Dennison Emer Harris (born 1854)
Written by his wife, Eunice Harris
The earth lost one of its noblemen when on July 24, 1912, Dennison Emer Harris was called to the other side. He was a friend to every good man and had great influence with the evil doer in showing him the error of his ways. His life was spent in the service of his fellow men. He was true to his God and loyal to his religion. His influence was always cast on the side of right, and he was a great advocate of peace, honor, virtue and all that tend to uplift man. His practicality and sound judgement (sic) made him a strength in every community in which he lived, and his living in a community was considered as asset by officials, both Church and civil.
Dennison Emer Harris was born in Springville, Utah May 13, 1854. His father was Dennison Lott Harris and his mother was Sarah Wilson Harris. He was a grand nephew of Martin Harris, one of the three witnesses of the Book of Mormon. He was the eighth in line of decent (sic) of Thomas Harris, who came to America in the ship Lyon with Roger Williams. They left England December 1630 and arrived in Boston February 1631. The family lived in Mass., Rhode Island, and New York. In the latter state, many members received the gospel in the early days of the Church. His father was closely connected with the Prophet Joseph Smith during the days of trouble in Nauvoo. He and a young man named Robert Scott were invited to a meeting of the conspirators against Joseph Smith. They attended the meeting and reported the results to the Prophet, who was able to keep out of the clutches of his enemies.
During the childhood of D.E., his parents were pioneers in various settlements from Northern Utah to Dixie, but during his early manhood, the family lived in Sevier County where his father was bishop of Monroe for many years. While still young, he had a burning desire for education which was partially satisfied through years of hard struggle in pioneer days. He went on foot from Monroe to Park City to earn money to go to school. As this was almost unheard of in his community, his friends thought him very foolish. After a few years of schooling it was his privilege to impart in the hearts of his companions a desire for higher education, and as a result, many of them became prominent in the educational and professional circles of the state.
He attended the University of Deseret and the Brigham Young Academy and graduated from the latter. At these schools his personal contact with Dr. John R. Park and Karl G. Maeser was a great source of inspiration to him during his entire life. It was while attending the University that he first became interested in M.I.A. work. The movement was just being started in Salt Lake City, and it appealed to him so strongly that he enlisted in the work at once. He held every position in it from secretary of a ward society to President of the work in the Stake. He also labored as a M.I.A. missionary, having been sent from the Juarez Stake to the Salt Lake Stake of Zion. He was a character builder by nature and he considered the teaching of young people to be his chief mission in life.
He was a pioneer to Mexico in the early nineties where his first work was that of an educator. The high Intellectual standard of the young L.D.S. in that country was perhaps due as much to him as any other person. He served in the Bishopric in the Juarez Ward, and was superintendant (sic) of the YMMIA of the Juarez Stake for a number of years. During the last eight years of his life, he divided his time between Provo, Utah and Cardston, Canada, having been bishop of the latter place for four years.
He filled three missions. During his second mission he presided over most of the territory now included in the Eastern, Northern, and the Central Stated (sic) Mission, with headquarters at St. Johns, Kansas.
His vocations have been those of teacher, merchant and farmer, in each of which callings he made a host of friends. His wives Eunice Stuart Harris and Annie Wride Harris have borne him a large family. In his family he was just and generlous (sic) and he was a wise and true counselor and a worthy example. It is given to but few men to have the honor and respect of his family that he had. The members of his family have worked as a unity to further the educational and missionary work which he undertook. Periods of financial strain were never allowed by him to interfere with the missionary work or education of his family. He was a man who avoided publicity or being placed conspicuously before the public, always willing to let othes take the honor.
His life was an example of what may be accomplished by working earnestly for principles. Wherever he was, he was quietly doing missionary work; not to be offensive. When convinced he was in the right, he was absolutely fearless. The idea of compromise never entered his mind. He made many friends in all walks of life and no lasting enemies. His frankness won for him the confidence of many an evil doer, and he was noted for being able to handle the tough better than most anyone in the community where he lived. He always plead for charity and mercy toward the wrong doer. He would always say, “They are human beings and God’s children and worth saving.” He was often called in to arbitrate differences between people, but he never had serious difference with a neighbor in his life. His advice and counsel was repeatedly sought by those over him in authority, and many young men went to him for advice in preference to their own father.
It is a glorious thing to have lived a life of honor and integrity, to have been at peace with ones fellow men, to have served ones God with singleness of heart, to have been a good citizen, and to have been loved by all and hated by none.
These are the things that characterized the life of D.E. Harris of whom it might be said, “He was a servant of God and a friend of man and the world is better for his having lived”.