Martin Henderson Harris

Sept. 29, 1820 – Feb. 14, 1889

• Outstanding pioneer.
• Harrisville‘s first permanent settler
• First school teacher
• First presiding elder.
• Nephew of Martin Harris, Book of Mormon witness.
• Missionary to Salmon River and Eastern States.
• County Road Commissioner.
• Surveyed roads through North Ogden Canyon, Ogden Valley, all those north of Ogden River and others in county.
• Used home-made water level to lay out “western irrigation canal.”
• Among the first to introduce the silkworm industry in the county.
• Famous silk dress made by his wife is on exhibition at the pioneer relic hall in Ogden.
• Owned a store at Farr West.
• He was a blacksmith.
• He operated with others a sawmill and molasses mill.
• Farmer and orchardist.
• Played in the Nauvoo Legion band, Utah bands and dance orchestras.
• Hauled logs for Harrisville School and Ogden Tabernacle.

This memorial was erected on the original homesite by his grandchildren on Sept. 27, 1955 – the 105th anniversary of his arrival in Weber County. (at the Martin Henderson Harris Memorial Park.)

On the evening of September 16, 1850, Shoshone Indian Chief Terikee, who had a reputation for being friendly, was returning to his camp on Four Mile Creek after paying respects to Lorin Farr in Ogden.

As he was driving his ponies out of Urban Stewart’s unfenced cornfield, Stewart armed himself and fired randomly toward the rustling sound, killing Terikee. This incident forced Stewart to leave the area.

Shoshone tribes demanded Stewart be turned over to them or they would massacre the inhabitants of Ogden and burn the settlement. 150 men were sent from Salt Lake City to the rescue. Learning of the coming troops, Terikee’s band retaliated by killing a man named Campbell, who was gathering cattle into Farr’s Fort, and then took their Chief’s body and retreated northward.

Chief Terikee was killed at a site approximately 200 feet west of this monument.

This monument is located in Harrisville, Utah.