(Part I Descendants of William Harris has two sub-parts, Chapter 1a and Chapter 1b.
Chapter 1a (this chapter) lists descendants of Harbert Harris and his first wife, Ester Dornbush, and Chapter 1b lists descendants of Harbert Harris and his second wife, Mary Bradley. The general paragraphs that relate to Harbert Harris's entire family, are repeated in both chapters. Use the hotlinks to navigate back and forth between the chapters. Note that chapter 1b also has two subchapters listed in the navigation bar, above.)

Harbert Harris³ (Wm.², Isaac¹), was age 64 when the 1850 census of McDowell County, North Carolina was taken, and therefore was born about 1786. He was undoubtedly born on his father's farm in Montford's Cove, Rutherford County, North Carolina. After 1842, when McDowell County was formed from Rutherford and Burke Counties, much of the Montford's Cove area including the Harris property was in the new county. Most of William Harris's children moved on to other areas. Only the descendants of Harbert Harris are known to have remained in the Rutherford County area over the years.

Harbert married his first wife, Ester Dornbush or Dornbach, January 9, 1818. They had six children who were all born before 1830, but only five have been identified. Two of his daughters were born before 1820. After his first wife died, Harbert married again. His second wife was Mary "Polly" Bradley, the daughter of Coleman Bradley. They had six children. We don't have the exact date of death for either of Harbert Harris's wives, but they were buried in the old Harris Family Cemetery. Margie (Harris) Cox, who supplied most of the information on the descendants of her ancestor Harbert Harris, described this cemetery as being an "Old family cemetery on top of a hill on her father's farm - perhaps 20 graves, overgrown for years and marked only by field stones with no information about the individuals buried there."

Many of Harbert's descendants were buried in Montford's Cove Cemetery. Some were buried in Montford's Cove Baptist Church Cemetery. I'm not sure if these are two separate cemeteries or not. I was a little confused as to whether these cemeteries were in Rutherford County, or McDowell County. Sometimes the record specifies that Montford's Cove Cemetery was in Rutherford County, and sometimes Montford's Cove Baptist Church Cemetery was said to be in Rutherford County, also. Sometimes the cemetery is called Montford's Church Cemetery. If there are just two cemeteries involved, both seem to be in Rutherford County, North Carolina.

Children of Harbert Harris and Ester Dornbush:
1. + Sarah "Sally" HARRIS b 31 Mar 1818; m Solomon GEER
2. (daughter) HARRIS b abt 1819, Montford's Cove, Rutherford (now McDowell) Co., NC
3. + Nancy HARRIS b 14 Feb 1821; m Maynard GILLIAM
4. Elizabeth "Betsy" HARRIS b 11 Mar 1822, Montford's Cove, Rutherford (now McDowell) Co., NC; d 30 Oct 1904, Stokesville, NC; m 8 Oct 1845 Jonathan "Jolly" MORGAN (s/o Jonathan MORGAN and Rebecca WILKERSON, and grandson of Perminter MORGAN and Gracie JONES), b 5 Oct 1824 McDowell Co., NC; d 13 Mar 1893, Stokesville, NC; both bur Sugar Hill, Rutherford Co., NC
   
   Children:
   
   1. Harbert MORGAN b 1848; m Emma  ? 
   2. John MORGAN b 1850
   3. Calvin MORGAN b 9 Jan 1852, d 22 Oct 1890; m Mary PITTMAN
   4. George A. MORGAN b 7 Nov 1853, d 17 Oct 1924; m Deliah WATKINS
   5. William Perminter MORGAN 9 Sep 1857; m Dora Ella BROKAN
   6. Rebecca MORGAN b 20 Mar 1860; m George CHANDLER
   7. Sarah Elizabeth MORGAN b 3 Jun 1864, d 13 Sep 1924; m William JONES
   
   
5. + William HARRIS b abt 1825 (25-1850); m Sallie WILKERSON
6. + John R. HARRIS b abt 1828 (22-1850); m Nancy HALL

Sarah "Sally" Harris⁴ (Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born March 31, 1818 at Montford's Cove, Rutherford (now McDowell) County, North Carolina, and died January 11, 1892 in Rutherford County. She married Solomon Geer, son of John and Martha Geer, March 17, 1842 in Rutherford County. He was born August 11, 1817 in Rutherford County, and died August 20, 1888. They were buried at Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Rutherford County, North Carolina. They lived in the Cathey's Creek area of Rutherford County when the 1850 census was taken.

