My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS A. HARRIS, a widely known citizen of Mount Pleasant, Maury Co., Tenn., was born in Halifax County, of the “Old Dominion, June 20, 1820. He is the second son of a family of three sons and three daughters born to Thomas F. and Ann L. (Cobb) Harris, natives, respectively, of Powhattan County, Va., and Granville County, N. C., born in 1770 and 1786. The father was a practicing physician, and died in his native county in 1861. The mother and father were Presbyterians in faith, and died in their native State in 1861 and 1870. Our subject resided with his parents on the farm until 1846. In 1839 he was one of the escorts of Gen. Samuel Houston from West Tennessee to the republic of Texas, which trip was made on horseback. In June of 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican war in Company C, Tennessee Cavalry. The regiment was formed at Memphis and commanded by Col. Jonas E. Thomas, of Maury County, and at Matamoras joined Gens. Taylor and Pillow’s forces. They then went to Tampico, where the command was assumed by Gen. Winfield Scott. Mr. Harris was discharged at New Orleans in May, 1847. Since that time he has been farming in the Thirteenth District of Maury County. At that date he was married Miss Sarah H. Cooper, of Maury County, and to them were born one son and one daughter: Millard F. (deceased) and Anna L. In October, 1856, Mrs. Harris died, and December 23, 1859, Mr. Harris wedded Elizabeth J. Stockard. They have one child — Virginia Lee. Mrs. Harris died October 8, 1868. For three months of the civil war Mr. Harris was second lieutenant of the State militia. The company was transferred, or forced in the rebel army, resigned and returned home. He was a Whig previous to the war, and since that time has been a strong advocate of Republican principles and gives his support to that party. He was in Washington when the news came of Robert Lee’s surrender, and was in Ford’s Theater at the time of the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Harris is an ancient Odd Fellow, and is a member of the Episcopal Church. His juvenile career was somewhat checkered and romantic, with many incidents of pleasure and hardships in thirty States and four Governments. His life since the Mexican war has been devoted exclusively to his family duties in Maury County, Tenn.