Biography of E. L. Harris, Saline Co, AR

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Submitted by: Leon Rowland Moore <moorelrm@swbell.net>
        Date: 5 Nov 2002
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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Source: Goodspeed's History of Saline County

E. L. Harris, one of the most prominent farmers of Union Township, first saw
the light of day in Dallas County, Ark. in the year 1846, as the son of A. R.
and Lovey (Scott) Harris, natives of Alabama.  The former came to this State in
1836, and settled in Saline County.  After some ten or twelve years of
prosperous life here he moved to Dallas County, where he resided until 1861,
then returning to his former home. He was married about 1843 in this county,
and is the father of eight children, five of whom are living:  E. L. (the
subject of this sketch), W.L., M. A. and Mary V. (the wife of W. P. Hunter, of
Franklin).  Mr. Harris enlisted in the War of the Rebellion with the
Confederates, serving for about eighteen months under General Shelby. When
peace again reigned he returned to this county and resumed farming. Previous to
the war he was well off in this world's goods, owning some four slaves and an
excellent farm, but when the war closed he found himself worth comparatively
nothing.  By diligence and frugality, however, he has again gained a foothold
on prosperity, and is now doing very well.  Mr. Harris was a pioneer settler of
the county, and one of the men who surveyed the State line between Arkansas and
Texas, and also assisted in surveying the swamp land on the Mississippi River.
He, in his sixty-third year, and Mrs. Harris, in her sixtieth year, are both
enjoying the best of health.  They are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church.  Politically Mr. Harris is strongly Democratic, taking quite an
interest in politics, not with a view of personal gain, but for the love he has
for his party.  E. L. Harris began life for himself at the age of seventeen by
joining the Confederate army.  He enlisted in Company F, Texas Battalion,
commanded by Col. Morgan, during the war, and was in the battles of Pleasant
Hill and Mansfield, La., besides numerous minor engagements. He surrendered at
Calvert, Tex., and returned home. After pursuing his studies for two years he
served as deputy sheriff at Benton for some time.  Mr. Harris was married, in
1868, to Mrs. D. A. Pelton, nee McCray.  She was the mother of two children by
her first husband, one, J. F. Pelton, now living. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are the
parents of four children, two of whom survive:  W. D. (farmer) and Stella A.
(at home). Mr. Harris bought the place on which he now resides many years ago.
It consist of 110 acres with fifty or sixty improved, to which he has since
added forty acres, making one of the best farms in this section of the country.
Mr. Harris never bought a horse, though he was quite a stock raiser.  His
father gave him his first animal and ever since he has raised his own stock.
He and his wife and son are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Politically Democratic, Mr. Harris is a man who favors all laudable public
enterprises and assists in any scheme which tends to improve the condition of
his neighbors or his county.