Harris, John R., 1790-1829

John Richardson Harris was born on October 22, 1790, in Cayuga, New York, the son of John Harris and Mary Richardson. On May 13, 1813, he married Jane Birdsall, the daughter of Lewis Birdsall and Patience Lee. They had four children. After meeting Moses Austin, John R. Harris decided to go to Texas in 1824, leaving his family in New York. He gained title to over 4,000 acres of land within present day Harris County. With the help of Francis W. Johnson, he laid out the town of Harrisburg, Texas, and built a steam sawmill and gristmill. John R. Harris died of yellow fever on August 21, 1829, in New Orleans. Jane Harris arrived in Harrisburg in 1833. She was an innkeeper and hostess to the provisional government. Harrisburg and her home were destroyed by the Mexican Army in 1836. From 1839 to 1849, she owned stock in the Harrisburg Town Company. Jane Harris died August 15, 1869.

From the description of John R. and Jane Harris papers, 1814-1869, (bulk 1829-1850). (San Jacinto Museum of History). WorldCat record id: 50105481

John Richardson Harris was born on October 22, 1790, in Cayuga, New York, the eldest son of John Harris and Mary Richardson. On May 13, 1813, he married Jane Birdsall (1791-1869), the daughter of Lewis Birdsall and Patience Lee. They lived in Waterloo, New York, and Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, and had four children - DeWitt Clinton, Lewis Birdsall, Mary Jane, and John Birdsall. After meeting Moses Austin in Missouri, John R. Harris decided to go to Texas in 1824, leaving his family to return to New York. He quickly gained title to over 4,000 acres of land within present day Harris County at the confluence of Buffalo and Bray's Bayous. With the help of Francis W. Johnson, he laid out the town of Harrisburg, Texas, and constructed a steam sawmill and gristmill. John R. Harris died suddenly of yellow fever on August 21, 1829, while in New Orleans purchasing equipment. His brothers, David, William Plunkett, and Samuel assumed control of his business ventures during the absence of his widow.

With her eldest son, DeWitt Clinton Harris, Jane Harris arrived in Harrisburg, Texas, in 1833. She quickly became a fixture in early Texas as innkeeper and hostess to the provisional government. Forced from her home during the Runaway Scrape, she sought safety in Anahuac and Galveston. She returned soon after the Battle of San Jacinto to find that the town of Harrisburg, including her house, had been destroyed by the Mexican Army. Shortly after the Texas Revolution, her remaining children - Lewis Birdsall, Mary Jane, and John Birdsall - joined their mother in Texas. From 1839 to 1849, Jane Harris owned stock in the Harrisburg Town Company. With a steady supply of patrons from the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos, and Colorado Railroad and steamboat routes, Jane Harris operated an inn in Harrisburg until her death on August 15, 1869.

From the guide to the John R. and Jane Harris papers MC063. 50105481., 1814-1869, (Bulk: 1829-1850), (Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library, )