Eli Harris 1837-1915

HARRIS, MEEK, FOX, WOLFE, MALTSON

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/12/2013 at 01:39:33

Another Veteran Called
Eli Harris, another veteran of the Civil War, passed to that great beyond on last Monday morning. Mr. Harris has lived at Graettinger for several years, and only two weeks ago came here to reside at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elmer Fox. He has been afflicted with heart trouble for some time past but on Monday morning seemed to be feeling better. He walked into the parlor of the Fox home to listen to some music. Mrs. Fox went to the laundry room in the basement and when she came back Mr. Harris told her he had had a sinking spell. She gave him some medicine and returned to the basement, telling him to call if he needed anything. She heard a faint tap on the floor and rushed upstairs, only to find her father had passed away.

Mr. Harris would have attained the age of seventy-eight had he lived until Saturday next. He was born in the state of Ohio, and came to Iowa in 1882. He was married in Bureau county, Illinois, in 1861 to Miss Nancy Meek, and soon thereafter he inlisted in an Illinois regiment and served during the war. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Harris eight children, seven of whom are still living. Mrs. Elmer Fox, of this city; Eliza Wolfe, Jas. Harris, Hilton Harris, Fred Harris, of Graettinger; Gilroy Harris, of Glenburn, N.D., and Chester Harris, of Minot, N.D.

The funeral service will be held Thursday afternoon at Graettinger, Rev. A.R. Cuthbert officiating. The remains will be laid to rest beside those of his wife in the High Lake cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, October 27, 1915)

Eli Harris Dies Monday
Resided in Emmet County Many Years
Body of Eli Harris Taken to High Lake Cemetery for Interment
Mr. Eli Harris, an old soldier, who recently came here from Graettinger to make his home with his daughter, Mrs. Elmer Fox, died very suddenly Monday forenoon of heart failure. He was seventy-eight years of age. The body will be taken to Graettinger this (Wednesday) morning and funeral held from the residence of one of the sons. Interment will be made in the High Lake cemetery by the side of his wife who died a few years ago.

He is survived by four sons and a daughter who reside in Graettinger and a daughter, Mrs. Elmer Fox, of this city. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, October 27, 1915)

Eli Harris Dead
Aged Soldier Dies at Home of Daughter in Estherville
Body is Brought Here
Funeral Held at the Methodist Church This Forenoon – Interment Made in High Lake Cemetery
The death of Eli Harris, on Monday October 25th, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Elmer Fox, at Estherville, was quite sudden. While not enjoying good health for some time past, still he was not thought to be in any immediate danger by those outside the family. It was just a couple of weeks ago that he accompanied his daughter to her home in Estherville to spend the winter with her.

The body was brought down from Estherville this morning and funeral services held at the Methodist church conducted by the pastor, Reverend Cuthbert. The pallbearers were Eli Craven, D.W. Cameron, Martin Laughlin, Lewis Hazen, M.O. Grodland and C.C. Rucker. Interment was made in High Lake cemetery beside his wife who preceded him a number of years ago.
Eli Harris was born in Ohio October 30, 1837 in Ohio and died October 25, hence was in his seventy-eighth year. When a small child he moved with his parents to Illinois. In the fall of 1861 he was married to Nancy Weeks and to this union eleven children were born. In January 1865 he answered the call for troops and enlisted in the Company E of the 148 Illinois regiment at Princeton. He was mustered in at Springfield. He then went with his company to Tennessee and spent most of their time doing guard duty. In October of the same year he still did guard duty after the war ended. In the winter of 1882 he came to Fort Dodge and about fourteen years ago located in Graettinger where he has subsequently lived. Seven of the eleven children are living. They are: Mrs. Mary E. Wolfe, James, Fred, and Hilton of Graettinger; Mrs. Jane A. Fox, of Estherville; and Chester and Gilroy of Minot, North Dakota. Besides his children he leaves one sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Maltson who resides in Illinois. As a neighbor, Mr. Harris was kind and obliging, always ready to lend a helping hand. For him “taps” have sounded for the last time. To those who mourn his departure we extend sympathy. (Graettinger Times, Graettinger, IA, October 28, 1915)