John Spafford Harris (December 18, 1825 – January 25, 1906) was an American politician for the state of Louisiana and member of the Republican Party. Born to a farm family in Truxton, New York, Harris was a delegate to the Louisiana state constitutional convention in 1868. He was a member of Louisiana State Senate in 1868 and the first Republican U.S. Senator from Louisiana, serving from 1868 to 1871. Harris was buried at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena, Montana.
Harris attended the common schools,[1] and received some college education during his time in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[2]
Careeredit
After the death of his mother, Harris accompanied his father to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1846. Initially employed as clerk in a mercantile establishment, he worked as a merchant, real estate dealer, and banker. He eventually rose to be president of Milwaukee's Marine Bank.[3][4]
In the fall of 1863, traveled to Memphis, Tennessee but found it strictly blockaded by federal authorities. Consequently, he resolved to return home via New Orleans and New York. An accident happened and his boat was detained in Natchez, Mississippi, where he was induced to lease one of the largest cotton plantations in Louisiana. By the end of the American Civil War, he had become one of the biggest planters in Louisiana.[5]
He became increasingly involved in politics by organizing local freedmen into clubs and instructing them about their new political rights. As a member of the Republican Party, he took a moderate course, and was seen by the New Orleans Picayune as "one of the mildest and most temperate Republicans", although the New Orleans Republican noted that he was an abolitionist. He was sworn in as a state senator on June 29, 1868. Nine days later, he was nominated to serve as a US senator for the short term ending in 1871. He succeeded Judah P. Benjamin who had withdrawn from the Senate previous to the war.[6] His nomination was confirmed by both houses.[7] He completed his term on March 3, 1871.
Harris was appointed surveyor general for the state of Montana by President Chester Arthur in 1881.[8]
^"Harris, John Spafford". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
^Howard J. Jones, "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate," The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, vol. 19, no. 1 (winter, 1978), 80-82.
^Howard J. Jones, "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate," The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, vol. 19, no. 1 (winter, 1978), 80-82.
^History of Montana, 1739-1885 (Chicago: Warner, Beers, and Co., 1885), 1216.
^History of Montana, 1739-1885 (Chicago: Warner, Beers, and Co., 1885), 1216.
^History of Montana, 1739-1885 (Chicago: Warner, Beers, and Co., 1885), 1216.
^Howard J. Jones, "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate," The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, vol. 19, no. 1 (winter, 1978), 80-82.
^"Harris, John Spafford". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
^"Harris, John Spafford". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
^Howard J. Jones, "Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate," The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association, vol. 19, no. 1 (winter, 1978), 80-82.
1. Because of Louisiana's secession from the Union, the Senate seat was vacant from 1861 to 1868 when Judah P. Benjamin withdrew from the Senate.
November 11, 2023
john, harris, minnesota, horticulturalist, horticulturalist, john, spafford, harris, december, 1825, january, 1906, american, politician, state, louisiana, member, republican, party, born, farm, family, truxton, york, harris, delegate, louisiana, state, consti. For the Minnesota horticulturalist see John S Harris horticulturalist John Spafford Harris December 18 1825 January 25 1906 was an American politician for the state of Louisiana and member of the Republican Party Born to a farm family in Truxton New York Harris was a delegate to the Louisiana state constitutional convention in 1868 He was a member of Louisiana State Senate in 1868 and the first Republican U S Senator from Louisiana serving from 1868 to 1871 Harris was buried at Forestvale Cemetery in Helena Montana John Spafford HarrisUnited States Senatorfrom LouisianaIn office July 8 1868 March 3 1871Preceded byJudah P BenjaminSucceeded byJoseph R WestPersonal detailsBorn 1825 12 18 December 18 1825Truxton New YorkDiedJanuary 25 1906 1906 01 25 aged 80 Butte MontanaResting placeForestvale Cemetery in Helena MontanaPolitical partyRepublican Contents 1 Education 2 Career 3 Death 4 References 5 External linksEducation editHarris attended the common schools 1 and received some college education during his time in Milwaukee Wisconsin 2 Career editAfter the death of his mother Harris accompanied his father to Milwaukee Wisconsin in 1846 Initially employed as clerk in a mercantile establishment he worked as a merchant real estate dealer and banker He eventually rose to be president of Milwaukee s Marine Bank 3 4 In the fall of 1863 traveled to Memphis Tennessee but found it strictly blockaded by federal authorities Consequently he resolved to return home via New Orleans and New York An accident happened and his boat was detained in Natchez Mississippi where he was induced to lease one of the largest cotton plantations in Louisiana By the end of the American Civil War he had become one of the biggest planters in Louisiana 5 He became increasingly involved in politics by organizing local freedmen into clubs and instructing them about their new political rights As a member of the Republican Party he took a moderate course and was seen by the New Orleans Picayune as one of the mildest and most temperate Republicans although the New Orleans Republican noted that he was an abolitionist He was sworn in as a state senator on June 29 1868 Nine days later he was nominated to serve as a US senator for the short term ending in 1871 He succeeded Judah P Benjamin who had withdrawn from the Senate previous to the war 6 His nomination was confirmed by both houses 7 He completed his term on March 3 1871 Harris was appointed surveyor general for the state of Montana by President Chester Arthur in 1881 8 Death editHarris died in Butte Montana on January 25 1906 9 and is buried in Helena Montana 10 References edit Harris John Spafford Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved 30 July 2012 Howard J Jones Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association vol 19 no 1 winter 1978 80 82 Howard J Jones Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association vol 19 no 1 winter 1978 80 82 History of Montana 1739 1885 Chicago Warner Beers and Co 1885 1216 History of Montana 1739 1885 Chicago Warner Beers and Co 1885 1216 History of Montana 1739 1885 Chicago Warner Beers and Co 1885 1216 Howard J Jones Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association vol 19 no 1 winter 1978 80 82 Harris John Spafford Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved 30 July 2012 Harris John Spafford Biographical Directory of the United States Congress Retrieved 30 July 2012 Howard J Jones Biographical Sketches of Members of the 1868 Louisiana State Senate The Journal of the Louisiana Historical Association vol 19 no 1 winter 1978 80 82 External links editUnited States Congress John S Harris id H000246 Biographical Directory of the United States Congress U S SenatePreceded byJudah P Benjamin 1 U S senator Class 2 from Louisiana1868 1871 Served alongside William P Kellogg Succeeded byJoseph R WestNotes and references1 Because of Louisiana s secession from the Union the Senate seat was vacant from 1861 to 1868 when Judah P Benjamin withdrew from the Senate Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John S Harris amp oldid 1179693888, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
