Son of the Rev. Willis Harris (1785-1854), who had been one of the noted original Methodist Protestant reformers of the Granville Union Society, and Sarah Duty.
Doubtless named in part for reformer Rev. Nicholas Snethen, and sometimes himself referenced as "Nick," the "Philip" may well have been for German scholar and theologian, Philip(p) Melanchthon, associated with Martin Luther and the German Reformation, whose name S.P.J. gave to his own son, Leonidas Melanchthon Harris.
In addition to his ministry, S.P.J. Harris was a skilled surveyor who held the post of County Surveyor for Granville when he surveyed the lines to form the new county of Vance. Upon its formation, he assumed the post of County Surveyor for the new county in which his former Granville County home now fell. Many a Granville and Vance Co. marriage record bears the name of S.P.J. Harris, as do county maps and individual property surveys.
The marble monument shared with his wife, Hixie Baskett, is of particular interest as it was signed by the carver, Charles A. Goodwin of Raleigh. Goodwin's noted monuments are more often associated with city cemeteries, several found in Old City Cemetery in Raleigh.
-all biographical info and obituary added by direct descendant, gr-gr-grandchild S.H.B.
----
obituary:
The Gold Leaf
Thursday 6 June 1889
Death of Rev. S.P.J. Harris --
"As briefly announced in the Gold Leaf last week, Rev. S.P.J. Harris, of the Methodist Protestant Church, died at his home a few miles from Henderson, Wednesday, June 5th, at 12:25 o'clock. He was taken sick Friday before and his friends were shocked at the announcement of his death. Deceased was a man of strong intellectual force, and a preacher of unusual ability. He was a fluent and ready speaker, an original thinker and a logical reasoner. For many years he had not been regularly engaged in the ministry, preaching only occasionally, occupying his time as a surveyor and farmer. Mr. Harris was well known throughout this section and was greatly esteemed for his genial nature and friendly disposition. Two older brothers, Revs. Cicero F. and A.C. Harris, the former of Guilford and the latter of Granville county, survive him. Deceased was about 55 years of age.
The remains were interred at the old Joe Baskett place Thursday afternoon, a large number of people being present. In accordance with a wish of Mr. Harris's expressed before his death, no funeral sermon was preached, his friend Rev. Wm. Hester reading the burial service at the grave."
----
Doubtless named in part for reformer Rev. Nicholas Snethen, and sometimes himself referenced as "Nick," the "Philip" may well have been for German scholar and theologian, Philip(p) Melanchthon, associated with Martin Luther and the German Reformation, whose name S.P.J. gave to his own son, Leonidas Melanchthon Harris.
In addition to his ministry, S.P.J. Harris was a skilled surveyor who held the post of County Surveyor for Granville when he surveyed the lines to form the new county of Vance. Upon its formation, he assumed the post of County Surveyor for the new county in which his former Granville County home now fell. Many a Granville and Vance Co. marriage record bears the name of S.P.J. Harris, as do county maps and individual property surveys.
The marble monument shared with his wife, Hixie Baskett, is of particular interest as it was signed by the carver, Charles A. Goodwin of Raleigh. Goodwin's noted monuments are more often associated with city cemeteries, several found in Old City Cemetery in Raleigh.
-all biographical info and obituary added by direct descendant, gr-gr-grandchild S.H.B.
----
obituary:
The Gold Leaf
Thursday 6 June 1889
Death of Rev. S.P.J. Harris --
"As briefly announced in the Gold Leaf last week, Rev. S.P.J. Harris, of the Methodist Protestant Church, died at his home a few miles from Henderson, Wednesday, June 5th, at 12:25 o'clock. He was taken sick Friday before and his friends were shocked at the announcement of his death. Deceased was a man of strong intellectual force, and a preacher of unusual ability. He was a fluent and ready speaker, an original thinker and a logical reasoner. For many years he had not been regularly engaged in the ministry, preaching only occasionally, occupying his time as a surveyor and farmer. Mr. Harris was well known throughout this section and was greatly esteemed for his genial nature and friendly disposition. Two older brothers, Revs. Cicero F. and A.C. Harris, the former of Guilford and the latter of Granville county, survive him. Deceased was about 55 years of age.
The remains were interred at the old Joe Baskett place Thursday afternoon, a large number of people being present. In accordance with a wish of Mr. Harris's expressed before his death, no funeral sermon was preached, his friend Rev. Wm. Hester reading the burial service at the grave."
