- Elisha Harris
Harris, Elisha (1791–1861)ndash of Coventry,
Kent County, Rhode Island . Born in Cranston,Providence County, Rhode Island ,September 8 ,1791 . He was Lt.Governor of Rhode Island, 1846–47, Governor of Rhode Island 1847–49. He was a member of theWhig Party (United States) . Between 1846 and 1861 President of the Providence Bank. He diedFebruary 1 ,1861 . Interment at Greenwood Cemetery,Coventry, Rhode Island ."The National Cyclopedia of American Biography" wrote:
[Elisha Harris was the] son of Joseph Harris, anddescendant of William Harris, who emigrated toAmerica in the ship Lion with
Roger Williams , andwas one of the original proprietors of Providence,and later of Pawtuxet. Elisha Harris was educatedat the public schools of his town, andwas for a time at the East Greenwich Seminary.Soon after leaving school he became book-keeper atthe mills at Phœnix, then called the Roger WilliamsMills. Subsequently acquiring the water privilegenext above, he entered upon the manufacturingbusiness for himself in 1822. Possessed of good mercantilehabits, he succeeded in developing a considerablebusiness, which is yet under the control andmanagement of his descendants.The village of his creationis a very handsome one,and is known as Harris. Althoughtoo modest to seek publicoffice, he conscientiouslyaccepted it, when assured thatit was but duty to do so. He was lieutenant - governor in1846-47 and governor, 1847-49.He belonged to the Whig partyuntil its dissolution, and thenbecame a Republican, and wasa presidential elector in 1860.... [cite book
title=The National Cyclopedia of American Biography, Vol IX
publisher=James T. White and Company
pages=398
year=1899
url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fd4DAAAAYAAJ]References
External links
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6946774 Find a Grave]
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