J. M. Harrington was born in Lewis county, New York, on August 16, 1843, being the son of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Hulburt) Harrington. The father was a lumberman, born in New York in 1823 and died in 1899. His father, Capt. John T. Harrington was a prominent lawyer and lumberman and a captain in the war of 1812. He was a partner in a law office with President Van Buren and married Kate Van Buren, a cousin of the president. He lived to be one hundred and one years of age and died in 1884. He was a pioneer in the Black river region in New York and there did an extensive lumber business. His son, the father of our subject, was also a successful operator there and a prominent lumberman of the state. The mother of our subject was born in Lewis county, New York. Her mother was a native of Pennsylvania and her father of Rhode Island. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to Wisconsin when he was eleven years of age and the home was there for twelve years. Then they removed to Scott county, Minnesota, where the father continued in the lumber business. Jason M. received a common school education and when the war broke out, he enlisted in the quartermaster's department under Captain Haskell and did duty until the close of the war. He was at Memphis, Little Rock, DuVall's bluff and other places, serving faithfully until the close of the conflict and then went home. He continued in business in Minnesota until the timber began to be scarce and then, in 1891, he came west, looking for a location. Finding the surroundings of Lewiston favorable, he secured a site and removed his mammoth establishment there. He did a fine business, but in 1897, the fire fiend destroyed his entire plant, entailing a loss of twenty-two thousand dollars besides ten thousand dollars worth of logs. Phoenix-like, however, Mr. Harrington would not brook defeat and at once built another mill. This plant is now being handled by his sons and they do a good business.

On August 5, 1868, Mr. Harrington married Miss Lavina, daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Cavanah) Sykes, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively. Mrs. Harrington has the following brothers and sisters, George, Mary, David, Lewis, Ezra, Henry and Hattie. Mr. Harrington has the following named brothers and sisters, Vincent K., Curtis, Betty A., Martha Allen and John. To Mr. and Mrs. Harrington have been born children named as follows: Ellsworth; Lafayette, in Lewiston; Jennie Robnett, county superintendent; Minnie, teacher in the Lewiston public schools; Jeremiah and Nettie Knight, in Lewiston; Nellie, George, Jason M., Lewis and Gladys, at home. Mr. Harrington is a member of the A. O. U. W. He has always refused all nominations, but is a stanch Republican and takes an intelligent part in political matters and is a progressive and capable citizen.