Harris - Thomas A.
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Review, Feb 19, 1881
Life of T.A. Harris
The grand old County of Montgomery with its 27,000
inhabitants, its schools, its colleges, its churches and its
broad acres of improved and fertile land, presents a different
scene to the aged veteran of today from what it did when he first
settled in its borders 50 or 75 years ago. The magnificent oak,
the stalwart poplar, the wide spreading walnut and the shaggy
beech, have alike shared the woodman's ax and are no more. The
rude hut has given place to the comfortable, cozy dwelling and
gaudy and attractive palaces. But also how few how very few have lived to look upon the beauty and grandeur of the work in
the fulness of its glory, to which their own hands had
contributed so beautifully. The history of the honored few who
are now living within our borders can be studies with profit by
those who are now enjoying the fruits of their early labor. Among
the aged veterans who have contributed to the upbuilding of our
country, both in public and private life, none perhaps stand
higher in the confidence and esteem of those by whom best known
than the subject of this sketch, Thomas A. HARRIS, born in
Buckingham County, Virginia, 76 years ago. His father was of
Portugese and his mother of English desent (sic). His father was
a planter and slave holder, and owned on an average from 18 to 20
slaves, in whom he took great pride. He always treated them with
great consideration and kindness; fed and clothed them well.
While he viewed them as a species of constitutional property, he
never forgot that they had feelings and sympathies which the
master was morally bound to respect. Had he lived in a different
age and different country, he would doubtless have been opposed
to the institution of slavery. While he never belonged to any
visible Church, he was a kind and generous father. He took upon
his honor and regarded his wo? as sacred as his oath.
Thomas, the
second of six children and the subject of these lines, entered
upon life's arena to do for himself at the age of 20, having been
liberated by his father at his own request before his majority. A
single man, with no one to care for but himself, he went forth
with the world to seek his fortune, with the highest confidence
in himself, looking upon the gaudy side of the picture of life.
He went into an adjoining County and took a lease for four years
on the lands of Hon. James McDowell, afterwards Gov. of Virginia;
a man dear to the hearts of that honored old State. His object
was to enter into the cultivation of tobacco to a grand scale. He
employed a number of negro hands and a negro cook and went to
work in earnest. The first year he raised a find crop, but his
expenses were too great and he fell into debt. It was customary
in those days for the person who employed slaves to feed and
clothe them. About this time, he was married to Rebecca POWERS,
an estimable young lady of the vicinity, but who like himself
contributed no capital to the partnership stock, except a stout
heart and willing mind, which are oftimes more valuable
auxiliaries to success than gold and diamonds. The next year
proved more disastrous than ever. His crop failed and he kept
sinking deeper and deeper in debt. He now began to realize that a
fortune was not to be found like a lost bonanza, but only to be
acquired by close applications, active, industry and the
strictest economy. He now discovers that his paved road to
fortune is a failure, that his mode of life must be changed; the
points of his compass altered, his vessel rerigged, the sails
lowered and a new course pursued. He informs his wife, the
companion of his toils (an act worthy imitation of our modern
sires) who readily acquisces in whatever will contribute to their
mutual good. He accordingly dispensed with all his negroes,
except one, and took, in a partner. They raised a fine little
crop of tobacco, which matured in excellent condition and was
looke dupon by the young firm and by Thomas especially with great
pride and satisfaction. His happiest thought was that he would
soon be able to pay his debts. The early principles of honestly
and integrity instilled by the early teaching of his father,
caused him to look upon debt as being as a sacred obligation, the
discharge of which could only be excused on the ground of utter
impossibility. Their little crop was carefully gathered and after
the custom of the day, stored away in a tobacco barn for the
purpose of being cured a process which was perfected by fires,
and required several days. One morning when he arose he found
that his entire crop had been swept away by the cruel flames. His
first thought was of his debts. His only prospect for payment
gone, this he says was the most gloomy time of his life, but he
never thought for a moment of trying to escape the debt. His
creditors came on him. He delivered over to them all his effects,
goods, and chattles, household and kitchen furniture. Everything
that both he and his wife possessed, not even retaining a bed
upon which to rest at night, reserving nothing except their
wearing apparel. This done, he was still indebted. he concluded
to borrow a few of the necessaries of life from his neighbors and
commenced anew. His object now was to lease a small piece of
ground and dig it up with his hoe, and raise a small crop, but
upon his sole responsibility. He goes again to the Hon. James
McDowell, who listens to hi story of his misfortunes with the
deepest interest. He tells McDowell the object of his visit, viz:
to get released from his former obligation and to lease a smaller
amount of ground; that he desires to move on it and take his hoe
and dig it up and cultivate it with his own hands. McDowell
expresses his surprise, tells him it is impossible, such a thing
cannot be done, that he will starve himself and family in the
effort and advises him to pull up stakes and go west, but as to
the lease, he could have it for any period of time and upon any
terms he might ask, if he thought it would be of any benefit. The
lease was made, banding McDowell to everything and Harris to
nothing. He moves on his lease, erects a rude log cabin, borrows
a few articles of bed clothing and furniture, an old skillet and
a pot or two and he again launched his boat and starts out on
life's journey anew. He has no horse, he goes to work with his
hoe and digs up his ground. The hoe used was a large heavy
implement, somewhat like the mattock of the present day.
