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Pioneer of 1855
THOMAS HARRIS JR
Written by LaVerne Carman Heath Milligan, Granddaughter
Thomas Harris Junior was born January 22, 1822, at Bristol, Gloucester, England, and christened May 25, 1823 at St. Phillip and Jacob Parish, of Bristol. He was the son of Thomas Harris, a farmer of Devonshire, and Mary Ann Parsons, of Newton, St. Cyrs. Mary Ann was the widow of John Snell, and married Thomas Harris on July 8, 1815 at St. Phillip and Jacob Parish. When young Thomas was eight years of age his father died and he was apprenticed to Henry Proctor, a rag and bone merchant and glue manufacturer, of Cathay and 9 West St. of Bristol. Thomas Jr. met the Mormon missionaries and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints by William Pitt, a High Priest. In 1841 Thomas served as a missionary to Wales for two years in the Preston Conference, under the leadership of Elder John Banks. In 1844 he was called on a mission to Ireland. On July 19, 1844 he married Elizabeth Morris at Bath, Somerset. The following is found on the marriage certificate: Marriage in the Registration District of Bath, at County of Somerset, 19 July 1844. Thomas Harris, 21, bachelor, glue-maker of 6 Westgate Bldg., father Thomas Harris, farmer, to Elizabeth Morris, 24, spinster and dressmaker of the same address, father Thomas Morris, tailor. Witness: Thomas Smith and Maria Preece.
In 1845 Thomas and Elizabeth sailed for America with their son Alfred. They arrived in New Orleans in the ship Winsor Castle, with Captain Thomas Patterson. It is believed that Thomas worked in a barrel factory, and in 1849 he lived on Hercules St. In 1850-51 he is found living at the corner of Melpomene and White streets. In about 1852 his family moved to St. Louis and there operated a millinery shop, and later owned and managed a furniture store. On November 4, 1854 the St. Louis Stake was organized by Elder Erastus Snow at a Conference held in their chapel at the corner of 4th St. and Washington Ave. Elder Milo Andrus was sustained as president with Elders Edwards and Gardiner as counselors. Klebber Worley was chosen as Bishop with Thomas Harris as 1st Counselor. Brother Snow published the St. Louis Luminary, and in the December 9, 1854 issue is found: Dear Brother Snow, since your last issue I have made a short visit in the country with Brother Thomas Harris, acting Bishop. We left St. Louis on the 2nd inst. For Gravois and met our brethren of the Priesthood in council. We contemplated the business of the Branch in regard to tithing, after which Brother Harris addressed them. Signed, Milo Andrus. Thomas Harris was Marshal of the Day at the celebration on Christmas Day, 1854, held by the Saints of St. Louis.
In 1854 Thomas and his family left for Salt Lake City, in the last and eighth company of the Perpetual Emigration Fund of passengers. His family now consisted of his wife Elizabeth, and children Alfred, Emma Louise, Frances Elmira, William Erastus and Elizabeth Corner, his wife’s niece, whose mother was Mary Ann Morris, Elizabeth Harris’ deceased sister. Their company of wagons and ox teams was led by Milo Andrus, assisted by Elders John S. Fulmer and Israel Barlow. Thomas was Captain of his group. Their party went west by way of Kansas City, MO. Another company that started the same time took the boat and went up to Counsel Bluffs, both trains met at the Platt River but the feed for cattle was short, so they had to separate. Milo Andrus’ train came by way of Echo Canyon and arrived in the Valley that same year. The family lived in the northwest section of Salt Lake and a daughter, Alice, was born in 1858. Mr. Harris owned and operated a soap and glue factory.
Plural marriage was urged for all the brethren by President Brigham Young, but when Thomas approached Elizabeth with President Young’s counsel she became very upset. She would not consent to being a polygamous wife, and threatened to return to St. Louis if Thomas took another wife. Thomas told President Young of his wife’s feelings as was advised to let her go, as the commandment of plural marriage should be lived. Thomas decided to return to St. Louis with his family, with the exception of his eldest daughter Emma Louise, who was working as a school teacher, and her cousin Elizabeth. The two girls stayed with the family of President John Taylor, and Emma eventually married President Taylor's son Thomas.
