When I joined the Fayette County Genealogical Society a couple of years ago, I planned to write up the Harris & Rhodes material I had collected over the years and present it to the society for publication. In my first attempts, I was trying too hard to have everything organized in its proper place with all the loose ends neatly tied up. This proved to be too ambitious a project. A more practical approach, I finally decided, is to chop it up into bite sized pieces, to present the records that I have with the supporting evidence and discuss the problems as they naturally arise. At times a hypothesis will be developed to explain the known facts, and our readers will be asked to come forward with any missing pieces of the puzzle that they may have. It is hoped that I can supply some of the missing pieces that many of you are seeking.

The story begins in Upper Alton, Illinois on April 22, 1858, when Benjamin F. Harris sat down and wrote a letter to his nephew, William Jasper Harris, giving him a brief account of his father's family: "Your great grandfather was a Virginian by birth, and was born about the year 1760 or there abouts. Benjamin Harris by name, his parents dying when he was young. He was the fourth son, namely John, William, Wooten, and there were two younger sons Reuben, & Zachariah whose offspring with Wootens is in Illinois. I know nothing of John & William . . . Your great grandfather (Benjamin) married Rutha Byers and settled in South Carolina in 1788 . . . Your grandfather (Silas) was the second son born in 1792. In 1812 he married Jane Hill, a sister to your mothers father. Your father (Zachariah) was born April 4th 1813. Your grandfather (Silas) had seven brothers, but one is living and I don't know where he is; neither do I know where the families of the others are. William was the oldest; his family was in Tennessee when I heard from them ten or twelve years ago. Wootens family is dead; Amos is living but I do not know where. I should be glad to have you come and see me if you can make it in your way to do so, as your grandfather left 88 acres of land tht partly belongs to you and Artimissa. I wait to hear from you . . . We have five children Martha Jane, John Silas, Benjamin Pearson, Julia Emma, and Harriet Isabel. . . . You write from Iowa, were you at your grandfather Hill's? If you were tell me how he is getting along. Tell me how your Uncle Charles Chrismon is? . . . P. S. Don't fail to write on receipt of this. Your aunt and cousins send their love to you and Artimisia. I remain your affectionate uncle until death. (Signed) B. F. Harris

We will get back to Benjamin Harris and his family later, but first let's look at the evidence that Isaac Harris was the father of the six brothers mentioned above. The clues we followed to find this information are found in the Revolutionary War pension papers of Wooten Harris, brother of the above Benjamin. When He applied for his pension 17 Sept 1832 at Montgomery Co., Ill., he stated that he was born in March 1759, in Brunswick Co., VA., and entered the service from there in 1777. Quoting: "Wooten Harris was a resident of Brunswick County during the whole of the Revolutionary War. . .during the whole of the time of my service the country was in great distress on account of the inroads of the British. Once Colo. Tarlton penetrated within twelve miles of my residence in Virginia."

As I began my search of the Brunswick Co., Va., records, my hopes of finding anything substantial weren't too high for I knew many others including professional researchers had tried and failed to find anything there. But apparently they didn't search the court order books, for that's where I found the following: (Note: the six digit number is the microfilm number and can be used to order the filmed copy of the original records from the Genealogical Society of Utah.)

030,666 Brunswick Co VA Court Order Books

Bk 12, p. 175, 26 Nov 1777 "Ordered that John Harris, Wooten Harris, Benjamin Harris, Elisabeth Harris, & Mary Harris, orphans of Isaac Harris, dec'd, be bound out by the church warden of Meherrin Parish according to law."

Bk 14, p 165, 29 June 1785 "Wooten Harris allowed for one gun taken by the militia £ 14-10-0"

Had we found the father of our six brothers at last? Finding three of the brothers listed together in exactly the right place and time period seemed more than coincidence especially when one of them has a name like Wooten Harris. I have never found this name in any other branch of the family. Not listed were William and the two younger brothers, Reuben & Zachariah. I reasoned that William was probably the oldest, rather than John, and over age 21 by then. Also since the court considers children to be "orphans" if their father is deceased even though their mother is still living, it seemed likely that the younger children remained with her. Zachariah would have been between two and six years old at the time judging from his age as given in the various census schedules. Finding the two girls made me wonder if Isaac had other daughters who were not mentioned because they were either over age 21, married or very young. What a boon it would be for present day genealogists, if the Meherrin Parish Registers could be found for this period. The secrets that they hold would undoubtedly add considerably to our knowledge of this family.

