Sandra Hart wrote about her California Harrises: Message: 1 Date: Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:38:46 -0800 From: Sandra Hart <[email protected]> Subject: [HARRIS-HUNTERS] Dr. Ephraim Drake Harris, Sr To: [email protected] Message-ID: <[email protected]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes I am looking for information about Dr. Ephraim Drake Harris, Sr. He was born ~1816 in NC and died Nov 21, 1865 in Santa Rosa, Sonoma Co, CA. His first wife may have been Martha E. Smith. They had a son, Morgan C (born ~1841 in MO). In 1850, he was a widower, living with his son in Cass Co, MO. He came to CA by wagon train in the early 1850s, settling in Mendocino Co. He married his second wife, Sarah Ann Hardin there and they had two additional children: Sarah Henne (1854-1868) and Ephraim Drake, Jr. (1860-11911). After Dr Harris' death, his widow Sarah Ann remarried my GGgrandfather, Benjamin Wesley Hunt. They had several more children, living in Blucher Valley, Mendocino, Analy, and Santa Rosa in CA until their deaths. I have found a number of men in the late 1890s and early 1900s living in CA with similar names who might have been somehow related, but I haven't tried very hard to track them down because I have no idea how they might have been related (e.g., Ephraim Drake Harris, a priest, Drake Edwin Harris, Ira Drake Harris). I also found an Ephraim D. Harris listed in the Surviving Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines, and Widows, etc section of the 1890 Census of Washington, Laclede, MO (yes, 1890 - - the first time I've ever found anything in the 1890 census!). He was listed as a Private in Company C, 110th IL regiment in the infantry. He enlisted Aug 4, 1863 and was discharged Sep 30, 1864. I don't think this was my man, however, as mine was probably living in California with his wife and children during the Civil War. Also, it seems off to me that a 40-year-old physician would have enlisted as a private. I assume that these Edwin/Ephraim/Edwin Drake Harrises must have been given family names and were associated with the same Harris family. Can anyone identify this family? My response: I cannot answer your Harris questions. However, many local genealogical societies--for a donation--will research your question(s). But you have to determine these facts first: 1) Does that county where you are searching have a genealogical/historical society? 2) What records for that county or those counties exist, perhaps on film at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City? Let those lists of topics for each county be your guideline. I did some preliminary research of the availability of records of Santa Rosa and of Sonoma Co., California by using the Family History Library Catalog on _www.familysearch.org_ (http://www.familysearch.org) I clicked on the tab labeled Library and then clicked on the last item--Catalog. Then I did a PLACE search for both counties. There are quite a variety of records [films mostly] for both of those counties. You might like to have someone local take a look at the voter registrations for those counties. Some of us still like to do research the old fashioned way--by writing letters and asking about researchers, etc. There are a number of professional genealogists who are headquartered in or around Salt Lake City Utah, but it may be well to start at the California county level. That is, write to the local California genealogical society [the internet may produce some addresses] and asking about whether anyone in that county is willing to undertake some research for you. Just remember these members do not do this for free as there is generally travel and parking, etc. to pay for, plus photocopying. Ask about fees. William Dollarhide, professional genealogist and author, reminds us that in the early years of this country, about 90% of the white population owned land, and he is great on land records. I personally favor those records also, but probates are not to be overlooked. Tax records are good. A friend of mine, a librarian-author-lecturer, tells me when she goes to the FH Library in Salt Lake City, she seeks out genealogies and county histories. More and more county histories are being put on the internet--I use HeritageQuest through my local library--so don't overlook those resources. They are frequently flawed but still useful. I have found some *goodies* which broke down brick walls for me by using old county histories!!! Just check the *facts* given in those volumes against the official records, if at all possible. I wish you luck in your search for early Californians. One has to keep in mind that California belonged to the Spanish and then the Mexican government (and even Russia in northern Calfironia). By the way, some of the early Anglo residents of California kept miscellaneous personal and business records. The Universities in California, as well as the Sutro Library in San Francisco, may have some of these manuscripts, account books, etc. I hope this helps. E.W.Wallace **************Get a jump start on your taxes. Find a tax professional in your neighborhood today. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=Tax+Return+Preparation+%26+Filing&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000004)