ZILL ISAIAH HARLAN

Surnames: HARLAN, McCALEB, GRAVES, CONNOR, McGLAUN, MERCER, SHAW, SYPERT, DICKSON, & BARTLETT


     Zill Isaiah Harlan, b July 24, 1860, in Montgomery County, Texas, d July 25, 1911, in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin -- was a son of George and Pauline Jane (McCaleb) Harlan, who settled at Blue Ridge on his portion of the league of land granted to his father, Dr. Isaiah Harlan, at Viesca on February 20, 1835.

     Zill Isaiah Harlan received his preliminary education in the schools in Blue Ridge, and later entered Mansfield College, from which institution he graduated.  Early inclined toward the legal profession, he read law in the office of Judge James Daniel Oltorf in Marlin, and was admitted to the Bar at Waco in December 1883.

     On September 21, 1884, Zill Isaiah Harlan was married to Maude Graves, b: September 5, 1867, in Alvarardo, Johnson Co., Texas, d: August 11, 1960, in Marlin and buried by her husband in Calvary Cemetery----a daughter of T. C. Graves who came to Texas from Tennessee. Maude received her education in the Mansfield College, where the couple fist met.

     In 1888, Zill Isaiah was elected Falls County Attorney, and was re-elected in 1890.  He was admitted to practice before all the courts of the state directly following his first admission to the Bar, and his practice was both civil and criminal.  A tribute to his reputation was given in Paddock's "History of Central and Western Texas"; "To have gained the highest prestige at the bar of the state of Texas has been the good fortune of Zill I. Harlan, a native Texan and a man widely known throughout this portion of the State.  The possessor of infallible judgment, of seemly unlimited legal information, and able advocate, and wonderfully successful in handling his cases, inquiry as to the leading lawyer of Marlin will invariably bring forth from any well posted citizen the name, Zill I. Harlan.  Aside from his value as an honored and brilliant representative of his profession, he is public-spirited and altruistic, and he has done much to further the growth and progress of the community in which lie those interests which are nearest and dearest to him."

     Mr. Harlan was an active participant in politics and served as Falls County Chairman of the executive Committee of the Democratic Party.  He was instrumental in organizing the Marlin National Bank and served as its attorney and director from its founding in 1900 until his death.  A member of the Marlin Methodist Church, he served on its Board of Stewards, and was active in planning the erection of the present sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in Marlin.  He also served on the Board of Trustees of the Marlin school system.

     Zill Isaiah and Maude (Graves) Harlan were the parents of three daughters:

     Carlie Harlan, b July 10, 1885 in Marlin, Falls Co., Texas, d February 20, 1969 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana; married June 15, 1905 to Arthur Lee Connor b July 21, 1885 in Blue Ridge, Collin Co., Texas d February 4, 1943 in Longview, Gregg Co., Texas.  They were married at her in Marlin, Falls Co., Texas, Carlie and Arthur had two children.  Their first child was, Arthur Lee Connor, Jr., b March 11, 1906 who first married Lola (maiden name unknown) and had two children, and married second to Eunice McGlaun, and had two children.  Their second child was, Nancy Elizabeth Connor, b February 3, 1914 in Venus, Johnson Co., Texas, who married George Hamilton Mercer, b September 24, 1907 in Kilgore, Gregg Co., Texas d April 27, 1991 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana, son of Jacob “Jake” Charles and Ola Amanda (Houston) Mercer.  George Hamilton and Nancy Elizabeth (Connor) Mercer were married on February 16, 1930 in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana and they adopted two children, Laura Jean Mercer and Charles Arthur "Tuffy" Mercer. Arthur Lee and Carlie (Harlan) Connor are both buried in Memory Park, Longview, Gregg Co., Texas. Note: Corrected and additional info submitted by Kay Cunningham, Great Granddaughter of Carlie (Harlan) and Arthur Lee Connor, Sr., and GG Granddaughter of Zill Isaiah and Maude (Graves) Harlan.

     Constance Alberta Harlan, b: October 21, 1887, in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d: February 1978 in Marlin and buried in Calvary Cemetery----married June 29, 1910, to Dr. Frank Hawthorn Shaw----son of Dr. John Crosby and Nancy ("Nannie" Sypert) Shaw.

     Elizabeth Graves Harlan, b: January 11, 1890, in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d: December 1964 and buried in Calvary Cemetery ----married November 12, 1912, to Thomas Battle Bartlett, b: November 20, 1889 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d: July 14, 1963 and buried in Calvary Cemetery----son of Charles H. and Mary ("Mollie" Dickson) Bartlett.


Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.  "Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 216 column 2 and page 217 column 1 Member of Falls County Historical Commission.