The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-07-16
BHAM HARRIS DEAD.
VETERAN SOUTHERN WAR
RlOR AND STATESMAN.
Served In Congress Earlier Than Any
Now There-Was Tennessee's War
Governor and an Ardent Supporter of

WASHINGTON, July 10. - Senator
Isham G.. Harris, of Tennessee. died
at his residence here few minutes
before o'clock yesterday afternoon.
Probably no man in public life had
been identified with more of the his
tory of this country than had Senator
Harris. He had almost completed his
roth year, having been born in Febru
airy, 1918, and first became u member
of congress in 1910. His congressional
career thus began earlier than that of
any member of either house, ante
dating Senators Morrill, and Sherman
by seven years, and Hon. Galusha A.
Grow, now a member of the house
from Pennsylvania, by one year Mr..
Harris had, when he was elected to
the national house of representatives.,
already become man of state reputa-
ton in Tennessee, having the year
previously served as presidential
elector on the Democratic ticket, and
two years before been elected a mem
Der of the legislature of the state.
Mr. Harris represented the Ninth
Tennessee district in Congress for the
two terms ending in 1853, when he de-
clined a denomination. lie then
moved to Memphis, where he has since
resided. Here he was engaged in the
practice of law until 1857, with the in
terruption necessary to allow him to
become presidential elector in 1856.
He was three times in succession be-
fore the war, beginning in 1857,
elected governor of his state, and was
serving in that capacity when the war
broke out
He took pronounced stand for the
Southern Confederacy and was known
as one of the southern war governors
The vicissitudes of conflict rendered a
frequent change of residence neces-
sary, and he was often with the army
in the field. He attached himself at
different times to the stats of General
Albert Sidney Johnston, General
Joseph L. Johnston, General Beaure-
gard and General Bragg. Albert Sid
ney Johnston fell from his horse into
Senator Harris arms when he received
his death wound.
After Lees surrender Mr.. Harris
was one of small party of political
refugees who escaped to Mexico, GO
ing across the country on horseback.
Parson Brownlow, who had become
the military governor of Tennessee,
offered large reward in a character
istically worded poster for the cap
ture of his predecessor, but the latter
remained absent from the country I'M
til his return was safe. He remained
in Mexico for several months, going
thence to Europe, where he resided
until 1867, when he returned to Mem
phis and resumed his practice of the
law.
Mr.. Harris was allowed to follow
the pursuits of the private citizen un-
til 1877, when he was elected to the
United States Senate, defeating Hon.
l.. l.. Hawkins, Republican. He has
remained member of the Sen ate ever
since, and would have completed his
twentieth consecutive year in that
body on the 4th of next March, if he
had lived to that date. He had been
four times elected to the Senate, the
last time in 1895, and his term would
not have expired until 1901.
Senator Harris had received almost
all the honors that the Senate could
bestow. He was the president pro
tempore during the Fiftythird Con-
gress, leading member of the com
mittee of finance and rules, and also
of the Democratic advisory or steering
committee.