Mrs. Harris, early Hannibal resident, key investor in midtown development
- Mary Lou Montgomery
- Jul 2
- 5 min read
Mrs. Sarah F. Harris was pictured, along with her death notice, in the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper, Dec. 29, 1912. newspapers.com
MARY LOU MONTGOMERY
Hannibal’s Park Place Addition, registered in Marion County, Mo., in 1887, primarily consists of cottages constructed more than 100 years ago, for members of the working class and their families.
The name of one of the two investors in the development of this mid-town subdivision, primarily located on the hills to the east of Grand Avenue, will be familiar to many: W.B. Pettibone. In 1909, this philanthropist, who made his fortune in the lumber industry, donated to the city of Hannibal the bulk of the land that today consists of Riverview Park.
But Pettibone’s business partner in this subdivision’s development is a name that will be unfamiliar to most: Sarah Fiske Harris.
The two investors registered this subdivision with Marion County on July 13, 1887. The plat map which accompanies this story shows the prominent streets of Hazel, Pine, Olive and Section,, where they intersect with Bird, Hill and Paris Avenue.
W.B. Pettibone resided in Hannibal roughly from the mid 1870s until this death in 1946. He was married to Laura Jones in 1883. They were childless.
Mrs. Harris’ tenure in town was was much earlier. She came to Hannibal with her husband, George S. Harris, as early as 1864. He was employed as land commissioner for the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad.
While a resident of Hannibal, Mr. Harris served as an elected director for the public schools of Hannibal, which were established following the Civil War. As a member of the school board, he rubbed shoulders with such early settlers such as J.T.K. Hayward, Wm. Kansteine, N.O. Archer, Josiah Hunt and J.V. Hibbert. Like J.T.K. Hayward, Harris and his family were members of the Congregational Church, when it was located during the Post Civil War years at the corner of Jefferson and Third streets in South Hannibal.
G.S. and Sarah F. Harris were parents of, according a family tree posting on Ancestry.com:
Celia E. Harris, born 1846-
George Bacon Harris 1848-1918
Nellie Harris 1849-1863 (died in Hannibal)
Agnes Butler Harris 1850-1864
Susan Ellen Harris 1851-1866 (died in Hannibal)
Charles Leonard Harris, 1854-1918
Mary Germaine Harris 1855-1857
Frederick Lement Harris 1857-1929
Edward Kirk Harris 1859-1931
Sarah Butler Harris 1861-
John Francis Harris, 1863-1941.
By 1869, the Harris family moved to Iowa, ultimately settling in Lincoln, Neb., where the family patriarch died in 1874.
Following her husband's death, Mrs. Harris was left with a large family to raise on her own. Possibly with the help of her grown sons, she invested in the Hannibal property, as well as property in Lincoln, Neb. Marion County, Mo., newspapers continued to carry her name in association with land transfers in this subdivision from the early 1900s until 1910.
Mrs. Harris’ son, George B. Harris, served as president of the Burlington Railroad for a number of years, and later served as one of the company’s directors.
In February 1900, George B. Harris, then serving as vice president of the Burlington system, along with other prominent railroad officials, made a stop in Hannibal, during an inspection tour of the route. Accompanying Mr. Harris were Howard Elliott, general manager, and S.E. Crane, superintendent of the Missouri lines. They presumably rode aboard the the Lycoming railroad car.
(See a link at the end of this story regarding George B. Harris’ tenure with the Burlington Railroad, and the Lycoming railroad car.)
Meyer, developer
Followers of this column will recognize the name of a residential developer also associated with Park Place Addition: Wm. J.A. Meyer.
Earlier stories in this series have told how Mr. Meyer was associated with construction of cottage-style houses on Virginia and Magnolia streets, and along St. Mary’s Avenue.
Prior to those developments, he constructed houses in the aforementioned Park Place addition. Meyer sold a five-room house to Henry R. Winkle and wife in September 1905, for $1,650. Lot 2, Block 2, Park Place, (405 N. Section.)
He also sold a house in September 1905 to James M. Duffy and wife, Lot 1, Block 2, Park Place, ( 401 N. Section) for $1,650.
And yet another house, to William H. Miller, for $1,750. Lot 3, Block 2, Park Place. (409 N. Section.)
Harris lots
Sarah F. Harris continued to sell lots to individuals and contractors until 1910. (The following real estate transfers were culled from: Newspapers.com
In 1903, Sarah F. Harris sold Lots 2, 3 and 4, in Block, 9, to George Amon. (Addresses in 2025: 405 Olive, 409 Olive and 413 Olive.)
In 1904, Mrs. Harris sold Lots 6 and 7, Block 9, Park Place, to John B. Waddell and wife for $275. (421 and 423 Olive.)
In 1904, Mrs. Harris sold Lots 7, 8, 9 and 10, Block 1, Park Place, to Chas. M. Barke and wife, for $500. (316, 310, 308 and 306 Olive)
In 1904, Mrs. Harris sold Lot 5, Block 9 in Park Place to Jas. Mefford. (419 Olive)
In 1906, Mrs. Harris sold Lot 14, Block 9, Park Place, to C.A. Paxton for $85. (400 Grand)
In 1906 Sarah F. Harris sold Lot 13, Block 9, Park Place, to C.A. Paxton for $125. (404 Grand)
In 1906 Mrs. Harris sold Lot 8, Block 9, Park Place, to Justian L. Crume and wife, $200. (416 Pine)
In 1907, she sold all of Lot 8 in Block 9 to Richard R. Longford and wife, for $225. (416 Pine)
In 1907 Mrs. Harris sold Lot 9, Block, 9, Park Place, to Richard R. Longford and wife for $225. (414 Pine)
In 1907, Mrs. Harris sold Lots 1, 2 and 3, Block 11, Park Place, to R.L. Dunbar and wife, for $100. (1500 Bird St.)
Son visits town
On Valentine’s Day, 1910, Charles L. Harris was in Hannibal, looking after property owned by his mother, Mrs. Sarah F. Harris, who was by then living in Lincoln, Neb.
Mr. Harris told the local newspaper that he left Hannibal in 1869 when he was a boy, just 16 years old. His family first settled in Burlington, Iowa, then in Lincoln, Neb.
Later in 1910, Mrs. Harris sold her remaining 33 lots in Park Place Addition to W.J.A. Meyer.
The Hannibal Morning Journal of May 22, 1910 reported:
“This comprises all of the original lots of Mrs. Harris in the beautiful collection of home sites in the blocks of the name peculiar. The purchaser, Mr. Meyer, has expressed a determination to improve the property, grading, terracing, etc., and all who know the spirit of the gentleman are fully aware that he will do so in full measure, heaped up and running over.
Charles L. Harris, son of Mrs. Sarah F. Harris, was pictured with his death notice in the March 2, 1919 edition of the Lincoln Journal Star newspaper. newspapers.com
The Park Place Addition, registered with Marion County in 1887, consists of land to the south of Paris Avenue, mostly to the west of Grand Avenue, and to the north of Bird Street. Developers were W.B. Pettibone and Mrs. Sarah F. Harris. Plat map acquired from Marion County Recorder, Harla Frieze. Illustration by Mary Lou Montgomery.
NEXT WEEK: Lot 12, Block 2, Park Place Addition.
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