Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/293

 VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

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Wolcott Enos was born in Marine, Illinois. Began the practice of medicine in Jersey- ville, Illinois, moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1889. where he has continued to practice until the present time. His father, Dr. Charles Rawly Enos, was a farmer in Illi- nois, but in middle life took up the study and practice of medicine and continued in active practice until eighty-four years of age. His mother. Elizabeth (Thorp) Enos, was born in Boston, England, and came to America when thirteen years old.

Sara Elizabeth (Cory) Enos was a de- scendant from the Shellman family of New York state and a lineal descendant of the famous old Dutch family — Anna Kagari — whose farm is now the site of Wall street and Trinity Church (leased by her for one hundred years and the lessees held posses- sion. See famous old suit over title, still in New York courts). Grace Ethel Enos (Mrs. Rice) is a lineal descendant of Eph- raim Patterson, who was born in Stratford, Connecticut, March 22, 1739, and died in New Lebanon, New York, May 3, 1809. He assisted in establishing American Independ- ence. He was sergeant in Captain Strong's company in Hoisington's Rangers, "New Hampshire Scouts," Brigadier-General John Stark's brigade militia, lieutenant in Captain labez ^'aughan"s company in Colonel E)avid Hobart's regiment. See Vermont Revolu- tionary Rolls, page 802 ; Archives of State of New York, page 130; State Papers, New Hampshire, Revolutionary Rolls, vol. 2, page 152, and vol. 4, page 253.

Mrs. Rice is a great-great-granddaughter of Joseph Enos and Thankful Coon. Joseph Enos served in the capacity of ensign in the American revolution. See records in Pen- sion Office, W'ashington, D. C, and Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, vol. i, page 404. Thankful Coon is a descendant from Scotch nobility. The spelling of the name was changed after coming to America.

William A. Harris, M. D. A little less than two centuries ago James Harris, the progenitor of the New Jersey branch of the Harris family, from whom springs Dr. \\'\\- liam A. Harris, of Spottsylvania, Virginia, born in Bristol, Somersetshire. England, near the Welsh border, came to the Ameri- can colonies, settling in Essex countv. New Jersey. He was born early in the eighteenth century and came to .America about 1725. He married a Miss Bolevn, and had a farn-

ily of six sons and one daughter. Their de- scendants are now found in every state and territory, and their names adorn the pages of American history as soldiers in every war the United States has waged ; as ministers, one becoming a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal church ; as professional men of eminence, as farmers and business men. James Harris, the founder, was a man of considerable force of character, a merchant tailor by occupation, in religion an Episco- palian, dying in that faith just prior to the revolution. His son, Thomas, was a soldier in the revolution, as were two other sons, George and John. From such stock came Robert M. C. Harris, who leaving his New Jersey home, settled in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, his farm lying about eight miles above the Court House.

Thomas Addison Harris, son of Robert M. C. Harris, was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, August 23, 1846, and died at Spottsylvania Court House, January 25, 1912. His life was devoted to the service of the state and county, first as soldier of the Confederacy, and later as an officer of the courts of Spottsylvania. .Mthough barely nineteen years of age when the war between the states ended, he had served for the greater part of the four years warfare in the One Hundred and Eighteenth Regiment X'irginia Infantry, First Brigade, had been wounded and lain two months in a hospital, then returned to his regiment, serving as a non-commissioned officer until the sur- render. He then returned to Spottsylvania county, where in 1866 he was appointed L^nited States commissioner of internal reve- nue, holding that position for fifteen years. In 1881 he was elected high sheriff of the county and through successive reelections held that office for twenty-two years. In 1903 he was elected clerk of the courts of the county and held that office continuously until his death, January 25, 1912. He was an honorable, upright and conscientious public official, his private life being beyond reproach and meriting the confidence dis- played by his fellowmen in continuing him so long in positions of trust. He married Mary Elizabeth Poole, born in Tennessee in 1848. and died in 1889, daughter of Alfred and Mary (King) Poole.

There were five Harris brothers serving in the Confederate army at the same time, all sons of Robert M. C. Harris, Thomas Addison and his four brothers. One of