Harrisville in Ritchie County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
Harrisville
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Thomas Maley Harris
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 10, 2021
1. Harrisville side of marker
Harrisville. Laid out on lands owned by Thomas Harris, uncle of Gen. Thomas Maley Harris, in 1822. Originally part of Wood County, it was chartered in 1832 and incorporated in 1869. The town has been called Solus. Ritchie Court House, and Harrisville, with the last change occurring in 1895 to honor the Harris family. It has been the seat of Ritchie since the county was created in 1843.
Thomas Maley Harris. Born 1813 in Wood County, he was a doctor before the war. In 1861, he raised the 10th WV and served as colonel, rising to rank of major general. Postwar, he sat on the military tribunal that tried the Lincoln conspirators. He served in the WV House of Delegates, as WV Adjutant General, and U.S. Pension Agent, then resumed his medical practice. Harris died in 1906.
Erected 2017 by West Virginia Archives & History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Political Subdivisions • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the West Virginia Archives and History series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1822.
Location. 39° 12.859′ N, 81° 2.462′ W. Marker is in Harrisville, West Virginia, in
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in West Virginia’s Little Kanawha Valley. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Romeo H. Freer (a few steps from this marker); Ritchie County Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Ritchie County Courthouse (approx. 0.6 miles away); Harrisville (approx. 0.6 miles away); Raiders In Harrisville (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Stone House (approx. 6.1 miles away); Pennsboro (approx. 6.1 miles away); a different marker also named Ritchie County Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisville.
Also see . . . Wikipedia entry. Excerpt:
His troops were among those directly responsible for cutting off Robert E. Lee's line of retreat at Appomattox Courthouse. Following the Confederate surrender at Appomattox, Harris served on the military commission which tried the Lincoln Conspirators. Following the trial general Harris authored two books about the trial evidences and proceedings: Assassination of Lincoln: A History of the Great Conspiracy, Trial of the Conspirators by a Military Commission, and a Review(Submitted on May 23, 2021.)of the Trial of John H. Surratt, 1892; and later: Romes Responsibility for the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, 1897.Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 10, 20212. Thomas Maley Harris side of marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, April 10, 2021
3. Harrisville / Thomas Maley Harris Marker, foreground
The Romeo H. Freer marker is in the distance.
Mathew Brady. Collection in the National Archives, 1865
4. Lincoln Assassination Conspirators Military Commission
General Thomas M. Harris is on the left. Other members are Generals David Hunter, James A. Elkin, August V. Kautz, Lewis Wallace and the Honorable John A. Bingham.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 750 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 23, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
