Washington "W. W." Harris was the son of Craven Harris and Martha Patsey (Morgan) Harris. He was the husband of Elizabeth Webb Harris. They were married on Dec. 03, 1835 in St. Clair Co., AL. (see Elizabeth Webb Harris's memorial for a list of their children).

Many years ago, a book was written on the Harris Family, which contained a very large number of gross errors and mistakes in it's contents about the history of Washington Harris and Elizabeth Webb Harris and their decendants.

One of these gross errors with in the book was the statement that Washington Harris lost his land that he obtained from the Government because he did not do the work on the land that was required of him by the Government and that it went back to the government for resale.

To honor his memory, I have included copies of legal documents concerning his land that he obtained from the Government, which proves that Washington Harris never lost the land that he obtained from the Government, but rather settled on it, did the work on the land that was required of him by the government,and lived on this same land until he sold this same land in about 1885 to A.N. Oliver (A.N. Oliver was Archie N. Oliver, husband of Mary Windsor Oliver) Mary Windsor Oliver was Washington Harris's Granddaughter. Mary Windsor Oliver was the daughter of Mary Jane Harris Windsor and Oliver M. C. Oliver, Mary Jane Harris Windsor married 2nd to James Monroe Word.

Washington Harris owned the land that he obtained from the Government and it was the same land where he and Elizabeth Webb Harris settled, where they built their home and raised their children. Washington was a farmer and made his monies from the crops he grew.

The location of their land was in that part of Alabama which changed county lines from St. Clair Co., AL to make up Dekalb Co., AL and in that southern part of Dekalb Co., AL that was taken to help form Etowah Co., AL.

Washington Harris (61 years old) and his wife, Elizabeth "Betsy" Webb Harris (60 years old) and their daughter Catherine Harris were living on their land in the 1880 Census of Alabama; Township 11, Range 5 East; in the County of Etowah.

It is stated on this same census under "Illness or Disability at the time this census was taken" that Elizabeth "Betsy" Webb Harris had Dropsy.
Dropsy is fluid retention, often due to heart or kidney disease. Dropsy would be called congestive heart failure today. Accumulaiton of fluid around the heart.

A Fact: In 1880 the life expectancy in the U. S. A. was 40.5 years. A 60 year old person's health and physical shape in the 1880's can in no way be compared to that of a 60 year old person of today. Over the next several years, Elizabeth Webb Harris's Dropsy grew worse and Washington Harris and Elizabeth both were becoming too physically weak to care for themselves on a normal day to day bases. Dropsy was one of the major causes of death during this time era.

Their children became worried about them and their daughter Mary Jane Harris Windsor Word wanted them to move in with her so that she could care for them both. Nothing is more heart breaking to our eldery loved ones, than to have to give up their home and their independence and to accept help.

The main reason why Washington and Elizabeth finally sold their home and land to A. N. Oliver (Archie N. Oliver) in 1885, and moved in with their daughter, Mary Jane Harris Windsor Word, was because Elizabeth had Dropsy disease and at that time they both needed help.

According to family family records, and several of their Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren, with whom I spoke with in the early 1960's, Washington "W.W." Harris and Elizabeth Webb Harris were both buried at Webb Cemetery, by her parents, and they had a marker. There still remains the lower portion of the Fieldstone Grave Marker, a section, appearing to be a fit to the upper part has been discarded behind it near a large tree.