| Notes |
- "Aunt Eleanor" as she was known in the family, was one of the great aunts I never met or, at least, do not remember meeting. She and my grandmother kept up a steady, frequent correspondence through the years. In some ways, she seems to have been my grandmother's favorite sibling.
ABT recalled the days when "Doc" was courting Eleanor and came to the JBT farm for a Sunday dinner. His mother served homemade pineapple ice cream. Something had gone wrong with the dish making it very bitter, but Doc manfully ate it to make a good impression on the family!
"Doc" had a drug addiction problem, a fact I never knew until I was sorting throgh old letters when my mother died. I was intrigued by the fact that in June, 1939, a McLeod family reunion was held in the Fabius Community House. In attendance were "Dr. and Mrs. L.A. Harris of Kalispell, Mont., ... the couple arriving here last week from an Eastern trip where they visited the New York World's Fair...." Then at Christmas, 1939, Eleanor and her daughters were present at a reunion at my grandmother's home -- no mention of Doc. In the bad economic times of 1939, would she have made two trips to Mo.? Why didn't Doc come at Christmas? Was he at home to care for patients, having taken a great deal of time off the previous summer, or was he somewhere in treatment? It seems unlikely that she would have left him at Christmas on his own. Where were the daughters during the summer trip? Surely youngsters would have enjoyed the World's Fair, but according to the article, Aunt Mabel and Nelle Chevront had accompanied Doc and Eleanor to New York.
In the 1950's Doc and Eleanor came home one night to find burglars in their home. They were tied up and left that way until Eleanor was able to get loose and summon help.
Former Marion Co. Girl Marries. -- from the Palmyra Spectator.
"One of the prettiest, yet simple and quiet events, which we have ever had the pleasure of witnessing took place at the home of Mrs. J.B. McLeod, 111 East Ill. St,, Kirksville, Mo., Wednesday, Sept 6, 1911, when her youngest daughter, Miss Eleanor, and Dr. L.A. Harris, of Waitsburg, Washington, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony. Dr. W.H. Stone, pastor of the First Baptist Church of that city officiating. [sic.] Shortly before the appointed hour the rooms were darkened, the lights were turned on, with all the guests assemble. [sic] Promptly at the hour, to the sweet strain of Tannhauser with Miss Anna Mcleod, sister of the bride, presiding at the piano, Dr. Harris attired in the conventional black accompanied by Dr. Stone came forward beneath an archway of green interwoven with goldenrod, he met his bride, who clad in a dainty gown of pure white approaching, leaning on the arm of her younger brother J.J. McLeod. Here in the presence of the family and a few immediate friend, Dr. [page is cut off.]
"Mrs Harris was reared near Palmyra and moved to Kirksville with her mother some four years ago. She is the youngest member of a family of nine children. A lady of fine christian [sic.] character and winsome ways which win friends for her wherever she goes. Take these with her many other personal charms and you have one who is fitted to be a most faithful and loving helpmeet.
"The groom is the son of Dr. W.H. Harris, pastor of the First Congregational church, of Waitsburg, Wash. Two years ago he came to Kirksville to enter the American school of Osteopathy, from which institution he was graduated in the June class of 1911. During his first weeks stay in Kirksville, he met Miss Eleanor and ere long fount that he must succomb [sic.] to her charms and sought for some recognition, happy to find his affections were reciprocated. So the meeting which at first seemed merely an every day occurrence, now assumes the form of having had special guidance. During his stay in Missouri, Dr. Harris proved himself a young man of earnest Christian convictions, firm in principals [sic] and integrity, these linked with an intentness of purpose give a promise of success in his profession. They took the 8:15 Wabash train for Waitsburg Wash., to spend a few weeks with the groom's parents, after which they will go to Kalispell, Mont., where Dr. Harris will take up the practice of his profession.
"Let us hope that abundant blessings and happiness may attend them in their home in the far west. But we must bear in mind that these things are not subject to bartering. Every cloud has its silver lining. So we must hold ourselves in readiness, dense though the fogs may be, to peer through the mists and darkness and catch each little of brightness and mold them all into one fast whole. For after all, 'Life is what we make of it.' -- a Guest"
"...Lives Shot in Calif. Tragedy
"Mr and Mrs. H.M. McLeod and Mr and Mrs J.B. Taylor spent the week end in Kirksville in the homes of their sisters, Mrs. G.W. Imbler and Miss Mabel McLeod. Sunday morning they received a telegram from another sister, Mrs. L.A. Harris of Kalispell, Mont, saying her daughter Mrs. Mildred Brust and son Curtis of Lancaster Calif, had been shot and killed and the daughter, Kay was shot, and in critical condition in a hospital. The shooting was done by Oscar Brust, estranged husband, who was apprehended immediately after the tragedy. The bodies will be taken to Kalispell for burial." -- Undated clipping, probably from the Palmyra Spectator. [The incident probably took place in 1954. -- LKL]
"Sister Dies in Montana
"Mrs J.B. Taylor received word Sunday, July 31, 1960, of the passing of her sister, Mrs. L.A. Harris of Kalispell, Montana.
"Mrs Eleanor McLeod Harris, daughter of the last [sic] John Bell and Martha Carson McLeod, was born and reared in Marion County. She was graduated from Centenary Academy in 1906. Her marriage to Dr. L.A. Harris took place in Kirksville, Mo., in September, 1911, at the home of her mother, Mrs. J.B. McLeod. After the wedding they left for Kalispell where Dr. Harris had a home and where she lived for 49 years.
"Survivors include her husband and two daughters all of Kalispell, several grand children; one brother, Robert McLeod of Independence, Mo., three sisters, Mrs. J.B. Taylor of Palmyra, Mrs George Imbler and Miss Mabel McLeod of Kirksville.
"Her oldest brother, H.M. McLeod passed away Tuesday morning Aug. 2nd. She was also preceded in death by another brother J.J. McLeod of Palmyra and a daughter who died about 6 years ago. A sister-in-law, Mrs. Robert McLeod passed away in Independence, Mo., July 1." -- Palmyra Spectator.
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Taylor Family Genealogy
1885 - 1960 (75 years)