History of Butte Co. with Biographical Sketches

printed in 1918 Historic Record Publishing Co. page 981

( some of the other data that we have located: says John Wesley Hicks married Nancy Letsinger; John Wesley's Hicks death Cert. says his mothers last name was Ledsinger)

John H. Harris- a resident of Butte County for nearly fifty years, John H. Harris has during that time seen this section advance steadily with the passing years until it has reached a point of prosperity equal to any in the state, and has done his share as an agriculturalist, toward the county's advancement, as every conscientious worker in the fields and orchards of a community can rightfully be called a real upbuilder for the commonwealth. Born in Canada, in Belleville, Ontario, April 3, 1850, he is the son of Henry Levens Harris, a native of Ontario, of English ancestry, and Margaret A. (Smith) Harris, a native of Ontario. both parents passed their lives in Ontario, and of their eight children, six are living, John H., of this review, being the eldest in the family. He was brought up on the farm and educated in the public schools. As a lad he was early set to work on the home farm and continued there until nineteen years of age. A desire to see California culminated in his decision to migrate to the Pacific Coast, and in the fall of 1869 he came out on one of the first emigrant trains to make a through trip. He was two weeks on the road, arriving in California in December 1869.

In the spring of 1870 Mr. Harris came to Chico, Butte County, and found employment on a ranch on Feather River. Two years later he began farming for himself, leasing land in Partnership with Alex Turner. They rented three hundred twenty acres north of Chico, but later sold their outfit and Mrs. Harris went to work for Pleasant M. Guynn, and continued with him eleven years, doing general ranch work. He was married, in the Webster District, north of Chico, June 22, 1886, to Miss Sophronia Hicks, who was born in that district, a daughter of John Wesley Hicks, born in Indiana, in 1820, and removed to Missouri. He married Nancy Letsinger, who died in Missouri, and he later married Mrs. Dorothy Isabelle (Speegle) Delaney, born in Tennessee. They crossed the plains to California in 1857, with ox-teams, being the second train after the ill-fated Mountain Meadows Massacre, and the father first located a claim two and one-half miles north of Chico, but it was claimed by General Bidwell as a part of his Rancho Chico, and he then located upon what is now the Henderson Place where he bought eighty acres. Later he sold this property and bought a farm of two hundred forty acres three and one-half miles north of Chico, which he improved and farmed. He was a school trustee of this district for many years; his death occured there, aged eighty-six years. Of the father's first marriage, two children grew to Maturity, Daniel T., and Marion D., both of whom died here. Of the mother's first marriage there were two children, Francis M., who died here, and Cynthia J., Mrs. Small, residing in Chico. Of the second union of both parents, four children were born, as follows: Henderson Augustus, a retired rancher living in Chico Vecino; Canzadie I., Mrs. James, died here; Sophronia, Mrs Harris; Charles W., of Chico Vecino.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Harris bought eighty acres of father Hicks' place, built their residence and other farm buildings and engaged in raising grain and stock. In September 1913 Mrs. Harris sold the ranch and moved to Chico Vecino, where he purchased his present home, and now spends his time in caring for and looking after his orchards, He owns eleven and one-half acres of almonds, three miles southwest of Chico on Lone Pine Avenue; this place he set out himself and keeps in thriving conditions, giving the work his personal supervision. To this pioneer couple have been born two children: Myrtle A., Mrs. Allen of Chico Vecino; and Henry Levens, a graduate of Chico High School and now attending the State Normal, being president of the student body and business manager of the Normal Record.

Mrs. Harris has always had the best interests of his section at heart and has been willing helper in all movements for the bettering of conditions in the county.

(since writing the above Mr. Harris passed away; his death occurred May 1, 1918. He is held in kind remembrance by his family and many friends.