Lincoln County, West Virginia Biography of JAMES ALBERT HARLESS This biography was submitted by Valerie Crook, E-mail address: ********************************************** ***The submitter does not have a connection*** ********to the subject of this sketch.******** ********************************************** This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. All other rights reserved. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the WVGenWeb Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://www.usgwarchives.net/wv/wvfiles.htm The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 565 Lincoln JAMES ALBERT HARLESS, assessor of Lincoln County, is one of the reliable and public-spirited citizens whose capa- bilities are finding adequate expression in the discharge of the onerous duties of his present office. His popularity is remarkable, and is evidenced by the fact that he was elected to his office on the republican ticket in a democratic strong- hold. For some years he was connected with the business life of Hubball. He is known all over the country, and no one man enjoys more of the public's confidence than he. A native son of Lincoln County, Mr. Harless was born at Branchland, November 15, 1883, and has always contin- ued loyal to this region. His ancestors were of good, old Virginian stock, of Scotch origin, and members of the fam- ily served in the American Revolution. He is a son of J. M. and Emma (Eplin) Harless, both natives of West Vir- ginia, born in Lincoln County. The mother died when James Albert Harless was two years old, but the father sur- vives and is today one of the leading men of Lincoln County. He is still engaged in mercantile business at Branchland. Although too young himself to participate in the great war between the two sections of the country, J. M. Harless had an elder brother in the service under Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, the sympathies of the Harless family being with the Confederacy. The educational training of James Albert Harless was limited to that afforded by the common schools of his na- tive county, and after completing his attendance at them he never had any further instruction, except that gained in the great school of experience, of which he still considers himself a student. Going into the mercantile field, he and his brother for eight years conducted a store at Branch- land, and then Mr. Harless, selling, was left free for other operations. He went to Hubball and established himself in a similar business, but at the termination of two yea's sold his store to A. J. Harland so as to give his time and atten- tion to his campaign for the office of county assessor. Elected to this office in November, 1920. he assumed the du- ties of his office in January, 1921, and is making a won- derful record for thoroughness and fair dealing. In 1913 Mr. Harless married at Ironton, Ohio, Miss Katie Row. Her father is conducting extensive timber opera- tions in the South. Mr. and Mrs. Harless have one daugh- ter, Opleimagine. Mr. Harless is a Baptist, and his wife belongs to the Christian Church. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he is a dokie, the highest rank in that order, and is also a member of the Indenendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and is deservedly popular in all of these organizations. Mr. Harless' career affords proof of the statement so often made that the best officials are those who have had a successful business experience. It stands to reason that one who can manage his own affairs profitably and efficiently will give to the taxpayers an equally judicious conduct of public business, and the people of Lincoln County feel satisfied in their choice of James Albert Harless to regulate matters in the office of county assessor, for they not only have confidence in his ability, but also in his integrity and realize that he is a man who will show no favors, but make his levies impartially, giv- ing exact justice to all. no matter what influence may be brought to bear upon him. In April, 1922, Mr. Harless established a general mer- cantile business at Branchland, Lincoln County, West Vir- ginia, where he now resides.