CALVIN JEFFERSON AND ABIGAL MILLER HARRIS

Calvin Jefferson Harris was born June 5, 1881 to John and Polina Ingraham Harris. He married Abigail “Abby” Miller June 17, 1907 at Merrill Sacred Heart Church in Merrill, Michigan. Abby was born May 12, 1891 in Lakefield Township to Edward and Ada Rigg Miller. Abby was named after her Grandmother, Abby Shaw Rigg.

Calvin and Abby had the following children:

1. Arnold Sydney Harris was born January 20, 1909. Arnold married Ruth Lucille Arnold on May 12, 1932.

2. Leonard J. Harris was born January 25, 1911 in Lakefield Township and died June 6, 1912 in Lakefield Township.

3. John Lester was born November 10, 1913. John married Myrtle Mae Rittenour on April 20, 1936.

Calvin and Abby purchased a 40 acre tract of land in Section 25 on the NW corner of Nelson and Chapin Roads. At that time, shortly after 1909, they cleared enough land to set a house moved from Lafayette Township, Gratiot County, Michigan. The house was originally part of John E. Harris' home. About a year later, they built a small barn. Calvin farmed during the summer, and for several years, went through the country with a buzz saw and a one-cylinder gasoline engine mounted on a wagon, and buzzed stove wood for hire. Years later, he purchased a used Model-T Ford dump truck (one of the first to come into Lakefield Township) with which he hauled gravel for road construction.

Abby Miller Harris was a midwife and helped the local doctor with deliveries. She kept a handwritten list of “Babies I have dressed”: JIM AGNER, WILLIAM SCHULTZ, GERALD SCHULTZ, EDWARD MILLER, BILLIE NOHEL, EVANGELINE HALL, JOSEPHINE CLARK, BOBBIE MILLEDGE, CARL MILLEDGE, MARION RIGG, __________PRINGLE, VIRGIL LIEBROCK, RODRIC MILLER, DELAPHINE HARRIS, NOAMI HARRIS, BETTY McCONNELL, BETTY HALL, BABY HARRIS, JEANETTE HARRIS, JANICE HARRIS, NORMAN TRUDGEN, LOREN MILLER, LORAINE HARRIS, LARRY HARRIS, ERNEST DEFOE, PHYLLIS KAY HARRIS AND JULIA LEE HARRIS.

Calvin had asthma for many years and died February 27, 1941. Abby passed away on October 26, 1981 and they are both buried in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Lakefield Township.

SOURCES: 1916 Lakefield Township Plat Map; son, Lester Harris genealogy; Abby Miller Harris' handwritten list of “Babies I have dressed”; obituaries; Della Miller McKay's obituary collection.