Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. p. 497. VICTOR B. HARRIS A prominent farmer of Athena, Umatilla county, is Victor B. Harris who has arrived at his present position of prominence in the community solely through his own efforts. He was born near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1871, a son of Bradley Harris. Victor B. Harris left Tennessee when just a small boy with his father, his mother having died, and they settled in Alabama. Victor B. Harris remained there for some time and then went to Texas, making his home with his brothers, Walter and Lee. There he operated a small tract of land and when eighteen years of age removed to Portland, Oregon, making the journey by way of boat from Los Angeles. He worked in a cannery for some time and then drove an ox-team, hauling coal. In the spring of 1889 he came to Centerville, now Athena, and obtained work on the ranches of Jerry and Zerk Stone. He also worked for a harvesting outfit and later came to Athena, where he purchased some building lots and worked in a brick yard both at Athena and Adams. When he first came to Athena his worldly possessions consisted of fifty cents and a shabby suit of clothes. Sometime later Mr. Harris bought a team and drove to the Big Ben country in Washington where he preempted some timber land and proved up on same. He subsequently returned to Athena and two years later he sold his Washington property and bought a quarter section of land eight miles northwest of Athena. Two years later he bought another quarter section and in 1913 bought his present place of ten acres in Athena, upon which he has erected fine buildings. Mr. Harris started out in life as a poor boy but had the courage and grim determination that would not allow any obstacle long to remain in his path, and his success is due entirely to his own unaided efforts. He owes no man a penny and is indeed entitled to the title of a self-made man. His success and ability as an agriculturist are readily acknowledged. He is now in possession of three hundred and twenty acres of land worth easily two hundred and fifty dollars per acre and has a fine residence in Athena. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.