Newspaper Unknown, County Herald(?)
published Thursday, January 15, 1920
DEATH CALLS TWO OF PERCIVAL’S PIONEERS
AMONG OLDEST SETTLERS OF FREMONT COUNTY
One a Native, the Other a Settler from Indiana and a Civil War Veteran

Another old and esteemed resident of the Percival neighborhood has passed away. Benjamin Franklin Harris died at his home three miles west of Percival on Thursday, January 1, 1920, aged 77 years, 7 months and 25 days. He was born in Kirkland, Clinton County, Indiana, April 4, 1842. When only 19 years old this country was called to arms and he was one of the first to enlist. He fought in many a hard battle, was wounded which left him slightly lame the remainder of his life, but he served faithfully until the close of the war. A very short time after returning home from the war he was married to Miss Harriet Hart, December, 1864, at Kirkland, Indiana. To this union 10 children were born, six daughters and four sons. Those living are Millie Bell, Sarah Frances, Ellsworth, Emma Angeline, Nora Arvilla, Dicy Elizabeth, four having preceeded (sic) him to the great beyond.

He moved west with his family in 1879 to Smith Center, Smith county, Kansas, living there only one year when he moved to Fremont county, Iowa, where he has lived on a farm ever since, living on this one farm for 30 years. He has been a member of the G.A.R. for 40 years. Mr. Harris was identified with the upbuilding of the southwestern part of Fremont county, was ever ready to help his country. He was a man very much devoted to his wife and family. For the past three years his health has been failing but he was bedfast only three weeks. Besides many friends, Mr. Harris leaves a wife, six children, 17 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Rebecca Breedlove of Lebon, Indiana. The remains were laid to rest in the Rector cemetery at Knox. The funeral was held at (??) Harrison of Sidney, Iowa.

Source: ~ Submitted and transcribed by Trish Randolph

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