HARRY, John

History of Northern Wisconsin. Chicago: Western Historical, 1881, p 163

John HARRY, dealer in grain and wood [Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin], was 
born 20 June 1847 in Switzerland. In 1851 his parents came to America and 
settled in Dubuque [Dubuque County], Iowa. Four years later [1855?] they 
removed to this county [Buffalo]. In 1869 Mr. Harry engaged in business for 
himself, in which he has since continued. He [John HARRY] has been married, 
and has seven children: Matilda, Frederick, Andrew, Melissa, Annie, Lydia, 
and Frank.

[The 1880 census of Alma, Buffalo County, Wisconsin, contains a John HARRY (p 
320) thirty-three years of age, born in Switzerland, by calculation about 
1847, to parents also born there, which is consistent with the year of birth 
of this John HARRY. The John of this household in the census, however, 
resides with his wife, Anna, aged twenty-six, born in Wisconsin, about 1864, 
to parents both born in Germany, and the following four children: (1) 
Edmund, age seven, by his census age born about 1873; (2) Clara, age five, 
born about 1875; (3) Emma, age two, born about 1878; and (4) John, age one 
year, by deduction born in 1879 (who may be the John HARRY in the Social 
Security Death Index who was born on 02 September 1878, and died in December 
1975, who resided in Alma). Based on this census, the John HARRY of the 
biography and the John HARRY of the census do not appear to be the same 
person, since the names and number of children are conflicting, but further 
investigation is needed before making a judgment.]

[Residing closely to John HARRY is a Frederick HARRY, age twenty-nine, born 
in Switzerland, according his census age about 1851, to parents also born 
there, whose household contains his wife Carrie, age twenty-two, born in 
Minnesota to a father born in Switzerland and a mother born in Canada; (1) 
daughter Eva, age four; and (2) son Albert R., age ten months. Due to the 
proximity of their residences and ages, Frederick HARRY is probably related 
to the John HARRY in the census. Since the subject of the biography was born 
in Switzerland, his surname may actually be spelled "HARRI." The spelling of 
this surname used most often in 1880 census returns for this area is "HARRY," 
whether of Swiss or English origin. Submitter, after viewing the 
biographical material on Fred, John, and Victor HARRY in the 1888 History of 
Buffalo County, p 582, will update this biography and attempt to clarify the 
census returns.]

[Victor HARRY, who will figure in the updated treatment of this biography (as 
the father of John of the original biography?) appears to be listed in the 
1880 census of Nelson, Buffalo County, Wisconsin: Victor, age sixty-four, 
farmer, born in Switzerland, about 1816 from his census age, to parents also 
born in Switzerland; his wife Mary, age fifty-four, born in Switzerland, 
about 1826, to parents also born there; and two children, both born in 
Wisconsin: (1) Louisa HARRY, age sixteen, at home, by her census age born 
about 1864, whose parents were both born in Switzerland; and (2) Louis 
LAMPE, age twelve, at home, born about 1868, to parents whose birthplaces are 
not given. The difference in his surname and lack of birthplaces for his 
parents in the census suggests that the identification of Louis as a "son" of 
Victor HARRY is an error in the enumeration. Bracketed material added by 
submitter (who is not researching these surnames) to support and clarify 
information given in the biography and to raise questions.]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly