| Robert Emmett Harris, born March 17, 1853 in Marshall County, Alabama,
died December 7, 1923 at Burkett, was the son of James M. and Elizabeth
(Blasingame) Harris. Robert E., along with four sisters and a brother,
came to Hill County, Texas, along with the Blasingame family, shortly after
the death of James M. in the late l860’s. The Blasingames moved to
California, but Robert and his three sisters, Charlsie, Mahalia and Mary
came to Coleman County in 1868. He began working as a cowhand for
a rancher named Walter Erath, the son of Colonel George B. Erath for whom
Erath County was named. Robert E. went on a trail drive to Dodge
City, Kansas, and returned to Coleman County to begin his own cattle operation.
He built his herd up to about 300 head on a ranch south of Burkett on the
Pecan Bayou. He married Tennessee Lucrecia “Dink” Brown, March 26,
1879, the daughter of John R. Brown (see J. R. Brown). All of their
children were born at Burkett and are:
(1) Walter Raymond, born December 3, 1879, died in 1948, married Lou
Thames; children were Adrian, Ivan, Bennie, Odessa, and Billie.
(2) Robert Emmett (twin of Walter R.), December 3, 1879, death date
not known, married Maggie Beulah Colvin; children were Vernon, Quinn, Monte,
and Opal.
(3) Eudora, born July 6, 1883, died 1969 at Santa Anna, married Will
R. Roberts; children were Onie Mae and Velma Lee, who married K .M. Mosley
and live at Santa Anna.
(4) Arch Bart, born November 30, 1885, is still living in Coleman, married
Mary Lou Colvin; children were Virgie (born July 7, 1909, married Walter
Adams of Burkett), Elsie (born August 29, 1912, married Ben Partie and
lives in Cross Plains), Lorane (born October 5, 1915, married Lon Gray),
Erma Rea (born May 16, 1918, married Jim Tomlinson of Coleman), and A.
B., Jr. (born August 12, 1926).
(5) Ernest Lindwood, born February 17, 1888, died July 6, 1980, married
Lyda Keller, August 21, 1914 in Coleman; children were Robert E. and Wayne
(see Peter Keller).
(6) Jesse James, born November 20, 1890, death date not known, married
Mattie May Colvin; children were Wjlda of Burkett and Willie, who married
a Tomlinson.
(7) James Benton, born August 7, 1892 died January 13, 1976, married
first Joan Adams (February 14, 1928), second Dovie Bessett; children were
Johnny, who lives in Coleman with his mother, Billy, Leonard and Mary.
(8) Tennessee Ruby, born February 16, 1895, married C. Clayton Burns,
September 9, 1919; their child was Wanda Jean, who married B. J. McAnally
(see McAnally).
(9) John Otto, September 6, 1897 - February 2, 1974 at Coleman, married
Adelaide “Addie Lee” Smith; child was Robert, now of Houston. John
Otto was a Coleman Attorney.
(10) Audie, May 6, 1900 - July 19, 1980, married L. Dolph Evans at Burkett;
children were Theda (Kornegay), Mourine (Clark) of Burkett, Robbie (Lucks),
Reba Nell (Steinman), and Sonja (Henson).
(11) Birdie, born August 25, 1903, married Vern Helms, March 10, 1924
at Burkett, child was Milton Gill, who still lives at Burkett with his
mother (see John William Wesley).
The Robert Emmett Harris children, for the most part, spent all their
lives in Coleman County. Part of the original land that belonged
to Robert E. is still in the Harris family. John and James are buried
at Coleman, the others at Burkett. Many of their descendants still
live in Coleman County.
Of Robert E. Harris’ siblings, Charlsie was born January 11, 1848 in
Alabama and married William Bernard Erath McLennan at Waco in 1872.
They lived at China Springs. Mahalia was born February 3, 1850 in
Alabama, married Sidney Henderson Hughs in 1877, in McLennan County, and
died May 1, 1901 at Burkett. Her husband died in 1917 at Baird, both
buried at Burkett. Their children were James Emory, Robert Emmett
(see Nations-Lockridge), Sidney Foy, Eugene, and Charlcie. The last
two were born in Burkett. The children did not remain in Coleman
County. Mary Elizabeth (birth date unknown) married Samuel D. Hawley
in McLennan County, died in 1936 in Brownwood.
(Images to be added)
Tennessee Lucrecia and Robert Emmett Harris
Birdie, Vernon, and son, Gill Helms
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