Jane E. Harris was an early pioneer of Mitchell Co. IA. She was born in New York and it was there that she married Caleb C. Tubbs. Together they set out from New York, and in 1855 settled in West Mitchell, Cedar Twp. Mitchell Co. IA.
There are many mysteries involving Jane's life, and virtually nothing is known at this time of her childhood in New York. Family records state that she was born in Chemung Co. NY in 1835, and that she married Caleb Colvin Tubbs in 1846. If these dates are correct, Jane would have been a mere 13 yrs old when she was married to Caleb.
It is known that Jane and Caleb had at least one child that was born and died while they were still residing in New York. Hiram Tubbs was born in 1850 and died in 1851. He is buried at the Woodhull Cemetery, Woodhull, Steuben Co. NY.
The History of Mitchell County, written in 1883, mentions various names of early settlers including Daniel J. Tubbs, and C.C. Tubbs. Daniel J. Tubbs was a cousin of Caleb Colvin Tubbs. Jane's name is not mentioned in that particular document, but her obituary states that she came to Iowa in 1855 with her husband. No mention is made of any children arriving with them.
One can only imagine all the hardships Jane and Caleb must have faced their first year in Mitchell County. The years 1855-56 are known to have been difficult ones in Mitchell County with both a harsh winter and late spring. Regardless of the brutal conditions, they stayed, and made their first settlement at West Mitchell, Cedar Twp.
Sometime between 1855 and 1859, Jane and Caleb apparently moved south from the area of West Mitchell to a farm just west of Osage.
On March 7, 1859 Charles Jackson Tubbs was born to Jane and Caleb.
Ruth (Tubbs) Coonradt, daughter of Charles Tubbs, wrote in a letter dated December 27, 1989, "I have heard my Dad say that he was born on what was later called the Stacy Farm west of Osage."
"As you turned south to go to Spring Park, he was born off to the left next to the river."
Eleven months later, on January 29, 1860, a sister, Mary J. Tubbs joined the family. Three years later in 1863 a brother, Silas G. Tubbs joined them as well.
Evidently there were more children born to this union as Jane's obituary states that she was the mother if nine children. The letter from Ruth (Tubbs) Coonradt also states that, "my father had twin brothers buried in the Austin Cemetery which we used to pass on our way to Kenyon, Minn. He often said as we went by there that he would like to look up their graves someday." It is not known why the twin baby boys would have been taken as far as Austin for burial, and to date no record of their burial has been found. One possibility is that Daniel Tubbs, a cousin of Caleb, who had settled just south of Austin, Mower County MN, had something to do with that area being chosen for burial.
Six children of Jane's have been at least somewhat accounted for, yet three remain unknown. Jane's obituary tells us that all of her children preceded her "to the other shore" except for Charles and Mary, (Silas had died in 1896). From various records it can be ascertained that Jane and Caleb had only three children that survived to adulthood, Charles (married Ruth Clark), Mary (married first a Packard and then John Wagner), and Silas (married Martha Packard).
Sometime between 1864 and 1869, Jane and Caleb were divorced. It was also during this time that Jane apparently moved back up to near Mitchell.
On April 12, 1879, Jane married Sidney Smith. From various census records it is known that Jane and Sidney were neighbors, both living near Mitchell, Cedar Twp.
Sidney Smith, otherwise known as "One Armed Sid", was born in England April 22, 1829 and came with his wife Anne to Mitchell County. The known children of Sidney and Ann are William, Silas, and Sarah J. Smith. Sometime before 1870 Sidney and Ann were divorced, but it is interesting to note that in the 1895 census for Mitchell County, Ann, along with her children William and Sarah, are found living in the home of Sidney and Jane.
Jane was affectionately known as the "Vegetable Lady" in and around Osage. She sold fresh vegetables from her horse drawn carriage for many years, and was a familiar face within her community.
Jane's obituary tells us that in June of 1902 she became ill at the home of Frank Eaton. It goes on to say that after a few days "she was removed to her home on the river road toward Mitchell in the afternoon, and died in the evening." It is unclear who Frank Eaton was and what his connection to Jane might have been, but she evidently remained in his care for 5 days, from Saturday June 18th until Wednesday June 22nd, when she died.
Jane's funeral service was held at the Methodist Church in Mitchell and she was laid to rest at Oak Grove Cemetery at Mitchell.
In 1909, her husband Sidney Smith was interred at Oak Grove Cemetery beside her. Also on the Tubbs/Smith family lot is Silas G. Tubbs, 1863-1896, and an unknown Martha Tubbs 1886-1895.
Some interesting notes about Jane:
- Census Records:
- 1850, Steuben Co. NY, age 17, (DOB 1832-33)
- 1856, Mitchell Co. IA, age 21, (DOB 1834-35)
- 1885, Mitchell Co. IA, age 46, (DOB 1838-39)
- 1895, Mitchell Co. IA, age 56, (DOB 1838-39)
- Death Certificate, DOB, 1833
- Headstone at Oak Grove Cemetery, DOB 1833
- Family Records, DOB 1835
- Jane's Name:
- Obituary: Jane Eliza Harris
- Family Records: Jane Eliza Harris
- Death Certificate: Jane Elisabeth Harris
Written by Kathy Pike, Austin, Minnesota, July 2003
Updated Aug. 30, 2003