Harris, Leander S. (Leander Sargent), 1860-1945

The Harris family came to the United States in 1631 to escape religious persecution in England. The first members to arrive were Thomas Harris and his brother William. Members of the family settled in various parts of New England and were active in the community and government of the early United States. As some of the first settlers of Palmyra, New York, the Harris Family met and became close to Joseph Smith (1805-1844) and his family. This included Martin Harris (1783-1875), who was interested in the visions of Smith and served as his scribe for the first 116 pages of the Book of Mormon. Though he subsequently lost this manuscript, Martin was still chosen as one of the three witnesses to the Book of Mormon and also helped pay for its publication. The family's involvement with the Mormon Church continued from this point on.

Leander S. Harris (1860-1945) was a Mormon railroad engineer in Ogden, Utah. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Eastern States between 1897 and 1899, and was involved in the Ogden community.