“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. HARRIS,  an old settler and prominent and much respected 
citizen of Dallas county, Texas, is eminently deserving of honorable mention in this 
work.  Indeed, a history of Dallas county would be incomplete without a biography of 
him.  A resume of his life will be read with interest by many, and is as follows:

Captain William H. Harris, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, January 1, 1838.  He 
was reared on a farm and received a common-school education in his native State,  In the 
fall of 1855, at the age of seventeen, he came to Texas and settled in the city of Dallas.  
At that place he and a stepbrother worked together at the blacksmith trade for two years.  
He then bought a half interest in a farm, on credit, and improved it and lived on it one 
year, selling out in December, 1860.  From 1858 until the war broke out he was engaged 
in teaming.  In the meantime he purchased another tract of land – 160 acres – and made 
some improvements on it.

In February, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, as a member of the First Texas 
Squadron, Company B, and was made Third Lieutenant.  The following April they 
reorganized at Grand Junction, Mississippi, and he was made First Lieutenant, and in 
September he was promoted to the rank of Captain by unanimous election.  He went first 
to Corinth and was then transferred to Morgan’s Command, being with Morgan in all his 
raids through the South and North.  At the time of his noted raid through Indiana and 
Ohio Captain Harris was in Tennessee, having been sent back from Kentucky in special 
service; and after Morgan’s capture he gathered up the remnant of the command and was 
afterward with General Wheeler, through the Southern campaign.  He continued with the 
Army of Tennessee through Georgia until the close of the war; was with Jefferson Davis 
a few hours before the latter’s capture; made arrangements to accompany a squad that 
were going to Mexico with Davis, but the plan was foiled.  Captain Harris surrendered at 
Columbus, Mississippi, after which he returned home, arriving June 21, 1865.

The Captain soon afterward entered into a cattle speculation and took a large herd to 
Mattoon, Illinois.  In this enterprise he lost heavily.  We next find him engaged in 
farming, he having married, March 5, 1867, and settled down on a farm.  Up to that time 
there had been little cotton raised in this country.  He turned his attention to its 
production and after a time was enabled to pay off the debt he had incurred in his cattle 
speculation.  He farmed three years, freighted four years and settled back to farming 
again.  He still owns the same farm, having added to his original purchase.

Harvey Harris, the Captain’s father, was born in Kentucky, son of the Rev. William 
Harris.  The latter was Scotch-Irish, born in the north of Ireland, and, after his marriage to 
a lady of his own country, he emigrated to America and settled in Virginia.  From there 
they moved to Kentucky, being among the pioneers of that State.  He was one of the first 
ministers in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church there, and made circuits of 1,500 miles, 
preaching.  He lived to see the church well organized throughout the State, and died in 
Kentucky about 1845.  Harvey Harris was one of a family of seventeen children, five of 
whom were preachers of their father’s faith.  He, however, was a farmer all his life; was 
born March 25, 1807, and died August 18, 1842.  By his first wife, nee Mary Neal, he 
had one child, James Monroe, who went to California and his whereabouts are now 
unknown.  His wife died September 12, 1835.  In 1836 he married Miss Sarah I.T. Skiles, 
daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Skiles.  Her parents, natives of Virginia, 
moved to Kentucky, where they died.  She was born January 19, 1818, is yet enjoying 
good health, and is living with her son, the subject of this sketch.  Her other child, Nancy 
E., born August 23, 1839, died August 6, 1847.

Captain Harris first married Miss Prudence E. Baird, daughter of Dr. J.B. Baird.  Her 
father, a native of Kentucky, was a resident of Denton county, Texas, at the time of their 
marriage, but has since died.  This happy union resulted in the birth of two children, both 
dying in infancy.  The wife departed this life on the 12th of August, 1869.  October 7, 
1874, the Captain wedded Miss Harriette L. Rodgers, daughter of Isaac and Sarah 
Rodgers.  Her father was a farmer and trader in Tennessee.  Both parents died in that 
State the same year, about 1840, leaving a family of seven children.  By his second 
marriage, Captain Harris has one child, William H.V., born March 7, 1876.

Captain Harris has had his full share of adversities in this life, but with heroic bravery he 
has met and overcome the many difficulties as they presented themselves.  The first 
house he built on his farm was destroyed by a cyclone, May 26, 1867, at 10 o’clock P.M., 
the second was burned down July 5, 1875, and on the same foundation he erected a third 
house.  He now rents a farm and resides in his pleasant home at Richardson.  The Captain 
is in every respect a progressive man, keeping well posted on the general topics of the 
day.  He is an enthusiastic and influential Granger.  When the Grange was first organized 
in Texas, September, 1873, he was elected Master, and has been a leader of the institution 
in Dallas county; also an officer of the Texas State Grange for eight years.  On December 
12, 1891, he was elected by the Board as Superintendent of the Texas State Grange Fair, 
an enterprise of much prominence, and is now managing this grand institution for the 
association.  He has given four years of his life to its interests.  Politically, he is a 
Democrat.  He is a member of the I.O.O.F., the Good Templars and the Knights of 
Honor, and he and his entire family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church.

Submitted by L.Pingel