Children:
1. Nancy GEER b abt 1843
2. Sarah GEER b abt 1845
3. Edmon GEER b abt 1849
4. George Washington GEER
5. Mattie GEER
6. Easter GEER
7. John Richard GEER b 6 Aug 1861; m Lula EDWARDS
   
   Children:
   
   1. Mamie L. GEER b 21 Dec 1884; m Edgar MITCHEM
   2. Mattie L. GEER b 17 Jan 1888; m Joe MORRIS
   3. Corrie G. GEER b 3 Feb 1890; m John LONG
   4. Addie H. GEER b 13 Apr 1892, d 30 Aug 1907
   5. Effie J. GEER b 19 Feb 1894; m Loren JOHNSON
   6. Nanie Ida GEER b 4 Feb 1896; m Max DOBBINS
   7. Worth D. GEER b 16 Nov 1898; m Elsie JOHNSON
   8. Elena H. GEER b 20 May 1902
   9. Monie C. GEER b 20 Jun 1904; m Lloyd BLANTON
   10. Jesse D. GEER b 13 Jul 1907; m Margie HAYNES
   11. Alma G. GEER b 17 Jan 1910; m Charles SOUTHER
   
   

Nancy Harris⁴ (Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born February 14, 1821 at Montford's Cove, Rutherford (now McDowell) County, North Carolina, and died August 18, 1888. She married Maynard Gilliam, son of William Gilliam and Sarah Souther. He was born August 20, 1814, and died July 14, 1883. They were buried in Bethlehem Cemetery, located between Sugar Hill, Rutherford County, and Old Fort, McDowell County, North Carolina.

Children:
1. + William Hobert GILLIAM b 24 Apr 1847; m Emily MACKEY
2. John Harris GILLIAM b 13 Jan 1852, d 21 Feb 1931; m Alice LONDON
3. Alfred M. GILLIAM b 14 Nov 1854, d 19 Sep 1916; m Mary Ann LYTLE
   
   Children:
   
   1. John Maynard GILLIAM m Lillie PARKER of Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC
      
      Children:
      
      1. Irene GILLIAM b 12 Apr 1905
      2. Nell GILLIAM b 10 Mar 1907
      3. Ethel Mary GILLIAM b 20 Aug 1909
      4. Gertie GILLIAM
      
      
   2. Will GILIAM m Jean CORN of Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC
   3. Nancy GILLIAM m Sam BROWN of Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC
   4. Mattie GILLIAM m Mr. NESBITT of Gastonia, Gaston Co., NC
   
   
4. Martha G. GILLIAM b 21 Jun 1859, d 22 Aug 1927; m John TURNER
   
   
   Children:
   
   1. Garfield TURNER
   2. Frank TURNER
   
   [Note: The following family was included on a page of descendants of Nancy Harris and Maynard Gilliam, but the identity of the parents of James Young Gilliam isn't clear.]
   
   
• James Young GILLIAM; m Maggie FORTUNE
  
  Children:
  
  1. Edwin GILLIAM
  2. Nolan GILLIAM
  3. Viola GILLIAM
  4. Walter GILLIAM
  5. Evelyn GILLIAM
  6. Margaret GILLIAM
  
  

William Hobert Gilliam⁵ (Nancy⁴, Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born April 24, 1847, and died December 1, 1934. He married Emily Mackey.

Children:

1. Lillie GILLIAM b 15 Aug 1871, d 30 Oct 1952; m Adolphus HENSLEY
2. Charlie GILLIAM b 28 Oct 1872, d 15 Apr 1940
3. Mollie GILLIAM b 1 Apr 1876, d 19 May 1899
4. Ella GILLIAM b 11 May 1878, d 2 Jan 1959
5. Nannie GILLIAM b 7 Jun 1880, d 7 Jun 1959
6. Maynard Alburtis GILLIAM b 12 Aug 1882, d 15 Sep 1963
7. Jordan J. GILLIAM b 3 Jun 1885, d 27 Nov 1959
8. Lucas Edgar GILLIAM b 17 Jul 1888, d 20 Apr 1954
9. Wilbur Landers GILLIAM b 15 May 1893, d 1978

William Harris⁴ (Harbert ³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born at Montford's Cove, Rutherford (now McDowell) County, North Carolina in about 1825; he was 25 years of age when the 1850 census of McDowell County was taken. He married Sallie Wilkerson, daughter of Jesse Wilkerson and Melinda Elliott, on October 2, 1851. She was born March 24, 1834 in McDowell County, and died December 26, 1912. He was killed in the Civil War.

