In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1913) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1833, Chariton county
From Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement (1913), History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together w (1886)
SAMUEL LEEPER HARRIS
CSheriff of Livingston county, Chillicothe).
Samuel L. Harris was born in Chariton county, Mo., May 22, 1833, and at an early age was left an orphan by the death of his fiither, John Harris. The latter was a native ot" South Carolina, but was a pioneer settler in Kentucky and in an early day accompanied May. Ashby to Chariton county. Mo., where he died in 1838, leaving 4 children, Alfred, who died in Linn county; John, who died when 21 years old in Chariton county; Samuel L. and Rachel, who, after being reared l)y May. Ashby, married John H. Royston, of Henry county, Mo. After the father's death Samuel was taken in charge by an uncle, James Leeper, and by him brought to this county in 1839, continuing to make his home with that uncle until the hitter's death, when he livi'd with his son, John L. Leeper, In 184J) Mr. Harris went overland to California, remaining until 1854, though not meeting with any remarkable success. For two years after his return he clerked at Spring Hill, this county, for John Leeper, and in the spring of 1858 he came to Chillicothe, entering the employ of Waples, Leeper & Co. In l8t)0 he was elected sheriff of the county and served two years, and then, on account oc declining to receive the tax book (for at such a depressed financial period the payment of taxes would have seriously involved every one), he resigned. In 18(54 he went to Montana Territory, returned with a team of mules to Salt Lake, in 1865, sold out there and then took a stage to Denver. Here he took passaije in the outfit of Keith & Cook, bound for Nebraska City, but while en route the train was attacked by Indians and four citizens killed, l)besides 15 soldiers. Many narrow escapes were had, among them Mr. H., who had an arrow shot through his clothing. From Nebraska City Mr. Harris took a stage to St. Joseph, arriving in this county January 21, 18(55. With others he then fitted out a train and returned to Montana, remaining until 18(56, when once more he came back to Chillicothe and here he has since remained. In 1866, he entered into the mercantile business, continued it until 1869 (but not with any great success) and then clerked for Smith & McVey, afterwards working at life insurance until appointed deputy sheriff by R. Graham. In 1872 he was elected sheriff, in 1874 was re-elected, and after a four years' service he sold goods for Wall)unn & Alexander two years and for Smith & McVey nearly four years. In 1882 he was again chosen to discharge the duties of sheriff and is the present incumbent of this office. Mr. H. seems to have a peculiar fitness for this position and his long service in this capacity has proven that he is surely the right man in the right place. In 1862 he was appointed United States marshal. He was married January 6, 1861, to Miss Rachel J. Wilson, who was born in Iowa, but brought up at Paris, Mo. Her father was Enoch Wilson. They have three children: Charles S., in Montana; Samuel
W. and Fred Henrv. Mr. Harris is a Knight Templar in the Masonic Order.
As printed in History of Caldwell and Livingston counties, Missouri, written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources, including a history of their townships, towns and villages, together w (1886). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
SAMUEL LEEPER HARRIS.
Samuel Leeper Harris was born in Chariton county, Missouri, May 22, 1833, and was a son of John and Rachel Harris, who were natives of Virginia and Kentucky and became early settlers of Chariton county. After the death of his parents Samuel Leeper Harris, then a lad of six years, was brought to Livingston county by a cousin, John Leeper, and was reared near Springhill by Mr. Leeper and his wife, Mrs. Amanda Leeper. Mr. Harris remained with them until the spring of 1849, when gold was discovered in California. John Leeper was among the first in his part of the state to organize a party and start on the perilous journey across the plains. Mr. Harris, against the advice of both Mr. and Mrs. Leeper, insisted on making the trip. They eventually decided to let him go and he proved to be a great help to the party and in after years such a man as Joseph
Custer often remarked that he was one of the best plainsmen with whom he (Custer) was ever associated and that there was never a man who accepted the duties assigned to him with better grace or who performed them any better than this sturdy lad of sixteen.
It was late in November, 1849, when the Leeper party arrived in California and Mr. Harris went to work in the mines, but he had only gotten well started when he had the misfortune to have his thumb shattered by a premature last. He was sent to Sacramento for medical attention and remained at that place, employed in different ways, until 1852, when he sailed for home, making the trip by way of the Panama route. The vessel on which he embarked in order to reach New Orleans encountered a terrible storm and was drifted onto the island of Jamaica, so that the journey was delayed for some time. Eventually, however, Mr. Harris reached New Orleans and went from there up the Mississippi river1 to St. Louis and on to Chillicothe, having spent eleven months upon the journey. He began clerking in a general mercantile store at Springhill and thence went to Chillicothe, where he became associated in business with the late James C. Minteer. Not long afterward he was elected sheriff of Liv ington county and that he was capable, resourceful and faithful in the discharge of his official duties was evident in the fact that he was again and again reelected to that office.
In 1863 Mr. Harris made another trip across the plains to Montana and once more in 1865, on which occasion he was accompanied by his family. He was elected captain of the party on that occasion — a train consisting of more than one hundred wagons drawn mostly by oxen. They left Chillicothe in May and arrived at Willow Creek in September. There Mr. Harris remained until 1866, when he returned to Chillicothe, traveling by boat from Fort Benton, Montana, to St. Joseph, Missouri. He remained in Chillicothe until 1889, when he again went to Montana but in March, 1893, returned and here his death occurred in August, 1898.
On the 6th of December, 1860, Mr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Jane Wilson, of Chillicothe, who survives him. In their family were five children: Charles Scott, who is chief clerk on the cotton docks for the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railway at Galveston, Texas; Samuel Wilson, who is practicing dentistry in Dallas, Texas; Robert Lee, who died in infancy; Fred Henry, who is associated with the Bazel J. Meek Land Company of Chillicothe; and William, who died in infancy.
Samuel Leeper Harris was often spoken of as a man who was a friend to everybody and he certainly proved the truth of the Emer sonian philosophy that “the way to win a friend is to be one.” He possessed a rare nature, was generous to a fault and never failed to assist the poor and needy if it lay within his power to do so. Many a man living in the county today has been befriended by him and gladly acknowledges his indebtedness to Mr. Harris, and pays him the tribute of saying that the world is better because of his having lived. On attaining his majority, in 1854, he became a Mason, the degrees being conferred upon him at Springhill, Missouri. He after ward attained the Knight Templar degree and held every office including that of eminent commander in Paschal Commandery. His death was sincerely and deeply regretted by his many friends who were attached to him by ties of affection, good-will and esteem, formed in the course of his upright, honorable, active and useful life. He was a lifelong member of the Christian church and took a helpful interest in its work, gave liberally to its support and did everything in his power to promote its influence. In every phase of life Samuel Leeper Harris gained the respect and regard of those with whom he was associated, whether as a boy in crossing the plains, as a man in his later business associations or in his connections in the church, in Masonry and in social and home circles. He was indeed one of nature’s noblemen.
As printed in Past and present of Livingston County, Missouri : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement (1913). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Bazel J. Meek James C. Minteer (b. 1833)
The printed record stops around 1913. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.