San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1580-1581
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 1/31/2010
CLARENCE E. HARRIS
A wide-awake and successful business man who has become an important factor in his field of trade and its contribution to local commercial activity, is Clarence E. Harris, the accommodating proprietor of the popular Lyric Candy Store, at 114 North Sutter Street, and well known as commander of the Spanish-American War Veterans. He was born in Stockton on August 20, 1881, the son of Andrew Jackson and Lillian (Gay) Harris, the former a native of Illinois, who is still alive in Stockton. He was a handy man with tools and could skillfully do almost any work where his services might be needed. Miss Gay was born in Placerville, her father having come from New York State to California in 1858 and settled at that place. Grandfather Gay was a merchant in New York, in the old days when it meant something to be a figure in the store-keeping circles of the Empire State.
Clarence completed the grammar school and when he was about sixteen he entered the U.S. Navy as landsman, enlisting at Mare Island. He was sent out to sea on the Charlestown, the ship that was wrecked and sank to the bottom of the ocean, in the vicinity of the Philippine Islands, about twenty-five miles offshore from an unpopulated island. The survivors rowed to the island and lived for fifteen days there before being picked up by the Helena, from which vessel our subject was transferred to the Monterey. Somewhat later, he was assigned to the battleship Oregon, upon which he went to the Orient, and while in the Gulf of Pechili, that vessel was wrecked, and he was returned home on the Solas. The Oregon had been sent to the Orient on account of the Boxer troubles; but never reached there. At Mare Island, in 1901, Mr. Harris was honorably discharged.
Returning to Stockton, he worked for three years for the City Street Car Company, and then he became a clerk in a wholesale and retail candy business owned by Cook Reyner at Stockton. He next bought out their retail department at 915 East Main Street, a shop that was then known as The Purity; but after one year and a half he sold out, and went to Nevada, where he worked as overseer for C.H. Mott for a year. He then returned to Stockton, but going to the Bay region, tried his hand at various things at Oakland. In 1919, he returned to Stockton and with O.O. Farnsworth, formed a partnership for the manufacture and sale of candy. They opened two places of business, one at 114 North Sutter Street, called The Lyric, and the other at 3 South California Street. In November, 1920, he bought out Mr. Farnsworth; and selling the place at 3 South California Street, he retained the Lyric, where he still manufactures a large variety of first-class confectionery.
At Stockton, on September 14, 1902, Mr. Harris was married to Miss Martha Jane Fann, who was born at Tehachepi, the daughter of James and Jane Fann, who came to California in 1876 and became pioneer farmers in the Tehachepi region. There were five older children in their family, and they bore the names of Louis, Ed., Dan, Jack and Estella. Having lost her mother at birth, Martha Jane was reared by Mrs. Alice Carey, who cared for her education in Stockton. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris, Alice Jennie and Elma Lillian. In national politics Mr. Harris is a Republican; but in local affairs he supports all accredited movements and candidates deemed best for the locality. He is a member of the Spanish War Veterans, and in 1918-19 and 1921 and 1922, he was the commander of the Stockton Post. As a Mason, he belongs to San Joaquin Lodge No. 19. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, and he is on the advisory board of the Volunteers of America.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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