MARCELLUS JAMES (DOC) HARRIS (1826 – 1862)
Son of Samuel Woods Harris & Sarah Miner (Ware) Harris.
Samuel & Sarah also had sons Edwin Eugene Harris, and Aurelius Benjamin Harris.
See Edwin Eugene Harris for further information on this family.
St. Clair County Democrat, 30 May 1940:
MARCELLUS JAMES (Doc) HARRIS - Second son of Samuel Woods Harris and Sarah Miner Ware was born in Albermarle County, Virginia, February 11, 1826 and died in St. Clair County, Missouri January 16, 1862.
He came, with his parents, from Kentucky in 1840 and was one of the most colorful characters of the county. He was high-strung, hot-headed, an excellent shot and quick on the draw. He often drank more than was good for him but his many estimable qualities endeared him to a host of friends.
His fiancee broke their engagement early in 1850 some six weeks before their marriage. While brooding over his misfortune it is said that Mr.
Harris sought to drown his sorrow in the Sac one misty night but was overtaken and rescued by his father’s slaves.
He went west to the gold fields but was back in St. Clair county by 1852 brought home, no doubt by news of his fathers death in February that year.
He was at his parents’ home on the Vista road, which he designated in letters he wrote as Osceola Prairie. This place was left by Samuel Woods Harris to his wife and to their youngest son, Edwin E. Harris. Marcellus was left two tracts of land his father had owned in Hickory County, one fourth of the slaves and a one-third interest in a house and lot in Osceola.
In 1856, Marcellus Harris and Dr. Elijah Smith, who lived beyond Roscoe, became involved in a quarrel in the Weidemeyer Store in
Osceola. They both drew their pistols and fired. Dr. Smith was shot and killed. Mr. Harris was tried and acquitted. The defense was conducted by Waldo P. Johnson.
Marcellus J. Harris was married in 1859 to Olive Johnson (1837-1909), sister of Judge Johnson. They made their home on an estate out the
Roscoe road, south of the Shady Grove school house, which is now part of the Kiefer holdings.
In May 1861, Marcellus Harris was one of the signers of the appeal to citizens of St. Clair County to remain calm.
At the outbreak of hostilities, Mr. Harris joined the Missouri State Guard and was in action at Drywood Creek in Vernon County September 7, 1861 where he was seen to drop any enemy within rifle range at 600 yards.
He was back in Osceola at the time of Lane’s raid on Osceola some two weeks later. The day after the town was burned Marcellus Harris had a
quarrel with Capt. William L. Vaughn of Osceola over the payment of the latter’s note to his brother, Aurealis Harris. This had been promised in gold and was now offered in paper. The argument became
heated and threats were uttered as the two men separated to go home for lunch. Some time later, Mr. Harris returning on horseback, with a
shotgun, met Capt. Vaughn coming from one of the stores in town and fired, instantly killing him. Clark Vaughn, son of Capt. Vaughn, is said to have fired four or five times at Mr. Harris but missed him. There was no indictment owing to the unsettled state of affairs.
Some two months later, in November or December 1861, Marcellus Harris was shot from ambush as he was accompanying Col. Tutt on horseback
out the Roscoe Road to the camp of Price’s army, with which he was serving.
There was considerable speculation as to who fired the shot. Some thought it was Capt. Vaughn’s son, George, later killed in the attack on Stockton in Cedar County and some thought it was the soldier who swore vengeance when reprimanded and struck by Marcellus Harris for trespassing on his brother’s place. No one was ever indicted.
The wounded man was carried to the Aurealius Harris place nearby on Sac River and there he lingered in great suffering until his death
in January, 1862. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the family plot on his father’s old place.
The children of Marcellus Harris and Olive Johnson were Katherine Harris (1860-62) and Laura Harris, born after her father’s death August 25, 1862.
Mrs. Marcellus Harris was with the Sutherlands that January of 1863 when the home was burned and Mr. Sutherland was killed by federal
Militiamen. They took refuge at the home of Aurealius Harris, their nearest kinsman, and soon afterwards Mrs. Harris returned to her father’s home in Harrison County, Virginia. She was so altered in appearance from what she had been through that her family scarcely
recognized her.
