Member Biography

William Harris 

Seal
Sessions Office Position District Party
1847       12 Whig
1848       12 Whig
1849       12 Whig

Biography

07/12/1799 - 10/25/1865


William Harris (Whig12) Centre, Clinton, Lycoming Counties, 1847-1849

Early Life:

William Harris, born July 12, 1799, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania; son of James and Anne Dunlop Harris; classical education; civil engineer; treasurer, Centre County, two terms; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1847-1849; married, Mary McClenachan, children, Jane Harris, James Harris, married, Mary Whelen Fairlamb Harris, 1837, son George Fairlamb Harris; married, Adaline Miles, 1847; died, October 25, 1865,  Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania; interment, Union Cemetery, Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Civil engineer; planned and supervised construction, Bald Eagle Canal, Snowshoe Railroad. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Civil War Veteran, member Grand Army of the Republic.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Treasurer, Centre County, two terms. 

Elected, Whig, Pennsylvania State Senate, 12th district, Centre, Clinton, Lycoming Counties, 1847-1849.

Legacy:

Father, Reverend James Harris, cofounder, Bellefonte Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania State Senate, Luzerne, Mifflin, Northumberland Counties 1800-1801 Centre, Lycoming and Mifflin Counties 1801-1805 Centre, Lycoming, Mifflin Counties, 1805-1808. 

James Harris  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members H"Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

William Harris (1799-1865) - Find a Grave Memorial