Over twelve years ago when I first found this information, I also found the christening records of Wooten Harris's wife Frances Adams, and her brothers and sisters. At that time I knew her birth year from her testimony given under oath before the Fayette Co., Ill., Court 1 Nov 1843 at which time she stated that she was 78 years old. Also, she was age 85 in the 1850 census of Fayette Co., Ill., where she was living in the household of her son William B. Harris. Recently her birthdate was also found in the Johathan Cook Bible as reported in Fayette Facts, Vol. VIII, No. 3, p 63. The two dates agree exactly.

You will note that there are two children named Howell in this family. It was common practice at that time to give a child the same name as an older brother or sister who had died. The fact that the older Howell was christened the same day he was born indicates to me that he probably did not live very long. The father, Benjamin Adams, is called "Jr." This could indicate that his father was also named Benjamin or it could simply mean that there was an older man of the same name living in the same area.

In the records from Rutherford Co., N. C., to be presented next, you will find Frances' father referred to as Benjamin Adams, Sr., and her brother referred to as Benjamin Adams, Jr. This brother was also mentioned in Wooten Harris's pension papers at the time his widow, Frances, appeared before the Fayette Court on 1 Nov 1843 giving testimony in order to receive her widows pension, to wit: ". . . she further declares that she was married to the said Wooten Harris on the 6th day of January 1784, and that her husband the aforesaid Wooten Harris died on the 11th day of February 1840 . . . she has no second evidence of her marriage, but has a register of births of her children which is here exhibited, by which it appears that her first son Sterling was born Nov 21st 1764 which to the best of her knowledge is in the handwriting of her brother, Benjamin Adams, and was written at the time or shortly after the births of the children there recorded. Sworn to and subscribed . . . Frances ( X ) Harris."

It is interesting that Benjamin Harris's pension papers tell us that he lived and married in Rutherford Co., N.C., while the records there are silent. On the other hand Wooten's pension papers state that he lived in North Carolina, but the county isn't specified. It is the records of Rutherford County that make it clear that this is where he lived. A John and William Harris are also found in these records with some evidence that they may be the two older brothers. No mention is found of the two younger brothers, Reuben and Zachariah, but it seems reasonable that the entire Harris family may have moved to Rutherford County where the younger children grew to maturity. Then Benjamin and Reuben moved to Greenville Co., S.C., where we find them in 1790, both married and living close to each other. Now, let's examine the records.

BENJAMIN HARRIS PENSION RECORD: "Since the Revolutionary War he has lived in Rutherford County North Carolina, from thence he removed to Greenville District South Carolina from there he moved to the County of White, Tennessee where he now lives and has lived ever since. . . Benjamin ( X ) Harris." Also on Sept 10 1853 Rachel Thomas, age 77, made oath before the White Co., Tenn., Court that " . . . she was personally acquainted with Benjamin Harris, pensioner, and his widow Rutha Harris in Rutherford Co., N. C., at the time of their marriage . . . she stated she was not present at their marriage, but knows that they were married . . . she being in the neighborhood at that time, and well acquainted with the parties at the time of their marriage."

019,912 RUTHERFORD CO DEEDS (Abbr. R = Rutherford Co., N.C.)

Deed Bk AD   p41, 1 Jan 1779 Patrick Hamilton & Margaret his wife of Rowan Co., N.C., to Benjamin Adams, Sr., of Tryon Co., N.C. for £35 300 A granted by patent to sd Paterick Hamilton bearing date 15 May 1777 in Tryon Col., N.C., on both sides of Mount Cr of 2nd Broad River. Signed, Patrick Hamilton & Margaret Hamilton. Wit: Benjamin Adams, Jr., Jas. Cook, Mumford Wilson.

Deed Bk AD   p 439, 13 Oct 1783 John Black to William Herris both of R for £30 100 A on a branch of Cove Cr a little above Philip Goodbreads claim or old improvement. The same granted to John Black by virtue of a state patent ddt 28 Oct 1782, No. 169. Signed, John Black Wit: Ezekel Potts & Wooten ( X ) Herris.

Deed Bk AD   p 174, 1 Oct 1785 James Black to John Herris both of R for £80 100 A on the Middle Fork of Cathey's Cr the same granted to James Black by patent dat 28 Oct 1782. Signed, James Black Wit: George Fleming & Loudwick Wray.

Deed Bk JL   p 105, 18 Jan 1787 James Nanney to William Herris, both of R for £60 100 on Darnsides Cr of Cove Cr including the little Cane Break. Signed, James Nanney Wit: Brum Crow, George Ledbetter, Hennery Johnston.

