The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-30
Death of Hon. James o. Harris.

Death of Hon. James o. Harris.
telegram was received on Thursday
morning last by Rev. w A. Harris, of
Staunton, announcing the death of his
brother. Hon. James O. Harris, of At
lanta. Ga. 1t occurred on the evening
Of the 22nd, at his residence in that city.
He was a Virginan by nativity, HAYS
ing been born in Albemarle county, Aug.
21st, 1920. He moved with his father at
an early age to- Lexington, Va, where
he received the best education that the
times afforded In 1916, when he was
twenty six years old, he met Miss Eliza
beth A. Brown in Culpeper county and
married her. He then moved to Culpep-
per comfy and lived there ten years, be-
ing twice elected sheriff, an honor that
was never before conferred upon man
born outside the county. When the war
came on he enlisted in the Thirteenth
Virginia infantry and In 1868 he moved
to Atlanta and had lived there ever since
He was in the commission business
until the close of the war, when he was
appointed deputy collector in the reve-
nue. service. In 1868 he was elected
Sheriff of Fulton county while he was
away from home He knew nothing Of
his election until his return a few davs
later He filled the Office so acceptably
that he was kept there for two terms
and a half when he was elected city
marshall. He was then elected city tax
collector and receiver and afterwards
State and county receiver Three years
ago, on account of failing health. he re-
fused to be candidate for collection
He handled millions Of the peoples mon
ely without single error
His devoted wife survives him Two
brothers-Judge j. n Harris, of Virgin
ia, and DR.. William A. Harris, president
of the Wesleyan College of Staunton, are
also still living. The late Dr. Glen. R.
Harris, of Virginia, was third brother.
Three sons are left to mourn the death
of this good man-Dr. n O. Harris, Mr..
Glen. Harris, and Mr. Daniel Harris.
The old man was proud of his boys, and
it was the joy of his life to see them
winning fame and fortune among those
who esteemed them for their true quail
ties. He had only one daughter. Her
death occurred several years ago
James O. Harris was a man of mark in
the city of his adoption, as he had been
in Virginia before he cast his lot with
the people Of the Empire State of the
South He was probably the most pop
ular man in Atlanta, and enjoyed the
confidence of that people to a remarka-
BILE degree. Immediately after his loca>
ton in his adopted home, he was called
by popular suffrage to d responsible po-
sition, and continued to serve the inter
ests of the place, in one capacity or the
other until few months before his
death, when he relinquished the duties
of office on account of declining health.
Immediately after serving in one office,
the limit of the law, he was called TO
another, and this round was continued.
without fntermission, for more than
thirty years. In these various positions
of trust and responsibility, millions of
dollars passed through his hands with
out the suspicion of wrong doing or the
faint Of intidelity attaching for mo
ment to his administration Everybody
respected and loved him. He was salu-
ted by old and young. black and white.