Biographical Sketch of A. B. Harris, Leeton, Johnson County, Missouri >From "History of Johnson County, Missouri," by Ewing Cockrell, Historical Publishing Company, Topeka, Cleveland, 1918. ********************************************************************** A. B. Harris, the efficient and highly esteemed postmaster of Leeton, Missouri, is a representative of a prominent and historic pioneer family of Henry county, Missouri. He was born in 1877 in Henry county the son of J. M. and Laura Harris. J. M. Harris is the son of Aurelius B. Harris, who was born and reared in Kentucky. Aurelius B. Harris left Kentucky in early manhood and came to Missouri, where he settled in Henry county and engaged in farming, becoming one of the most influential and prosperous citizens of Missouri, in his day. In Henry county his son, J. M., the father of the subject of this review, was born, reared, educated and married. J. M. Harris was united in marri- age with Laura Parks, the daughter of Judge James Parks, a leading citizens of Clinton, Missouri. J. M. Harris died in 1912 and Laura (Parks) Harris is now living in Idaho. The early education of A. B. Harris was received in the public schools of Clinton, Missouri. He later completed his school work at the Clinton Academy. He was born and reared on the farm and all his life has been interested in agricul- tural pursuits. He was engaged in farming and stock raising in Henry county prior to his coming to Johnson county. Mr. Harris is the owner at the time of this writing, of forty acres of land in Henry county. In November, 1904, A. B. Harris was united in marriage with Bertha M. Venable, the daughter of A. B. and Martha (Des Combes) Venable. To A. B. and Bertha M. (Venable) Harris has been born one child, a son, A. B. Harris, Jr. In October, 1914, A. B. Harris was appointed post- master at Leeton, Missouri. Since his assumption of the duties of postmaster, considerable new equipment has been added in the Leeton postoffice and it has been raised to a third class office. Mr. Harris is filling his position with much credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the city. He is a quiet, unassuming man, who unosten- tatiously attends to his affairs, carefully and conscientiously paying heed to the multitudinous details of his business. In his own modest way, he is making a splendid success in life, but it is no more than one expects of the person bearing the name of Harris, a name that has meant much in the historic annals of this country. Few people of this generation appreciate the advantages and conveniences of the United States postal system. If the mails are unavoidably delayed for a few hours, there is always all over the country much grumbling and com- plaint. But there was a time, within the recollection of many men and women now living in Johnson county, when it was considered a great thing to get mail once a week. Letters were brought to the county by men on horseback. They carried little horns, which they blew loudly as they came into town and all the settlers would flock out of their cabins to meet them. The mail carriers often had to swim all the streams in their way and often were many days behind time, on account of the high water. The postmaster, in those days, frequently had to spread the mail out in the sun to dry. It would be placed in a large box and each person would look through all the letters and take those which were his. The children of the early pioneers have become so accustomed to the present splendid postal arrangements that scarcely a thought is given to them, except when some unforseen calamity temporar- ily upsets the ordinarily efficient system. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: <> Penny Harrell ====================================================================