My Genealogy Hound

JOHN C. HARRIS, a prominent and well-known farmer of Rutherford County and a native of this State, was born June 1, 1842. He is the son of John C. and Jane P. (Ragsdale) Harris, natives of Tennessee. The father was born February 17, 1800, and was one of the wealthiest and most prominent farmers of the county, and one of its pioneer settlers, coming here as early as 1823, and securing, when land was cheap, one of the finest farms in the county. In 1853, having lost his companion in life, he conceived the idea that he would be his own administrator, hence about twenty years ago he divided his landed estate among his children, giving to each one an excellent farm. Many are they who can testify to the kind hospitality and broad benevolence of this noble man. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church for a period of sixty years, and on his death, which sad event occurred February 10, 1885, he lacked just seven days of being eighty-five years old. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm, and secured a fair education at the common schools. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in Company E, Forty-fifth Tennessee Regiment, serving as a private for two years, and was afterward made first lieutenant of his company until the close of the war; was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, in December, 1863, where he remained until March, 1865. He then returned home and attended school at College Grove, Williamson County, for three years, and at the age of twenty-five commenced farming for himself on his father’s tract. His first wife, Miss Annie M. Green, died in April, 1883; they had one child — Janie R. In May, 1884, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to his second wife, Miss Maggie Green, a native of this county.