Jeptha Vining Harris (doctor)
American Confederate surgeon
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Jeptha Vining Harris (May 27, 1839 – 1914) was an assistant surgeon for the Confederate States Army and Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War. After the Civil War, he was a customs collector, doctor and school superintendent at Key West, Florida.
Jeptha Vining Harris | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 28, 1839 |
| Died | 1914 (Aged 74/75) |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | Confederate States of America |
Branch | Confederate States Army Confederate States Navy |
Rank | Assistant Surgeon |
Conflicts | American Civil War |
| Other work | Doctor, customs collector, school superintendent |
Biography
Jeptha Vining Harris was born on May 27, 1839, in the Abbeville District of South Carolina.[1] He was the sixth child of James Walton Harris and Martha Watkins Harris.[2] James Walton Harris was the first child of Jeptha Vining Harris of Georgia and Sarah Hunt Harris.[3]
Jeptha V. Harris grew up in North Carolina and Mississippi.[4] Harris was the nephew of Jeptha Vining Harris (Mississippi general), a Mississippi militia (Confederate) brigadier general during the American Civil War (Civil War) and Mississippi State Senator.[5][6] He was the grandson of Jeptha Vining Harris (Georgia general) and Sarah (Hunt) Harris.[5][6] The elder Jeptha Vining Harris was a Georgia militia general during the War of 1812, prominent lawyer, planter and member of the Georgia House of Representatives.[5][6]
Harris received his college and medical education at the University of Mississippi, graduating in 1859.[7][8]
Jeptha V. Harris married Mary Louise Perkins of Lowndes, Mississippi on March 5, 1861.[1] They had the following children: Marian Harris, Jeptha Vining Harris Jr., Louis Allen Harris and Martha Watkins Harris.[9] Both sons were lawyers.[9]
Soon after he completed college and medical school, Harris served as an assistant surgeon in the Confederate States Army and Confederate States Navy during the American Civil War.[4]
After the Civil War, Harris and his family moved to Key West, Florida, where he became customs collector and lived in the Customs House.[4] He also resumed his medical practice.[4]
Harris was interested in promoting and improving public education. Because of this interest, he became school superintendent at Key West.[4] Harris School, which was built at Key West in 1909, was named for him.[4]
Death
Doctor Jeptha Vining Harris died November 16, 1916, and is buried in Key West Cemetery, Key West Florida.[4]
