1820
Samuel Harris received as candidate by Elk Presbytery on October 3, 1820.
[Source: Minutes of Elk Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 3, 1820, page 54]

1822
Samuel Harris licensed by Elk Presbytery on April 3, 1822.
[Source: Minutes of Elk Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, April 3, 1822, page 67]

1823
Samuel Harris ordained by Elk Presbytery on April 2, 1823.
[Source: Minutes of Elk Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, April 2, 1823, page 76]

Mr. Editor:--Our Church has just received intelligence of the death of Brother Samuel Harris, an aged veteran of the cross, and a bold defender of its doctrines almost from the foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He died January 30th, 1860, in Smith county, Texas, aged sixty-five years and about four months. It would gratify many of the friends of the Church to read a sketch of Brother Harris's life, from his earliest labors. Therefore we solicit, through your paper, any information that can be obtained relative to his ministerial operations in Middle Tennessee and the Western District, to assist in making out a short sketch of his life.
                                                                     F. L. Yoakum.
   Larissa College, Texas, Feb. 1, 1860.

We shall be pleased to give place to any biographical sketch of Brother Harris.
[Source: Banner of Peace, March 1, 1860, page 3]

HARRIS, SAMUEL.-- The son of James and Susannah (Guiss) Harris, was born near Danville, Ky., October 7, 1794. He was educated in a Presbyterian school, Lincoln county, Tenn. After his conversion, he studied for the ministry privately, and was licensed in 1822, and ordained by Elk Presbytery in 1823 as a missionary, in which department of his Master's cause he spent his life.

He died, trusting in Jesus, after a lingering illness, Jan'y 30, 1860, of paralysis.

A friend who knew him well thus speaks of him:

"The Rev. Samuel Harris was one of the most indefatigable and successful laborers in his Master's vineyard. He was a true pioneer preacher. Gifted by nature with eloquence, and a heart warmed in the love of Jesus, he commanded a universal respect, and enlisted the admiration, and, consequently, the attention of the refined as well as the grosser class of sinners. Whilst he could introduce himself into the company and win to the cause of Christianity the wild bandit of the southwest, he was the most agreeable and welcome visitor to the homes of the most refined and excellent citizens of his field of labor. He possessed a versitile genius to win souls to Christ. Whilst he had the character of of being eccentric, it was to attract the attention of the curious to the subject of his mission. One while he indulged in innocent joviality that he might bring to bay and secure the attention of the gay and thoughtless, whilst he made the offers of pardon in Jesus' name. He was bold and daring in his teaching. Whenever sin defiled, he ventured to go; and, like the Saviour, for eating the publicans and sinners, his name was reproached for temporary associations, and hence with a mean design, that now re-acts upon the foul perpetrator of the slanders, his name was twice associated with the idle tales of Western Romance. One of these false stories represents him as being the convert of his own preaching, whilst mocking he preached to his fellow banditti in Arkansas. Whereas the truth is, he was brought under convictions and was converted at Mt. Carmel church, Franklin county, Tennessee, under the preaching of the Rev. William Moore.

Thousands who heard the melting rehearsal of his own experience, long before he came to Arkansas, are now, as they have often done before, ready to vindicate his good name from the assaults shamelessly made against an influence so useful in the Southwest in checking the progress of a certain baptized Infidelity, which alone sanctioned and gave credence to the slanders.

"Masonic honors were done about his grave, and deep feeling prevaded the noble Brotherhood.

"Sleep peacefully, my brother; your labors enter into the elements of a Divine Progress in the condition of mankind, that shall grow and yield to your blessed spirit immortal honors and happiness when kindred, friends, and enemies are stilled in death."

[Source: The Presbyterian Historical Almanac and Annual Remembrancer of the Church, by Joseph M. Wilson , vol. 3-4, 1861-1862]