W. D. HARRIS, one of the honored citizens of Jackson County, who
successfully carries on farming on section 35, Carbondale Township, was born
in Saline County, Ill., September 16, 1820, and is a son of Richard and
Hannah (Tanner) Harris. Her grandfather, Samuel Tanner, was a soldier of the
Revolution. Both parents were natives of North Carolina, and the father was
a soldier in the War of 1812. They were married in Kentucky, and in 1820
emigrated to Saline County, Ill., then a part of Gallatin County, becoming
honored pioneers of that locality, where they resided until 1830, when they
removed to Williamson County and began opening up another wild farm. Mr.
Harris died in 1835, but his wife long survived him, passing away in 1874.
She was a member of the Baptist Church. In politics be was a Democrat. Seven
of their fourteen children are yet living.
Upon the home farm our
subject was reared to manhood, and for about three months in the year he
usually attended school, his education being thus acquired. He also learned
the carpenter's trade in his youth, and followed it for some years. On the
29th of December, 1840, he married Miss Sarah Maria Robertson, who has
indeed been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. She
was born in Saline County, Ill., and her parents, Mark and Mary (Burns)
Robertson, were natives of Alabama. The father was a farmer by occupation
and served in the War of 1812 under General Jackson. The maternal
grandfather was a native of Scotland, and was a relative of Robert Burns,
the poet.
Mr. and Mrs. Robertson were married in Alabama, thence
removed to Tennessee, and about 1819 settled on wild land in Saline County,
Ill. In 1832 they went to Gallatin Country, and in 1835 removed to Tazewell
County, where the death of the father occurred in 1836. His wife survived
him until 1861. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom are yet
living: Mark, of Wright County, Mo., who was a soldier in the Black Hawk
War, and for twelve years has been a Presiding Elder in the Methodist
Episcopal Church; William, of Franklin County; and Mrs. Harris, who was born
October 1, 1822.
Our subject and his wife began their domestic life
upon an unbroken tract of land, but he soon made it a productive farm. In
April, 1855, they took up their residence in Carbondale, Jackson County,
where Mr. Harris followed carpentering for nineteen years. He enlisted May
16, 1861, in Company K, Eighteenth Illinois Infantry. He was promoted to be
Corporal and afterward to be Sergeant. He was first sent to Mound City,
Ill., thence to Cairo, and from thereon to the front. He was one of the
advance guard at Ft. Henry, and took part in the battles of Ft. Donelson,
Pittsburg Landing and Jackson. He was detailed to run a fleet on the
Mississippi River under General Elliott, and had three rams in that fleet —
"Queen of the West," "Lancaster" and "Monarch." He was never captured or
wounded, and was honorably discharged June 7, 1864, in Springfield.
Mr. Harris then returned to his home in Carbondale, and continued to engage
in carpentering until 1874, when he removed to his farm, which he has since
greatly improved. He owns one hundred and six and two-thirds acres of land,
of which seventy acres are under the plow. He has recently erected a
comfortable residence in Carbondale at a cost of $1,500. Though Mr. and Mrs.
Harris have never had any children, they have cared for and reared Belle
Mitchell from childhood. Both are faithful members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and he has served as Trustee and Steward. He has also been
Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has never chewed tobacco but once,
and forty-two years have passed since he has tasted liquor as a beverage.
His life has indeed been an honorable one and is well worthy of emulation.
Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason, and has been Treasurer of the blue
lodge. He also belongs to the Grand Army post of Carbondale. In politics he
is a stalwart Republican, and he has served as Alderman of Carbondale.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris have a large circle of friends and acquaintances,
and are highly regarded by all. On the 29th of December, 1890, they
celebrated their golden wedding, for fifty years had passed since they
started out on life's journey together. The following poem was written in
commemoration of the event:
Just fifty years ago, dear wife.
Since you and I were wed.
To-day's our golden wedding day.
Where can
the years have fled?
Am I that shy and awkward youth.
Are you
that maiden fair,
With silver threads among the curls
That once was
golden hair?
I never can forget the day
That made you all my
own.
Your lips like tempting cherries ripe,
Your cheeks like roses
blown.
Your sweet eves shining bright as stars
In fancy yet I
see.
And you that day than all the world
Were dearer far to me.
And yet, dear heart, I know that I
Love better far to-day.
Than
e'en I loved that maiden fair,
The wife's that's old and gray.
And I will pray that you and I
May walk life's golden sands
Until we
reach that better place.
The house not made with hands.
Extracted 01 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass from 1894 Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry, and Monroe Counties, Illinois, pages 686-687.