Came To Gatesville, Texas as Superintendent of Public Schools in 1909. Received into fellowship of First Baptist Church of Gatesville as an ordained Deacon from the First Baptist Church of Waco. (Source: Centennial History of the First Baptist Church of Gatesville)
From: Coryell County Scrapbook by Mildred Mears
The Lincoln Statue
As a parting gift to the school, the graduating class of 1916 gave a bust of Abraham Lincoln. The Daughters of the Confederacy were still flourishing in Gatesville at that time and they called upon Superintendent Harris to remove the bust. He refused and they took it to the Board of Trustees but fared no better there. When they took it to the Mayor and got no relief,they and their male supporters gave notice that they were going to take it out and destroy it. Rumor got around that they were going into the building on a certain night and as Mr. Harris left he was heard to tell the janitor to leave the door unlocked and maybe they would not damage the building. The next morning, Abe was gone. Who took him was never definitely known. The Committee said that he was gone when they got there. Another group declared they they threw him in the Leon River. Whether he was taken by friend or foe, the town has never known, but Mr. Harris gave orders that nothing, not even a flower, should ever be placed on that pedestal and so, until he left Gatesville to teach at Baylor University, the pedestal always stood a mute reminder of the effect of prejudice.
Came To Gatesville, Texas as Superintendent of Public Schools in 1909. Received into fellowship of First Baptist Church of Gatesville as an ordained Deacon from the First Baptist Church of Waco. (Source: Centennial History of the First Baptist Church of Gatesville)
From: Coryell County Scrapbook by Mildred Mears
The Lincoln Statue
As a parting gift to the school, the graduating class of 1916 gave a bust of Abraham Lincoln. The Daughters of the Confederacy were still flourishing in Gatesville at that time and they called upon Superintendent Harris to remove the bust. He refused and they took it to the Board of Trustees but fared no better there. When they took it to the Mayor and got no relief,they and their male supporters gave notice that they were going to take it out and destroy it. Rumor got around that they were going into the building on a certain night and as Mr. Harris left he was heard to tell the janitor to leave the door unlocked and maybe they would not damage the building. The next morning, Abe was gone. Who took him was never definitely known. The Committee said that he was gone when they got there. Another group declared they they threw him in the Leon River. Whether he was taken by friend or foe, the town has never known, but Mr. Harris gave orders that nothing, not even a flower, should ever be placed on that pedestal and so, until he left Gatesville to teach at Baylor University, the pedestal always stood a mute reminder of the effect of prejudice.
Family Members
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Eliza Ann Harris Glass
1844–1918
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Margaret Elizabeth Harris
1849–1884
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Dr James Francis Harris
1850–1897
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William Dawson Harris
1852–1916
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Dr John Freeman Harris
1854–1920
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Thomas Jefferson Harris
1857–1924
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Dr David Hill Harris
1859–1926
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Maynard Bartow Harris
1861–1947
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Dr Samuel Henry Harris
1862–1935
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Martha Eugene Harris
1868–1869
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