Aunt Edythe had this bible and George included a scan of the pages in his giant book of genealogy. I thought I would try to transcribe it. The bible belonged to Dr. Robert Bell Smith Hargis who was a doctor in Pensacola before and after the Civil War. He played a pretty prominent position in the fight against yellow fever, writing a couple of books about it, and also getting yellow fever in the process. Dr. Hargis, originally from North Carolina, wasn’t related to us, but his wife was a descendant of Dr. Eugene Sierra, like us. Their son, Dr. John Whiting Hargis, married Paw-Paw’s sister, Edythe Grant (hmmm . . . also a descendant of Dr. Sierra; by my calculations they were second cousins, once removed), and their daughter was Mom’s cousin, Edythe.
Each page has two columns, so I am including the headers for those columns as “Births,” “Marriages,”, or “Deaths.” In keeping with the format of the original pages, some additional marriages and deaths were added at the end. Some of it is hard to read and I may not have gotten things right, and some is impossible to read. I will post pictures if I get them.
Marriages
At ½ past 7 o’clock on the evening of the 23rd of November 1854 Dr. Robert B. S. Hargis was xxxx bonds of matrimony to xxx Modeste Sierra by the Rev. W Bxxx a of the City of Pensacola
Robt. W. Hargis and Miss Merced Bonifay were married on the 5t March 1874 by the Rev. F. A. Bergrasst in the city of Pensacola
Marriages
At 5 o’clock in the afternoon of the 24th day of October 1889 Dr. Warren E. Anderson was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Catherine F. Hargis by the very Reverend J. B. Beasima both of the City of Pensacola.
Births
Joseph Sierra Hargis was born on the 27 day of August A.D. 1855 ½ past 2 o’clock A.M.
Palmire Mary Hargis was born on the 21st September 1857 ½ past 2 o’clock A.M.
Thomas Archibald Hargis was born at 15 minutes past 7 o’clock on the morning (Sunday) of the 5 February 1860.
The three children whose births are recorded above were born in the city of Pensacola, Fla.
Maria Bell Hargis was born in Greenville Alabama at 10:30 A.M. 24th of March 1863.
Births
Robert Wetmore (xxx) Hargis was born at Mt. Pleasant, Monroe County, Alabama on the 9th day of September 1847 in the morning
Born in Pensacola
Kate Fannie Hargis born on the 16th of February 1867 at 10 O clock P.M. (Feby 16th)
John Whiting Hargis born on Sunday morning Oct. 3rd (at 1:30?) 1869
Modeste Pitmella Hargis born on Friday morning at 2:30 August 7th 1874
Virginia Eva Hargis born Saturday 11 A.M. January 12th, 1878
Isabel Hargis McConaughy Born July 22, 1906 Sunday 7:15 PM Pensacola Fla.
Deaths
If we have received good things at the hand of God, why should we not receive evil? Job.11.10
Died in Pensacola, Fla. At ½ past 7 oclock on Friday evening April 20th 1860 our dear little boy Joseph Sierra aged 4 years 7 months and 22 days. “Gentle mother, cease to weep” “near the tomb where sxxxx thy boy; “Thy beloved, from his sleep” “Hathe meke to heavenly joy” “If xxx could make him beek twould bell” “Thee in tears for him to see”
In Greenville, Ala Died on Thursday the 8th of October 1863 our dear little boy Thomas Archibald, aged 3 years and 7 (8?) months and 3 days. Our dear little Archie!
Deaths
Died in Pensacola Dec 28th 1871 Mrs. M. B. Hargis “The pure in heart shall see God.”
Died at xxx Prince Wxxx Cxxxby , Va Jan 4 1882 xx C. N. xxx Weary heard xxx xxx xx
Died at Pensacola June 30, 1885 Therbald Mo. Leonard Aged 84 May he rest in peace
Robert Bell Smith Hargis M.D. Born in Fayetteville, N.C. June 7, 1818 died in Pensacola Fla. Nov 30th 1893 “He giveth his beloved sleep.”
Marriages
At 11 o clock in the morning of the 8th day of December 1904 Mr. James Thomas McConoughay was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Bell M. Hargis by the Rev. Fachs Robt Fuhte both of the City of Pensacola.
At 8:30 o clock as high as the 20 day of Jun 1905 Mr. William E. Craig was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Virginia E. Hargis by the Rev. Francis John xxx both of the city of Pensacola.
Deaths
Modeste Sierra Hargis born in Pensacola Fla June 13, 1837 died Jan 22, 1904 “God is rest”
Good heavens! How can I get all of that wrapped around my head?
I am also a descendant of Don Sierra’s as my grandfather’s grandfather was Dr. Robert Bell Smith Hargis. I don’t know if you ever got the Bible’s records scanned, but if so I would be interested to see them as I am trying to confirm birth/death dates in the family tree.
Thanks for writing. I scanned the prints of the bible pages and sent those to you.
Hello — I’m Judy Smith, a faculty member at the University of Maryland. I’m writing a biography of Emmett Wilson, a congressman from Pensacola who served from 1913-1917. Emmett died in 1918. I’m writing to you because I stumbled across your blog when searching for information on Modeste Hargis, the first woman pharmacist in Florida; she was a friend of Emmett’s.
I was in Pensacola two weeks ago to dig around in the archives at the University of West Florida; unfortunately, I did not get to any of the Anderson-Hargis holdings in the archive at the Pace Library. Modeste was a woman ahead of her time: She owned a successful business and was encouraged to follow her interests by her father (as opposed to being encouraged to ‘make a good marriage’, as most young women were at that time). I’d love to see a photo of her if you happen to have one.
I plan to write a small essay about her on my own research blog in the future. I gathered a lot of information about her as a pharmacist and professional woman (from reading reels and reels of microfilm over the past two years), but I know nothing about her personally. I’d love to learn more.
Thanks for your time. Feel free to email me if you like at [edited].
Best,
Judy Smith
Hello, did you ever get additional information about Modeste? One of my students is attempting to write a short essay on her about being the first female black pharmacist in Pensacola, but not alot on the internet. Thanks in advance. I am a History teacher at Workman Middle School in Pensacola.
Your post is interesting, but I’m confused!
Modeste Harris wasn’t black as far as I understand…are you referring to your student being black, or Mrs. Hargis?
I wrote to Helene separately back in February and let her know.
William Edward Anderson was my second great-grandfather, and I am keenly following all things Hargis since the marriage of his son to Catherine Kate Hargis, who bore perhaps twelve children in all—among them nine sons. I thought it was eleven, but I seem to have found a new name in a recent sweep.
Modeste’s career fascinates me.
I have some articles about her and Kate, if you are interested. I know we are not related directly, but the photos I have seen of Kate are so lovely. I feel as though I know her. She beams with intelligence, as well as the look in later life of a woman who is radiantly happy in her life. The photos of some of the children are—no other word for it—stunning.
Please contact me if you would like to know more about Kate Hargis.
Many kind thanks,
Tana Anderson
Very interesting information. I am the Admin for a Facebook group called Hargis Families – Extended. We are a small group of people that are Hargis’ or related to the Hargis family. A few of us in the group are trying to build a complete Hargis family tree and I know of Robert Bell Smith Hargis by my research of the family. I would be honored if you could share a copy of the scanned bible to me. Thank you in advance.
I emailed you a scan of the pages.