BIOGRAPHY: John T. 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. 69-70
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JOHN T. HARRIS, an ex-alderman and ex-chief of police of Johnstown, and the 
present county detective of Cambria county, is a son of John J. and Jane 
(Thomas) Harris, and was born in Ystradgynlais, South Wales, March 29, 1843. He 
is one of a family of twelve boys and one girl. Two besides him, Morgan and 
Louis, emigrated to this country in 1861, and after saving sufficient money sent 
for his parents and the balance of the family.
     John T. Harris was a miner by occupation, and came of reputable ancestors 
in Wales, where the Harris family has reputation and existence stretching back 
for centuries into the past. Mr. John J. Harris came in 1863 to Johnstown, where 
he died August 3, 1880, aged sixty-four years and five months. His widow passed 
away January 17, 1889, at sixty-seven years of age. They were both members of 
the Methodist Calvinistic church, and two of their sons served in the Union 
service, Morgan in the navy, Louis in the heavy artillery. Both were in the 
service when their parents arrived in the country.
     John T. Harris was reared in Wales until his eighteenth year, and then, in 
1861, took passage on a sailing vessel, the "Resolute," Captain Freeman, which 
was forty-two days in reaching the United States. After a short stay at New York 
city, he came to Johnstown, which has been his place of residence ever since. He 
received his education chiefly in the night schools of Wales and Johnstown, 
attending one three months' term of day school by means of money saved between 
his tenth and fifteenth years. He went to regular work at ten years of age, and 
after coming to Johnstown followed coal and ore mining for the Cambria Iron 
company for seven years. He was then, in 1868, placed on the police force of the 
city, and one year later, under Burgess Hon. W. H. Rose, was made chief of 
police, which position he held up to May 10, 1890, when he was elected alderman 
in the First Ward for a term of five years. At the expiration of his term as 
alderman, in 1895, he was commissioned as county detective, which position he is 
still holding. In his long experience of nearly thirty years with the law-
breaking element of human society, but few criminals have eluded his grasp, and 
the city and county are indebted to him for the suppression and prevention of 
crime in a large degree within their boundaries. Mr. Harris for several years 
has been engaged in different business enterprises in connection with his 
official duties. He operates a collection agency and real estate business, is a 
member of the Johnstown Electric Light company, Johnstown Telephone company, 
Johnstown Tri-County Agricultural and Driving Park association, Johnstown 
Driving Park association, and holds honorary membership in the First Assistance 
Fire company. He is a member of the Johnstown Lodge, No. 137, Knights of Honor, 
and has held membership for twenty-seven years in Alma Lodge, No. 523, and Wm. 
F. Packer Encampment, No. 127, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Harris is 
an example of what industry, energy, tact, and shrewdness can accomplish in one 
or more lines of business. The great flood swept away over twenty-one thousand 
dollars' worth of property for him, and left him to commence life anew with a 
few shattered remnants of a fair competence. Mr. Harris is a stalwart 
republican, and his official life has brought him in contact with many people. 
He is acquainted with many prominent men of national reputation.
     On August 6, 1863, John T. Harris married Margaret Davis, of Onliwyn, South 
Wales, who perished in the wild waters of the Great Flood, whose engulfing wave 
almost swept the city from off the face of the earth. Of her seven children, the 
five that were drowned with her were: Willie, aged twenty-three; Winnie, twenty-
two; Maggie, nineteen; Sarah, seventeen; and Frank, who was in his twelfth year. 
The two children escaping were:  Louis, the eldest child, whose family went 
through the Flood (they lost their only child, a boy, Johnny, aged three); and 
David, the youngest.
     When the flood struck the city, Mr. Harris' house was washed away, and as 
he was working his way through the water and drift toward dry land, he heard a 
child scream and went to its rescue, when he found his youngest child, David, 
floating on a mattress that was almost submerged in the scattered, rushing 
waters that were still dealing death to hundreds that had escaped from life from 
the shock of their great combined volume.