Dallas County, TX - Biographies - William Harris ************************************************************************ This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Dorman Holub Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ John Henry Brown's History of Dallas County, 1892, pp. 470 WILLIAM HARRIS, Notary Public of the city of Dallas, was born in Lowndes county, Alabama, April 11, 1830, the sixth of eight children born to Randolph C. and Sarah (Quartz) Harris, natives of South Carolina. The parents were married in their native State, and afterward moved to Lowndes County, Alabama, and in 1836 to Bowie County, Texas, where the father took up a league-and-labor head-right. They remained in that county until death, the father dying in 1847, and the mother in 1837. Of their eight children, two are now living: James M., who resides near Van Alstyne, Grayson county, Texas, and the subject of this sketch. The latter was reared to farm life in Bowie County, Texas, and graduated at the Union University, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and at Lebanon Law School. After leaving school he engaged in teaching at Quitman, Wood county, Texas, and in 1858 moved to Dallas, and engaged in the same occupation near Cedar Springs, and two years later worked in the County Clerk's office. In 1861 Mr. Harris enlisted in Captain Good's battery as Second Lieutenant, and was in the battle of Elkhorn, was with the Rangers in Louisiana, Arkansas and Southern Missouri, later was in Walter P. Lane's Cavalry, and served in the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He was then sent under General Steele, and later under General Maxey, into Indian Territory, but at the close of the war returned to Grayson County, where he engaged in teaching. He afterward followed farming at Farmer's branch, Dallas County, and in 1880 settled permanently in Dallas city. Mr. Harris takes an active part in politics, voting with the Democratic Party, and is now serving as Alderman of the Ninth Ward, and as Chairman of the Committee on Schools and Education. Socially, he is a member of the James A. Smith Lodge, No. 495, A. F. & A. M.; and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Harris was married in this county, April 10, 1867, to Martha Alice Cochran, a native of Dallas County, and a daughter of William M. and Nancy J. (Hughes) Cochran, natives of South and North Carolina, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have had seven children: Laura J., wife of H. H. Jacoby, of Dallas; Clara A.; Mary M.; James H., who died in 1873, aged seven months; Willie R., Archie B., and John C.