Robert E. Harril, as he was known in his earlier life was born on February 2nd, 1893. He
was born in Gaffney, South Carolina. In some of his early writings while at Carolina Beach,
Robert specified that he was never predestined to become a hermit.His turbulent life began
early on when his mother and two of his brothers died of typhoid fever. If this was not tragic
enough, his grandfather, who he looked up too, died from a runaway mule. His troubles were
made worse when his father remarried. His new stepmother often verbally abused and beat
Robert. He often times referred to certain members of his family, including his stepmother as
“a bunch of tyrants.”Because of his constant abuse he often ran away from home. He
moved in with …show more content…
He moved from
place to place and had many odd jobs. One of which was with Barnum and Bailey’s Circus.
He had undeniable aspirations as a writer. In his time in boarding school he ran a printing press
from his dormitory to help with his tuition. Furthermore, he often wrote letters about one
thing or another, some letters even being in excess of fourteen pages.
His marriage to Katie Hamrick was also a tumultuous one. Katie was Robert Harril’s
high school sweet heart from Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Together they had five
children and lived minimally in a log cabin hand built by Robert. His parenting was called
into question several times throughout their childhood. In her infancy, Robert’s youngest
daughter Nellie died of pneumonia. Additionally, on a family vacation to Carolina Beach, his
soon Edward had such extreme sunburn that he had to be rushed to a doctor, where Harril was
accused on negligence. Strife with his children did not end there. In 1935, Robert’s son
Alvin, 21, married and expecting a child, jumped in front off a train and died.
Robert’s wife came from a prominent family in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.
was born in Gaffney, South Carolina. In some of his early writings while at Carolina Beach,
Robert specified that he was never predestined to become a hermit.His turbulent life began
early on when his mother and two of his brothers died of typhoid fever. If this was not tragic
enough, his grandfather, who he looked up too, died from a runaway mule. His troubles were
made worse when his father remarried. His new stepmother often verbally abused and beat
Robert. He often times referred to certain members of his family, including his stepmother as
“a bunch of tyrants.”Because of his constant abuse he often ran away from home. He
moved in with …show more content…
He moved from
place to place and had many odd jobs. One of which was with Barnum and Bailey’s Circus.
He had undeniable aspirations as a writer. In his time in boarding school he ran a printing press
from his dormitory to help with his tuition. Furthermore, he often wrote letters about one
thing or another, some letters even being in excess of fourteen pages.
His marriage to Katie Hamrick was also a tumultuous one. Katie was Robert Harril’s
high school sweet heart from Boiling Springs, North Carolina. Together they had five
children and lived minimally in a log cabin hand built by Robert. His parenting was called
into question several times throughout their childhood. In her infancy, Robert’s youngest
daughter Nellie died of pneumonia. Additionally, on a family vacation to Carolina Beach, his
soon Edward had such extreme sunburn that he had to be rushed to a doctor, where Harril was
accused on negligence. Strife with his children did not end there. In 1935, Robert’s son
Alvin, 21, married and expecting a child, jumped in front off a train and died.
Robert’s wife came from a prominent family in Boiling Springs, North Carolina.