International Genealogical Index:
Marcellus J. Harris and Olive Johnson, married 1 December 1859, St. Clair Co., MO. Batch M515161
M.J. Harris – Olive Johnson, married 1 December 1859, St. Clair Co., MO. Batch M515161.
Frederick O. Dunington – Olive Harris, married 9 October 1870 Jackson Co., MO. Batch M515212
Frederick Oscar Dunnington – Olive Waldo Johnson, married 9 October 1870, Kansas City, MO. Olive born 13 September 1837 Bridgeport, Harrison Co., VA; died 16 December 1909 of Bowling, Greene Co., MO.
Samuel Woods Harris – Sarah Lelia Wall, married 4 March 1885 OF Henry Co., MO. Sarah born 22 June 1861.
Sam’l. W. Harris – Lelia Wall, married 4 March 1885, Pettis Co., MO. Batch M515582
Eugene Harris – Minnie F. Legg, married 12 March 1884 Henry Co., MO. Batch M515143
Henry Co., MO USGenWeb Marriages:
Harris, M.J. to Olive Johnson – 1 December 1859, St. Clair Co., MO
Eugene Joel Harris, born 17 November 1854, died 26 February 1829 Calhoun, MO; buried Calhoun Cemetery, Tebo Twp., Henry Co., MO. Married Minnie Florence Legg 12 March 1884. Minnie born 13 December 1865 Calhoun, Henry Co., MO.
1820 Albermarle Co., VA Census:
Samuel W. Harris
1 male age 26-45
1 female age 16-26, 1 female under age 10
1 engaged in agriculture
1 male slave under age 16
3 female slave under age 16
1 female slave between age 16-26
1 female slave between age 26-45
1850 St. Clair Co., MO Census – District No. 79 Being:
Line 31, 19 August
47/47 Sam’l W. Harris, age 57, male, farmer, $5000 real estate, birthplace VA
Sarah M. Harris, age 54, female, birthplace VA
Edwin E. Harris, age 22, male, Physician, birthplace VA
Marcellus J. Harris, age 24, male, farmer, $2000 real estate, birthplace VA
1850 Hickory Co., MO Census – District No. 37:
Line 38, August 7
16/16 Aurelius B. Harris, age 29, male, farmer, $2000 real estate, born VA
Eliza Harris, age 25, female, born KY
James M., age 3, male, born MO
Julia M., age 9/12, female, born MO
1860 St. Clair Co., MO Census – Osceola Township:
Page 14, Line 40, 2 July, Osceola Post Office
85/85 E.E. Harris, age 32, male, Physician, $10,000 real estate, $35,000 personal estate, birthplace VA
(next page): M.A. Harris, age 26, female, birthplace MO
B.V. Harris, age 5, female, birthplace MO
S.E. Harris, age 3, female, birthplace MO
M.A. Harris, age 9 months, female, birthplace MO
S.M. Harris, age 64, female, birthplace MO
1860 St. Clair Co., MO Census – Osceola Township:
Page 19, Line 23, 4 July, Osceola Post Office
116/116 A.B. Harris, age 39, male, farmer, $7000 real estate, $10,000 personal estate, birthplace KY/VA
Eliza, age 35, female, birthplace KY
James M., age 13, male, birthplace MO, attended school
Julia M., age 10, female, birthplace MO, attended school
Sam’l W., age 7, male, birthplace MO, attended school
Eugene, age 5, male, birthplace MO, attended school
W.B. Harris, age 3, male, birthplace MO
Ann E. Harris, age 8 months, female, birthplace MO
Marcellus J. Harris, age 34, male, farmer, $4000 real estate, $7000 personal estate, birthplace VA, married within the year
Olive Harris, age 22, female, birthplace VA, married within the year
1870 Henry Co., MO Census – Tebo Township:
Clinton Post Office, 3 August, Page 66, line 13
486/492 Harris, Aurelius B., age 49, white male, farmer, born VA, over age 21
Eliza, age 46, white female, keeping house, born KY
Samuel W., age 17, white male, born MO
Eugene, age 15, white male, born MO
Ann E., age 10, white female, born MO
1880 Henry Co., MO Census – Tebo Township:
Page 23, 9 June, District 6, ED 177
117/125 Harris, A.B., white male, age 59, widowed, farmer, born VA, both parents born VA
Samuel W., white male, age 26, son, single, works on farm, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY
Eugene, white male, age 24, son, single, works on farm, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY
Wm. B., white male, age 22, son, single, married, works on farm, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY
Annie B., white female, age 19, daughter, married, keeping house, born MO, father born KY, mother born IL
Bradley, Henry B., black male, age 14, servant, single, works on farm, attended school, born TN, both parents born TN
1880 Benton Co., MO Census – Warsaw:
Dist. 6, ED 184, Page 35, Line 22, 14 June
22/23 Dunnington, F.O., white male, age 47, married, laborer, born WV, both parents born WV
Olive, white female, age 37, wife, married, keeping house, born WV, both parents born WV
