The Harris family came to the United States when Abe was four years old and settled at Amsterdam, New York. At age twenty-one he enlisted at Utica, New York for service in the war with Mexico. He was 5 feet 9 1/2 inches tall, black hair, black eyes and a florid complexion. He enlisted for five years on 20 January 1847 and was trained at Governors Island, New York. In July he arrived at Vera Cruz, Mexico and was assigned to Company F, Eighth Infantry Regiment. After the armistice the Eighth was ordered to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Eventually the Eighth was ordered to the Texas frontier. They landed at Port Lavaca, Texas in December 1848 only to be met by cholera. They moved inland and set up camp near San Antonio. So many of them died from cholera, including General Worth, that they were delayed in being assigned to various posts. On 6 October 1849 Company F under the command of Captain Robert P. Maclay arrived at the outpost on the Trinity and went to work building an army post. When his five year enlistment was up on 20 January 1852 he was discharged a sergeant-major by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel James V. Bomford.
He was given a warrant for 160 acres which he used to get land on the West Fork. Not being a farmer, he soon disposed of this land and built a building in the growing village of Fort Worth. He married Margaret Connor 22 June 1853 and they started housekeeping in the back part of this building and the front part was his cabinet shop. In his youth he had probably been apprenticed to a master craftsman and learned the art of cabinet making. He raised a family and became involved in the village affairs. Margaret died 23 February 1861 and Texas seceded from the Union. Abe bought a slave to take care of his three children, under the watchful eye of his mother-in-law, Lucinda Connor, at her home in Arlington Heights. Then he enlisted 26 January 1862.
He was mustered into the Fourteenth Texas Cavalry at Dallas 15 February 1862. They met up with General Earl Van Dorn in Arkansas and headed for the Mississippi River. The Confederate Army was at Corinth, Mississippi, after a two day battle, April 6 and 7, at Shiloh Church, Tennessee. Wounded were everywhere, including the sidewalks, when Van Dorn rode in with his troops and a herd of Texas long-horns. The Fourteenth's horses were taken to help haul wounded, troops and supplies deeper into Mississippi. They fought the rest of the war as dismounted cavalry unit. On 8 May 1862 John Lafayette Camp was elected colonel commanding and Abraham Harris was elected lieutenant colonel. Camp was wounded twice and captured twice leaving Abe in charge. For four months in the spring of 1863 Abe was at the Confederate Hospital in Rome, Georgia. This is where he met Sallie Logan whom he later married. He signed his parole at Meridian, Mississippi 9 May 1865 and left for Georgia to get Sallie and Jessie before going home to Fort Worth. Sallie had other ideas and they did not return to Texas until 1872.
They settled in Arlington for several years and then returned to Fort Worth where Sally died in 1900. Abe lived the rest of his life with Jessie and her two children.
He was given a warrant for 160 acres which he used to get land on the West Fork. Not being a farmer, he soon disposed of this land and built a building in the growing village of Fort Worth. He married Margaret Connor 22 June 1853 and they started housekeeping in the back part of this building and the front part was his cabinet shop. In his youth he had probably been apprenticed to a master craftsman and learned the art of cabinet making. He raised a family and became involved in the village affairs. Margaret died 23 February 1861 and Texas seceded from the Union. Abe bought a slave to take care of his three children, under the watchful eye of his mother-in-law, Lucinda Connor, at her home in Arlington Heights. Then he enlisted 26 January 1862.
He was mustered into the Fourteenth Texas Cavalry at Dallas 15 February 1862. They met up with General Earl Van Dorn in Arkansas and headed for the Mississippi River. The Confederate Army was at Corinth, Mississippi, after a two day battle, April 6 and 7, at Shiloh Church, Tennessee. Wounded were everywhere, including the sidewalks, when Van Dorn rode in with his troops and a herd of Texas long-horns. The Fourteenth's horses were taken to help haul wounded, troops and supplies deeper into Mississippi. They fought the rest of the war as dismounted cavalry unit. On 8 May 1862 John Lafayette Camp was elected colonel commanding and Abraham Harris was elected lieutenant colonel. Camp was wounded twice and captured twice leaving Abe in charge. For four months in the spring of 1863 Abe was at the Confederate Hospital in Rome, Georgia. This is where he met Sallie Logan whom he later married. He signed his parole at Meridian, Mississippi 9 May 1865 and left for Georgia to get Sallie and Jessie before going home to Fort Worth. Sallie had other ideas and they did not return to Texas until 1872.
They settled in Arlington for several years and then returned to Fort Worth where Sally died in 1900. Abe lived the rest of his life with Jessie and her two children.