428.854 RUTHERFORD CO COURT MINUTES: Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions.

July Court 1784   Letters of Admin. granted to Benjamin and Howell Adams on the estate of Benjamin Adams, dec'd.

July Court 1784   Benjamin and Howell Adams, admrs on the estate of Benjamin Adams, dec'd returns inventory of estate.

The above records put both the family of Frances Adams and Wooten Harris in Rutherford County before their marriage in 1784. Frances's father Benjamin Adams evidently moved his family to the Rutherford Co., N.C., area even before his land purchase in Jan 1779 in which he is described as being of Tryon Co., N.C." (Tryon Co., now extinct, is the parent County from which Rutherford was formed.) Wooten Harris was there by Oct 1783 when he witnessed a deed to William Harris for 100 acres. These facts leave little doubt that this is where they married and made their home. 1784 was an eventful year. They were married in January, her father died in July; then their first child was born in November.

We know Wooten returned to Brunswick Co., Va., the following June, at least long enough to be reimbursed for his gun that was taken by the militia. Some of you may remember that Wooten stated in his pension apprication that "I removed to the state of North Carolina about the year 1787." This may cause us to wonder if he took his bride back to Virginia to live for a while then returned to North Carolina later. While possible, it seems far more likely that Wooten in his old age had difficulty remembering the exact year of this event which took place in his youth.

019,913 RUTHERFORD CO NC DEEDS

Deed Bk 7-9   p 407, 15 July 1797 Arthur Johnston to Wooten Harris, both of R, for £160 50 A lying on both sides of 2nd Broad River . . . a conditional line between Martha Johnston & John Johnston . . . a direct course with Wooten Harris' fence to the old original line. Signed, Arthur Johnston. Wit: Thomas Marlow & John Coxey Johnston.

019,917 RUTHERFORD CO NC DEEDS

Deed Bk 29-31   p 555, 3 May 1810 Wooten Harris to Sterling Harris both of R, for the love and good will that I bear toward my son Sterling Harris . . . 108 A on the west side of 2nd Broad River, joining Wooten's land, Thomas Harlows and Seawill Wadkins land . . . to a poplar near Sterlings house . . . . Signed, Wooten ( X ) Harris Wit: M. R. Alexander, Absalom Coxey.

The 1790 census seems to throw us a curve when we find Wooten Harris listed in Morgan District of Burke Co., N.C., but then Ben and Howell Adams were there too. Also several Hailey families were near by: Mark Hailey, Richard Hailey, and William Hailey. They are interesting because Zachariah Harris later married Bathsheba Haley who was born in North Carolina according to the 1880 census of two of her children. Whether these people were actually living in Burke or Rutherford County is difficult to tell since census takers did not always adhere strictly to county boundaries.

There is an additional piece of evidence that ties Wooten & William Harris together. This is in the court minutes. William Harris' widow, Ruth, appeared in court 16 Oct 1809 and relinquished her right of administration on the estate of her deceased husband to her son, William Harris, and her son in law, Berry Jones. In Oct 1811 the court appointed commisioners to lay off a years supply to Mrs. Harris, widow of William Harris, dec'd and an inventory of estate was returned to court. In Oct 1812 the court appointed commissioners to lay off to the heirs their distributive shares of the real estate of William Harris, dec'd.

028,855 RUTHERFORD CO COURT MINUTES

July Court 1814   "(Case) No. 19. Berry Jones & William Harris, admrs of William Harris, dec'd, vs Ruth Harris & Wooten Harris. Judgment by default & a writ of inquiry ordered. (Jury) being heretofore sworn was duly empanneled . . . find the bond default to be the act and deed of the defendants & find for the plf & assess their damages to be £74-4 & sixpence & costs." (It seems that Wooten Harris had signed a bond with Ruth Harris, widow of William Harris, Dec'd.)

Oct Court 1814   "The admrs of William Harris Vs Ruth Harris . . . on motion of the defendants council & affidavit filed, ordered by the court that the execution in this case be suspended & that a writ be served on the plf to show cause why judgment should not be set aside & a new trial granted & that in the meantime all future proceedings be stayed thereon."

Now, let's move on to Greenville Co., S.C., where the 1790 census shows Benjamin and Reuben Harris listed close to each other. Both are married but there are no children indicated; however there is an extra adult male living in the Benjamin Harris household. Could this be Zachariah? I found an interesting deed here where Benjamin Harris sells land that he purchased from Zachariah. As yet I have been unable to find the original deed where Zachariah sells the land to him.