Clyde, white male, age 8, son, single, born MO, both parents born WV
Harris, Laura, white female, age 17, step-daughter, music teacher, born MO, both parents born WV
1900 Henry Co., MO Census – Tebo Township:
20 June, Dist. 6, ED 90, Page 17A, line 23
342/342 Harris, Eugene, head, white male, born November 1854, age 45, married 16 years, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY, farmer, unemployed 0 months, can read & write, speaks English, owns farm free, farm # 196
Minnie, wife, white female, born December 1866, age 33, married 16 years, 0 children, 0 living, born MO, both parents born MO, can read & write, speaks English
1900 Henry Co., MO Census – Tebo Township:
25 June, Dist. 6, ED 90 page 19A, Line 31
331/381 Harris, William, head, white male, born June 1857, married 21 years, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY, farmer, can read & write, speaks English, owns farm free, farm # 282
Anne, wife, white female, born February 1861, age 39, married 21 years, 9 children, 7 living, born MO, father born IL, mother born KY, can read & write, speaks English
Kate, daughter, white female, born March 1882, age 18, single, born MO, both parents born MO, attended school 8 months, can read & write, speaks English
Ben, son, white male, born October 1883, age 16, single, born MO, both parents born MO, attended school 7 months, can read & write, speaks English
Eliza, daughter, white female, born August 1885, age 14, single, born MO, both parents born MO, attended school 8 months, can read & write, speaks English
John, son, white male, born January 1882, age 12, single, born MO, both parents born MO, attended school 6 months, can read & write, speaks English
Eugene, son, white male, born July 1890, age 9, single, born MO, both parents born MO, attended school 6 months, can read & write, speaks English
Sallie, daughter, white female, born October 1891, age 8, single, born MO, both parents born MO, attended school 4 months, can read & write, speaks English
Hellin, daughter, white female, born January 1894, age 6, single, single, born MO, both parents born MO, speaks English
Aurielius, father, white male, born February 1821, age 79, widowed, born VA, both parents born VA, can read & write, speaks English
1910 Henry Co., MO Census – Tebo Township:
11 May, Dist. 6, ED 97, Page 25 A, Line 13
142/142 Harris, S.W., head, white male, age 57, married 25 years, 1st marriage, born MO, father born VA, mother born KY, speaks English, laborer, general farm, can read & write, owns mortgaged farm, farm # 129
Lelia, wife, white female, age 48, married 25 years, 1st marriage, 4 children, 4 living, born MO, both parents born NC, speaks English, no occupation, can read & write
Samuel R., son, white male, age 24, single, born MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, carpenter in Kansas, not unemployed, can read & write, not attending school
Lee W., son, white male, age 20, single, born MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, farm laborer, general farm, not unemployed, can read & write, not attending school
D.W., son, white male, age 18, single, born MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, farm laborer, home farm, not unemployed, can read & write, not attending school
Mary F., daughter, white female, age 13, single, born MO, both parents born MO, speaks English, no occupation, can read & writes, attends school
St. Clair Co., MO Circuit Court Records:
April 1855 - The State of Missouri vs Marcellus Harris
Indictment for Murder. Now at this day Comes the Circuit attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf, as well as the Said Marcellus J. Harris defendant in Said Indictment in his own proper person as principal and Pleasant M. Cox, Aurelius B. Harris, Edwin E. Harris, Uriah L. Sutherland, William W. Ritchey, John T. McClain his Sureties and acknowledge themselves Jointly and Severally to owe and Stand indebted to the State of Missouri in the Sum of Ten Thousand Dollars to be levied of their respective goods and chattels lands and tenements to be rendered void upon condition that the said Marcellus J. Harris Defendant in this cause Shall make his personal appearance before the Judge of this court in the Courthouse in the Town of Osceola on the first day of the next term of this Court which Commences on the fifth Monday after the fourth Monday in September next and then and there Answer Said Indictment for murder and not depart the Court without leave.