The Harris family came to the United States when Abe was four years old and settled at Amsterdam, New York. At age twenty-one he enlisted at Utica, New York for service in the war with Mexico. He was 5 feet 9 1/2 inches tall, black hair, black eyes and a florid complexion. He enlisted for five years on 20 January 1847 and was trained at Governors Island, New York. In July he arrived at Vera Cruz, Mexico and was assigned to Company F, Eighth Infantry Regiment. After the armistice the Eighth was ordered to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. Eventually the Eighth was ordered to the Texas frontier. They landed at Port Lavaca, Texas in December 1848 only to be met by cholera. They moved inland and set up camp near San Antonio. So many of them died from cholera, including General Worth, that they were delayed in being assigned to various posts. On 6 October 1849 Company F under the command of Captain Robert P. Maclay arrived at the outpost on the Trinity and went to work building an army post. When his five year enlistment was up on 20 January 1852 he was discharged a sergeant-major by Brevet Lieutenant Colonel James V. Bomford.
He was given a warrant for 160 acres which he used to get land on the West Fork. Not being a farmer, he soon disposed of this land and built a building in the growing village of Fort Worth. He married Margaret Connor 22 June 1853 and they started housekeeping in the back part of this building and the front part was his cabinet shop. In his youth he had probably been apprenticed to a master craftsman and learned the art of cabinet making. He raised a family and became involved in the village affairs. Margaret died 23 February 1861 and Texas seceded from the Union. Abe bought a slave to take care of his three children, under the watchful eye of his mother-in-law, Lucinda Connor, at her home in Arlington Heights. Then he enlisted 26 January 1862.
He was mustered into the Fourteenth Texas Cavalry at Dallas 15 February 1862. They met up with General Earl Van Dorn in Arkansas and headed for the Mississippi River. The Confederate Army was at Corinth, Mississippi, after a two day battle, April 6 and 7, at Shiloh Church, Tennessee. Wounded were everywhere, including the sidewalks, when Van Dorn rode in with his troops and a herd of Texas long-horns. The Fourteenth's horses were taken to help haul wounded, troops and supplies deeper into Mississippi. They fought the rest of the war as dismounted cavalry unit. On 8 May 1862 John Lafayette Camp was elected colonel commanding and Abraham Harris was elected lieutenant colonel. Camp was wounded twice and captured twice leaving Abe in charge. For four months in the spring of 1863 Abe was at the Confederate Hospital in Rome, Georgia. This is where he met Sallie Logan whom he later married. He signed his parole at Meridian, Mississippi 9 May 1865 and left for Georgia to get Sallie and Jessie before going home to Fort Worth. Sallie had other ideas and they did not return to Texas until 1872.
They settled in Arlington for several years and then returned to Fort Worth where Sally died in 1900. Abe lived the rest of his life with Jessie and her two children.
He was given a warrant for 160 acres which he used to get land on the West Fork. Not being a farmer, he soon disposed of this land and built a building in the growing village of Fort Worth. He married Margaret Connor 22 June 1853 and they started housekeeping in the back part of this building and the front part was his cabinet shop. In his youth he had probably been apprenticed to a master craftsman and learned the art of cabinet making. He raised a family and became involved in the village affairs. Margaret died 23 February 1861 and Texas seceded from the Union. Abe bought a slave to take care of his three children, under the watchful eye of his mother-in-law, Lucinda Connor, at her home in Arlington Heights. Then he enlisted 26 January 1862.
He was mustered into the Fourteenth Texas Cavalry at Dallas 15 February 1862. They met up with General Earl Van Dorn in Arkansas and headed for the Mississippi River. The Confederate Army was at Corinth, Mississippi, after a two day battle, April 6 and 7, at Shiloh Church, Tennessee. Wounded were everywhere, including the sidewalks, when Van Dorn rode in with his troops and a herd of Texas long-horns. The Fourteenth's horses were taken to help haul wounded, troops and supplies deeper into Mississippi. They fought the rest of the war as dismounted cavalry unit. On 8 May 1862 John Lafayette Camp was elected colonel commanding and Abraham Harris was elected lieutenant colonel. Camp was wounded twice and captured twice leaving Abe in charge. For four months in the spring of 1863 Abe was at the Confederate Hospital in Rome, Georgia. This is where he met Sallie Logan whom he later married. He signed his parole at Meridian, Mississippi 9 May 1865 and left for Georgia to get Sallie and Jessie before going home to Fort Worth. Sallie had other ideas and they did not return to Texas until 1872.
They settled in Arlington for several years and then returned to Fort Worth where Sally died in 1900. Abe lived the rest of his life with Jessie and her two children.
Inscription
On the east and west sides of this tombstone is carved "COL. ABE HARRIS 1825-1915" Sally is on the north side, unreadable, weather worn. On the south side: "MARGARET, WIFE OF A. HARRIS 1831-1861 JESSE O. 1858-1860 JOSEPH W. 1860-1861 INFANTS OF M & A HARRIS"
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