024,016 GREENVILLE CO S C DEEDS

Deed Bk K p 174 6 Mar 1818 Benjamin Haris to William Cannady, both of Greenville Co., S.C., for $1,100.00 500 A 1st 100 A on Elise's Cr "being the land purchased by said Benjamin of Zachariah Harris, also a 2nd tract bought of Zacharaiah Harris in the same deed . . . 3rdly a tract sd to contain 145 acres conveyed by George Clancy to sd Harris . . . 4thly a tract purchased of Abner Norris . . . sd to contain 112 A situate on both sides of the Saluda River including the mouth of Gap Cr as reference may be had to the plat granted to him 6 Mar 1815. All to the narrow place & if there then be not 500 A sd Harris do then agree to make up the balance out of the balance of the sd tract adjoining Edy Slaten . . . . Benjamin ( X ) Harris Wit: H. Griffin, William Love. Proved 6 Mar 1818 by Horatio Griffin"
"Personally appeared Ruth Harris, wife of the within mentioned Benjamin Harris, . . . & did declare that she does freely . . . release, renounce forever her right of dower to all & singular the within described premises . . . in testimony wherof she hath here unto set her hand & seal the 6th day of March 1818. Signed: Ruth ( S ) Harris Wit.: Wm H Cook, J C"

Benjamin and Reuben are living side by side, No. 261 and No. 262, in the 1800 Greenville Co., S.C., census enumeration. Benjamin has six children, four sons and two daughters, all under ten years of age. Reuben has two sons and two daughters also under ten. By 1810 Reuben has moved on, but Benjamin and family remain. He is over 45, his wife Ruth 26-45. They now have eleven children: 3 M 16-25, 1 M 2 F 10-16, 3 M 2 F -10. When Benjamin sold his 500 acres in 1818 he moved his family to White Co., Tenn., where we find them in 1820 and 1830. His family is now growing smaller as the older children leave the nest, but there is also one new addition - a daughter who was under ten in 1820. The following is taken from Benjamin's pension papers:

White Co., Tenn., 21 Mar 1853. Mary Ann Carland, age 48, testified "that her father, Benjamin Harris, died in the county of White on the 21 May 1834 leaving a widow whose name was Rutha Harris, and who did not again intermarry, but remained the widow of the said Benjamin Harris up to her death, that the said Rutha Harris died in the county of Macoupin in the State of Illinois on 21 Sept 1845 leaving the following children living to wit: Mary Ann Carland, Betsy Terry, and Amos Harris, the others all having died before the death of Rutha Harris. That the said Rutha Harris never drew a pension from the United States, and that the said Rutha Harris & Benjamin Harris were married in the State of North Carolina . . . (Signed) Mary Ann Carland."

Same date and place as above, John Den, age 63, and William Carland, age 49, gave testimony essentially the same as above but added "that Benjamin and Rutha must have been married before the year 1800 as they have children over that age . . . the oldest child is upwards of 60 yrs., and the youngest age 48 . . . .
(Signed) William ( X ) Carland, John Den."
Testimony was also given on the same date and place as above by Susannah Byers, age 63, a resident of White County who had known Benjamin and Rutha Harris for about 31 yrs. Also Benjamin and Gilbert Harris gave testimony 2 Mar 1853 in Christian Co., Ill., concerning Rutha Harris' death.

Benjamin Harris left a will which was recorded in White Co., Tenn., and also included in his pension papers from which we quote: "I, Benjamin Harris . . . do make this my last will and testiment . . . in manner following, to wit: It is my desire that my wife continue on the tract of land upon which Lewis Jeffers now resides during her natural life, and at my wifes death, it is my desire that said tract of land be sold together with all the personal property which may be on hand at the time of her death, and it is my will that so much of my personal estate be sold this fall as will be sufficient to pay my just debts, or sooner if my wife desires, and such property as she may set aside for that purpose. And I give and bequeath to my son Amos Harris, the tract of land whereon my daughter Betsy Terry now lives containing by estimation about 115 acres, all that part which lies above the Goolsby Tract . . . and it is my desire that the tract of land called . . . Goolsby field Tract and a 20 acre survey adjoining . . . be sold at any time my wife may desire. And I further desire, should my wife need property . . . to cause to be sold the tract of land whereon Jeffers now lives. And I give and bequeth to my son Benjamin Harris' two children William & Benjamin $60.00 each. To Sterling Harris' daughter Nancy Ann $60.00; to Wooten Harris $70.00 & his children Benjamin & William $25.00 each. And I give and bequeth to Betsy Harris, the wife of William Harris $100.00 for the support and maintainance of her children by her husband William Harris. I give and bequeth to my daughter Lear Rutledge a debt on Silas Rutledge in a judgment of about $50.00. I give and bequeth unto my son Amos one bed and furniture. Should there be any funds on hand at the death of my wife, I desire that she dispose of it as may best suit her after the legaces before mentioned are complied with. I give Silas Harris nothing more having given him his share of my estate. Neither do I give William Boles anything more. I give my daughter Betsy Terry nothing more I have given her a tract of land by deed this day. I give to Mary Ann nothing more, have given her a tract of land by deed this day. I give to William Nanny nothing more than I have already done. It is my request and desire that should there be any notes, bonds or liabilities in any way found in my papers or possession upon any of my children that they be given up to them or destroyed, and not collected from them except on William Boles. I give my daughter Betsy Terry fifty dollars to be paid at some time when my wife thinks proper. Benjamin ( X ) Harris Wit: A Dibrill & Jesse Stewart