April Term 1855 - State of Missouri vs Marcellus J. Harris. Indictment for Murder. Now at this day comes John F. Weidemeyer, John T. McClain, Richard C. Vaughan and acknowledge themselves Severally indebted to the State of Missouri in the Sum of Fifty dollars each to be levied of their respective goods and chattels lands and tenements to be rendered void upon condition that they each respectively make their personal appearance before the judge of this court at the Court house in the Town of Osceola on the first day of the next term of said court which commences on the fifth Monday after the fourth Monday in September next to give evidence on the part of the State of Missouri in an indictment against Marcellus J. Harris for Murder and not depart the Court without leave.
October Term 1855 – State of Missouri, Plff vs Marcellus J. Harris, Deft. Indictment for Murder. A true copy of the Indictment against Said defendant in this cause was delivered to Waldo P. Johnson Attorney for said Defendant at 12, minutes after 10 oclock AM by the clerk of this court.
November Term 1855 – State of Missouri, Plff vs Marcellus J. Harris, Deft. Indictment for murder. Now at this day comes the circuit attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf as well as the Said defendant in his own proper person and also by attorney And by agreement of the parties this cause is by the court ordered to be continued until the next term of this court.
November Term 1855 - State of Missouri, Pltff vs Marcellus Harris, Deft. Indictment for Murder. Now at this day comes the circuit attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf as well as the said Defendant in his own proper person as principal and Pleasant M. Cox, Aurclius B. Harris, Edwin E. Harris and John T. McClain as his Sureties and acknowledge themselves to owe and Stand indebted to the State of Missouri in the Sum of Ten thousand Dollars to be levied of their respective goods and chattels lands and Tenements to the use of Said State to be rendered void upon condition that the Said defendant Marcellus J. Harris Shall make his personal appearance before the Judge of this court at the courthouse in the Town of Osceola on the first day of the next term of Said court to answer said “Indictment for Murder” and abide the Decision of the court and not depart the court without leave.
May Term 1856 – State of Missouri vs Marcellus J. Harris. Indictment for Murder. Now at this day comes the Circuit Attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf, as well as the said defendant in his own proper person and by attorney And on motion of said Circuit Attorney It is ordered by the Court that this Cause be continued until the next term of this Court and thereupon comes the said Marcellus J. Harris defendant in this cause as principal and Aurelius B. Harris, Edwin G. Harris, John T. McClain, Harry C. Douglass and Francis M. Cox as his sureties and acknowledge themselves to owe and Stand indebted to the State of Missouri in the sum of Ten Thousand dollars to be levied of their respective goods and Chattels Lands and Tenements to the use of said State to be rendered void upon condition that the said defendant Marcellus J. Harris shall make his personal appearance before the Judge of this Court at the Court house in the town of Osceola on the first day of the next term of said Court to answer said indictment for Murder and abide the decision of the Court and not depart the Court without leave. It is ordered by the Court that A special term of this Court be held at the Court House in the Town of Osceola in continuation of the present term of this Court Commencing on the first Monday in June next.
