Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-07-15
ISHAM G. HARRIS.

1nere were present at his bedside
when death came, his son, Mr.. Edward
K. Harris, and the latter's wife; Repre-
sentative Benton McMillin, of Ten
neSsee; Miss Polk, a friend from his
native state, and the mem bers of the
household where the senator has lived
| for some time. Another son, Charles
FL. Harris, not realizing the end was SO
near, had left the house a short time
| before death came.
Another son, James f. Harris, resid-
ing IL Tennessee, is expected to arrive
in the city today, and a fourth son,
Isham G. Harris, Jr., is now on his
fathers ranch and stock farm at Abb
lene, Tex, and probably will meet the
funeral train when it reaches Memphis,
where the interment will be made.
Senator Harris was last in the senate
chamber about ten days ago, but he
was unable to stay for any length of
time, and had to be taken home in a
carriage. During the past six months
the senator had been able to attend
to his duties only at intervals, having
been away from the city several time
endeavoring to recuperate.
Senator Harris is said to have accepted pub
lie office first in 1929, and he was in public life
almost continuously after that date, and may
be said to have been in public life 6S years.
Probably no man in public life has been
identified with more of the history of this coun-
try than had Senator Harris. He had almost
completed his seveDty-ninth year, having been
born in February, 1873 His first congressional
career thus began earlier than that of any
member of either house, an tedating Senators
Morrill, and Sherman by seven years, and
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 be-
come man of state reputation in Tennessee,
having the year previously served as presi-
Dental elector on the democratic ticket and
two years before been elected member of the
legislature of the state.
Mr.. Harris represented the Ninth Tennessee
district in congress for the term ending in 1851,
when he declined denomination.
He then moved to Memphis where he had re-
sided since. There he was engaged in the
practice of law until 1857, with the interruption
necessary to allow him to become a presidential
elector in 1885. In 1857 he was elected governor
Of his state and was serving in that
capacity when the war broke out.
He took a pronounced stand for
the southern confederacy and was known
one of the southern war governors The vi
cissitudes of the conflict rendered frequent
change of residence necessary and he was often
with the army in the field. He attached him.
self at different times to the staff of Generals
Albert sidney johnston, Joseph Il. johnston,
Beauregard and Bragg.
Albert Sidney Johnston fell from his horse
into Senator Harris arms when he received his
death wound.
After Lees surrender. Mr.. Harris was one of
a small party of political refugees who escaped
to Mexico, going across the country on
horseback. ParSon Brownlow, who had be-
come the military governor of Tennessee, Of
fered large reward in a Enthusiastically
worded poster for the capture of his pre-
decesSor, but the latter remained absent
from the country until his return was safe.
He remained in Mexico for several months go
ing thence to England, where he resided until
1867, when he returned to Memphis and re-
sumed his practice of law.
Mr.. Harris was allowed to follow the pursuits
of the private citizen until 1877, when he was
elected to the United States senate, defeating
1. L. Hawkins, republican. He remained a
member of the senate ever since, and would
have completed his twentieth consecutive year
in that body on the fourth of next March if he
had lived to that date He was four times
elected to the senate, the last time in 1895, and
his term would not have expired until 1901
Senator Harris received almost all the
honorS that the senate could beStow. He was
the president pro tenn during the Fifty-third
congress, leading member OF the commit
tees OF finance and rules and also OF
the democratic advisory, or steering COM
mittee. He had long bsen awarded by
common consent the front place on both sides
of the chamber in parliamentary questions, and
in recent years he had been more frequently
heard in expounding these questions than in
the calculation of other subjects.
He was possessed of very positive manner
and never failed to throw into his statements
concerning parliamentary practice the fullest
force of which he was able. His language on
these and other occasions was generally so I'M
compromising that he was regarded by those
who knew him not well as a man of little feel
ing. That this was not true and that the con-
trary was true none are so willing to testify as
his opponents in the senate, who unite IN at
tributing to him a warm heart as well as a
Just spirit and brilliant mind.
Senator Harris had not been especially actiy9
in the senate since the passage OF The Wilson
German tariff act in 1884