Typed by: Kay Cunningham

 

 

SILAS HARLAN

 

 

SURNAMES: HARLAN, HENRY, LESTER, JOHNSON, CHAMBERLAIN, ALRIDGE, JACKSON, DARBY, KINARD, ROBINSON, GOODYEAR.

     Silas Harlan, b September 11, 1825 in Parke County, Indiana, d October 4, 1888 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery, Falls County, Texas - was a son of Dr. Isaiah and Nancy (Henry) Harlan, who came to Texas in the Fall of 1834. Silas settled in Falls County about 1855, on his inherited portion of his parents land, where he reared his large family and remained the rest of his life.

     On June 27, 1854 in Milam County, Texas, Silas Harlan was married to Ann Elizabeth Lester (called "Lizzie"), b February 12, 1839 in Washington County, Texas, d May 7, 1903 and buried in Blue Ridge Cemetery - a daughter of Josiah Lester, b March 9, 1794 in Georgia, and his wife, Saleta (Johnson) Lester, b January 1, 1799 in Georgia.

     Silas and Lizzie built their first log cabin at Blue Ridge, and it was there that early church services were held, and the organizational meeting was held for establishing Blue Ridge Baptist Church in 1859 - both being charter members of that church. They were not slave owners, and the only slave ever owned by the family was one "ten-year-old" girl - given to them by Alexander Hunter Chamberlain as payment for taking one of his daughters, Margaret Lucinda Chamberlain, into their after the death of his wife. She spent many of her formative years in their home, as did the three children of Silas' brother, Charles Harlan, after both he and his wife died.

     The nine children of Silas and Ann Elizabeth (Lester) Harlan were:

     Luther Harlan, b June 22, 1855 in Falls County, Texas, d September 18, 1855.

     Sarah Harlan, b September 11, 1856 - married December 20, 1871 to Angelo Ghiberta Chamberlain- son of Alexander Hunter and Temperance Killingsworth (Aldridge) Chamberlain.

     Ida Harlan, b March 29, 1858, d February 12, 1879 – married J. C. Jackson.

     Mary Harlan, b August 27, 1859, d September 2, 1863.

     Roxanna Harlan, b June 24, 1861, d July 1, 1883 - married in 1876 to Francis M. Darby.

     Laura Harlan, b June 28, 1863 - married Lavelle B. Kinard - they lived in the Reagan Community of Falls County, Texas.

     Annie Elizabeth Harlan, b July 24, 1866 - married in 1884 to Andrew Jackson Robinson, and lived in Reagan, Texas.

     Joan Harlan, b August 7, 1868, d January 30, 1874.

     Ollie S. Harlan, b September 21, 1873 - married Nellie Goodyear, and lived in Reagan, Texas in 1912.

 

 

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 214 column 2 and page 215 column and 1.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.