I nominate and appoint my wife Rutha Harris executrix to this my last will and testament and Anthony Debrill also. Benjamin ( X ) Harris Wit: Jesse Stewart, Wm Carland"

507,849 WHITE CO TENN PROBATE DEED BOOKS

Bk A   p124, 20 Apr 1835 Benjamin Harris to Jesse B. Terry, 156 acres.

Bk A   p268, 22 Dec 1836 Silas & Ruth Harris to Richard England, deed of conveyance 97 acres in two tracts.

Bk B   p 30, 12 June 1837 Benjamin Harris to William Carland, deed of conveyance, 100 acres. (The above dates are the dates recorded, not the dates the deeds were made.)

507,870 WHITE CO TENN COURT ORDER BK 15-19

p 369 10 July 1826   "This day came Polly Harris by her attorney as well as Benjamin Harris by his attorney; whereupon the said Polly moved the court to have discharged from the service of said Benjamin Harris, two apprentices, children of the said Polly Harris, one called and known by the name of William Harris & the other by the name Benjamin Harris . . . It is therefore . . . by the court that the said William Harris & Benjamin Harris children of the sd Polly Harris be discharged from the service of the sd Benjamin Harris as apprentices and that the sd Benjamin Harris forthwith surrender to the sd Polly Harris, the apprentices aforesd."

You will recall that Benjamin F. Harris in his letter to William Jasper Harris, quoted at the beginning of this article, stated that William was the oldest and Silas was the second son born 1792. Now with this information in mind, let's take a close look at the register of births that Frances Harris, widow of Wooten Harris, produced in court to prove that her marriage to Wooten Harris was before the year 1800. This register, which appears to be pages torn from their family bible, is included in Wooten Harris's pension papers and lists his children. In addition there were other names listed which were crossed off. The following names were crossed off:

Frances Walker was born June the 30th 1785

Labin Walker was born August the 2nd 1787

William Harris was born June the 12th in the year 1791

Silas Harris was born December the 15th in the year 1792

Fearebea (?) Adams was born February the 28th 1795

William Harries was born November the 26th 1798

Remember that Benjamin Harris was listed in the 1790 census without any children. So William would have to be born after the 1790 Census but before 1792, the year his brother, Silas, was born. The above William, born in 1791, and Silas, born in 1792, are undoubtedly Benjamin's children.

Reuben Harris, who disappeared from Greenville Co., N.C. before 1810, shows up again in Jackson County right next door to White Co., Tenn. Extracts from these census records follow:

The Sterling Harris of Jackson Co., Tenn., was 26-45 in 1820 and 50-60 in 1840. He is listed (Fam No. 154) in 1850 age 70 born Va. Some have thought that he was Benjamin's son, but clearly this cannot be the case. Not only are his age and birthplace wrong, but Benjamin's pension papers make it plain that only three of his children survived their mother (1845) and Sterling was not one of them. One gets the impression from reading Benjamin's will that Sterling was dead at the time it was written, and that Nancy Ann was his only daughter. At least the only mention of Sterling is to give Nancy $60.00, a rather large bequest considering that he gave Wooten's sons $25.00 each. The Wooten Harris listed in the 1820 & 1830 Jackson Co. census, could be Benjamin's son, but the problem is that there is some evidence that Reuben also had a son named Wooten. There doesn't appear to be a problem in the identification of Benjamin's sons in law in the above census schedules. William Carland and Jesse B. Terry are also listed in 1850; William Carland 48 SC, Mary Ann 43 S C, Elizabeth 21, Benjamin 17, Muranda 15, Watson 11, Levica 10, James 8, Margaret 3 all born Tenn. (p. 173, Fam No. 1173 White Co.). Jesse B. Terry, 40, Elizabeth 35, Elija 14, William 11, Rutha J. 9, Martha 6, Thomas J 3, Joseph S. 5, Susan 1, all born Tenn. (p. 233, Fam No. 1600 White Co.).

