The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-10-19
HIS LIBERAL HAND CLOSED
DEATR OF HON. J. ". HARRIS. Ngy
 LONDoN's PHILANTHRoPIsT.

One of the Best Known Men in New Eng-
 land-Was a Mlllionaire-Made His
 Money in Patent Medicines Gave Away
 Hundreds of Thousands in Charity-In-
 terosted in Number of Enterprises. New London, Oct. 1S.--Hon. Jona. than Newton Harris, one of the best known men in New England, passed away suddenly to-day at his home here. death being caused by heart disease.
 He was man of unusual vigor. Sat- urday he was about the city extending
 to personal affairs. Recently he has been unable to hear well, but was last week treated successfully by 9 Boston specialist. Saturday he declared that his health was perfect.
 This morning he arose as usual, shaw l ed himself, attended family prayers and partook of a hearty breakfast, af- ter which he went to the toilet roonn- He remained an unusual time and Mrs. Harris went to the room. but fuunI 1 the door fastened. MT. Harris did not respond to her call so a servant forced the door and found Mir. Harris dead. MT. Harris was millionaire. having made his fortune by a patent raedicine. He was born ill Salemtown, November IS, 1915, and came to this city about 1881, entering the employ of Smith l5 Cody, proprietors of Q general store. He remained about two years, when ho was enabled to begin business on his own account, continuing thirty years.
 In 1S45 he became associated with Perry Davis Co.,, of Providence. At the solicitation of Mir. Davis he be- came his general agent. His invest ment proved the foundation of a vast fortune. In 1851 he formed partner ship with J. N. Harris 6 Co.,, of Cin- cinnati, O., controlling the sale of cer- tain patent medicines of all states and territories west of the Alleghanies. He was also president of the Fellows Hy- pophospites company. In 182 he formed the Hill & Harris Coal Go. in Mahanoy City, Pa, an enterprise that was en- tirely satisfactory. He served in the lower house in 1855 and the upper branch in 1894, beside being elected to the positions of trust many times by the townspeople. He was twice mar- ried, his first wife bearing him nina children, only three of whom lived be- yond childhood. All are now dead and MT. Harris died without child or grand child. His second wife survives him. She was Miss Martha s. Strong of Northampton, Mass.
 MT. Harris has been generous, hav- ing given large sums to churches for education. He was most ezalous and liberal friend of the r. M C.. Aasys He gave $100,00O to found the Harris School of Science in Kioto, Japan, which Is connected with the Doshisha univer- sity. He was president of the Mount Hermon school, at East Northfield and to that and the Moody school at North field he gave $50,00O.
 His charities in other directions were without limit but he gave unostenta- tiously. To missions he made large and frequent contributions. He was a di- rector in the American Board of Mis- sions and the International Y. M. c. A, to both of which he was a generous contributor. It is said he spent $30,000 to $40000 yearly in contributions in various directions. He was director of the New London Northern road and the City National bank. He also gave $10,0O0 for a public hospital in this city.