Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-06
JOHN HARRIS


Ohm HARRIS. of County
Kentucky. as boy was noted for his
feared his. fellow men, but would 60
miles out of his way to avoid women.
Yet there came time in Kentucky, as
well as other parts of the South. when the
true courage of all men was severely tested.
During the Presidential election of 1860
men In Kentucky voted vipG goce, and of
course. every one expected that John Harris
would take to the woods, as he was known
to be rank Abolitionist and the only Lin
coin man in the whole county.
As John was quiet, inoffensive man
and great reader. and never seemed to
were heaped upon him when his anti
slavery statements were known.
The memorable election day of 1860 was
at hand; excitement was very great and
The voter had to approach the cleo
ton table and call out the name--either
for whom he desired to cast his vote. The
election table was surrounded by a mob Of
desperate men and election "bums."
John Harris at the appointed hour was in
line ready to cast his vote.
The excitement was intense, and some
threatened to shoot him If he dared to vote
for Lincoln His neighbors could scarcely
Coward" standing calmly in line, ap-
parently not needing their threats.
He. had told them that voting was
his vote even II death should be the result.
When John reached the voting table
there were not less than five or six pistols
pointed at him and he was again warned
publican ticket"
He merely smiled at their threats and
told them he would vote although he died in
After giving his name in full he was
asked the usual question--"Who do you
vote for.?!" He replied. II vote for Abraham
Lincoln"
At this moment James Wilson, who was
afterward General Rousseau's Union scout,
sprang to his feet and said, 81 am a Demo-
crat, and the first man who attempts to do
harm to John Harris Is q dead man"
John voted, and instead of turning around
and walking out of the room. he walked
backwards, holding large knife in each
hand. while James Wilson covered the
The bum element was paralyzed with as
constituent. Not word was spoken for
some time; John Harris went to his home
himself down on the bed and cried like
child The psychic condition which pos
sessed him was now gone. and his coward
ice again controlled him.
On the tenth of June. 1861, there gath
cred large crowd Of people near Russell
vile, Kentucky, to feast upon roasted OK,
and to hear speeches from Humphry, Mar
tial, and others advocating secession.
Many people we're ignorant of the pur-
port of the meeting and were out for q
good time. aud among that number was
John Harris.
when he arrived on the grounds there
was already great gathering of people
present. Martial was on the stand de-
immediate secession. Above him hoated
the Stars and Bars, the emblem of seces-
sion. John and one of his cousins were
es when in the distance was heard the
beating of drums and whistling of a fife.
A procession of sons Of Southern plant
ers approached carrying aloft the Stars and
Bars, and trailing in the dust the Stars
and Stripes At the sight Of the latter John
turned pale and trembled like leaf.
AS they came nearer. Johns face flushed.
his eyes sparkled and springing to his feet
he grasped the Stars and Bars and in an
instant tore 1t into shreds
CONSERVATION seized the whole crowd and
not a word was spoken for several mo.
ments. But soon there was an outburst of
wrath from every tongue, and they adj
vanced upon him for the purpose of aveng-
ing the insult to the Confederate flag.
publican" shouted the now Infatuated mob.
John Immediately backed out from the mob
some distance. but soon saw that he was
Sawn ana ncks me es
begun to strike every man In reach. His
blows with the club were so powerful that
several we're knocked senseless to the earth
Finally he was taken by the mob and In
few moments a rope was around his neck
and he was dragged until he was uncon-
scious. The rope was loosened and he be-
gan to breathe and when he was able to
stand his hands and feet were tied to a
small sapling growing near.
Then a consultation was held as to
whether or not they should burn him. On
account OF his having two brothers who
were Secessionists and who had already en-
listed in the Confederate Army, IL was
deemed best not to torture him with fire.
on his face and exposed parts, to attract
flies of which the woods were full.
During all this time not a groan was
heard from John. The day waned and the
people enjoyed themselves as only Ken
tuckians can. Not mouthful of water
was given him, and the flies swarmed over
his face and hands like bees.
Two men stood guard to prevent anyone
from relieving his sufferings When night
came on, and most OF the people had gone
TO their homes, mob OF several hundred