HOWARD GODFREY HARRIS of Cape May & Atlantic County New Jersey (BIOGRAPHY & Family Tree) Information located at http://www.rootsweb.com/~njatlant/ On a USGenWeb/NJGenWeb Web site TRANSCRIBED BY JANICE BROWN, County Coordinator in 2006 Please see the web site for my email contact. ---------------------------------- The original source of this information is in the public domain, however use of this text file, other than for personal use, is restricted without written permission from the transcriber (who has edited, compiled and added new copyrighted text to same). ======================================================== SOURCE: SOUTH JERSEY, A History, 1664-1924, edited by Alfred H. Heston; Vol 1, 1924, Lewis Historical Publishing Co Inc., New York and Chicago pages 16 HOWARD GODFREY HARRIS--A representative member of a family prominent in many generations for constructive and beneficent endeavors, Howard Godfrey harris, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, has made history in the construction world in this section, applying his knowledge of engineering to real estate development in such as manner as to place his name among what might be called the creators of some of the finest suburban communities surrounding Atlantic City. Tracing back the ancestral line of Mr. Harris to the pioneer who came from old England and settled in New England, it is not difficult to conclude that the genius for achievement which successfully fought back the sea, built Brigantine Beach, and other South Jersey communities, was inherited from those early settlers who made the Eastern States what they are today and founded American civilization. David Harris, who founded the line in America owned land in Ipswich, Massachsuetts, which he sold and with Mary (Weld) Harris, his wife, removed to Middletown, Connecticut, in 1653, their marriage having occurred early in that year. Thomas Harris, eldest son of David and Mary (Weld) Harris, was born in Middletown, Connecticut, late in the year 1653, and removing to Fairfield, Connecticut, reared his family in that community, where he was among the early settlers. Thomas(2) Harris, son of Thomas Harris, who became the founder of the family in New Jersey, was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, about the year 1685, and with a group of other progressive men of his time, removed to South Jersey, settling in Cumberland COunty. He bore a part in the founding of Fairfield, New Jersey, in that county, which they named in honor of their New England home. His death occurred in 1749, and his will was probated in Trenton, New Jersey January 4, 1750. Thomas(3) Harris, son of Thomas (2) Harris was born in Fairfield, New Jersey, in November 1710, and died in the place of his birth, April 27, 1783. He was a noted physician of his time and served as surgeon with a New Jersey regiment during the Revolutionary War, ranking as captain. In 1750 Captain Thomas Harris went to England on behalf of the people of Fairfield, New Jersey, in the hope of securing a perfect title to land in the southern part of the township which had been taken up by the New England settlers, but this effort was unsuccessful. Ephraim Harris, son of Captain Thomas(3) Harris, was born in Fairfield, Cumberland County, New Jersey, in 1732, and died in 1794. Brilliantly educated, he became very prominent in public affairs, was active as justice of the peace of Cumberland County from September 17, 1772 and was apopinted on February 28, 1774, as justice of the Court of Pleas. He was a member of the Council of the State of New Jersey, meeting in Trenton October 1, 1778, and was a member of the State Legislature at the time of the adoption of the constitution of New Jersey, having been one of the leaders in the movement which consummated this public act. At one time he was distinguished by serving the House of Representatives as SPeaker pro tem. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian, and he served as a ruling elder of the Old Stone Church of Fairfield. Dr. Witaker, historian of that church, later said of him that he was "the most intelligent man of the session." Ephraim Harris married Jane Pierson, in 1755. She was born in 1731, and died in 1778. Pierson Harris, son of Ephraim and Jane (Pierson) Harris, was born in 1764 and died in 1802, at a comparatively early age. He became a prominent man in the community, and married, in 1786, Judith Nixon. Thomas Harris, his oldest brother, was born in 1759, and died in 1825. He married Elisabeth Lawrence, who was born in 1760 and died in 1844. Gilbert Harris, the next in line, son of Pierson and Judith (Nixon) Harris, was born in 1787 and died in 1838. He married, in 1810, Ruth Brooks, who was born in 1795, and died in 1872. They became leading residents of the community but were the last in direct line to reside in Fairfield permanently. Pierson Harris, son of Gilbert and Ruth (Brooks) Harris, was born in 1811 and died in 1889. A native of Fairfield, New Jersey, he moved to Bordentown, but later, about 1855, returned to South Jersey, although not to his birthplace, located at Tuckahoe. He became a prominent carriage and wagon builder of that time, and a largely successful business man. An ardent lover of music and an excellent performer on the violin, it is understood that he made the instrument on which he played. