NATHAN HARRIS 
Nathan Harris, son of Preserved and Lydia King Harris was born March 23, 1758 in Rhode Island.
He married Rhoda Lapham about 1780.
Nathan and Rhoda Harris, along with six other families from Rhode Island, went to join the John Swift’s colony at Tolland, New York arriving by the way of the military road November 1791. They brought with them their two young boys, Emer born May 29, 1781 and Martin born May 18, 1783. John Swift moved his family there after the purchase of Township 12, Range 2 (now Palmyra) in September, 1790 and immigration of others began immediately. On January 4, 1796, the name Tolland was changed to Palmyra.
There were few white settlers in the Palmyra New York area when the family arrived. On the 3rd of February, 1794, he bought six hundred acres of land from John Swift for two shillings an acre (or $300 in New York currency depending on whose version you read). Nathan hued a home of timber near Wintergreen Hill and only a trail led to his log cabin. A few years later a road was laid out from the north side of Mud Creek to his log house. (The road from Main Street north to the north side of Mud Creek and called Chapel Street to this point was laid previous to this.) His house stood on the north end of Wintergreen hill, and lately was the residence of John S. Wright.
See map: Harris Farm
History shows that providence had a hand in bringing Nathan Harris to this important area of New York and in purchasing this section of land. It became some of the best farm lands in the area and its value increased significantly. It was here he eventually reared a large family of eight children. Nathan later deeded the farm to his son Martin, who later became a friend to the Joseph Smith family. In 1829 Martin mortgaged his farm to finance the first publication of the Book of Mormon after its translation. Later 151 acres of the land was sold for $3,000.00 to pay the debt to E.B. Grandin Press.
Nathan was well known throughout the neighboring country for his prowess with rod and gun. Commonly known as “Uncle Nathan”, this good man frequently attended “raisings” and could play ball even in his old age, with all the enthusiasm of youth. One account in 1792 tells of a single haul of a seine (a large net with sinkers on ore edge and floats on the other) across Ganargua Creek, resulted in a catch of eighteen fine salmon.” (Palmyra History, Cole p.202) A “History of Wayne County Hew York” records “Harris as a marvelous fisherman" and when he was at home, his neighbors did not go fishing.
He possessed, to a remarkable degree, a spirit of rest and did not allow the onerous duties of the farm to weigh heavy on his mind. His zeal for letting things run, as the saying goes, was so great that he let the sills of his barn rot; away with the accumulation of barnyard material. If the necessities of the farm demanded the attention of Nathan, he would exhibit symptoms of a decline, but if a “Huskin’ Frolic” or a “Loggin’ Bee” was underway, his youthful exuberance was unbounded. He was the center figure of such groups and received with the best of humor any jokes aimed his way. With Nathan’s involvement elsewhere, Rhoda and the boys were left to manage the daily duties on the farm. An account of a 1796 Husking frolic at the house of Nathan Harris is found in History of the Pioneer Settlement of Phelps & Gorham's Purchase (1852) as given by Mrs. Eden Foster: "We had pot pie baked in a five pail kettle, composed of 13 fowls, as many squirrels, and due proportions of beef, mutton and venison; baked meats, beans and huge pumpkin pies. Hunting stories, singing, dancing on a split basswood floor, snap and catch 'em, jumping the broom stick, and hunt the squirrel, followed the feast".
Beyond the house on the west side of the road was a spring in which he kept a pet trout. In time it grew to be a very large trout and so well educated that it would jump from the water and seize grasshoppers which were held out as bait. One day a friend, possessor of a large, red nose, called at the Harris home for a visit. A social glass was followed by a stroll over the farm, and ultimately the walk led to the spring. The friend got down on all-fours for a drink while Nathan looked on. As the red nose neared the water, out sprang the trout and seized it. A quick upward toss of the man’s head landed the trout a full ten feet to the rear. Nathan returned the trout to the spring an informed the bewildered friend that the time was propitious for fishing and together they made a fine catch that afternoon. The name “Trout Harris” was given to Nathan in consequence of this incident became widely known.
At the first recorded town meeting of Palmyra in April, 1796 one of the decisions was to pay a bounty of two cents for crows, squirrels, woodpeckers, and blackbirds, and five dollars for every wolf. When one considers that land could be purchased for fifty cents an acre wolf hunting may not have been strictly for sport. Wolves were frequent prowlers and the townspeople declared war on them and reduced their number to one big timber wolf. The animal had become known far and wide by its depredations. A hunting party was formed to rid the community of this marauder. As “Uncle Nathan” was now well along in years, he was allowed to follow the road while the rest of the men spread out in the timber on either side. As Nathan rode along the road on his old horse, the wolf came out just a few rods ahead of him. Nathan urged his horse to gallop towards the animal, raised his gun and fired under full headway and the creature was killed.
His long rifle brought down many a duck and his bullets, known to be his from their great weight, were chopped out of trees by area settlers even after his death. It was said that some of the more crooked roads in the surrounding neighborhoods, were first laid out as his hunting paths.
Another item of business at the first town meeting was the appointing of Nathan Harris to “path master”, (Histories of his son, Martin, record that for many years he was chosen to have charge of the roads in the Palmyra area.)
Nathan Harris lived where he first settled until the fish and game became scarce. He began to exhibit symptoms of uneasiness and sought an new area where wildlife continued to roam free. Eventually and moved to Ohio in 1831along with some of his married children and their families, migrating with other followers of the newly formed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Nathan lived to be quite an old man and died in November 1835 at Menton Lake, Ohio.
In the Prophet Joseph Smith’s diary in 1835 in Kirtland, Joseph wrote that the Harris family had invited him to speak at the Nathan Harris funeral. He further recorded that he took his mother Lucy, wife Emma and scribe with him because of the very close family relations between the Harrises and Smiths.
More information about early Palmyra: http://www.palmyrany.com/pal_history_brief_2.htm