Part of the Indiana Biographies Project
Branson L. Harris
One of the families which have been prominent in the history of Wayne county from its early days was founded here several years prior to the beginning of the war of 1812 by Benjamin Harris, the grandfather of the subject of this memoir. The Harris family originated in Wales, and some time during the last century one Obediah Harris, with two of his brothers, made a settlement in Virginia. They were members of the Society of Friends, and sought the greater religious liberty which they were permitted to enjoy in the young American colony. Obediah Harris lived in North Carolina for a number of years, and there his son Benjamin was born. In 1810 Obediah Harris and his youngest son and namesake, both of whom were ministers of the Quaker church, came to Indiana and passed the remainder of their days in the northern part of Wayne and the southern part of Randolph counties.
It was subsequent to his marriage to Miss Margaret England that Benjamin Harris determined to try his fortunes in the new northwest, and made his removal with his family to Indiana, and located on land about six miles north of Richmond, Wayne county. He and his estimable wife spent the rest of their lives here, and of their large family, most of whom grew to maturity, married, and had homes of their own, only one, Elizabeth, the youngest daughter, is now living, her home being in Fountain City, this state. Those who have passed away were Obediah, Barsheba, Pleasant, James, John, Rebecca, Margaret, David, Sarah, Aaron and Nathan.
James Harris, the father of Branson L. Harris, was born in North Carolina, and was a lad of fourteen years when he accompanied his parents in their removal to Indiana. During the war of 1812 he entered the army and served for several months on behalf of his country, for which offense against the teachings of the Quaker church he was turned out of the society. He managed to survive that affliction, however, and later became a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. As a young man, he performed the hardest kinds of pioneer labor, such as clearing a way the forests, splitting rails, raising log cabins, and breaking the virgin soil with the crude implements of that period. Thus he earned the money with which to purchase a little tract of land for himself. His first home was on a farm of eighty acres, in Green township, west of Williamsburg, but this property he sold three years later and entered a quarter-section of land in the southeastern part of the same township. About 1827 he exchanged that place for one owned by his eldest brother Obediah, it being near the center of the same township. There he spent the rest of his busy and prosperous life, his death occurring in July, 1854. Quiet and industrious, upright and gentle, he was a most worthy and respected citizen, faithful in the discharge of all his duties. Though he was a Whig with strong antislavery principles, he did not desire to serve in public positions, preferring to keep out of politics, but was a justice of the peace for several years. In the early part of 1816 he married Naomi, daughter of John and Sarah Lewis. She was a native of North Carolina, whence she emigrated to this state with her parents, and she survived her husband a number of years. To James and Naomi Harris five sons and two daughters were born, Branson L. being the eldest: Winston E. is a resident of Williamsburg, wayne county; Addison R. died at the age of three years; Milton R. died a number of years ago; Allen M. lives in Richmond, this county; Hannah, deceased, was the wife of William Campbell; and Sarilda is the wife of William Thornburg.
The birth of Branson L. Harris took place April 21, 1817, upon his father's old homestead in Green township. His entire life, eighty-two years has been spent in Green and Clay townships, his attention chiefly devoted to agriculture. In his young manhood he worked for neighbors until he had saved a little capital, and his next step was to rent a farm. Later he bought a small tract of land, and added to this as he could afford. At last he had one hundred and seventy acres of finely improved land, lying in one body, and this he sold some years ago, buying instead his present farm adjoining Green's Fork.
An eventful day in the history of our subject was September 19, 1839, when his marriage to Miss Martha Young was solemnized. She was born March 23, 1817, in the same locality, and they had grown up together. Her parents were Jesse and Ruth (Martindale) Young, respected early settlers of Green township. Two sons blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Harris, namely: Addison and Alonzo M. The latter, who was born September 13, 1845, and resides on the farm near hisparents, is married and has one daughter, Lenora, who is the only grandchild of our subject and wife. The elder son, whose birth took place October 1, 1840, was educated in Christian (now Butler) University, near Indianapolis, and later read law in that city, with Barber Howland as his preceptor. He won a splendid reputation as a member of the legal profession, and became about equally prominent in the ranks of the Republican party in this state. In the spring of 1899, after he had abundantly proved his ability in the state senate, where he had previously served the people, he was appointed by President McKinley to the very responsible and important post of minister to Austria and is now representing this great government in the court at Vienna.
By a rather remarkable coincidence Branson L. Harris and his distinguished son were members of the legislative body of Indiana at the same time, serving in the lower and upper house, respectively. The former was elected to represent his county in the general assembly of the state as early as 1852, and in 1875 and 1877 was honored with re-elections, thus serving, altogether, three terms. About 1850 he was given the office of justice of the peace, acting in that capacity for some five years, and he also served as township trustee. Both he and his sons have been stanch Republicans, keeping themselves thoroughly posted upon all of the great questions of the day. Mr. and Mrs. Harris, who are loved and revered by all who know them were largely influential in the founding of the Christian church at Green's Fork, and have contributed liberally of their time, means and zeal toward its upbuilding.
Source:
Biographical and Genealogical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana, Volume 1, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1899