Bareheaded and without bootsday after day, he plies his hoe until
his crop is in. The first year he raises a small crop which by
the strictest economy and the utmost privation enables him to
live and pay a small amount upon his outstanding indebtedness
which is distributed pro rata among his creditors. The next year
he reports the same thing and further reduces his undebtedness.
He is now solicited to teach a school, he accepts and with the
consent of his leaser, throws up his lease.
He teaches a term of
3 months, collects the money, counts up the interest on each debt
that he owes, and starts on the rounds to hunt up his creditors,
each of whom is paid the full amount of his claim, both principal
and interest. This done, he says, "I have no doubt but that I
felt prouder than General Jackson did, when he had won the noted
battle of New Orleans. I regard it as the crowning act of my life
and never think of it without a feeling of pride. He taught 4
terms in the same district at low wages, but succeeded in saving
a little money, when his thoughts turned westward. He was now the
head of a family and had passed his majority several years, but
never had been permitted to vote, not having possessed the
property qualification requisite in that State. No person was
allowed a vote except he possessed in his own right, some article
of personal property upon which phe payed tax. In the year 1832,
just before the election of Gen. Jackson, he bought a little
mare, the honored beast, that gave him his first vote. He had
voted for every Democratic Pres. since that time, but he says the
hardest pill to take, in the line of Presidential mredicine, was
Horace Greeley. In the fall of 1834, with two small ponies and a
little wagon and $R57, 12 1/2 in his pocket, he started west. He
stopped in Ohio where he remained two years teaching school 15
months of the time. In the fall of 1836, he removed to Indiana
and settled down on the farm where he now lives, one half mile
west of New Ross in Walnut Township. He bought 80- acres and paid
all down except $89 upon which he had two years time. It was then
covered with one dense forest of living green. When he arrived
and paid off his teamsters, he had $14.37 1/2 left. No house, no
supplies, a weakly wife and six helpless children. He went to
work and built him a rude cabin. His family once secure from the
wintry blasts his means of support was ebbing low, and something
must be done. He secures a school at $50 for three months. This
enables him by strict economy to support his family. He teaches
by day, and clears ground by night. He taught one more school,
and then devoted himself exclusively to this farm. He is now the
owner of 381 acres of land, and has tgiven each of his two sons
who are married a fine start. He is now, worth in his own name
about $20,000. He regards the credit system, is being ruious to
both debtor and creditor. He rarely buys anything except land,
without paying the cash for it at the time it is purchased. He
thinks the system of going securing ought to be abolished by law.
He has paid a few hundred dollars as security, but has resolved
of late years, never to ask credit, nor to go on any man's paper.
He is now 76 years old and has lived in Montgomery County 48 (?)
years. He has filled the following positions of public trust:
Justice of the Peace in 1838 and received his commission from
Gov. WALLACE, father of the distinguised Governor of New Mexico,
served five years, was elected Twp. Trustee and served two teMrs.
Was elected Co. Commissioner and served one term. Samuel
GILLILAND and WATSON were the other members of the Board. The
bridge across Sugar Creek at Yountsville was built during his
term of office. A t the end of one term, he refused the
nominationf or the second. In the year 1850, he was selected to
the State Legislature. RB McMAKIN was the other member from this
County and Joseph ALLEN was Senator. Gov. WILLARD was then a
young member of the House. Ex-Senator PRATT was then a member of
the house, and was considered a strong man and a leader. LANE was
Pres. of the Senate. A Dem. Quaker is a rare curiosity but the
Senate contained one of that kind. While he felt it a great honor
to represent his County in that popular body, he had no desire to
return. His dearest interests were with his family at home. He is
a member of the regular Predestinarian Baptist Church with which
body he committed himself in 1833. He was raised in the old
Tobacco State and has used it in some of its forms for 56 years.
He regards it as a useless and expensive habit, and one that
never should be contracted. Truthfulness, honesty and integrity
he regards as absolutely essential to the happiness and well
being of everyone; and peace and tranquility of mind, cannot be
enjoyed unless human conduct is characterized by those virtures.
MRC.