I suspect--but, at this point, I cannot prove that your Benjamin Franklin Harris of Missouri has roots in Madison Co., KY but that is a likely place to further your research--after you have searched a few more possible records in Missouri. I have found a good bit of information on my Madison Co. folks (so much that I have not been able to digest it all) in the deeds of Madison Co., KY. Fortunately, one of my local libraries has the films of both the Madison Co. grantor and grantee indexes--nicely typed and alphabetized, thank you. These indexes alone sometimes help me to figure out relationships, discover heirs, find deeds of gift, and mortgages, etc. Does Platte Co., MO have similar films of deed indexes? Check the familysearch.org website for the FHL Catalog. I am sharing some notes I have made on a John Franklin Harris, but the evidence seems NOT to directly link him to your Platte Co., MO Harrises. JOHN FRANKLIN HARRIS. (b. ca 1811-death date prior to May 1842) Son of Overton Harris and Nancy Oldham of Madison Co., KY. [This would make him an older brother to my ancestress, Carlisle Harris, one of the younger daughters of Overton Harris and Nancy Oldham. Overton Harris died testate in Madison Co., KY ca 1827.] Grantor indexes of Madison Co. (DB X-205 dated Oct 16, 1837) indicate he later may have been called Franklin and he may have had a wife Katherine. He probably died intestate, as there was an administration as indicated by these probate and administration records of Madison Co., KY (SL film 183269) pp. 82-83 J. F. Harris admr Settlement [in margin] 2nd day of May 1842 Being called upon by Christopher Harris and Napoleon G. Tevis administrators of John F. Harris decd to state & settle their accounts as such we have appointed this day at the office of R. Runyon in Richmond to perform that duty. By 1839, there is a notation in the grantor deeds that the heirs of John F. have joined other heirs of Overton Harris (their father) in selling property, a lot in Richmond to Thomas G. Little. It appears that John F. was now deceased. More research is needed. Bill and Kathy Vockery in CEMETERY RECORDS OF MADISON COUNTY [KENTUCKY], Vol. 1, Northern Section, p. 52, show John F. Harris is buried in the Overton Harris Cemetery and that he was born 1811, but his death date is not given. The Vockerys indicate (as may the gravestone) that he was the eldest son of Overton & Nancy Harris. However, there is also a gravesite for a Harris daughter born 1811. Does this signify that John Franklin was a twin? Or was he born later in the year than the unnamed daughter? John Franklin seems to have reached adulthood as indicated by a couple of marriage bonds in Madison Co. John Franklin seemed to be bondsman for one or two marriages in Madison Co. KY: for his sister Elizabeth and for his brother Solon M. Jul 1837. Whether he himself was married is unknown. Tevis, Joseph H. & Elizabeth Harris; 17 Aug 1829; John Franklin Harris, bondsman; Nancy Harris, mother of bride. (Was he an underage bondsman, or was he born before his parents were married in 1810? If born in 1811, the year after the parents' marriage, he would have been age 21 in 1832 and not in 1829. His father had recently died, however, and he may have been acting as an older man.) Harris, Solon M. & Sally Ann Miller 25 July 1837. Robert Miller gave consent, but his relationship to the bride is unknown. Solon Harris was John Franklin's brother. Question to you: What do the censuses show for your Missouri Harrises? Are any of them born in Kentucky? I know from e-mails and correspondence of various persons that some of Nancy Oldham Harris's cousins migrated to Platte Co., MO. It seemed to attract a lot of Kentuckians. Have you used the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) website to determine whether a patent or patents were issued to Harris family members in Platte Co., MO. For an early county in Mississippi, I used the BLM website and typed in my very common name. I could tell from the county given on the patent index whether these were my common-named folks. The website gives a good idea of when they were first granted land by the Federal Government. Use google to find the BLM website--if the URL contains the phrase *gov*, then you are on the right track. I do little, if any, Missouri research, as my Kentucky folks headed to Texas!!!! Too cold or too hot in Missouri, although Texas is one of the hotspots of the nation! If you think there is a link, I will try to help you--but I am terrifically busy with rearranging a household after moving a cluttered household!!! E.W.Wallace