Grover Cleveland Harris was born in Chambers County Alabama, July 10, 1885. We found Grover on the 1900 Texas Census in Cass County, living at home with his parents, Joel C. and Paulena Elizabeth (Moore) Harris. He was listed as a farm laborer at the age of 15.

In putting the pieces together, Vivian shared Grover's story about "coming over" on the train from Georgia when he was about 5 years old. I have been unable to locate Joel Harris in 1890 census of Georgia, Alabama, Texas, or Arkansas. This would indicate they moved between census taking in 1890. We know all of Joel's children were born in Alabama, except Arrie. It seems most likely that the train ride was from Alabama and most probably to Arkansas since Arrie was born there in April 1892. One possible explanation for his recollection, is that his mother Paulena was from Georgia and assumed they had lived there before coming west.

Mary was eldest the daughter of John Wesley Swearengin and Mary Frances Bowen. She was born November 18, 1887.

Grover and Mary were quiet, hard working people. Vivian said her father would leave at daylight and return at sundown, Grover was a tenant farmer, raising cotton and corn for market. Mary kept a fair size garden and loved gardening. Avis says snapdragons always remind her of her mother. She also loved petunias, and marigolds. They raised cows and pigs.

Avis recalls, Mary was the more serious while her father played with the children. Grover and Mary farmed in Bivins, TX , then in Dixie, LA about 1930. They moved on to Gilliam, LA around 1933 and later moved a last time to Hosston, LA, where Grover became a apprentice carpenter for Mr. George. Grover did remodeling, and house construction until WWII. During the war he took his trade to the Houston, Texas shipyards, leaving Mary with the children in Hosston. While he was in Houston, he stayed with his nephew Ernest and his wife Jackie Swearengin.

Mary did her part for the war effort, too. She rolled bandages with her church group, where she was given a pin of appreciation. Avis described it as an eagle with the words "My country t'is of thee, land of liberty".

Avis remembers her father, Grover, joined the Baptist Church and he was a member of Woodmen of the World Lodge , a fraternal organization much like the Masons. Possibly Herring Camp, Lodge 2228. I have a 1909 pictures of some Lodge members that need to be identified.

Nedra Jane and I attended the Harris / Swearengin / Weemes family reunion in Marshall Tx., June 8 1996. It was nice to put faces to many of the people I have met through the mail or by phone this last year. The weather was nice and the activities were alot of fun. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to share stories.

Joe Shores was a great bingo announcer. He has agreed to share many old newspaper clippings of WWII Veterans. Some are about family members. We will be reprinting them in our newsletter.

Harris Newman, Vivian Frances Harris Weeks, and Harold Moore These 1st cousins have an enormous wealth of family knowledge to share with us.

There were several interesting family ties discovered, most memorable is that of Betty Lou Parker Moore and Martha Sue Parker Moore, It seems they are 2nd cousins to Nora (Willie Mae) Parker Forbes. Their grandfather Benjamin Wilson Parker and Nora's grandfather Elisha Parker were brothers. Betty and Martha and my aunt Doris went to school together and were good friends and never knew they were cousins. There are a number of stories like this, please share them with us.