Jackson County AlArchives Biographies.....Harris, John Richard 1841 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 8, 2011, 8:40 pm Source: See below Author: Smith & De Land, publishers JOHN RICHARD HARRIS, son of Richard B. and A. H. Clopton Harris, of Virginia, was born near Huntsville, May 5, 1841. Richard B. Harris was born in 1806, educated in the country schools, in early life was a merchant, and afterward a farmer. He was a captain of militia at Huntsville for many years and served also as a justice of the peace. He reared two sons and five daughters. John R. Harris was reared on a farm, and when eight years old removed with his parents to Larkinsville, Ala., and received his education at Irvin College. In March, 1861, he enlisted in the Confederate Army, in Capt. Hal. Bradford's company; went to Fort Morgan, where he and his company were merged into the Second Alabama Regiment; remained there for ten months, was transferred to Fort Pillow, and after a short time discharged. While Mr. Harris and his comrades were on their way home he joined an Alabama regiment for the occasion and participated in the memorable battle of Corinth. Having reached his home, he remained there but a few days, and went out as an independent with Colonel Stearns, of the Fourth Tennessee Cavalry, and there was organized into Company K., Commanded by Capt. Francisco Rice, of Madison County, Ala., Forrest's old brigade. While here he declined an office which was tendered him. After this he participated in all the engagements in which his brigade fought; was never excused from duty at any time; was in Bragg's campaign in Kentucky; fought with Kirby Smith's command, and himself commanded the extreme advance guard of Smith's division till he reached Barbersville and Cumberland Ford. When his squad had only crossed the Kentucky line a short distance, they were fired on by bushwhackers, when they dashed into the hills and captured some of them; then met a Federal lieutenant with twenty scouts, and killed and captured together, fourteen of the same. Here Mr. Harris was slightly wounded on top of his head. He was engaged at Richmond, Perryville, second battle of Fort Donelson, Parker's Cross Roads, Huntington, Lexington and Dresden, where his brigade captured General Fry's command. He was afterward in the battles of Thompson Station, Tenn., Knoxville, Chickamauga, Resaca and the campaign of Atlanta, Ga.; was slightly wounded several times: was with Gen. Joe Wheeler in the East Tennessee campaign, in the winter of 1863-4. After Hood's raid he was on detached duty as a secret scout, in which duty he again had command of a small squad of men, and had numerous fights with an independent Alabama company, and Federals in Middle Tennessee and North Alabama, often successfully fighting five and ten to one; and thinks he, with five others, made the last fight of the war near Larkinsville, Ala., killing seven out of sixteen of the enemy. This engagement was on horseback, the enemy getting in first fire. A short time before this Mr. Harris, with Lieutenant Haveren and eight men, boarded a Federal steamboat some miles below Chattanooga, on the Tennessee River, and captured the crew and destroyed the vessel, with several cannon. After the war he engaged in farming, which he has continued till the present time. In 1871, he was elected Sheriff, and served one term. It is said by his countrymen that he made a most excellent sheriff. In 1880, he removed to Scottsboro, where he owns considerable property. In 1869, he was married to Miss Mollie F. Winbourn, of West Tennessee. He had one daughter by this marriage—Mollie F. His wife died in 17T0; was married again in 1874 to Miss Maria W. Kinkle, daughter of LaFayette and Agnes (Jones) Kinkle, of Huntsville. They have several children—Robert K., John R., Fannie T., Emma P., Jennie P., Maria W., Lulu G. and George W. Mr. Harris and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a Mason and Knight of Honor. Additional Comments: Extracted from: Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land 1888 PART III. HISTORICAL RESUME OF THE VARIOUS COUNTIES IN THE STATE. CEREAL BELT. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/jackson/bios/harris863gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb