Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 116.
 
THOMAS WILSON HARRIS, M. D.

     Dr. Thomas Wilson Harris, a medical practitioner of the Willamette Valley
for more than a half century and a resident of Eugene during the greater part of
that time, had attained the age of about seventy-six years when he departed this
life on the 30th of November, 1925. In the work of his profession he showed
himself thoroughly conversant with the most advanced methods and principles of
medicine and surgery, and in all of his professional duties he held to high
ideals and gave to his patrons the benefit of zealous service. He was born in
Putnam, county, Indiana, about sixteen miles from Greencastle, December 27,
1849, and was a son of the Rev. John M. and Jane (Wilson) Harris. It was in the
closing decade of the seventeenth century that three brothers of the name
crossed the Atlantic from England to New York. Two of these went to the south,
while the other located in the north. Dr. Harris was descended from one of those
who established his home in the south. His grandfather, Samuel Harris, was a
native of Virginia and served as a captain in the Revolutionary war. During
colonial days he had married a lady of  German extraction and their son, the
Rev. John Moses Harris, was born in Stanford, Kentucky, April 1, 1803. He was
fourteen years of age when his father joined the Shakers at Shakertown,
Kentucky, there spending the remainder of his life, as also did his daughter.
John M. Harris lived with the Shakers until he was eighteen years of age, when
he ran away. Subsequently he went to Indiana and in 1827 married Jane Wilson, a
daughter of Thomas Wilson, who with his family left Kentucky for Indiana in
1820, settling in Putnam county. The Rev. John M. Harris took up his abode upon
a farm in the Hoosier state, settling in the midst of a tract of timber land,
after which he cleared his fields and developed his place. Up to that time he
had attended school for only three months and his education, like that of
Abraham Lincoln, was acquired through study by the light of the hickory bark
fire. He often pored over his books until midnight. He became thoroughly read in
history and was a natural logician. It is said that he had a wonderful memory
and that his mind was "like wax to receive and granite to hold." He was most
thoroughly informed concerning the scriptures, few ministers being able to quote
more fully and correctly from holy writ. His wife's people were very devout
members of the Christian church and this led the Rev. John M. Harris to take up
the study of the Bible and gradually he worked into the ministry, recognizing
the fact that he had a gift for earnest and effective speaking. He preached in
Indiana until 1856 and spent the succeeding year in Minnesota. He afterward went
to Adams county, Illinois, where he remained until 1865, when he crossed the
plains. He soon obtained prominence in the ministry in the northwest, as he had
elsewhere. He had engaged in evangelical work in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and
Missouri before establishing his home on the Pacific coast. Locating first at
Albany in the Willamette Valley, he dedicated the first Christian church
building of importance in Eugene and he remained active in the ministry up to
the time of his death, which occurred in 1882. Fraternally he was affiliated
with the Masons.
     Dr. Thomas W. Harris was one of a family of ten children, nine of whom
reached adult age. He was educated in the common schools and Albany College and
at the Christian College at Monmouth, Oregon, thus completing his more
specifically literary course. He first read medicine under Dr. J. C. Shelton, of
Salem, and was graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1872. He often
returned home and practiced at Albany for three years, after which he took
post-graduate work in the medical department of the University of California for
a year and later spent some time in hospital practice. He probably drove more in
attending patients than any physician in western Oregon. During a period of
thirty years of active practice he indulged in only one week's vacation. He was
always ready to respond to the call of the sick whether they where in affluent
or humble financial circumstances. A broad humanitarian spirit underlay his work
and, combined with his scientific knowledge and long experience, made him a most
capable practitioner. He was a member of the Lane County Medical Society and
that he was prominent in the profession was indicated in the fact that he was
elected its president for four or five different terms. He also belonged to the
Oregon State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His residence
in Eugene dated from the 16th of May, 1878, at which time he entered into
partnership with T. W. Shelton. In the succeeding years he developed a very
large practice and his work was ever of a most commendable character. While a
prominent and successful physician, Dr. Harris was also a man of wide interests
along business and other lines. For several years he raised standard bred
horses, including some fine trotters with splendid records. He was likewise
heavily interested in timber lands.
     On the 24th of October, 1872, Dr. Harris was united in marriage to Miss
Laura Agnes Cattron, a daughter of Jonathan Cattron, of Monmouth, Oregon. They
were the parents of two children: Hon. L. T. Harris, of Eugene, and Agnes, the
wife of J. A. Harvey, of Eugene. On the 12th of December, 1912, Dr. Harris was
married to Martha Pearl Swaim, a native of Leavenworth. Kansas, and a daughter
of John William and Johanna (Trower) Swaim.
     Dr. Harris was a prominent Mason, belonging to Eugene Lodge, No. 11, A. F.
& A. M., of which he was a past master; Eugene Chapter. No. 10, R. A. M.,
Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 2, K. T.; Oregon Consistory, A. & A. S. R.; and Al Kader
Temple of the Mystic Shrine. In politics he was an active and influential
factor. He was mayor of Eugene from 1899 until 1901 and then declined a second
nomination, for he was not a politician in the sense of desiring office as a
reward for party fealty and service. He was however, chairman of the republican
county central committee for several terms and chairman of the first district
congressional republican committee and conducted three congressional campaigns.
He was also president of the Eugene City Water Company and he gave active aid
and support to many projects and measures for the public good, whereby the city
has been greatly benefited. Eugene numbered him among her valued
representatives, his life being one of signal service and usefulness in many
connections and his passing was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.
     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.