November Term 1856 - State of Missouri, Plff vs Marcellus J. Harris, Deft. Indictment for Murder. It is ordered by the court that Oliver C. Hall Attorney at law be and he is by the court appointed circuit attorney protem to prosecute for the State of Missouri in this Cause for the reason that Thomas W. Freeman Cir atty is Counsel for Plff And the said Oliver C. Hall being in court here accepts said appointment and agrees to prosecute for the State of Missouri in this case.
November Term 1856 - State of Missouri, Plff vs Marcellus J. Harris, Deft. Indictment for Murder. Now at this day comes the circuit attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf, as well as the said defendant Marcellus J. Harris in his own proper person and by attorney And for his plea in this behalf says he is not guilty in manner and form as in said Indictment is charged against him – and for his trial puts himself upon the country and the circuit Attorney for the State of Missouri doth the same whereupon comes a Jury Towit Anderson Allen, Thomas Chilton, Jonathan Culbertson, James C. Culbertson, C.H. Tapp, Harrison Hubbard, Caleb B. Starky, Thomas J. Parks, William Gardner, Gideon Davis, Hezekiah Thompson and Alfred G. Chilton, twelve good and lawful men elected and sworn to well and truly try the Issue in this cause who after hearing a portion of the evidence and there not being Sufficient time to go through with the case this evening were by the court adjourned until tomorrow Morning 8 oclock under the usual charge of the court.
November Term 1856 - State of Missouri vs Marcellus J. Harris. Indictment for murder. Now at this day comes again the Circuit attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf as well as the Said defendant in his own proper person and by attorney and the Jury Sworn on yesterday to try the Issue in this cause returned into court in custody of the Sheriff and after hearing further evidence in the case and there not being sufficient time to get through the case this day the Jury was by the court adjourned until tomorrow morning 8 oclock under the usual charge of the court.
November Term 1856 - State of Missouri vs Marcellus J. Harris. Indictment for Murder. Now at this day comes again the circuit attorney who prosecutes for the State of Missouri in this behalf as well as the said defendant Marcellus J. Harris in his own proper person and by attorney and the Jury Sworn on Wednesday last to try the Issue in this cause Joined returned into court here in the custody of the Sheriff and after hearing the remainder of the evidence in this Cause returned in to court the following verdict To wit “We the Jury upon our oath find the defendant Not guilty in manner and form as charged in the Indictment. Jonathan Culbertson Foreman” It is therefore considered and ordered by the court that the said defendant be acquitted and from his recognizance discharged and that he go hence thereof without day.
St. Clair County Courier, 28 January 2005:
Pages from the Past - There were many other crimes and casualties in St. Clair County in those late years of the nineteenth century. Marcellus Harris killed Dr. James Smith at Osceola less than a quarter mile from the courthouse. It was said to have been a plain case of murder. However, Harris was cleared by the law, only to be waylaid and assassinated a year later in 1861.
History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri, 1883:
Marcellus Harris killed Dr. James Smith at Osceola, and it was said to have been a plain case of murder. He was cleared by the law, only to be waylaid and assassinated about a year after, 1861, not over one-fourth of a mile from the courthouse.
Osceola Sun, 28 August 1879:
Mr. F.O. Dunnington, wife and two children, of Boonville, are in town, the guests of W.P. Johnson. Mrs. Dunnington is a sister of Mr. J., and at the outbreak of the war was a resident of the place known as the Harris farm on Sac River, being at that time the wife of Marcellus Harris, whose death occurred in 1862. Mr. Dunnington will return in a few days, but his family will remain here some time.
History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri, 1883:
Bridge Commissioner: 1859 - Aurelius B. Harris
County Assessor: 1859 - District No. 2, Marcellus J. Harris
History of Henry and St. Clair Counties, Missouri, 1883:
To our fellow citizens, friends and acquaintances in this section of the state.
