Nathaniel Edwin Harris (1846 - 1929)

Born 21 Jan 1846 in Jonesborough, Washington, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Hattie Gibson (Gibson) Harris — married 6 Jul 1899 in Carter County, Tennessee, United States

Died 21 Sep 1929 at age 83 in Hampton, Carter, Tennessee, United States

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Nathaniel Harris is Notable.

Preceded by 60th Governor John M. Slaton

Nathaniel Edwin Harris 61st Governor of Georgia 1915—1917

Succeeded by 62nd Governor Hugh M. Dorsey

Biography

Nathaniel E. Harris Nathaniel E. Harris was born January 21, 1846, near Jonesboro, Tennessee and later moved with his family to Pine Log, Georgia. Harris attended Martin Academy until the outbreak of the Civil War. At age 16, he joined the Confederate infantry and eventually became an officer in the 16 th Virginia Calvary. He entered the University of Georgia in 1867 as a sophomore with the financial support of Alexander H. Stephens. Upon graduating from the university with an A.B. degree in 1870, Harris began studying law in Sparta, Georgia. He would eventually go on to receive his LL.D. degree from the University of Georgia in 1910.

In 1873, Harris moved to Macon where he practiced law with Walter Hill for the next 27 years. He was not confined to private practice, however, serving as city attorney from 1874 to 1882. Harris went on to serve as a representative in the state legislature from 1882 to 1885. It was during his term in the General Assembly that Harris achieved one of his greatest accomplishments, the founding of the Georgia School of Technology (later the Georgia Institute of Technology) in 1885. He served not only as the chair of the supervising committee for the school's establishment but also as the chair of the board of trustees until his death in 1929. Harris's interest in education also led him to introduce a bill calling for compulsory education.

Harris served in the Georgia Senate from 1894 to 1895 and as judge of the Superior Court of the Macon Circuit from 1912 until his resignation in 1915. Rather than finishing his term, Harris chose to run for governor of Georgia as a Democrat and was successful, taking office June 26, 1915, making him the last Confederate veteran to serve as governor. Shortly after his inauguration, the new governor tried unsuccessfully to apprehend the mob that lynched Leo Frank, an Atlanta factory supervisor convicted of murdering 13 year-old Mary Phagan. In addition, Harris helped pass an act that allowed Georgia banks to join the Federal Reserve. He was a staunch prohibitionist and in 1917 succeeded in prohibiting the shipment of liquor to or through Georgia. He also helped to send an act through the state legislature forbidding the sale of intoxicating liquor.

Upon leaving office, Harris returned to Macon to practice law. His days of public service were not over, however. From 1924 to 1925, he served as Pension Commissioner of Georgia while at the same time serving as president of the Electoral College of Georgia. Harris was also a member of the board of trustees of both Wesleyan College and the University of Georgia.

Harris was married twice. His first wife was Fannie Burke whom he married on January 12, 1873. They had six children. Fannie Burke died in 1898, and Harris married Hattie Jobe, an old friend, on July 6, 1899. Nathaniel Harris died in Hampton, Tennessee, on September 21, 1929.

Sources

• Find A Grave Memorial# 7116413

• Nathaniel Edwin Harris on Wikipedia