The Silas Harris in Jackson Co., 1820, and White Co., 1830, meets the known criteria for Benjamin's son. His age is right; we know Silas had sons (1) Zachariah born 4 Apr 1813 who was the father of William Jasper Harris as per the letter from B. F. Harris, and (2) Benjamin F. Harris who wrote the letter. Since William Jasper was his nephew, he would have to be a brother of William Jasper's father, Zachariah. Silas was not found in the 1840 census in Tenn. We know his mother Rutha died in Macoupin Co., Ill, in 1845. Let's follow her there and see what we find.

We see Silas Harris listed in the census above. He and his wife are both age 40-50. (They were 30-40 in 1830, and . . . we know he was born in 1792.) The woman age 60-70 would undoubtedly be his mother Rutha. This leaves an unexplained female age 30-40 & 1 M 20-30 who is probably one of their three sons listed in earlier censuses; also 1 M 5-10 & 1 M -5, who are probably either their sons or grandsons. More likely grandsons since their only children so far are the three boys who would all be age 20-30 by now. Their son Zachariah reportedly died in 1839 leaving the two children mentioned in the letter, i.e, William Jasper and Artimissa Harris; and Benjamin F. is listed next to Silas Harris in the census above, so this leaves the third unidentified son. Did he marry a slightly older woman and have the two boys indicated above? More information is needed here.

B. F. Harris stated that descendants of Wooten, Reuben & Zachariah were in Illinois. Reuben seems to have settled in McDonough County, so let's look at the census there.

The above census schedules show Reuben Harris, Sr., age 60-70 in 1830 and 70-80 in 1840. This would make him born before 1770 which is about right for our Reuben. There are inconsistencies in the ages listed for him in the earlier census schedules. He was over 16 in 1790, but in 1800 he was 16-25 when we would expect him to be 26-45. We did not find him listed in 1810 probably because 1820 was the earliest census taken in Tennessee. In 1820 he was over 45 but no wife was indicated for him, which leads us to speculate that his wife may have died, then he married again before 1830. Also there are at least four and possibly six more children, in addition to the four listed in the 1800 census. As before they are equally divided between boys and girls. In the 1830 census above it would seem that one of his married children was living with him. The Isaac, James, and Reuben Jr., could be his sons. In 1840 we find these same people listed again only it appears there are now three generations of Reuben Harrises.

Several years ago I corresponded with Iva (Watkins) Minard of San Bernardino, Ca., now deceased. She was a granddaughter of Rheuben Hickman Harris and great granddaughter of Wooten Harris, age 47 in 1850 census Nodaway Co., Mo., born S.C. We know that Benjamins son Wooten died before his mother, Rutha, who died in 1845. This makes it very likely that this Wooten was Reuben's son. Now consider this: She told me that ". . . a Mr. Dell Ransom Harris, age 85, came to visit us in Mar 1964, and we know he is close kin -- first cousin to my Rheuben Hickman Harris. His father was Reuben Ransom Harris, Jr., and his grandfather Reuben Ransom Harris, Sr." According to the records that she sent to me this Reuben Ransom Harris, Sr., was born in 1804 and married Allie Wolf, and Reuben Ransom Jr., was born 1846 and married Jane M. Severns. On p 873 of History of McDonough Col, Ill., we find the following:

"Reuben R. Harris was born in this county in 1846. His parents, Reuben and Allie (Wolf) Harris were among the earliest settlers here and were from Tennessee. Reuben Harris, Sr. died August 15, 1870. His widow, Allie (Wolf) Harris, is still living at advanced age of 80 years. The subject of this sketch was married January 12, 1965, to Jane Severns, a daughter of James Severns, of Ohio. Eleven children have blest their union -- Lizzie, Ida, Allie, Nettie, Alta, Alva, Jennie, Nellie, Dellie, Laura and Charlie. Mr. Harris owns a highly desirable farm, containing 130 acres, located in section 31, Blandinsville Township. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising."

