Northumberland-Philadelphia County PA Archives Biographies.....Harris, Robert N. 1866 - 
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Author: Biographical Publishing Co.

REV. ROBERT N. HARRIS. It is a pleasure to write the review of the life and work
of a man such as is 1he subject of this sketch, however brief and inadequate it
may be in some details. Clothed in the spirit as well as the garb of the
ministry, naturally modest and unassuming, Robert N. Harris is not the man to
tell much of his deeds nor to take unto himself as much credit as is cheerfully
given to him by those who know him best and who are most intimately associated
with him in his church work. Higher compliment need not be paid our subject than
to characterize him as a strong, eloquent man of God as pastor and Christian,
and as an equally strong, self-possessed, helpful man as citizen, neighbor and
friend.

  Rev. Robert N. Harris is a son of Robert N. and Mary A. (Kees) Harris, and was
born in West Philadelphia, Pa., October 28, 1866. He is the popular, scholarly
and successful pastor of the First Congregational Church of Mount Carmel, a
church which has constantly increased in numbers and influence for good under
his ministrations.

  Our subject was educated in the public schools of Philadelphia and also had
the benefit of instructions by Rev. P. J. Kain of Philadelphia, under whose
guidance he well prepared himself to enter the ministry as he had determined to
do when quite young, which decision was made upon his conversion. After devoting
himself to evangelistic work for some time our subject was made associate pastor
with his tutor and friend, Rev. P. J. Kain, and was placed in charge of the
First Congregational Church at West Pittston, Pa., in September, 1891. He
remained in charge of that church until March, 1894, when he accepted a call to
the Second Congregational Church at Coaldale, Schuylkill County, Pa., where he
remained until September, 1896, during which time the membership of the church
was increased twelvefold and a beautiful house of worship built and dedicated,
free from all debt. He then removed to Mount Carmel and assumed the pastorate of
the church of which he is now the head. He presides over the largest Protestant
congregation in the town, his church has all the customary working societies and
the increase in membership has been large and rapid since he became pastor. When
he was called to Mount Carmel the church was in quite a sad state in many
respects and the few surviving members, who had stood by it for many years, were
much discouraged but agreed to still hold on and to try once more, provided our
subject could be secured as their pastor. Mr. Harris accepted the call and with
his characterestic energy set to work and aroused such interest and attracted
people so generally by his powerful and eloquent preaching and his many good
traits of personal character, that the church is to-day on solid foundations and
a new and much larger edifice, costing about $6,000, stands a fitting monument
to the energy and popularity of the pastor and the love and respect in which he
is held by his congregation.

  Comparatively few weeks have passed since a terrible event occurred which was
the means of forever linking with the local history of Mount Carmel and its
residents the name and the deeds of Rev. Robert N. Harris. It was in the
disastrous railroad wreck at Dunellen, N. J., that the greater, the more
concealed, manly character of our subject was revealed. He was among those on
the ill-fated train and was seated in the midst of the victims of the wrecked
coach; unlike many of the officials and others, he retained his self-possession,
and, therefore, was able to do what was to be done quickly and effectively. It
fell to his lot to assume charge of the rescue and to aid in their exacting work
the physicians who first arrived. The details of the terrible catastrophe need
not be recounted here, nor is it possible to adequately describe the quiet
dignity, the helpful and consoling spirit in which Mr. Harris went among the
dead and wounded and ministered to their comfort, bodily and spiritually. Among
the passengers were a number of the citizens of Mount Carmel, eight of whom
yielded up their lives, and to the wounded Mr. Harris spoke words of cheer, gave
nourishment, and through all the terrible ordeal, in the midst of the moans of
the dying and the pitiful appeals and prayers of the suffering, bore himself
like unto the true man of God that he is. His was a cheerful presence, a ray of
gladsome light shedding itself upon the darkness which dread disaster had
lowered over many homes in Mount Carmel. Appreciating his efforts, the railroad
company placed free telegraphic communication and a special car at his disposal,
and, thus, Mr. Harris was enabled to quickly perform the sorrowful duty of
notifying loved ones of the terrible blow which had fallen. His messages,
whether bearing the tidings of death or the notice of injury, were so written
that they ever will be remembered as those of a man with a manly and sensitive
heart and filled with the tender Godly spirit. His services at the wreck
endeared him to those not only within his church but to those who differ with
him in belief but unite with all in recognizing his assistance in a time of need
and in loving him for the kindly, effective and gentle manner in which it was
given; and, not until after the arrival of the other rescuers, whom Rev. Mr.
Harris gave all the credit for their noble work at the wreck, was ascertained
the valuable service which Rev. Mr. Harris had rendered in the terrible hour of
need.

  On August 17, 1893, our subject married Emma B. Brown, daughter of Charles
Wesley Brown of West Pittston, Luzerne County, Pa. To the happy couple have been
born two children: Wesley Kain, born May 25, 1894, and Eleanor May, born June
25, 1896.

  The parents of the subject of this review came of sturdy Scotch-Irish stock,
both having been born in County Donegal, Ireland, where they were reared. The
mother of our subject came to this country in 1849, locating in Philadelphia,
and the father followed in the succeeding year. The couple were married in 1855.
The father in his native country was a farmer and landowner. He located in
Philadelphia where he was connected for some years with Wetheril & Co.,
manufacturers of lead, and where he now resides at the age of sixty-eight years.
His wife died in July, 1893. In politics the father always has been a
Republican. Religiously he is one of the three surviving charter members of the
Princeton Presbyterian Church of which Rev. Dr. Addison Henry is pastor. He has
always taken active part in the work of that church in which he has long served
as an elder.

  Robert N. Harris and his wife, Mary, parents of our subject, had given unto
them six children: Albert E., William A., and Katharine J., who are deceased;
our subject; Annie E., wife of James E. MacIntyre of Germantown, Pa., who is a
drummer by occupation; and Charles K., who is a resident of Philadelphia and a
brassworker by occupation.

  To the many friends and well-wishers of Rev. Robert N. Harris, it will be a
pleasure to learn that his portrait is shown on a preceding page, in connection
with the above account of his life and works.


Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
    
    Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
    Published by 
    Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)


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