Harless’s Store

The Tennessee Valley Authority, Family Removal and Population Readjustment Case Files, 1934-1953 on Ancestry.com make for emotional reading – all of those people, families, houses, farms, and communities relocated. So many people had lived in the same place for their whole life, relocation was going to be hard.

I’m sure the workers meant well, but it is heartbreaking to read the descriptions – were the people educated? Were they proud housekeepers? Were they healthy? The most important questions were also asked – how do you feel about relocation and where will you go?

If there were any wealthy people relocated I haven’t found them yet.

I’m still searching and putting the pieces together, but I had to share the one item I found that made my day – a photograph of Harless’s Store!

Harless’s Store in the Friendship Community of Sullivan County, Tennessee was owned by Martin Alexander Harless and it was in the way of the reservoir.

Martin Alexander Harless was the great-grandson of Abraham Harless who in turn is the 4th great-grandfather of my husband and the reason I began this whole project in the first place.

I do not know if Martin moved the store “to land just outside the reservoir” as he planned, but in 1950 he had reportedly “removed his house intact to land which he owned and which TVA did not acquire, located above pool level on Sharp’s Creek, in the Friendship community.” Hopefully, he was also able to remove the store.

Martin Alexander Harless

Born: 10 January 1891.
Died: 4 May 1965.
Parents: James Andrew Harless and Mary Hester E. Keaton.
Spouse: Sadie E. Gross.
Known Children: Edward A. Harless, Ethel Victoria Harless, Wayne D. Harless.
Relationship to Johan Philip Harless: 4th great-grandson.

  1. Johan Philip Harless.
  2. Philip Harless.
  3. Daniel Harless.
  4. Abraham Harless.
  5. Philip Harless.
  6. James Andrew Harless.
  7. Martin Alexander Harless.

Anna M. Harless Obituary

HARLESS, ANNA M. – age 92, passed away Wednesday, July 14, 2004. A native of Campbell County, she had lived in Friendsville for over 65 years. She was preceded in death by: her mother, Emmaline Brown; husband, Jennings Harless; and two grandsons, Roger Harless and Randy Feezell. Survivors include: her children and their spouses, Neubert and Shelby Harless, Betty and Bill Feezell, Gaynell and Dan Lawson, all of Maryville, and Bernard and Diane Harless of Knoxville; grandchildren are: Carol Wicks, Nelda Kagley, Jennifer Robinette, Kay Loy, Elizabeth Johnson and Mindy Stooksbury; and eleven great grandchildren. Family and friends will meet at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Grandview Cemetery for a graveside service. Friends may call at their convenience at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville.

Knoxville News Sentinel, 15 July 2004

 

Anna Mae Robbins

Born: 6 December 1911.
Died: 14 July 2004.
Parents: Emmaline Brown.
Spouse: Jennings Harless.
Known Children: Gaynell Harless, Bernard Harless, Neubert R. Harless, Betty Harless.
Relationship to Johan Philip Harless: unknown.

  1. William D. Harless.
  2. William M. Harless.
  3. Jennings Harless and Anna Mae Robbins.