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W. H. Harris – 24th United States Colored Troops
Posted By Norman Gasbarro on September 30, 2019
William H. Harris, an African American who was born in Henrietta County, Virginia, died on 14 October 1910 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Several local newspapers provided a brief obituary:
From the Harrisburg Patriot, 4 November 1910:
W. H. Harris
The funeral of W. H. Harris, a Civil War veteran who died at his home, 326 Calder Street, early Saturday morning, will take place this afternoon from Zion Baptist Church. Rev. Walter Tolliver, the pastor, will officiate. Mr. Harris was a member of Post 520, G.A.R. and of the Baptist Church. Interment will be made in Lincoln Cemetery.
From the Harrisburg Telegraph, 17 Oct 1910:
W. H. Harris
The funeral of W. H. Harris, a veteran of the Civil War and a member of David R. Stevens‘ Post, No. 520, Grand Army of the Republic, who died yesterday afternoon at his home, 324 Calder Street, after a few days’ illness, will take place Monday afternoon at Zion Baptist Church, Rev. Walter Toliver officiating.
Mr. Harris was one of the most faithful members of Zion Church. He is survived by his widow and adult children in Virginia and Pittsburgh.
And, from the Harrisburg Daily Independent, 15 October 1910:
W. H. Harris
W. H. Harris, of 326 Calder Street, died at his home yesterday after a brief illness. He was a veteran of the Civil War and was a member of Post 520, Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Harris was a faithful member of the Zion Baptist Church and had much to do with the growth of the church. He is survived by his wife, Jane, and several children.
The funeral services will be held at Zion Baptist Church on Monday afternoon. Rev. Walter Tolliver will officiate.
The death certificate of William H. Harris gave some additional information about him:
Some of the facts from the death certificate:
- Name: William Harris
- Sex: Male
- Color or Race: Negro
- Marital Status: Married.
- Occupation: None
- Parent’s Names: Unknown
- Date of Death: 14 October 1910
- Cause of Death: Auto intoxication due to intestinal obstruction, complicated by broncho-pneumonia.
- Place of Burial: Lincoln Cemetery
Information on Private Harris is presented in this blog not because he had a direct connection with the Lykens Valley area, but because he was one of the many African American soldiers living and working in Dauphin County who were denied full rights, including membership in the many “white only” posts of the G.A.R. The Stevens Post in Harrisburg, was specifically established as a “colored” G.A.R. post and was the only such post known in the county. One was its founders was John Peter Crabb, an African American native of Gratz, whose father, Peter Crabb, was one of the first settlers of Gratz. Some time after the Civil War John Peter Crabb moved from Gratz to Harrisburg and when denied membership in the two white posts, worked to establish the “colored” post, known as No. 520. William H. Harris served in the same type of segregated regiment as did John Peter Crabb, so researching his life and service may shed some light on the life and service of John Peter Crabb and some of the other African Americans with a Lykens Valley connection.
Research is ongoing into this veteran including confirming the regiment and company in which he served.
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News clippings from Newspapers.com and Free Library of Philadelphia.
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