James Harris was born near Quitman, Georgia, February 16, 1844, a son of George Harris and Julia Ann Westberry. He married Alice Stone, born February 16, 1842, the daughter of George W. R. Stone and Nancy Howell. The Harris and Stone families are listed in the 1850 Census of Ware County. James Harris is listed in the 1880 and 1900 census of Berrien County, Georgia.

James Harris died in Adel, Georgia December 12, 1928.
Alice died October 28, 1928, in Adel Georgia.
They are both buried at the Fellowship Baptist Church Cemetery in Cook County near Cecil, Georgia.

James Harris Served in Confederate States Army, from January 1, 1863 to May 20,1865. He was a Private in Company I, 4th Georgia Cavalry. Just prior to the War Between the States he and his family lived near Argyle in Clinch County.

He enlisted on January 1, 1863 in Homerville, GA and served through the end of the war. He participated in the Battle of Olustee,Florida and in the battles around Atlanta. Family tradition relates he had contracted measles during the siege of Atlanta and was in the city when it fell to the union armies under Gen William T. Sherman. His unit apparently left him outside of the city but in the line of the advancing enemy soldiers. James was convalescing on a farm (place unknown) when "Yankees" were seen approaching. He was hidden by the host family in the stump of a huge oak tree that had "bushed" up. James remained concealed in the oak bush throughout the hot summer day until the Yankees left. Though suffering from sickness, and within a stones throw of the union soldiers, he remained quite and motionless evading capture!

Records also indicate he participated in battle at John's Island, South Carolina. He surrendered at Thomasville, Georgia and was paroled at Tallahassee, Florida on May 15, 1865.

After the war he married Alice Stone raised a family and engaged in farming near Adel, GA in present Cook County. He was a skilled blacksmith as well. He died on December 12, 1928, and is buried at Fellowship Baptist Church near Adel, Georgia in Cook County.