BIOGRAPHY: David A. HARRIS, Cambria County, PA 

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From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria 
County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 330-1
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DAVID A. HARRIS, a well-know and highly-respected resident of Coopersdale, a 
suburb of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, is a son of William W. and Mary (Albaugh) 
Harris. He was born near Hollidaysburg, Blair county, October 26, 1843.
     The name of our subject's grandfather was also William W. Harris; he was a 
native of Pictoa, Nova Scotia, born May 9, 1778. In the year 1800, at the age of 
twenty-two, he came to Pennsylvania, and settled in Juniata county, where he 
learned the trade of tanning. He afterwards married Miss Elizabeth Steward, of 
McCoystown, Juniata county. Soon after his marriage he moved to Williamsburg, 
Blair county, and carried on the tanning business there for some years; then 
removed to Coffey Run, Huntingdon county, and carried on the same business until 
1824, when he moved to Fulton county, then a part of Bedford county, and bought 
the Spring Tannery property in the spring of 1826. He continued to conduct the 
tanning business until five years prior to his death, which occurred March 15, 
1864. His wife died three years previously. Besides his business as a tanner, 
Mr. Harris served for many years as a justice of the peach, and before the 
advent of the public school system, taught several terms of school for the 
benefit of his neighbors' children and his own. Both he and his wife were 
consistent members of the Presbyterian church, and at the end of their long and 
well-spent lives were buried in Green Hill cemetery, Fulton county, 
Pennsylvania. Their family consisted of the following children: Robert, Joseph, 
Suttia, Nancy, Anna, William W., Elizabeth, Margaret, Ella and James A.
     William W. Harris, the father of our subject, was born in Bedford county, 
Pennsylvania, in 1816, and died in 1892, at the age of seventy-six years. He 
came to Cambria county in 1844, and settled in Jackson township, and resided 
there for the remainder of his life. For a time he was engaged in the lumber 
business, and for ten or twelve years followed the trade of a tanner.
     During the latter part of his life he was a farmer. In religion he was an 
earnest Methodist; in politics, an ardent democrat. In his younger days he took 
an active part in politics, and at one time or another filled most of the 
township offices, and was for many years justice of the peace in his township. 
He was a man of sound judgment, unimpeachable character, and was highly esteemed 
by his neighbors. In January, 1843, he married Mary Albaugh, Daughter of Rev. 
David Albaugh, a minister of the Dunkard church. The Albaughs are of 
Pennsylvania Dutch descent. Grandmother Harris is a member of the Methodist 
church, and still lives at Vinco, in Jackson township, in her seventy-first 
year.
     David A. Harris, the subject of this sketch, was born near Hollidaysburg, 
Blair county, October 26, 1843, his parents moving to Cambria county the next 
year, as has already been noted. He received his early education in the common 
schools, and afterwards attended Mt. Union college for several terms. He left 
the farm in 1871, and came to Johnstown and engaged in teaching in the borough 
of Coopersdale. In 1874 he entered the employ of the Cambria Iron company as 
time clerk, and has rendered faithful service in that department ever since.
     In 1889 Cyrus Tittle, the chief clerk of the time department was drowned, 
and Mr. Harris was promoted to the responsible position of chief clerk in an 
office that keeps the records of the earnings, and issues the checks for the 
payment, of nearly six thousand employees. The system is so perfect in the time 
office that Mr. Harris is able to keep accurate accounts with this vast army of 
men with the assistance of but twelve to fifteen clerks.
     In December, 1869, Mr. Harris married Miss Margaret J. Cooper, daughter of 
Col. James Cooper, founder of Coopersdale. To this union were born Jennie C., 
now the wife of Prof. D. N. Greer, of this city, and Bessie.
     Mr. Harris is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and for twenty 
years has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, and also holds the office of 
trustee and is a member of the board of stewards. He is a stockholder and one of 
the organizers of Coopersdale academy, and belongs to the Royal Arcanum and 
Independent Order of Heptasophs.