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church until his death, at the gae of seventy-nine years. He married (first) in 1838, Elizabeth Claypoole, who was born in 1819, died in 1854, and she was the mother of five children: Lewis D., Edward P., Emma J., Hannah and Gilbert Tyce, of further mention. He married (second) Mary Beebe. Gilbert Tyce Harris, youngest child of Pierson and Elizabeth (Claypoole) Harris, was born in Bordentown, New Jersey in 1850. He learned the trade of carriage and wagon maker under his father's direction. Eventually removing to Atlantic City in 1880, Mr. Harris built a superior buggy for that time and sold a great number of the vehicles made aftr this design, which was known as the harris box buggy. A devoted member of the Baptist Church, Mr. harris was one of the leading spirits in the erection of the Pleasantville church of this denomination and was considered one of the foremost men in all branches of progress. He married in 1870 Sarah Townsend, who was born in 1852, and is a daughter of Parker and Sarah Townsend. They are the parents of five children: Howard Godfrey, of further mention; Parker Townsend, born February 5, 1873, married Augusta Sooy, daughter of Ephraim and Augusta Sooy; Walter, born in 1877; Hannah Naomi, born in December 1879, married Charles Q. Barker; Edward G. born in May 1883. Howard Godfrey Harris, of the tenth generation, eldest son of Gilbert Tyce and Sarah (Townsend) Harris, was born in Tuckahoe, Cape May County, New Jersey, October 16, 1871. Atlantic CIty later became the family home and there he completed courses of study in the public schools preparatory to entering Rutgers College, whence he was graduated in the class of 1894. Having taken a course in civil engineering, for several years after graduation, he was engaged in professional practice in Atlantic City, but real estate affairs came so strongly to his attention that he devoted his entire time to progressive activities from this angle. His familiarity with engineering principles and possibilities opened before him a far wider field than usual in real estate advance and one of the first o fhis large operations was the erection of the large, brick hotel, The Sterling, one of the first brick buildings of its class to be erected in Atlantic City. He gradually extended his lines until he now ranks as one of the leading men of the real estate business in South Jersey. Among the buildings for which Mr. harris is responsible may be named the Rutgers Inn, Amsterdam Apartments, Nevada Apartments, Revere Apartments, Hygeia Pool; also cottages and dwellings by the hundreds. In Ventnor he erected the Juanita Apartments and many beach front villas, while in reclaiming beach front property he invented and introduced a form of bulkhead that was the first to be successfully used for reclamation of ocean frontage. He accomplished important building operations at Chelsea, Ventnor and Margate, and on the Meadow side has reclaimed hundreds of acres for residential and business purposes. He is one of the promoters of the present development of Brigantine Beach, this work involving some great and interesting engineering features, including bridges, boulevards, canals, dredging streets, water plant, sewerage disposal plant, the planning and building of a new health resort. These many activities have placed Mr. harris in his element along constructive lines of development, calling for all his training as an engineer and realtor. In 1912 he incorporated his business, as H.G. Harris & Company, Howard G. Harris, president; Wilbur Zimmerman, secretary; and George A. Elvins treasurer. The company has seven branch offices, with a corps of thirty-six active salesmen. Mr. Harris in former years was active in Ventnor's municipal affairs and for several years served as president of the Council. He is a member of the Atlantic City Real Estate Board, also the Real Estate League of New jersey, and is a member of Kiwanis, the Atlantic City Country and Yacht Clubs. Howard Godfrey Harris married, on May 9, 1897, Ida Moore Risley of Pleasantville, New Jersey, daughter of Evan J. and Emily (Read) Risley. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the parents of three children: Helen L.; Howard Godfrey, second; and Frances V. The family home is at No. 110 South Survey Avenue, Ventnor City, New Jersey. (end)