Protestant Episcopal Chu ...

at 11 months old and he was figured to have received a formal education in Philadelphia. He then grew up on the frontier in Harrisburg and by August 1748 reached the rank of captain in the Provincial Army created by the

Pennsylvania Provincial Council The Pennsylvania Provincial Council helped govern the Province of Pennsylvania from 1682 to 1776. The provincial council was based on the English parliamentary system and was analogous to the Upper House or House of Lords. From the Frame of Govern ...

. Following his father's death in December 1748, Harris Jr. continued to operate his father's trading business and ferry operation. For many years, Harris Jr. and his family were considered the principal store keepers on the

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

frontier. At his house two notable "council fires" were held with the Indians of the Six Nations and other tribes. At the first, June 8, 1756, Governor

Morris Morris may refer to: Places Australia * St Morris, South Australia, place in South Australia Canada * Morris Township, Ontario, now part of the municipality of Morris-Turnberry * Rural Municipality of Morris, Manitoba ** Morris, Man ...

, with his council, was present; and at the second, April 1, 1757, the deputy of

Sir William Johnson Major-General Sir William Johnson, 1st Baronet ( – 11 July 1774), was a British Army officer and colonial administrator from Ireland known for his military and governance work in British colonial America. As a young man, Johnson moved to t ...

, his majesty's deputy of the affairs of the Six Nations, met the representatives of the Indian Nations and many of their warriors. John Harris Jr. built and maintained the confidence of the Native Americans. At a conference of Governor Hamilton with them, August 23, 1762, they asked that "the present store-keepers may be removed and honest men placed in their stead," and selected John Harris Jr. Said the chief, who addressed the governor, "I think John Harris is the most suitable man to keep store, for he lives right in the road where our warriors pass, and he is very well known by us all in our Nation, as his father was before him." Harris's house, built in 1766, along what is now Front Street in

downtown Harrisburg Downtown Harrisburg is the central core neighborhood, business and government center which surrounds the focal point of Market Square, and serves as the regional center for the greater metropolitan area of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States. ...

, still stands today. It is known as the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion, renamed after Harris Jr. and later occupant

Simon Cameron Simon Cameron (March 8, 1799June 26, 1889) was an American businessman and politician who represented Pennsylvania in the United States Senate and served as United States Secretary of War under President Abraham Lincoln at the start of the Ameri ...

, Lincoln's first Secretary of War and Minister to Russia, and is a historic house museum. It is a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

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The John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, John Jr. 1727 births 1791 deaths People from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania People from colonial Pennsylvania 18th-century American businesspeople

Biography

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