Children:

1. Easter HARRIS b abt 1853, Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC, d before 1875; m George W. SELVEY
2. Sarah HARRIS b 19 Nov 1856, Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC, d 18 Sep 1909 Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC; m (after her sister's death) George W. SELVEY, b 10 Oct 1850 GA, d 18 Sep 1909, McDowell Co., NC; both bur Montford's Cove Cem., Rutherford Co., NC
   
   Children (Not listed in order of birth):
   
   1. Lula Melinda SELVEY b 4 Aug 1876, d 23 Mar 1959; m William Deaver HARRIS⁵ (s/o Sims HARRIS ⁴ (Harbert Harris³, Wm.², Isaac¹) and Nancy HALL); descendants listed under his name [this Part, Ch. 1b.1, Descendants of Sims Harris].
   2. Martha Etta SELVEY b 1 Mar 1878, d 6 Jan 1958; m Leonard A. BANNING
   3. Lettie SELVEY; m Judd D. WILLIAMS   [s/o Rufus "Ruie" WILLIAMS⁵ (Zilla Harris⁴, Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹) and Norma Salina "Pinkie" WILKERSON
   4. John SELVEY b 21 Sep 1882, d 3 Aug 1909; m Stella FRAZIER
   5. Eva SELVEY m Mood F. EARLY
   6. Ima SELVEY b 1891; m Joe SCROGGINS
   7. Joe SELVEY m Rena COFFEE
   8. Wash SELVEY m Nettie Belle MARLOWE
   
   
3. Caroline HARRIS (1869-1894), Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC; m Leander Bufort HARRIS   [s/o Sims HARRIS ⁴ (Harbert Harris³, Wm.², Isaac¹) and Nancy HALL], b 17 Mar 1869, d 14 Nov 1954; both "bur Montford's Cove Church Cem., Rutherford Co., NC"); descendants listed under his name [this Part, Ch. 1b.1, Descendants of Sims Harris]
4. Nancy HARRIS, b Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC; m William PAGET

John R. Harris, Sr.⁴ (Harbert Harris³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born at Montford's Cove, Rutherford (now McDowell) County, North Carolina in about 1828; he was age 22 when the 1850 census was taken. He married Nancy Hall, daughter of Macajah Hall and Nancy Wilkerson. She was born September 15, 1831 and died July 15, 1920. She was buried in Montford's Cove Cemetery, Rutherford County, North Carolina. He was killed during the Civil War.

Children:
1. Rebecca HARRIS b 4 Mar 1850, Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC, d 12 Jun 1935; m William NANNEY
2. + Macajah Jay HARRIS b 7 May 1853; m Marion Josephine LEDBETTER
   
3. + William Govan HARRIS b 26 Nov 1855; m 1st Mary Jane WILKERSON; m 2nd Sarah Lou HALL
4. Caldonia HARRIS b 26 May 1858, Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC, d 10 Sep 1862
5. + John R. HARRIS, Jr.,   b 24 Jan 1860; m Laura Lavine LEDBETTER
6. Millard HARRIS b 20 Aug 1863, Montford's Cove, McDowell Co., NC, d 24 Mar 1924 Montford's Cove; m Annie Elizabeth KOONE (d/o Grayson KOONE and Julie CRAWFORD), b 19 Feb 1879 "Montford's Cove," d 28 Sept 1979, Yanceyville, Caswell Co., NC; both bur Montford's Cove Cem., Rutherford Co., NC
   
   Children:
   
   1. Ernest HARRIS b 1 Oct 1899, d 4 Jul 1900
   2. Johnie Lee HARRIS b 21 Nov 1903, d 5 May 1919
   3. Annie Sue HARRIS b 19 Feb 1906; m Edward G. COLE
   4. Worth HARRIS b 22 Nov 1908; m Ruth DOGGATT
   5. Delbert HARRIS b 9 Apr 1911; m Pauline BRIDGES
   
   

Macajah Jay Harris⁵ (John R. Sr.⁴, Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born May 7, 1853, and died on February 9, 1938 in Montford's Cove, McDowell County, North Carolina. He married Marion Josephine Ledbetter, daughter of Jonathan Ledbetter and Martha Amanda Rucker. She was born May 7, 1857 in Montford's Cove on Greasy Creek, McDowell County, North Carolina, and died October 30, 1944, at Montford's Cove. They were buried in Montford's Cove Cemetery, Rutherford County, North Carolina.