The following is according to records prepared by Dell Ransom Harris and sent to me by Iva (Watkins) Minard in May 1965. Reuben Ransom Harris, Sr., b 14 June 1804 d 15 Aug 1868 Blandinsville, McDonough co., Ill., m. Alice (Allie) Wolf b 8 Oct 1803 White Co., Tenn., d 8 Feb 1866 Blandinsville, both buried Liberty Cem., Blandinsville, Ill.

[Note: The Reuben Harris, Sr., who married Allie Wolf was the son of Reuben Harris. son of Isaac Harris of Brunswick County, Virginia, but he did not have the middle name "Ransom." There are some errors in the following data (as originally developed for the Fayette Facts article), but corrections wil be made in the part of my book containing the descendants of Reuben Harris. -- gmh]

CHILDREN OF REUBEN RANSOM HARRIS, Sr. & ALICE (ALLIE) WOLF

1. Isaac Harris b 12 Feb 1822 d 14 Apr 1900 m (1) Thena Atwater (2) Elizabeth Clayton
2. Deanna Harris b abt 1824 d abt 1914 m Solomom Dill. (8 children)
3. Zachariah Harris b Aug 1826 d 19 Dec 1885 in Mo. m Mary Ann Nanny had son Levi L. Harris b 1848
4. Andrew Harris b 1828 m __________ Weatherford
5. Wayman Harris b 1831 d 1901 m (lic) 28 Oct 1849 Nancy Weatherford. Children: Mary b 1851, James b 1953, Reuben b 1854, Alice b 1855, Jane b 1857, Pery b 1859, infant b 1860. (1860 Census, McDonough Co., Ill.) (All born Ill.)
6. Catherine Harris b 1832 d 1866 Quitman, Nodaway Co., Mo. m James Nance. He died 1888, Quitman, Nodaway Co., Mo. They had 13 children: (a.) Henry Colston Nance, b 26 Apr 1856 d 17 Oct 1926 m 5 Aug 1877 Sarah Elizabeth Harris d of Reuben Hickman Harris & Elizabeth Edna Brown; (b.) Rheuben Nance m Roberta Bowman; (c.) George Nance m Emma Ward; (d.) Ed Nance m Kellie Winslow; (e.) Luther (Luke) Nance; (f.) Charles Nance m Mrs. Craig; (g.) Myra Nance m Thomas Hungate; (h.) Harriet Nance m Dallas Hungate; (i.) Allie Nance m Charles Reynolds; Purlie Boy Nance & and three more.
7. Sarah Harris b 1840 m Charles Warrell
8. Mary Ann Harris (age 19-1860) b 1841 d 1928 m Charles Hungate
9. Alice Harris (age 16-1860) b 1844 d 1924 m Wilcher Hardesty
10. Reuben Ransom Harris (twin) b 23 Aug 1846 d 27 Dec 1915 m Jane M. (Jennie) Severns b 12 Aug 1842 d 29 Aug 1922 Blandinsville, bur Glade City Cem. McDonough Co., Ill. d of James Severns & Mary C.Swyres (?)
11. John R. Harris (twin) b 23 Aug 1846 d 1864

CHILDREN OF REUBEN RANSOM HARRIS, Jr. & JANE M. (JENNIE) SEVERNS

1. Elizabeth K. Harris b 3 Feb 1866 d Feb 1924 m (1) 14 Feb 1888 Joseph F. Huff; m (2) 22 June 1895 James Baughman, Jr., b 1845 d 1933, lvd in Sciota, Ill.
2. Ida B. Harris b 28 June 1867 d 1935 m 5 Nov 1885 Rufus L. Fry b 1865 d 1945 La Harp, Ill.
3. Allie M. Harris b 28 June 1869 died as a child
4. Nettie M. Harris b 10 Mar 1871 d 1947 m 5 Mar 1890 David W. Fife b 1861 d 1930
5. Alta L. Harris (twin) b 26 Nov 1873 d 13 July 1946 m 25 Mar 1896 Otis R. Hanes b __ d 1963, lvd in Hire Twp.
6. Alva A. Harris (twin) b 26 Nov 1873 d 6 Dec 1931 m 23 Dec 1895 Nettie Hanes b 2 Sep 1876 d 9 Jan 1961 lvd in Hire Twp.
7. Jane L. (Jennie) Harris b 7 Dec 1874 d 6 Apr 1951 m 9 May 1896 Clinton Parish b 1877 d 7 June 1956 lvd in Hire Twp.
8. Nellie Harris b 3 July 1876 d Jan 1954 m 1904 Frank Metcalf b 1876 d 5 Jan 1953, lvd in Blandinsville.
9. Dell Ransom Harris b 22 June 1878 m 5 Nov 1905 Grace B. Ewing b 13 Apr 1886 d 26 may 1959 Chicago, Ill. Bur Memorial Estates, Melrose Park,Ill., daughter of Charles Ewing & Mary Elizabeth Parish.
10. Laura E. Harris b 21 Oct 1881 d 16 Nov 1950 m 25 Oct 1904 Eben Irish b 14 Jan 1879 d 5 Jan 1958.
11. Charles Harris b 24 Nov 1883 d 30 Jan 1886.
12. Donna Harris b 22 July 1865 d 17 May 1936 m 18 Jan 1904 Grover Lee Burk b 19 Nov 1884 d 6 Jan 1955.

