John M. M. "Jack" Harris

Other Events:

• Interesting: house, character
• Name: Jack Harris
• Residence: 237 Fountain St. N., Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52739

Notes:

Known as Preston's undisputed "town character" he was born on the Harris family home on Fountain Street. He spent most of his life in the house and worked at the Doon Railway Station and Post Office and then as a labourer at the Preston Cemetery for thirty years before retiring in 1954. He was described as a real character, good natured and friendly. He wore flamboyant clothing which included a flashing red belt light. He was a self taught mechanic and inventor.

Cambridge Mosaic , Jim Quantrell, 1998, City of Cambridge [abbreviated snippet from original text in book]

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Facebook comments 2016

"Wonderful, fond memories I had as a child of a very sweet man. My parents always treated him with such respect no matter what. The good, old days when being different was ok."

"I remember when the Queen was coming and they wanted his home to look nice so one of the Service Clubs donated time and material to make it nice for him! Jack was a wonderful Man and so interesting and fun as he traveled the bus routes. My boys where little at the time and he would play magic tricks with them on the bus and have the whole lot of us cracking up with laughter! Jack Harris was a brilliant man!"


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Colorful Preston Resident Found Dead in His Home

One of the city's more colorful and well-known citizens, Jack Harris, died at his Fountain Street home, Saturday. He was 83. A neighbor found Mr. Harris dead after investigating the lack of smoke from a chimney in the Harris home. Known as "Jack" to many Preston and area residents, Mr. Harris was a popular and beloved figure along King Street to many youngsters. His friendliness and humorous antics were a daily occurrence along Preston's main street. He was immediately recognizable by his flamboyant dress, complete with flowers and flashing red belt-light.

Residents of the community, including the Preston Hespeler Rotary Club and Preston Kinsmen Club, showed their feelings for Mr. Harris earlier this year. When neighbors complained he was living in a sub-standard dwelling, the clubs launched a project to renovate the Harris residence. The home contained many of Mr. Harris' inventions. He lived in the home most of his life and according to several sources he was a brilliant electrical engineer at one time. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Barthel-Stager Funeral Home, 566 Queenston Rd.

Cambridge Daily Reporter Dec. 12, 1977

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JOHN (JACK) HARRIS

When James Thompson retired as station-agent and postmaster in Doon about 1912 William Harris, son of David Harris who had raised in Doon in the 1860, was appointed. He was a widower with one daughter Madge and a son John(Jack). His sister kept house for them. The daughter died shortly after coming to Doon. Jack went to high school for a short time and then spent his days helping his father about the station. He loved to invent things, some practical, some not. He never went out to work and after his father remarried he and his sister moved to Preston and lived with David Harris.

Jack studied the velocity of the wind; fitted the station with electric bells so he wouldn't make trips downstairs when he was busy upstairs. He painted on glass, and a windmill for charging his radio battery and various other things. These things kept him busy but he never turned any of them into money, Since his aunt Annie and his grandfather died he lives alone in the house near the top of Kress Hill, Preston. He is a congenial character and is at present enjoying good health.

Tweedsmuir History Doon and Blair Branch

Residence:
Constructed about 1875 - vertical board and batten

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52740
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian

William — Carrie Marshall. Carrie was born 1859, Arthur Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario; died 6 Aug 1895; was buried , Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Carrie Harris
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52741

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52742
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Antipas (?)
• Occupation: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; `Christadelphian
• Occupation: 1881, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Constable
• Occupation: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Carpenter
• Residence: 1891, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian
• Occupation: 1901, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Laborer

David married Catherine Scott 13 Sep 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Catherine (daughter of David Scott and Margaret Linton) was born 4 Nov 1838, , Scotland; died 15 May 1912, Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried , Blair Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Catherine Harris
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52745
• Immigration: 1840, , Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Free Church
• Residence: 1871, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Christadelphian

Other Events:

• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52747
• Occupation: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Antipas (?)

John — Mary Bunston. Mary was born 1815, , England; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Mary Harris
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52748
• Residence: 1861, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Antipas (?)

Other Events:

• FindAGrave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/187538143
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52746
• Residence: 1830, Ashkirk, Roxburgh, Scotland
• Immigration: 6 Jul 1840, New York
• Occupation: 1852, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; farmer
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1861, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Free Church
• Occupation: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; Farmer
• Residence: 1871, North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; C. Presb.

Notes:

With feelings of great regret we announce to our readers this week the death of Mr. David Scott, which took place at the residence of Mr. David Harris, Preston, on Saturday last. The deceased was long a resident of this locality, having emigrated, with his family to Galt in the year 1839. Shortly after arriving here he went into the employ of the late A. Shade, having charge of the farm now owned by the Messrs. Brydon, Blair Road. He continued in Mr. Shade's employ for many years having for some time charge of the farm now owned by Mr. Wm. Smith. After Mr. Shade's death Mr. Scott took the farm owned by the Gouinlock Estate where he resided until a few years ago. Up to the time of his death, even though aged nearly 92 years, the deceased retained all his faculties and was able to read a newspaper easily without the aid of glasses. Mr. Scott was the father of Mr. John Scott, of Galt, Mr. Gideon Scott, Mrs. Sibbald, of Owen Sound, Mrs. Wm. Hood, of Guelph and Mr. Walter Scott, of Galt. He was a temperate, hard-working man and to his connect life can no doubt be traced the extreme age to which he lived.

Galt Reporter Jul 12 1878 pg 2

Immigration:
Arrived 6 Jul 1840 in New York from Liverpool on the ship Frankfurt

David — Margaret Linton. Margaret was born 1801, , Scotland; died 29 Oct 1858, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada; was buried 31 Oct 1858. [Group Sheet]

Other Events:

• Name: Margaret Scott
• Eby ID Number: Waterloo-52749
• Immigration: 6 Jul 1840, New York

Notes:

Near Galt, on Friday night, the 29th October, Margaret, the wife of Mr. David Scott, aged 56. Her Funeral was attended to the grave on Sunday by an immense body of sorrowing friends.

Galt Reporter Nov 5 1858 Pg 2

Immigration:
Arrived 6 Jul 1840 in New York from Liverpool on the ship Frankfurt