Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-01-20

evident early in the evening that the pain
had weakened him greatly, the hearts ac-
ton became affected, aud death resulted as
stated.
Mr.. Harris was one of the four sons of
Wilder and Harriet Davis Harris. He was
born in Chesterfield, n. H., Aug. 10, 1922.
Mr.. Harris's ancestry is traced back TO Ar
thur Harris, prominent citizen of Dux-
bury, Mass, who came TO this country in
the 18th century from England Abner
Harris, the great-grandfather of Broughton
d. Harris, moved to Chesterfield from
Woodstock, Conn, in 1777. Wilder Harris,
his grandson, father of Broughton D., was
an enterprsing, prosperous, and highly re-
spected farmer of Chesterfield. After the
sale of his farm in that town he moved to
this village and his later years were spent
here in the leisure of good old age.
Broughton d. Harris prepared for col
lege at the Chesterfield academy and at
Kimball Union academy at Meriden, n.
H., fitting school second to none in its
record for turning out distinguished men.
Mr.. Harris entered Dartmouth college in
1S4l and graduated with high honors in
1916. The class was one of distinguish
ed ability, and nearly all OF its members
have been men Of prominence. either in
the professions, in politics, in business OF
military affairs. The class contained 90
members, and at the time of its semi-cen-
tennial gathering in 1895 there were "a
survivors. Mr.. Harris was q member OF
the Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Delta Phi
| societies.
Immediately after his graduation Mr.
Harris began the study of law in the office
n A Il Of
subsequently continued it in that of Ed
ward Kirkland, Esq. While pursuing his
law studies he acted as editor of The Yer
mont Phoenix for Il months
In August, 1S47, Mr.. Harris and the
late William b. Hale began the publica
tion of the semiweekly Eagle, a Whig
newspaper. Mr.. Harris's connection with
the paper continued until he went TO Utah
in 1851. On returning from that territory
| in the fall of 1852 Mr.. Harris resumed con.
troll of the Eagle, changed it to a weekly
paper, and continued its publication unit
| 1855, when 1t was united with the Yer
mont Statesman. Mr.. Hale, who was as
ISOLATED with Mr.. Harris, became one o.
the leading men of Northampton, Mass
where he was president of the FRS
National bank and held other importan
public offices.
In the fall of 1850, on the unsolicited
recommendations of Senators Collamer anC
Foote, whose confidence and friendship III
enjoyed until the end of their lives, h,
was honored by President Fillmore with
appointment as first secretary of the new
territory of Utah.
| In March, 1851, Mr.. Harris and his wife
then bride, started on their long, tedlou
and perilous journey across the plains
| There was no white settlement west O
the Missouri river, and the journey from
that point to the Great Salt Lake occupied
65 days, through country inhabited b!
numerous tribes of Indians
| Brigham Young was the first governo
of the territory. The sentiments and aim
of the two appointees were wholly incon
gruous and antagonistic. The faithful
manner in which Mr.. Harris discharged
his duties soon brought him into collision
with Brigham Young. In the opinion o
Mr.. Harris the territorial government, a
organized by the governor and his asso
ciates, was not in harmony with the an
abling act of Congress; indeed, they os
tentatiously disregarded the plain provi
sions of that act. He therefore refused Il
disburse the money lodged in his hands b!
the United States government for the ben
eft of the territory, and in letter assigned
unanswerable reasons for his refusal. A
storm of bigoted Indignation ragged abou
him. The Mormon legislature passed {
series of resolutions requiring him to de
liver to the Mormon United States marsha
of Utah the public money in his posses
sion, and threatened him with arrest anC
imprisonment in case he refused to comply
Adhering to his clear convictions of du
ty the young secretary refused emphati
cally to yield, and under angry threats o
personal violence and even of assassination
and through many and severe hardships
returned to Washington, and promptly re
stored to the United States treasury ever
dollar of the appropriation. The admins
tration fully approved of his action. Tw
federal judges who had been appointed T.
Office in Utah returned to Washington
with Mr.. Harris. The three presented
formal report to the President, settin
forth the reasons for their return and tn
condition of affairs in the territory.
Soon after his return from Utah MI
Harris was appointed secretary and actin
governor of New Mexico, but he decline
to accept.
Mr.. Harris was always deeply intereste
in state affairs, but being actively engage
in business he seldom allowed the use {
his name as a candidate for Office.
1S47-4S he was register of probate. Il
rived as its commander.