We are in the midst of an excitement unparalleled in our history, but it should be remembered and born in mind by all good citizens, that the state of Missouri is yet a member of the Federal Union. The people are still under the broad aegis of the constitution and laws which guarantee to every citizen protection to his person and property, and the free enjoyment of his opinions. And while we stand by the constitutional and proper authorities of our state, and will cheerfully obey its mandates, yet we would invoke our fellow citizens, by every consideration dear to the rights of men, to abstain from all violence whatever, upon citizens in your midst, on account of differences of political views. Let them be permitted to enjoy them, at their usual places of abode, free and unmolested. We exhort you to use no violence, in word or deed, to their persons or property - for all should remember that any such rash conduct will never prosper a just cause.
Hastily, in conclusion, we invoke you to keep the peace in your neighborhoods, and let every man's person or property be kept inviolate, under the constitution and laws of the state.
William J. Mayo, Waldo P. Johnson, William A. McClain, George H. Vaughan, J.F. Weidmeyer, D.P. Morgan, John T. Crenshaw, W.L. Vaughan,
M.J. Harris, R.C. Vaughan, R.R. Cocke, T.W. Mitchell, John T. McClain,
Samuel C. Harrison *W. Dorrell, Samuel Moore, Thomas B. Johnson, Aaron Trippitt, James W. Beck, Thomas R. Vaughan, Joseph W. Cox, William Rice
P.M. Cox, T.N. Henly, S.C. Bruce, John J. Yeater, E.D. Murphy
Osceola, Missouri, May 18, 1861
Osceola Presbyterian Church:
The early settlers of Osceola needed a place to worship. Harmony Mission was so far distant that they planned an organization of their own. In 1842, there were found to be eight members of the far distant church living in Osceola. They called for representatives from the Mission to come and meet with them and organize them into a church body. Rev. Amasa Jones and Rev. E.P. Nod met with them on the first Saturday in March 1842. Those members presenting their letters were: Samuel W. Harris, Robert Osborn, Melissa Osborn, Dovey Osborn, Elizabeth Osborn, Lawrence Lewis, Jane S. Moore and Elizabeth Cox.
St. Clair Co., MO Circuit Court Records:
March 1858 - Uriah L. Sutherland, Marcellus J. Harris, Aurelius B. Harris and William W. Ritchey Executors of the last will and testament of Samuel W. Harris, deceased.
April Term 1865 - The Merchants Bank of St. Louis vs Sam’l. Moore, Waldo P. Johnson & Elmon Y. McWilliams, Public Administrator having in charge the Estate of Marcellus J. Harris, deceased. Civil Action on Promissory Note
Osceola Cemetery Records, Osceola, St. Clair Co., MO:
HARRIS, Edwin Eugene born 1828; died 1864
HARRIS, Margaret Ann, 1833-1914, buried beside him in old records
HARRIS, Samuel W., 1793-1852 (1812 War Veteran)
HARRIS, Sarah Miller, wife of Samuel W., 1796-1861
St. Clair Co., MO Cemetery Records:
Harris, Edwin Eugene, 1828 – 1864
Harris, Margaret Ann, 1833 – 1914
Harris, Samuel W., 1 April 1793 – 5 February 1852
Harris, Sarah Miller, 14 April 1796 – 19 November 1861
Henry Co., MO Cemetery Records:
Calhoun Cemetery, Tebo Township
Harris, Anness, died 21 November 1876, age 17 years, 1 month, 21 days.
Harris, Aurelius B., born 15 February 1821; died 10 February 1902. Spouse: Eliza.
Harris, Eliza, died 23 September 1877, age 53 years, 1 month. Spouse: Aurelius B. Harris.
Harris, Gertrude, born 3 February 1892; died 25 November 1954.
Harris, Minnie Florence Legg, born 13 December 1865 Calhoun, MO; died 21 August 1913 ElDorado Springs, MO. Married 12 March 1884 to Eugene Joel Harris.
Harris, Eugene Joel, born 17 November 1854, died 26 February 1928 Calhoun, Henry Co., MO.
