The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-12-11
In Memorial.

| dItefW3fC 10 become elements IN tnt
great statehood OF Missouri. thei,
came from North Carolinaa a large anC
sturdy avaiaLche o! the very best pop
ulation. They werecomposed o;Scotr,
and Irish people, well grounded il Ia
faith OF patriotism and devotion to =,
Institutions OF their country. The
wcte Il stalwart race and among man !
Oi the names tnat can now be remem.
bercd who came between those dates
are the Henderson>, Alexanders'
| Flynns'. CdIdwclls'. several families
| OF the Hopes. Walkers. Iorrens'
Querys', Hills. McLains', Adams
divers, and many others whom Wc
can not mention in this short article.
Among them. however. that we now
meritoriouslyem ly empEasiz was the family
Of Harris Il very large connection,
who came at the same time and for the
same purpose. They came by wagon,
| horse back ana almost every con-
ccivable way OF travelling, evincing
their determination to reach what wa
called the promised land In their
route from North Carolina they cuIcr-
ed Illinois 1T GolcOnda and then ira
verscd Il" State to I. point opposite
Green : Old Ferry. and there they were
met by taose who II Is fair 10 pr-sum
were sent 10 spy out the land. They
We're not disappointed. They came up
Indian Greek to some where near Old
Apple Creek neighborhood. Others
went fui'therinto the northwestern part
OF the county ana We're not disappoint-
ed in the richness of soil, the variety
OF timber and the great necessity Of a
strong civillZing hand to take posses
sion. The county was then inhabited
by wild Indians and wild animals OF
almost every kinu. Roads were to be
constructed, bridges were to be built
and houses were To be erected. and
among the families who were most
conspicuous i'll this sort of work we're
the Harris. Alexandcrs and others.
It would be invidiOus 10 mention the
names OF any without mentioning all.
DR.. Elam Harris, the father. of DR..
Sam ). Harris was ruling Elder. in
the Presbyterian Church, and settled
near what is now known as Fruitland.
west thereof about two miles, and be
ing an eminent practitioner himself he
became distinguished in his practice
which was wide and successful.
sam 5. Harris was born into the
Presbyterian Church and it is believed
vas baptized either at the old Pleasant
Hill Church or at jackson. While at
all events he was an industrious.
sprightly, cheerful. Uell hammered hoy
and ne carried tHose excellent Uuai
ties with him almost his entire life.
and whatever may be said of Sam
Harris he was a manwho was Il strong
friend or hard enemy. He was born
in 1882 on his fathers farm heretofore
mentioned. His education began with
the common schools of the country
and was as thorough in this as any
one could be withthe excellent teachers
We had there at that time, and after
wards hefinished his literary education
at Pleasant Hill Academy, which was
one OF great repute in those days and
taught by teachers who We're devoted
to their profession, who knew nothing
else but to teachand had many students
from abroad. sam Harris was al
ways foremost in his studies. games.
mischief and ratings. Afterwards he
took Il course OF reading medicine
with DR.. Wm. 3. Wilson for two
years. from $50 to 1877. and after
the New York University
Medical Department for two terms
graduated in 1851.
He Immediately returnedtO Missouri
aud began the practice Of his pro-
fession, but shortly afterwards the un-
fortunate war broke ont ana ne de-
clared for the Southern people and
was active in organizing troops, bat
ferries. etc, one of which he command
ed during Il part of the war. One of
his characteristics was manifcsc to
to his brother officers. He knew no
fear. He was brave man. In case
OF a great emergency Sam Harris was
the first 20 respond and first to exc
cute, and usually with great success.
He was Captain of the Battery on the
Confederate Ram Arkansas. which
succeeded in breaking through the
Federal lines at Vicksburg. going on
South. The writer was informed a
fcw days ago by an intimate friend Of
DR.. Harris that it was the bravest
act thai lie ever saw or could conceive
of.
After the close OF the war he return
ed and married Miss Amanda Brown.
daughter OF Ex-Licutenant Govern
or ana Mrs. Amanda Brown. She
did rot live but short time
but died leaving one daughter
who now Is the wife OF Mr.. Edward f.
plnr,,v,, t,G;.D, ,,1 &c.,,