Children:
1. James HARRIS b 12 Nov 1877, d 22 Dec 1879
2. Otto HARRIS b 29 Apr 1880, d 27 Aug 1880
3. Jonathan Richard HARRIS b 19 Sep 1882, d 2 Nov 1973; m Mattie E. VESS
   
   Children:
   
   1. Zelda Rodel HARRIS b 12 Nov 1901, d 4 Oct 1902, bur Montford's Cove Cem., Rutherford Co., NC
   2. Annie Laura HARRIS b 20 Jan 1903, d 20 Aug 1906, bur Montford's Cove Cem., Rutherford Co., NC
   3. Noma Morar HARRIS b 14 Jul 1904, d 30 Aug 1906, bur Montford's Cove Cem., Rutherford Co., NC
   4. Lauster HARRIS
   5. Pearl HARRIS
   6. Florine HARRIS
   7. Woodrow HARRIS
   8. Austin HARRIS
   9. Blanche HARRIS
   10. J. R. HARRIS
   
   
4. Ester Nancy Amanda HARRIS b 14 Mar 1894, d 15 Sep 1968; m Morris NANNEY b 22 Mar 1891
   
   Children:
   
   1. Stancil McRae NANNEY; m Odell BYLER
      
      Children:
      1. Jo Anne NANNEY
      2. Tommy NANNEY
      3. Jean NANNEY
      
      
   2. Hazel Laura NANNEY; m 1st Donald BURGINI m 2nd John
      
      Children of Hazel L. Nanney and Donald Burgin:
      1. Charles BURGIN
      2. Judy BURGIN
      
      

William Govan Harris⁵ (John R. Sr.⁴, Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born November 26, 1855, and died on December 15, 1939. He was married twice. He married his first wife, Mary Jane Wilkerson, daughter of Moses Wilkerson and Rebecca Hall on August 29, 1877. She was born on April 21, 1857, and died August 14, 1898. His second wife was Sarah Lou Hall. She was born on January 16, 1853, and died 26 Mar 1950. They had no children.

Children of William G. Harris and Mary J. Wilkerson:

1. Cora L. HARRIS b 17 Sep 1879, d 4 Mar 1947; m Joshua NICHOLS b 12 Sep 1875, d 9 Aug 1898
   
   Child:
   
   1. Edna NICHOLS b 1 Oct 1897, d 15 Nov 1910
   
   
2. F. Verno HARRIS b 21 May 1881, d 15 Sep 1972; m 1st Marietta Rebecca WILKERSON (d/o Andrew and Sophia WILKERSON), b 18 Feb 1884, d 13 May 1913; m 2nd Pearl WILLIAMS (d/o J. P. WILLIAMS and Hester BROWN), b 3 Oct 1887, d 19 Jan 1934; m 3rd Floy Lee WILLIAMS (sister of his 2nd wife), b 11 Nov 1898, d 16 Jan 1938
   
   Children of F. Verno Harris and Marietta R Wilkerson:
   
   1. Robert Rucker HARRIS b 6 Jun 1901, d 1964; m Hilda McDONALD
   2. (son) HARRIS b 5 Jan 1906, d 5 Jan 1906
   
   Children of F. Verno Harris and Pearl Williams:
   1. (daughter) HARRIS b 19 Dec 1916, d 26 Dec 1916
   2. Mary Ella HARRIS (twin) b 21 Mar 1921
   3. (infant) HARRIS (twin) b 21 Mar 1921, d 21 Mar 1921
   4. Bill HARRIS b 3 Dec 1922
   
   
3. Francis Maude HARRIS b 27 Mar 1888, d 10 Oct 1891

John R. Harris, Jr., (John R. Sr.⁴, Harbert³, Wm.², Isaac¹), was born January 24, 1860 in Montford's Cove, McDowell County, North Carolina, and died July 10, 1897. He married Laura Lavine Ledbetter, daughter of Dr. Johnston Ledbetter and Martha Amanda Rucker. She was born February 27, 1874 in Montford's Cove, McDowell County, North Carolina, and died there May 8, 1941. They were buried in Montford's Cove Cemetery. After her husband's death, she married Lewis Davidson Flack, and had a son Adam Abraham Flack, and two sons who died young. Adam Flack was born May 5, 1905 and died September 3, 1957 unmarried.

Children:
1. Gertie HARRIS b 21 Oct 1890, d 25 Sep 1901
2. Daniel Thurston HARRIS b 23 Jun 1892, d 1 Jun 1919; m Nov 1911 Mamie Love JIMISON b 17 Jun 1893, d 17 Apr 1923
   
   Children:
   
   1. Thurston HARRIS b 22 Sep 1912, d 7 Jan 1962
   2. Demaree HARRIS b 1914, d 1915
   3. Hazel Almeda HARRIS b 24 Jan 1915; m Michael Adams KIRKSEY
   4. Marion HARRIS b 25 Jul 1917
   
   

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Research sources are listed in the Appendix


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