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JOSEPH HARRIS. - How pleasant the picture of a land where the venerable and faithful pioneers are enabled to retire from the arduous labors that as veterans of the struggle of frontier life they accomplished with great credit to themselves, and enjoy now the fruit of their worthy labirs, while they behold the prosperity and plenty in the land that they assisted to wrest from the savage and subdue from the wilds of nature. Such is the position which the esteemed subject of this sketch is filling at this time, being one of the earliest pioneers of this valley and a builder of Union county, he has wrought for many years behind the plow and in other relations of life with a wisdom and faithfulness that have commended him to the hearty good will and admiration of all who know him.

Stokes county, North Carolina, on March 19, 1821, was the scene of the birth of our subject to Charles and Priscilla (Collins) Harris, natives respectively of North Carolina and Pennsylvania. When two years of age Joseph was taken by his parents to West Virginia, where they settled on a farm. Later they went to Sullivan county, Missouri, and there labored in the art of the agriculturist until the time of their death. At twenty years of age, our subject commenced farming for himself and was numbered with the leaders in that community until 1864 on July 27, of which year he offered his services to the United States in Company K. Forty-second Missouri Volunteer Infantry. His military service was capable and faithful and on March 27, 1865, he was discharged, and the same year in company with E.B. Morelock, came overland to the Grande Ronde valley, settling six miles south from where Elgin now stands, there taking a homestead and purchasing two hundred and sixty acres from the state. Steadily he pursued his way, tilling his farms and carefully attending to his business in all of its details and from time to time he added real estate by purchase, until at the present time he is possessed of an estate of seventeen hundred acres. In 1890, he retired from the activities of farm life and removed to Elgin where he lives at the present time, having a fine home of modern architectural design and fitted with all modern conveniences.

In 1840, Mr. Harris married Miss Mary A. Sturgill, in Virginia, and they became the parents of six children: Priscilla, wife of Andrew Knight; Rachel Catherine, wife of John McKinnis, of summerville; Rebecca, wife of E.B. Morelock; James K.P., married to Miss Weber and living in Elgin; Ellen, wife of Robert Knight; and Sarah, wife of William Fine.

On November 8, 1888, Mrs. Harris was called away by death and she rests in the Summerville cemetery.

It was on October 24, 1893, that Mr. Harris married a second time, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Mattie (Wilson) Hughes, daughter of Tapley and Hannah Wilson, and born in Fulton county, Illinois. Our subject and his wife are members of the Baptist church, and they are highly esteemed by all.

A large mountain, near the home of Mr. Harris, is named from him. He owns seven hundred and sixty acres of land at the foot of the mountain and also a portion of the mountain.