Meriwether County GaArchives Biographies.....Henry Harris  1828 -  Unknown
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Author: Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Ga., 1895

Memoirs of Georgia, Vol. II, Atlanta, Ga., 
Published by The Southern Historical Association in 1895
Pages 509-510

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 May 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, Ga., 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, Wash., 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.




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