My Genealogy Hound

ROBERT B. HARRIS, M. D., a prominent man of Rutherford County and a native of this State, was born September 6, 1837, and is the son of John C. and Jane P. (Ragsdale) Harris, natives of Tennessee. The subject of our sketch was reared on the farm, and secured a good common school education. In 1856-57 he attended the Cumberland University, of Lebanon, Tenn., and returning home in 1858, commenced the study of medicine, and in 1858 attended two courses of lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, medical department, with a view to making it a profession. In March, 1860, he graduated at this institution with the degree of M. D., after which he returned to Rutherford County, and followed the practice of medicine as a business. He is known all over the county as a learned and skillful physician. On account of his health failing Dr. Harris was compelled to withdraw from practice in 1876, and has since been engaged in farming. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A, Twenty-third Tennessee Regiment, serving as a private until the organization of the regiment, when he was made assistant surgeon, and after the battle of Shiloh was promoted to surgeon of the regiment, and continued with this regiment until after the fall of Petersburg, when he was detailed to hospital service at Montgomery, Ala., remaining there until the close of the war. In 1883 he was married to Mrs. Kittie V. Byers, a native of this county, and Mr. Harris’ second wife, his first wife, Miss Susie R. Hill, having died in 1870. To the last union two children have been born: James P. and Robert G. Mr. Harris is a Democrat in politics and he and family are leading members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Harris has been an elder for some time.