Biography - John Harris

"I found a newspaper clipping in one of my many binders about yet another tombstone found, this one in the Nilwood area. Not sure what newspaper the article was in or the date, but appears to be fairly new. Possibly IL State Journal, Springfield. The scope of the article states that a new purchaser of 270 acres of land near Sulphur Springs, south of the Nilwood-Waggoner blacktop, was told that buried somewhere on the farm was Macoupin County's first settler and sheriff, JOHN HARRIS.

"HARRIS was a captain of the Macoupin Militia during the Black Hawk Indian campaign, which mustered in at Beardstown on April 20, 1831. Abraham Lincoln, captain of the Sangamon County Militia, also served during that campaign, reporting in with his company the next day. They were organized to run Black Hawk back across the Mississippi. But neither man probably saw action as Black Hawk had surrendered.

"HARRIS was influential in shaping the history of Macoupin County. He was the first landowner in the northeast part of Nilwood Twp. in 1829, after the Black Hawk War. He achieved rank of brigadier general of Macoupin's Militia. He served as sheriff from 1829 through 1834, as a state representative from 1834 to 1838 and as a state senator from 1840 through 1846. He also owned and operated a water mill.

"The gravesite was found in the middle of a field between two cherry trees with a well nearby. Briars and brush were cleared and two stones were found .... JOHN HARRIS and his 2 year old son, JOHN HARRIS who died in 1842.

"A headstone was obtained through the Dept. of Veterans Affairs free of charge as JOHN HARRIS was Brig. Gen. IL Militia for the Indian Wars. He died 20 Oct 1852. The stone was placed next to one of the cherry trees overlooking Macoupin creek. (These two tombstones are not listed in the Cemetery books for this area)" – Mary Ann Stewart Kaylor

"Talked with Linda Libbra just a few minutes ago (her husband Pete instigated the search and the cemetery is on their property) and John Harris and his small son DID have and do have original stones on the farm near Sulphur Springs. The Sheriff was moved into Carlinville because of vandalism and cemetery destruction, but she doesn't know about the son's remains, but believes they may have been left on the farm. They still erected the Vet's stone as they thought it was due him since that WAS his original burial location. The dates of the newspaper articles were Virden Recorder (Virden, IL), Jan. 25, 1995 and the Journal Register (IL State Journal-Register, Springfield, IL) was February, 1995." - Carolynn Bettis

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