Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Benjamin Harris
Among the earliest settlers of Dearborn, now Wayne, County, Ind., who were prominent in promoting its advancement may be mentioned the Harris family. The great-grandfather of our subject was born in Wales, but was banished from his native land when a young man, on account of his Protestant ideas, and came to America, locating in the Atlantic States. His family consisted of three sons and two daughters. James settled in Richmond, Va., where he became wealthy. One daughter married a Mr. Lynch, founder of Lynchburg, Va. Of Robert and the other daughter but little is known. Obediah, the grandfather of our subject, was a Quaker preacher, and settled in Guilford County, N. C., where he lived till 1810, when he came to Indiana and settled in New Garden Township, Wayne County. In early life he was very active and energetic, and possessed a wonderful power of endurance, but as his age advanced his weight increased, and for many years before his death it exceeded 300 pounds. He lived in Wayne County about twenty years, when he died aged over fourscore years. He had a family of three sons and five daughters — Mary, afterward Mrs. John Chipman; Sarah, afterward Mrs. Richard Mendenhall; Rachel, afterward Mrs. Abijah Jones; Judith, afterward Mrs. Jacob Cook; Rebecca, afterward Mrs. Mathow Allman; David, died when a young man, in North Carolina; Obediah and Benjamin.
Obediah settled in Wayne County about the time of the war of 1812, and followed farming in New Garden Township. He was a strict member of the Society of Friends and served as a preacher many years. About 1820 he removed to Randolph County, where he died in 1858, aged eighty-three years and seven months. He first married Marie Mendenhall, who died in North Carolina. They had three children. He afterward married Mary Moorman, who died in Randolph County in 1844. She was the mother of nine children. He then married Mrs. Nuby, who died in 1853. His children were — Thomas, David, Rachel, Betsey, Susanna, Jonathan, John, Obediah, James, Ruth, Jesse M. and Mary.
Jesse M. was born in Richmond, Ind., Aug. 27, 1816. In 1837 he began the study of medicine with Stanton Judkins, M. D., of Fountain City, and subsequently was with Richard Pretlow, M. D., of Richmond. He attended Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, two terms, and in 1841 began practicing in Henry County, Iowa. In 1850 he returned to Richmond where he still resides. He was married in 1843 to Gulielma, daughter of William Harvey, of Richmond. She died in 1856 leaving two children — Abanus and George W. He then married Emily J., daughter of David Hampton, who died Jan. 5, 1881, leaving three children — Jane M., Mary L. and Francis.
Benjamin Harris, Sr., father of our subject, was married in North Carolina to Margaret Ingle, and in 1807 they came to Indiana. He entered a quarter-section of land, which he improved and lived on till his death, in 1850. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, and at the time the county seat was moved from Salisbury to Centreville was one of the County Commissioners favoring the removal. In religion he adhered to the faith of his father. He had a strong constitution and weighed 200 pounds. His wife survived him till 1853. They were the parents of fifteen children, two of whom died in North Carolina. We give the names of those who grew to maturity; the five youngest were born in Wayne County — Obediah, Pleasant, James, Barsheba, John, Benjamin, Rebecca, Sarah, Margaret, David, Aaron, Elizabeth and Nathan.
Benjamin, our subject, was born in Guilford County, N. C., Nov. 3, 1798. He has been a farmer and stock-raiser through life, paying special attention to the latter industry. He was very successful but by his confidence in his fellow men was reduced to medium circumstances, although he is now again in the enjoyment of affluence, and is living retired from active business pursuits. Politically he has been a Whig and Republican, and was one of the first in his township to take a decided part in the anti-slavery movement. He was married in 1821 to Lydia Hiatt, a native of Virginia, and at once settled on his farm in Green Township, where his wife died in 1867. In 1869 he moved to Richmond, and in April, 1870, married Hannah A. Estell, of New Jersey. To Mr. Harris and his first wife were born ten children — Cynthia, widow of Nathan Fisher, of Oregon; Winston, of Green Township; Addison, of Fountain City; Sarah, wife of Ensley Overman, of Webster Township; Nancy, wife of Joseph Conner, of Logan County, Mo.; Mary, wife of Nathan Overman, of Grant County, Ind.; Susan, deceased wife of Simon Bond, of Webster Township; Minerva, wife of William Wilcoxen, of Nebraska; James M., a physician of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and Martha J., of Nebraska.
Source:
History of Wayne County, Indiana. Chicago: Inter-State Publishing Co. 1884. Volume 2