Born aboard the ship "Echo", Atlantic Ocean

Son of Robert Harris and Hannah Maria Eagles

Married Mary Ann Payne, 13 Jan 1866, Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah

Father of 11 Children - Mary Ann Harris, Thomas William Harris, Robert Chauncy Harris, Catherine Priscilla Harris, Joseph Daniel Harris, Laura Maria Harris, Orson Enoch Harris, Willard Richard Harris, Corilla Payne Harris, Verna Belle Harris, Nettie Payne Harris

Grandpa Thomas E...So many stories have I heard of you, from my dear Gram, your daughter Laura Maria.

It seems to me that, from her description and memories, you must have been PERFECT in every way! What fun it was to imagine the times in which you lived.

I have your handwritten account of the trek across the Great Plains. According to that, it was a grand and wonderful adventure because of the positive influence of your parents. You describe your father as a strong and well prepared leader.

After your birth, at sea, the family had many hardships, as he marched out of Winter Quarters amid the Mormon Battalion volunteers. Too young to know of your Mother's and the family's sufferings, your memories were of that eight year old boy, who later helped pack the wagons and set out for the trip to the western valley of the Great Salt Lake.

Your stories were full of the joy a young lad, exploring the wilderness, protected from any danger by the loyal family dog, "Venteer". You describe the vast flat, open freedom of the prairie and then the cool, sweet smelling comfort of the forest glades in the Rockies.

The campfires, your father letting you hunt the small game and then the pride you had for his ability to creep upon a buffalo herd and take down the food you needed. I am thankful his pistol was preserved and donated to the museum in Layton.

How often I sat in your chair, by the kitchen window, and felt the warmth of the coal stove you loved to relax alongside. Grandma Laura would tell me of the wonderful visits you always made to all your children prior to settling into her home.

She said when you were still at your farm on the sandridge (now Hill Field Air Force Base), you would harness old "Button" to your surrey and head down the lane to one of the children's homes for a week long visit. Each would know you were close when they heard the jingle jangle of the harness bells, and the grandchildren would run out to greet your arrival. She said the surprise was always more fun than any announcement by "these new fangled telephones"!

Your last "Blessing" mentioned that you were such a positive example that you were one of few men in the Valley who could say that all his children had married in the Holy Temple and that everyone your descendants were respected and honest members of the Lord's Church. God Bless you and yours.