Leonard Harris married Jewel Rogers in 1916-1917. They lived with the
Harris family until the time when Leonard went into the Army. Leonard
was trained in San Antonio. On one occasion Jewel, accompanied by her
brother-in-law, Herbert, visited Leonard in San Antonio. Leonard was
sent to France where he was in the thick of the trench warfare. His
service record is presented below. On one occasion the soldiers were
near starvation when some German civilians gave them cabbage which they
boiled in the bloody water from the local stream. Leonard had an abiding
hatred for the Red Cross because they failed to help the American
soldiers during the war. He had respect for the Germans but disliked the
French and English as a result of his wartime experiences.
Ruby was born in 1918 while Leonard was preparing to ship out to France.
Ruby was named after the girlfriend of Leonard's best friend in France.
The friend was killed in the trenches alongside Leonard. The were both
blown out of a trench by German artillery. Leonard survived (unwounded),
the friend didn't.
At the end of the war Leonard returned by ship to New York city, tired
and dirty. He accidentally met his brother, Kervin, on the streets of
New York. Kervin was in the Navy and had been paid, so paid for Leonard
to get a bath, shave, etc. There is a picture of the two together in New
York.
After the war Leonard and Jewel farmed rented land just west of the Cade
cemetery west of Streetman. John L. and Minnie Ruth were born there. In
1926/27/28/?? the cotton crop was very good. Leonard held his cotton
from sale anticipating better prices the next year. Instead, the prices
fell and his farming days were over. In fact, farming wasn't his forte.
He would plow until noon and then find an excuse to go into Streetman,
leaving the mules in the field for Jewel to unhitch. In town Leonard was
fond of dominoes and cards.
When the farming ended Leonard went into business with his brother,
Hugh, running a Cafe/Butcher Shop/Confectionary/?. The business deal
didn't work well. Too much credit, too much work for those that worked,
too many that didn't work, etc. As the business folded, Leonard and
Jewel owed $75 on their house in Streetman. The lien holder foreclosed
because Leonard couldn't produce $25. Leonard's mother asked Thomas
Sherrard, Leonard's brother-in-law to lend Leonard the $25. Thomas
refused claiming that Leonard wasn't a responsible person. They lost the
house and Leonard went to work for the Texas Highway Department. He
worked away from home in Grapeland and Tyler. Times were hard. At one
point he had to borrow 2 cents to mail a letter home.
Meanwhile Herbert, Leonard's brother had gone to work for Sun Oil in
Richland and had been transferred to Brenham. Herbert found a job for
Leonard in the Drilling Department of Sun at Brenham. The family moved
to Brenham. When the drilling ended, Leonard managed to get on with Sun
in the East Texas oil field, first as a water station hand and then as a
pumper (lease maintenance) on the Knight lease in the south end of the
field. Later he moved to a lease in Carlisle where he was working when
he died.
While with Sun in the East Texas field Leonard served as the area
representative for the employees working out of the Henderson office. He
was an avid supporter of workers rights. "We always wanted Leonard
on our side but it rarely happened."-- Jack Maines
(management)
While working for Sun some of Leonard's old habits resurfaced. He was
inclined to spend his afternoons at the domino hall in Wright City
instead going home after work. While he was area representative he held
employee meetings (monthly) where a little card playing took place and
spirits were suspected. Employee wives complained to the local Baptist
preacher who complained to Sun management. Leonard faced the preacher
down and the matter was dropped.
(Before he married Jewel, Leonard borrowed money from the local
Streetman farmer, Mr. Coleman, and attended a business course in Waco.
The money was repaid.)
From the Enlistment Record of Alvis Leonard Harris
Name: Alvis Leonard Harris Grade: Cook
Inducted, Sept 19, 1917, at Blooming Grove, Texas
Marksmanship, gunner qualification or rating: Never qualified
Horsemanship: Not mounted
Battles, engagements, skirmishes, expeditions: AEF France Major
Operations - St Mihiel Sept 11 - 18, 1918: Argonne Meuse offensive Sept
25 to Oct 1, 1918. Defense of Sectors, North Sector of Wesserling sector
Nosges June 21 to July 20, 1918; Gerardiner sub-sector Aug 14 to Sept 2,
1918; Sommedier sector Oct 18 to Nov 7, 1918. Minor operations - 3rd Bn.
138th Inf Deffensive Wesserling Sector (Wilsenfirst) July 11, 1918. Co
C, 138th Inf raid on enemy Gerardmer sub-sector Aug 29, 1918.
Bronze Victory Button Issued
Approved for victory medal with "St Mihiel" "
Meuse-Argonne" " Defensive Sector"
Character: Excellent
Remarks: Soldier honorably discharged. No AWOL or absence under GO 31/12
or 45/14. Co B 315 Engrs; Hq Co 138th Inf. 35 Div Left US 5/2/18 Arr
overseas 5/16/18 Left overseas 4/17/19 Arr US 4/28/19