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
Benjamin F. Harris
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. |