The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-12-05
MAJOR ]. F. HARRIS.
FULL OF YEARS AND USEFULNESS HI
PASSES PEACEFULLY AWAY.

One of Henderson's Oldest and Best
| Known Citizens-An Honorable ana
Upright Man, Loved and Respected
| by all Who Knew Him-Short Sketch
| of His Life-The Funeral Services.
Maj. J. F. Harris died at his homo
in this place about half past nine
| o'clock Friday night. He had been
sick but few days and while his
condition was known to be serious
from the first the community was
scarcely prepared for the announce
ment of his death.
Maj Harris was one Of the oldest
and best known citizens of Henderson
and one of the most popular and
greatly beloved. Every one who
knew him was his friend and well
wisher and he cherished i'll against no
man. OF genial nature and friendly
disposition, and sociable in his habits
he was most companionable man
always. He loved company and was
especially fond of the society of young
people. Though old in years Maj.
Harris was young in spirit and until
within the past year or two he was
remarkably active and we'll preserved
for his age But his friends Of late
had observed in him the effects of
advancing years. He had lost his
elastic step. his love of out door exer-
else and sports afield, and his buoyant
spirits had given way to graver and
more serious mien and manner.
Had he lived until the 25th of next
March Mai. Harris would have been
"a years old Many of our readers
will recall the reception given by
Major and Mrs. Harris in 1898 in
honor Of his attaining his eightieth
,, year 1t was a most delightful oc-
casion and among the vast number
who paid their respects there was OF
one who appeared to bear his years
more lightly than the genial host who
was just sci lightly years young"
Mai. Harris was loyal and con-
. sistent member of the Methodist
Protestant church aud was one Of it,
most liberal and cheerful supporters
He took an active part in the building
, | of the beautiful new church which
= adorns the lot he gave-a structure
not only creditable to that denomina
= | ton but an ornament to the town anC
/ pride of our people generally-ane
: had expressed a desire to live Ions
d enough to see two things: First tt
see the church completed and an an
nual conference held in it. He wa
spared to see both. For some months
it had been his great pleasure to wor
d ship therein, and the first funera
n service that was held there was tina
c of his brother-in-law l.. B. Yancey
He saw the conference of his churcl
held here and was one of the mos
" active and interested workers anon,
- the laymen. And the very day
adjourned he was taken sick an
-. passed to the great conference Of tn
- redeemed above without having lef
=, his bed.
=" OF the life and character of Ma
Harris we shall not attempt to speak
=" This has been done by another in tn
sketch which is published below. Th
~ funeral was held from the Methods
Protestant church at 2:3O o'clock Sun
- day afternoon. The attendance wa
= perhaps the largest ever seen at
~, funeral in Henderson. Many person
;, were here from distance. Th
church was crowded and mum bers {
people had to stand outside. Rev
| j. S. Williams conducted the service
! assisted by Rev. A. r. Shaw, Rev. n
H. futile and DR.. Hufham. Nj
at Shaw delivered the opening prayer
III Mr.. futile read the Scripture lesso
at and DR.. Hufham made the closin
~ prayer. The services throughor
m were singularly impressive and al
propr:ate. In place of any remark
de Of his own, Pastor Williams read tt
ed following paper which at his reque!
ch was written by Mr.. A. j. Harris:
uif John Fletcher Harris, second son
W W Ivey and Judith Harris, was born Mare
w. 2oth. 1918, at his fathers home nes
Ut Harris Cross Roads in Granville count,
NC. At 10 years OF age he went into tt
- mercantile business under the late Co
u. John HargrOve, at what was then know
as Linesville. Here he and the late Ma
W. W. Nass received their first lessons
actual business affairs. Alter one YET
hero he refused the offer made by Co
Hargrove to double his salary, and
re partnership with his oldest brother WI
Of A Harris, opened store at the Gro
re Roads near WILLIAMSBURG After remain
ne | ing here for several years he went to Mi,
10 | way.
~ He was successful in these several vel
lures, and in October, 1912 he marie
III Miss Martha Siedge, with whom he live
At happily until her death in 1884 Fro
this time until the end of the Civil We
ID he devoted himself to agricultural pu
G. | suits and as an example of his success
of this field there will be found among b
"a | papers 81 900 of Granville county scriI
49, given him for meat and bread furnishe
to families of soldiers during the Civ
10 War
lr After the disasters incident to the Civ
War, with depleted fortune and we'll mig
E. hopeless of lettering his financial como
il ,ion by agricultural pursuits he embarke
r. in the business of manufacturing tObacc
to at Tally Ho. This venture proved u
successful, and embarrassed by the deb
:, contracted here and the losses incidpI
a. to the war, he began after the great He
lie derson fire to rebuild his shattere TO
s. tunes at this pIace-buying a site for
O. store before the fires quit burning I
Sc entered into partnership with his brothe
in the mercantile business and for yea
they carried on the principal business
this town. Here he made his create
financial success, aud with this he clos,
his active business career, except the ye
G. 1886. In all his business life he liv,
to strictly up to the Scriptural command
- owe no man anything.
- As a Mason for more than so years
H. was treasurer OF a Lodge, receiving a,
paying out the moneys with Justine
at and eXactness that always made his
election a matter of course.
or As Chairman of the County Court
% Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions /
~. dignity and firmness rendered him pop
-, lar, and his rigid adherence to the rul
OF right made him the friend of order al
w. the open enemy OF every wilfuI violat
M. of the law.
Ist AS q churchman he vas intensely 10y
he To no Met hodiSt Protestant ohuroh