CHILDREN OF DELL RANSOM HARRIS & GRACE B. EWING

1. Ransom E. Harris m Verna Hicks; Children : Wayne Harris m Judie Grimes; James Harris; Janet Harris m Sam Carter; Danny Harris.
2. Max R. Harris m Frances Livingston; Child: Richard Harris.
3. Mary Elizabeth Harris m Vernon Anderson
4. Dell Reon Harris m Ray Dean Butler; Children: David Harris, Sharon Harris, Michael Harris, Martha Harris

Wooten Harris, great grandfather of Iva (Watkins) Minard, was age 47-1850 census Nodaway Co., Mo., b SC d 1860-65 Quitman, Nodaway Co., Mo., m Sarah Jane (Lacks) [surname illegible on copy, probably Brugh], age 35-1850 b Tenn. d 1895 Corning, Holt Col, Mo., bur Old Corning (or Beck) cem. She m (1) Mr. Brugh & had Sarah Brugh b abt 1829 & Nancy Jane Brugh (age 19-1850) b 1831 Nancy m (1) Rev. Dillon (2) William Alexander Brown.

CHILDREN OF WOOTEN HARRIS & SARAH JANE LACKS

1. Rheuben Hickman Harris b 11 Sept 1830 d 24 Jan 1913 at Mound City, Holt Co., Mo., bur Quitman, Nodaway, Mo., m 6 Mar 1856 Nodaway Co., Elizabeth Edna Brown b 14 June 1825 Crossroads, Hardin Co., Ky., d 7 Dec 1915 Kansas City, Mo., bur Quitman, dau of William Alexander Brown & Sarah Ann Bannister.
2. Dorinda Harris m James Brown, brother of Elizabeth Edna Brown.
3. John Harris, age 10- 1850 b 1840 m Sarah Jane
4. James M. Harris, age 6-1850 b 1844
5. Sarah E. Harris, age 4-1850, b 1846
6. Wooten Harris, age 1-1850 b 1849
7. William Henry Harris, b 9 Mar 1858 m Mary Elizabeth Taylor
8. Margaret Ann Harris, m Joseph Ware

CHILDREN OF RHEUBEN HICKMAN HARRIS & ELIZABETH EDNA BROWN

1. Margaret Ann Harris b 1857 m Oscar Hungate
2. Sarah Elizabeth Harris b 13 May 1859 d 23 Jan 1901 m 5 Aug 1877 Henry Colston Nance s of James Nance & Catherine Harris
3. baby boy Harris b 1860 d as an infant
4. Martha Jane Harris b 17 July 1861 d 29 Sept 1952 m 14 Dec 1882 John Marion Watkins (parents of Iva Watkins Minard)
5. Malinda Belle Harris b 2 Mar 1863 d 16 Sept 1940 m 10 Mar 1883 John William Barnes
6. baby girl Harris b & d 1864

My theory is that Wooten Harris and Reuben Ransom Harris, Sr., were brothers and sons of Reuben Harris, Sr., who was one of the six brothers mentioned in the letter from B. F. Harris at the beginning of this article. Future articles are planned on the various branches of the Harris & related families. Next will be one about the Zachariah and Bathsheba (Haley) Harris branch. Would like to correspond and exchange information with anyone interested in any of the families mentioned in this article or in any branch of the Harris family. [Note: Mrs. Hodgson's former address omitted. Anyone wishing to contact her may address an e:mail to the webmaster, who will forward your request. Responses will be at the option of Mrs. Hodgson. Our security policy does not allow us to provide addresses of contributors to this website.]

[Webmaster's note: The author correctly transcribed the misspellings and etc., exactly as they appeared in the original handwritten documents, where she has indicated quotations. We have tried to copy the document precisely as presented by the author. The only exeption has been to insert a space where words were run together. They may have been run together in the original manuscript; we hope this does not represent an intrusive adjustment. -dp]