After his return to St. Louis Thomas was made President of the St. Louis Stake. He became quite prosperous in the furniture business, which he had left in the charge of a friend, but two years later the factory burned to the ground and Thomas was left almost penniless. He felt that this misfortune had come to him because he had disobeyed the counsel of President Brigham Young. Thomas urged Elizabeth to return to Utah with him but she refused, so in 1870, after 10 years in St. Louis, he again made the trip across the plains. Upon his arrival in Salt Lake he took a job at Dinwoody’s Furniture Store. Thomas found his wife’s niece, Elizabeth Corner, still unmarried, and they were married the following year in 1871. The Dramatic Club gave a benefit for Thomas to help him purchase a home at 165 Ninth East, and there he and Elizabeth made their home and attended the 16th Ward.
The following year Thomas took a third wife, by the name of Jane Counsell. They were married on 25 November 1872. Four children were born to Thomas and Elizabeth Corner: Olive Louise, Mary Ann Elizabeth, Thomas Proctor, and James. In 1876 Thomas was sent to England as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When he returned home he brought a locket to his daughter Mary, which later held photographs of her husband Delbert. Thomas was a great orator and traveled extensively to preach to Gospel. He had a deep understanding and love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was also a fine writer and corresponded for some time with Robert Ingersoll, the agnostic.
Thomas hired Jane Elizabeth Giles as a housekeeper and later, on 12 February 1880 he made her his fourth wife. To this union were born 6 children. In 1889 Elizabeth died in childbirth, along with her infant son James, on 28 February. They were laid to rest in the same coffin, with James in Elizabeth’s arms.
Thomas moved his family to the University of Deseret, where he worked as custodian and librarian. He held this position for 4 years. He had developed a successful ice cream business, selling during intermissions at the Salt Lake Theater, where he served as doorkeeper for several years. Because of Thomas’ position at the theater, his children were able to see all of the shows that came to Salt Lake. His ice cream parlor was situated on Main St. between South Temple and First South. Because of this successful business the family was able to move into a new home, which Thomas built, at 637 North 2nd West.
Thomas passed away on 19 September 1890. The following is found in his obituary: Death of a Pioneer. Death of Thomas Harris. Brother Thomas Harris, as his friends are aware, had been very ill and yesterday his death occurred, the cause being designated as fatty degeneration of the heart. Deceased came to this city more than a quarter of a century ago, was widely known and very popular. He was a member of the Home Missionary Corps of the Salt Lake Stake of Zion, and had in the past years distinguished himself for faithful and zealous service in the mission fields and other callings pertaining to the Ministry. He was large hearted, genial and sincere and won the friendship of many who opposed his religious beliefs. He was noted for his singing voice and was an accomplished orator. For a long term of years he held the position of principle doorkeeper at the Salt Lake Theater, in which he was noted for courtesy and fidelity. The funeral services were to be held at his residence 637 North 2nd West St. at 4 pm.
The following is a copy of a letter which Thomas wrote to his wife,
Elizabeth Corner, while on his mission in England:
To my own darling and very dear wife Bessey,
These lines are offered as a tribute of my best affections to my dearest one on Earth:
How dear thy memory to my heart, how dear. No time, or distance can my love eface, lasting as the hills it shall remain. Altho time which bears down all things else, it ne’er shall mar that Holy love I bear thee, the best of God’s most Holy gifts. At the Holy alter wast thou sealed to me, for time, “yes” more, for all Eternity. I live and feast upon thy love, and thus I’ll live and pay thee love for love. And like the everlasting God, thy face will light my every step in this or other worlds, where grace may cast our lot. Live thus, my own dear wife, and let thy soul drink freely, for I am thine by all the ties which God in love bestows. At the Holy altar, when thy hand was placed in mine, I pledged to love thee as no other being could, and by our legal offspring we were joined in one as God decreed. May angels round thee stand, and guard thee until I return, and ward off every blow, and gladen every day, and make those days most happy, watered by God’s grace on thee bestowed.
(signed) Thomas Harris
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