DeSoto Parish, Louisiana; Biography: A.P. Harris - h620

--------------------------------- 
Submitted by Gaytha Carver Thompson
Typed by Trudy Marlow
************************************************

Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives



**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 

A. P. Harris is a man who has risen to con-siderable prominence in the 
affairs of De Soto Parish, La., not less in agricultural matters than 
in other circles of active business life, and as a result is the owner 
of an excellent plantation, consisting of 400 acres, 300 of which are 
under cultivation, devoted to the raising of cotton, corn, other cereals 
and stock.  His cattle are of Jersey breed, and his horses are also well
bred.  He has been a resident of this parish since March, 1884, but prior 
to that time, from 1873 up to that date, he was a resident of Orange 
County, Fla., where he purchased an orange grove and planted and cultivated 
225 orange trees, in the raising of which he was very successful.  He was 
born in Marengo County, Ala., July 8, 1848, being the only child born to 
his parents, and was reared and educated in Alabama, his early days being 
devoted to the occupation of planting.  In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, 
Thirty-ninth Alabama Regiment, and served until the surrender, receiving 
during his service three wounds, one by a gun-shot at Stone River, which 
ball he still carries, again at Franklin, Tenn., and at Bentonville, N. C., 
by the bursting of a shell.  He was in the hospital for about
four months during his service, and took part in all the engagements in 
which the Army of Tennessee took part.  After the surrender he returned to 
Alabama, where he remained until 1873, then went to Florida, as above stated, 
the property which he purchased in that State being still in his possession.  
He was married in 1867 to Miss Mittie Williams, by who in he has three 
children:  Sallie V. (wife of Robert Ricks), Alonzo and Samuel.  Mrs. Harris 
is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  His parents, A. P., 
Sr., and Elizabeth (MeKissack) Harris, were born in South Carolina and 
Alabama, respectively, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch descent. 
The father was an eminent minister of the Method-ist Church, and was engaged 
in work for the Master until his death, which occurred in Alabama, his widow 
still residing there.