COL. HENRY P. HARRIS

COL. HENRY P. HARRIS, one of Georgia’s illustrious sons, is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, descended from one of the seven brothers who came to America early in the history of the colonies, and who were the progenitors of this family in this country.

His grandfather, Absalom Harris, was born in Virginia, and in 1795 removed with his family to Georgia, settling in Hancock County. His son, Henry, born in Virginia in 1781, married Miss Mary Sasnett, daughter of Richard Sasnett, an early settler of Georgia from North Carolina, and a lineal descendant of Gov. Borden, the colonial governor of North Carolina. Henry R., the son of Henry and Mary (Sasnett) Harris, was born in Hancock County in 1828, and in 1830 his father removed with his family to Meriwether County and settled on a plantation near Greenville.

Here young Harris grew to manhood, receiving his primary education in the school at Greenville. One of his first teachers was Hon. Lyman Trumbull, later member of congress, and now at the head of the bar in Chicago. Later Mr. Harris completed a successful course at Emory College, and is one of the most accomplished among the graduates of that noble institution, where he fitted himself for the distinguished positions he has since been called upon to fill.

In 1872 he was elected to represent his district in congress, in which office he was continued for six years, the last two of which he was a member of the ways and means committee. In 1884 he was elected for another term, and was appointed by John G. Carlisle to the same important committee—ways and means. At the close of this term of office he was appointed third assistant postmaster-general, under President Cleveland, and discharged the duties of this office with honor and fidelity. Since his return from Washington Col. Harris has lived in comparative retirement upon his plantation, engaged in his private affairs, and in thoughtful consideration and earnest effort for the interests of the Wesleyan Female College and LaGrange Female College—he being a member of the board of trustees of each of these institutions. The positions of responsibility and influence to which Mr. Harris has been called are indicative of the respect in which he is held, and he is equally well liked by all who know him.

Early in life, in 1847, Mr. Harris married Miss Eliza Gresham, whose parents, Albert Y. and _____ (Wells) Gresham, natives of Virginia, were early settlers of Clarke County, Georgia, where Mrs. Harris was born in 1830. Mrs. Harris, a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, died in 1880, leaving her husband with six children: Mary, Henry R., Ella, Fannie, Lena, and Albert Y.

In 1886 Col. Harris married Miss Kate Moses, whose parents, S. Preston and Lizzie (Tucker) Moses, natives of South Carolina, were for a long period residents of Washington, D. C., where Mr. Moses died in 1883, and where his widow still resides. Mrs. Harris was born in 1854, in Olympia, Washington, where her father was collector of customs. Col. and Mrs. Harris are both active workers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which they are worthy members. Col. Harris is also an honored member of the Masonic fraternity.

Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Containing historical accounts of the states civil, military, industrial and professional interests and personal sketches of many of it’s people, Volume II, The Southern Historical Association, Atlanta, Georgia, 1895

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