Harris, Zebulon 1846-1934

By L.T. Harris Jr.

Zebulon Harris, also know as Zebedee & Z.B., came to Freestone County, Texas in 1865, from Lauderdale County, Mississippi. He was born Zebulon Buckalew Harris, July 4, 1846, to Henry Harris and Cynthia Buckalew Harris. Zebulon grew up in Whynot, Lauderdale Co., Mississippi, and enlisted to fight in the Civil War in 1862. He was paroled in Columbus, Miss. May 16, 1865, and soon after, left for Texas with the Butler family. They settled at Cotton Gin in Freestone County. He married Mary M. Williams on Oct. 11, 1869, and they had three children. Lewellyn M. b. 1870 d. 1957, Hubbard Clinton, b. May 24, 1873 d. Apr. 5, 1965 m. Oddie Callaway, and Shade Franklin b. 1875 m. Minnie Emma Jones. On August 24, 1879, Zebulon married Ella Fair Butler, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Butler, Zebulon and Ella had two children: Eugene Thomas, b. Aug. 18, 1880 d. Apr. 25, 1959 m. Ada Maud Senter, and Ora Harris b. 1885 m. J.D. Baker. Zebulon married a third time, Mrs. Mollie Smith on Dec. 21, 1909, in Limestone Co. Texas. Zebulon was a farmer and lived in Teague the rest of his life. He filed for his Confederate pension at the age of 79 after being partially paralyzed from a stroke and could no longer work. He died Aug. 30, 1934, and is buried beside Miss Mollie in Salem cemetery, south of Teague.