"Early History of Thurston County, Washington; Together with Biographies and
Reminiscences of those Identified with Pioneer Days." Compiled and Edited by
Mrs. George E. (Georgiana) Blankenship.  Published in Olympia, Washington, 1914.
p. 186.
 
I. HARRIS & SONS

     The name of Harris, father and sons, has been so prominently identified
with the commercial and social life of Olympia for the past forty-five years
that a history of Thurston, County would be incomplete, indeed, without a sketch
of this family. Although Mr. I. Harris located in Olympia as late as 1870 he may
well be counted among the actual pioneers of the Coast, for with his bride, then
a young girl of nineteen years of age, he arrived in Oregon in 1853. The voyage
from their New York home was made by the way of Panama to San Francisco, then on
up to Portland. The first stop was made in Salem Oregon. At this place, Mr.
Harris engaged in a general merchandise business, but later concluded to try his
fortune in Walla Walla. The family made the trip to the latter place by stage,
from The Dalles.
     Mr. Harris was one of the leading merchants in Walla Walla for the next
four years, but the wanderlust was not yet satisfied, so another move was made
into the wilds of Montana Mrs. Harris, with her two small sons, Mitchel and Gus,
visited relatives in the Eastern States while Mr. Harris was trying his fortune
in Montana. 
     The climate of this section of the West not agreeing with Mr. Harris, he
decided to try Puget Sound. Olympia was at that time beginning to attract
attention, and the tide of emigration seemed to be setting in strong for the
Northwest, so this settlement was chosen as the next field of activities. That
Mr. Harris was pleased with his selection, is manifest from the fact that
Olympia was his home from that date, 1870, to the day of his death.
     When her husband was finally located in Olympia, Mrs. Harris and little
sons joined him.
     A third son, Henry, was born after Mr. and Mrs. Harris had lived here a few
years.
     The first store building occupied by Mr. Harris, was in the Tilley block,
corner of Third and Main Streets, and a line of general merchandise was carried,
although the Indian trade was largely catered to and a brisk business was
carried on with the natives, who bartered skins for gaudy blankets and bright
colored beads.
    For several years the Harris family lived in a neat little home on the
corner of Fourth and Washington Streets, the land now being used for business
purposes, and the house long since demolished.
    At that time the home of T. P. McElroy was by all odds the finest in the
town, and was considered quite in the suburbs, surrounded, as it was, by the
almost untouched forest, Mr. Harris, in about the year 1880, became the
possessor of the half block of land between Main and Washington Streets, and
built the substantial house which still continues to be the family residence.
The Harris boys attended the schools of Olympia, at one time, being students in
the little school taught by Miss Mary O'Neal.
    Later, the two elder sons, Mitchel and Gus, were sent to Portland, Oregon,
to take special courses in German and music. Upon the completion of their
education, they assisted their father in his business, and the firm name was
changed from I. Harris, to Harris & Sons.
     In the year 1896, Mr. Harris, senior, while on an Eastern trip, contracted
pneumonia and died before his sons could reach his bedside.
     The sons continued the business, which had developed into one of the
leading dry goods stores on the Sound, for several years.
     With the exception of a short time spent in San Francisco, where he was
engaged in business, Mitchel Harris has successfully carried on the business
founded by his father forty-five years ago.
     In about 1900, the second son, Gus, decided to locate in California, and is
now at the head of a large dry goods establishment in Los Angeles, his partner
being Felix Lightner a native of Olympia, and son of a pioneer merchant of this
place,
     The youngest son, Henry, decided to devote himself to the medical
profession. Consequently, after completing a course at the Leland Stanford
University, he graduated from the John Hopkins Institute.
     Dr. Harris also spent a year as interne in this institution.  He then put
in two years in the hospitals of Berlin and Vienna, taking special courses in
medicine. Upon his return to the United States, he located in San Francisco,
where he has built up a large practice. He is married and has three children.
    Mitchel Harris, loyal to the home of his boyhood, with his wife and
children, Selwyn and Irene, has been twice chosen to the office of Mayor of the
city by the vote of the people, and at all times has stood strong for the best
interests of the community, and the development and advancement of Olympia.
His family are prominent in the best society of the city, and in many ways his
lot is east in pleasant places.
     The widow and mother, Madame Harris, as she is now called, is spending her
declining years in happiness and contentment, idolized by her sons and her
grandchildren. Sometimes visiting Gus and his charming family in Los
Angeles, for a few months in the year, coming to Olympia for the hot weather
months, and then back to the home of her youngest born in San Francisco.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios. Project in May 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.