----
Son of the Rev. Willis Harris (1785-1854), who had been one of the noted original Methodist Protestant reformers of the Granville Union Society, and Sarah Duty.
Doubtless named in part for reformer Rev. Nicholas Snethen, and sometimes himself referenced as "Nick," the "Philip" may well have been for German scholar and theologian, Philip(p) Melanchthon, associated with Martin Luther and the German Reformation, whose name S.P.J. gave to his own son, Leonidas Melanchthon Harris.
In addition to his ministry, S.P.J. Harris was a skilled surveyor who held the post of County Surveyor for Granville when he surveyed the lines to form the new county of Vance. Upon its formation, he assumed the post of County Surveyor for the new county in which his former Granville County home now fell. Many a Granville and Vance Co. marriage record bears the name of S.P.J. Harris, as do county maps and individual property surveys.
The marble monument shared with his wife, Hixie Baskett, is of particular interest as it was signed by the carver, Charles A. Goodwin of Raleigh. Goodwin's noted monuments are more often associated with city cemeteries, several found in Old City Cemetery in Raleigh.
-all biographical info and obituary added by direct descendant, gr-gr-grandchild S.H.B.
----
obituary:
The Gold Leaf
Thursday 6 June 1889
Death of Rev. S.P.J. Harris --
"As briefly announced in the Gold Leaf last week, Rev. S.P.J. Harris, of the Methodist Protestant Church, died at his home a few miles from Henderson, Wednesday, June 5th, at 12:25 o'clock. He was taken sick Friday before and his friends were shocked at the announcement of his death. Deceased was a man of strong intellectual force, and a preacher of unusual ability. He was a fluent and ready speaker, an original thinker and a logical reasoner. For many years he had not been regularly engaged in the ministry, preaching only occasionally, occupying his time as a surveyor and farmer. Mr. Harris was well known throughout this section and was greatly esteemed for his genial nature and friendly disposition. Two older brothers, Revs. Cicero F. and A.C. Harris, the former of Guilford and the latter of Granville county, survive him. Deceased was about 55 years of age.
The remains were interred at the old Joe Baskett place Thursday afternoon, a large number of people being present. In accordance with a wish of Mr. Harris's expressed before his death, no funeral sermon was preached, his friend Rev. Wm. Hester reading the burial service at the grave."
----
Doubtless named in part for reformer Rev. Nicholas Snethen, and sometimes himself referenced as "Nick," the "Philip" may well have been for German scholar and theologian, Philip(p) Melanchthon, associated with Martin Luther and the German Reformation, whose name S.P.J. gave to his own son, Leonidas Melanchthon Harris.
In addition to his ministry, S.P.J. Harris was a skilled surveyor who held the post of County Surveyor for Granville when he surveyed the lines to form the new county of Vance. Upon its formation, he assumed the post of County Surveyor for the new county in which his former Granville County home now fell. Many a Granville and Vance Co. marriage record bears the name of S.P.J. Harris, as do county maps and individual property surveys.
The marble monument shared with his wife, Hixie Baskett, is of particular interest as it was signed by the carver, Charles A. Goodwin of Raleigh. Goodwin's noted monuments are more often associated with city cemeteries, several found in Old City Cemetery in Raleigh.
-all biographical info and obituary added by direct descendant, gr-gr-grandchild S.H.B.
----
obituary:
The Gold Leaf
Thursday 6 June 1889
Death of Rev. S.P.J. Harris --
"As briefly announced in the Gold Leaf last week, Rev. S.P.J. Harris, of the Methodist Protestant Church, died at his home a few miles from Henderson, Wednesday, June 5th, at 12:25 o'clock. He was taken sick Friday before and his friends were shocked at the announcement of his death. Deceased was a man of strong intellectual force, and a preacher of unusual ability. He was a fluent and ready speaker, an original thinker and a logical reasoner. For many years he had not been regularly engaged in the ministry, preaching only occasionally, occupying his time as a surveyor and farmer. Mr. Harris was well known throughout this section and was greatly esteemed for his genial nature and friendly disposition. Two older brothers, Revs. Cicero F. and A.C. Harris, the former of Guilford and the latter of Granville county, survive him. Deceased was about 55 years of age.
The remains were interred at the old Joe Baskett place Thursday afternoon, a large number of people being present. In accordance with a wish of Mr. Harris's expressed before his death, no funeral sermon was preached, his friend Rev. Wm. Hester reading the burial service at the grave."
----
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