and submitted by Shirley C. |
1884 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES LEECH TWP MRS. ELIZABETH HARRIS |
MRS. ELIZABETH HARRIS, Burnt Prairie, was born August 16,
1822, in Breckinridge County, Ky. She is a daughter of Samuel
Shrewsbury, a native of Virginia. He came to Wayne County, Ill.,
January 14, 1841 and after raising one crop, moved to White County, where
he died. His father, Dabney Shrewsbury, was born and died
in Virginia. The mother of our subject, Polly (Kurrens) Shrewsbury,
was a native of North Carolina. She died in Wayne County, leaving
four
children --- Elizabeth (our subject), Minerva Palmer, Mary Meeks
and Nancy S. Harlan. Our subject was reared in Kentucky.
She came to Illinois with her parents and was married December 15,
1842, in White County, to Mr. Lemuel Hatch Harris, youngest child
of Isaac Harris, one of Wayne County's oldest and most worthy pioneers,
who came here in 1814. He first settled in the southern part of Illinois
in 1812, but when the war broke out that year, and to the dangers of wild
beasts who inhabited the dark forest was added the greater danger from
the still wilder men of the woods, the prowling, treacherous Indian, Mr.
Isaac Harris deemed it best to move back to Kentucky, from where he entered
the army as a volunteer, and participated in many thrilling scenes and
famous battles, in what is known in history as the war of 1812. With
the return of peace came the longing for pioneer life for which nature
had so well endowed him, and having heard of the fertile region on the
Wabash, he removed his family to what was afterward called Wayne County.
Here he reared his family, and finally passed away to that better land
from whose bourn no traveler returns. His son, L. H. Harris, who
married our subject, was a farmer by occupation, owning at his death 360
acres of land. He is the father of thirteen children, of whom ten
are now living -- Mary J. Murphy, James L., Rosan, Indiana S., Lucy
P., Wilson B., Sarah I., Emeline D. Simpson, Martha Ida, Eliza E.
Mr. Harris died in this county. His memory is cherished by all who
came in contact with him. The whole family are members of the Missionary
Baptist Church.
Dec 7, 2003
Copyright © Dec
1999.
D. Williams;
All rights reserved.
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