Elliot Harris

Quick Facts

Significance:

Kansas Homesteader

Place of Birth:

Harrisburg, Kentucky

Date of Birth:

January 20, 1868

Place of Death:

Hutchinson, Kansas

Date of Death:

March 12, 1947

Place of Burial:

Hutchinson, Kansas

Cemetery Name:

Hutchinson Eastside Cemetary

On March 24, 1878, a group of black Kentuckians from Lexington and Harrodsburg arrived in southwest Kansas. Among the leaders of this caravan was Frank Harris along with his family including ten-year-old son, Elliot Harris. Due to is age, Elliot Harris had avoided the clutches of enslavement that his parents and his older siblings experienced.

Upon arriving in Hodgeman County, the group of Exodusters made land claims under the Homestead Act of 1862. They hoped to establishing a black community called Morton City similar to Nicodemus in northern Kansas .

Following in his father’s footsteps, Elliot, at the age of 23, filed his own homesteading claim for the NE ¼ of Sec. 13 in T 22 S of R 24 W in Hodgeman County, KS on November 9, 1891.

Around the same time, Elliot and his wife Vina adopted a daughter named Neva Jane. Together, the family of three would “prove up” their homestead. The requirements primarily consisted of two things: one, they had to cultivate a tract of their land; two, they had to make improvements to the land.

On March 1, 1892 Elliot Harris began settled on his land claim and began the construction of a 12 x 16 wooden frame house. Additional land improvements included a sod barn, two wells, a sod hen house, a sod house, a sod addition to the frame house, and the erection of barbed wire. These improvements were valued at $300 in 1898.

For the cultivation requirements, Elliot raised crops for seven years on 65 acres, producing a yield every year but one.

To receive his land patent and take full ownership of his claim, Elliot Harris still needed to complete his final proof. This process included the Proof of Publication – a notice published in the Western Herald newspaper from June 23, 1898 until July 28, 1898 (six consecutive weeks) stating Harris’ intentions of making final proof. Then he needed two individuals to testify as witnesses that Elliot had made land improvements and cultivated his land. He chose Julius C. Hubbel and Noah Reed.

The testimonials were completed when all three men visited the Land Office at Dodge City, Kansas on July 30, 1898. That same day Elliot Harris acted as a witness for three other homesteaders: George Harris, Rachel Skearce, and Noah Reed.

In culmination of successfully homesteading, Elliot Harris received his land patent #5056 on May 31, 1899.

For ten more years Elliot Harris farmed his 160-acre homestead – producing strong yields of mostly wheat, barley, and rye. But following the death of his mother (Elizabeth Harris) in 1908, Elliot would leave his farm for Hutchinson, Kansas. Although he no longer lived on a farm, Elliot still worked as a farmer in Reno County.

Around 1915, Elliot’s daughter – Neva – moved out of his house and into Alonzo Bradbridge’s household as a domestic servant. Neva would later marry C.T. Lewis around 1917. Unfortunately, their marriage would be cut short, as she would die from illness on February 21, 1918.

The death of Neva began a series of unfortunate years in Elliot’s life. On October 9, 1920, Frank Harris, Elliot’s father, passed away from cholera at the age of 99. Then his wife Vina died on Oct. 22, 1921 after a prolonged illness.

His father, Frank Harris’ death also proved to be a catalyst of division among his children. Frank was one of the best known African American farmers in the area. Through the years he had accumulated a substantial amount of property and wealth. Four Harris children and a son-in-law managed to acquire the majority, if not all, of their father’s assets. On September 26, 1921, in response to their exclusion, five Harris siblings – led by Elliot – filed a petition for partition and fair distribution of their father’s land. It is unknown if Elliot’s bid for his father’s assets was fruitful.

Elliot Harris had a staunch religious devotion. This was first exemplified as being the superintendent of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Jetmore in 1894. Later in life he also served as a deacon for the Colored Baptist Church of Hutchinson in 1929.

He remarried on October 10, 1924 to 43-year-old widow Theodosia Owens. Theodosia had two surviving children of whom Elliot now became the stepfather. Floyd Owens from her previous marriage and Sophronia Allen whom she had adopted from her sister.

After a long-lived life, Elliot Harris passed away at the age of 79 on March 12, 1947. He was buried in Hutchinson Eastside Cemetery.
 

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Sources

• 1880, 1900, 1910, 1930 U.S. Federal Census
• 1885, 1895, 1915, 1925 Kansas Census
• Patent Details - BLM GLO Records 160 acre homestead
• Homestead Land Case File (see below)
• Benefit Dinner. Western Herald, 5 Apr. 1894, p. 4.
• “Timber Culture Final Proof--Notice for Publication.” Western Herald, 14 July 1898, p. 4.
• “Mrs. Neva Lewis Dies.” The Jetmore Republican, 15 Mar. 1918, p. 1.
• Death of Frank Harris. The Jetmore Republican, 8 Oct. 1920, p. 5.
• “Publication Notice.” The Jetmore Republican, 30 Sept. 1921, p. 7.
• “Death Claims Mrs. Vina Harris.” The Hutchinson Blade, 29 Oct. 1921, p. 1.
• “Hutchinson News.” The Negro Star, 31 Oct. 1924, p. 1.
• “Negro Baptist Church Elects New Officials.” The Hutchinson News, 12 Jan. 1929, p. 11.  
• Elliott Harris (1874-1947) - Find A Grave Memorial