The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-06-20
THE BUSY LIFE
OF GEN. HARRIS
Man Who Now Becomes Gov
eronr of Ohio Has Many
local Friends.
TAKES OATH OF OFFICE
NOT ONLY IN POLITICS BUT AS
A SOLDIER IN REBELLION THE
NEW GOVERNOR GAINED DIS
TlNCTION.

who now becomes governor of Ohio
by reason of the death of Governor
Pattison, is widely known among
Richmond people and he has several
relatives in the city and county. Gov
ernor Harris became executive on
Monday evening, taking the oath of
office at the home of Judge Elan
Fisher of the Preble County court.
There was none present to witness
the ceremonies excepting the wife of
Governor Harris and one or two in
innate friends. The new governor
left Eaton yesterday for the home of
the dead governor at Milford, o., and
tomorrow will proceed to Columbus
to takeup the duties of his Office.
Colonel Harris holds precedence
as a lawyer, statesman and a man Of
high scholarly attainments, valiant
and gallant soldier. In every relation
of life he has borne himself with
such dignity and honor as to gain
and hold the respect or all. He is a
man Of strong mentality, invincible
courage and distinct and determined
individuality.
Colonel Harris was born in Butler
County, Ohio, November II, 1888, and
was reared on a farm in Dixon Town
ship, Preble County. Aside from his
studies in the district schools his
early educational privileges were sup
plemented by course in Miami Uni
versity at Oxford, Ohio. He later
studied law, but before being admitted
to the bar the tocins of war was
sounded, and he became a Lieutenant
of Company G, Twentieth o. ". l., in
April, 1861, and was mustered out at
the end of three months service with
the rank of Captain. In October of
that year he recruited Company c,
Seventy-fifth o. v. l., and became it's
Captain. At the battle of Mcdowell,
West Virginia, he was seriously
wounded, but he soon recuperated and
participated in the engagement at
Cedar Mountain and the second battle
of Bull Run.
Promoted to a coIoneIcy.
Mr.. Harris was made a Major on
January IL, 1868, and after the battle
of Charlottesville was, by the death
of his Colonel, promoted to that posit-
ion. He served further at the battle
of Gettysburg, Morris Island, FITS.
Wagnerand Gregg, and did cavalry
duty at Jacksonville, Fla.
Colonel Harris was a most gallant
officer, and while he took every pre-
caution to save his men, yet, when
duty called, he never faltered and his
:, | oil inc,
encouraged his followers. He was
mustered out of the service as Colonel
of the Seventy-fifth o. V. I. January
: Is, 1865, and on March 13 of that
year was brevetted Brigadier General
for gallant conduct on the field of
battle.
> At the close of the war Colonel
Harris returned to his farm, but, be.
ing disabled by wounds from per-
forming manual labor, he pursued his
legal studies and was admitted to the
bar in 1866. In the fall of that year
he was elected to the State Senate
to represent Preble and Montgomery
Counties, and later served as Repre-.
; sentative of Preble County in the Six.
ty Seventh and Sixty-eighth General
I
Probate Judge of Preble County and
served in that capacity for six years
Still higher honors awaited him, and
in 1891 he became Lieutenant Cover
nor of Ohio on the ticket with the late
VIM. Mckinley, and succeeded him
self to that position two years later
Recognizing the fact that he had the
true statesman's grasp upon affairs
: and feeling that few had a better
knowledge of industrial affairs than
he, President Mckinley appointed hin
member of the U. S. Industrial
Commission in 1898. In this capacity
and himself. When the Third Con
gressional District was over 1900
Democratic General Harris was can
: didate for that Office against the late
P. J. Sorg, but was defeated by the
small majority of 200, fact that at
5 tested the esteem in which he was
: held by the people.
: Colonel Harris's knowledge Of agri
{ culture is of a personal as well al
statistical character, for Throughout
his life he has been identified will
farming interests, and is today the
owner of valuable land in Preblt
County, which is cultivated under hi:
immediate supervision.
Stanch Republican.
He has always been a stanch Repub
;. lican, casting his first vote for Abra
4 ham Lincoln, and is able to uphold
: his political position by intelligen
: and comprehensive argument.
4 Colonel Harris is a cultivated ant
a polished gentleman, whose position il
t life is due no less to his marked socia
1 qualities and sterling personal charac
i teristics than to his learnings ant
r ability. He has long been a leader il
!. thought and action in the political lif,
i of his state, and while he has enjoyed
V honors and triumphs in his publ,
career, he has in private life gained
that warm, personal regard which
arises from true nobility of character