Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 259, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1919 — PIONEER CALLED TO RIS REWARD [ARTICLE]

PIONEER CALLED TO RIS REWARD

■■^ 3 === LONG AND HONORABLE LIFE OF HENRY O. HARRIS IS BROUGHT TO CLOSE. 1 * . ' I '_ - : The Henry 0. Harris, of McKinley avenue. one of the very earliest settlers of Jasper county, was brought to a close this Monday morning wh >n death came to claim him at the hospital after a brief illness. Mr. Harris was 1 born in Nansemond ! county, Va., on November 5, 1831, and was therefore, 87 years, 11 months and 21 days of age .when his death occurred. ; Jasper county owes much of its prosperity to natives of other states, who. coming here in early or more mature manhood, have taken a prominent part in its development .and upbuilding. Especially was this true in the case of Mr. Harris. t The deceased came to this community in the year 1851, settling on a farm in Newton county in the spring of that year, selecting the land upon which he subsequently located. He was reared after the manner of farmers’ boys of that time, and was able to supplement' his district school educafrionfty a~ ; two years’ course at Franklin college. Throughout his life he fob flowed farming and stock raising, as ■an occupation, but in addition to ; these he was occupied with other

i business ventures. In 1890, to- . gether with David Nowels, he organ- • ized the Rensselaer Bank, of which , he became president, and of which his son, Joseph, became cashier. About two years after its organization Mr. Nowels retired from the bank and thereafter it was owned and conducted by Henry O. and Joseph Harris, father and son. This bank continued in active existence for twenty years and was finally discon tin ued in -1908. In- 1892 • Mr. Harris established the Remington bank, of which he was president until he finally disposed of it a year or so prior to his disposal of the Rensselaer bank. Since that time he has devoted the greater part of his time to looking after his farming interests, having over 2,000 acres in this and Newton county. Mr. Harris was a member of the Missionary Baptist church and closely followed the teachings of that faith. In 1857 his marriage to Margarejt Kenedy, of Newton county, occurred and to this union four children were born, three of whom survive, Elbert T., Virginia and Mrs. Charles Roberts, of this city. His wife preceded him to the grave. During his lifetime Mr. Hams acquired considerable wealth and during the lade war was perhaps the heaviest investor of Liberty Bonds in the county, purchasing over SIOO,000 worth of them. Diligent in business and honorable in all his relations with his fellow men. Mr. Harris may well be regarded as a type of the higher class of American - citizenship, and his name will always stand as a., landmark in; the history and development of Jasper county. The funeral services will be held at the late residence on McKinley avenue at 3 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, and burial will be made in Weston cemetery.