Claude M. Harris, M.D., Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller

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Claude M. Harris, M. D.  One of the leading physicians and surgeons in Cheneyville, 
in Rapides Parish, is Mr. Claude M. Harris, who graduated in medicine and has been 
in practice for over a quarter of a century.

He was born in Claiborne Parish. Louisiana, May 5, 1874, son of Austin and Rettie 
(Millner) Harris.  His parents, natives of Georgia, came from Louisiana soon after 
their marriage.  His father was a Baptist minister, and combined preaching and teaching 
school until his death in 1881.  The mother died in 1910.  Of their ten children five 
are now living.

Dr. Claude M. Harris, the eighth in this large family, was seven years of age when his 
father died, and most of his opportunities he had to contrive for himself.  He attended 
high school in Claiborne Parish, Homer College in that parish, and continued his higher 
education in Vanderbilt University at Nashville.  He was graduated in medicine in 1897 
from the University of Tennessee, and for one year practiced in Claiborne Parish.  
After that until 1922 his home and practice were at Magda, and from there he removed 
to Cheneyville.  Doctor Harris owns a fine farm at Magda, and keeps in touch with his 
agricultural interests in that section.  The rest of his time he devotes to his medical 
practice, and he is a member of the Rapides Parish, State and American Medical Associations.

He married in December, 1898, Miss Lillian Dawson, of Claiborne Parish, who died in 1899.  
In 1900 Daisy D. Wilson became his wife.  She was born in Rapides Parish.  Of the five 
children born to them four are now living: Reginald W., attending the University of 
Louisiana; Aubyn, who finished her education in the State Normal School at Natchitoches, 
and is a teacher; Claude M., attending high school at Cheneyville; and Jack, attending 
the grade school.

Doctor and Mrs. Harris are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is a deacon and 
superintendent of the Sunday School.  He has served as master of his Masonic Lodge and 
is district grand master of that order.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), p. 365, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by The American 
Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.