Harris, John T. (John Thomas), 1823-1899

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John T. Harris (1823-1899) was perhaps one of the most prominent citizens of Rockingham County throughout the nineteenth century. The son of Nathan and Ann Harris, he was commonwealth's attorney for Rockingham County from 1852 to 1859, and in 1856 served as a Presidential elector for James Buchanan. Thereafter, he served in the United States Congress from 1859 until the outbreak of the Civil War. Despite his strong Unionist sentiments and his continual efforts to keep Virginia in the Union, Harris remained loyal to Virginia when she seceded in May 1861. During the war he served two terms in the Virginia General Assembly. Following the war John T. Harris was judge of the 12th judicial circuit, which included Rockingham County. In 1870 he was again elected to Congress and was continuously re-elected until 1880, after which he resumed his law practice in Harrisonburg. John T. Harris returned to politics in 1889 as a rival of P.W. McKinney for the Democratic nomination for the governorship. Later he was appointed by Governor McKinney as one of the representatives for Virginia to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1892. He died in Harrisonburg, October 14, 1899.

In addition to the Harris family letters, there are a large number of miscellaneous letters (3 Hollinger boxes) of the related Peyton Randolph Family. The Randolph family papers came into the Harris family when John T. Harris's son, John T. Harris, Jr., married Peyton Randolph's daughter, Mary Elizabeth Randolph. Born in Washington, D.C. in 1833, Peyton was the son of James Innes Randolph, a congressional clerk, and Susan Armistead Randolph. However, despite the numerous letters to him, little is known about Peyton Randolph. Prior to the Civil War he attended Columbian College (now George Washington University) and was an engineer on numerous railroad projects in Virginia, Indiana, and Alabama through the 1850's. He enlisted in the army in Mobile, Alabama, at the outbreak of war and served as an engineer in Pickett's division, rising to the rank of major by 1865. Thereafter, even less is known of his life. He married Mary Fisher following the war, returned to the engineering profession, and died November 28, 1888.

From the guide to the John T. Harris Papers, 1771-1937, (bulk 1850-1900), (Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Autograph File, D, 1586-1975. Houghton Library
creatorOf Pendleton, William Nelson, 1809-1883. Letter / 1871 May 24, Lexington, Va., to John T. Harris. James Madison University Libraries
creatorOf Harris, John Thomas, 1823-1899. Hodgson papers, 1805-1874. William & Mary Libraries
creatorOf Harris, John T. (John Thomas), 1823-1899. Political papers, 1856-1896. James Madison University Libraries
referencedIn Comanche County Baptist Association Records 1932., 1875, 1884 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf John T. Harris Papers, 1771-1937, (bulk 1850-1900) Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
creatorOf Harris, John Thomas, 1823-1899. Letter to William P. Rhodes regarding U.S. Congressional back pay bill [manuscript] 1874 Sept. 15. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Harris, John T. (John Thomas), 1823-1899. Personal papers, 1843-1887. James Madison University Libraries
referencedIn Hench, Philip S., 1896-1965. Philip S. Hench Walter Reed Yellow Fever Collection, 1806-1995, bulk 1863-1974 Historical Collections, Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia
referencedIn Autograph File, D, 1586-1975. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Brooks, Preston S. (Preston Smith), 1819-1857. person
associatedWith Carter, Henry Rose, 1852-1925 person
associatedWith Comanche County Baptist Association (Tex.) corporateBody
associatedWith Harris family. family
associatedWith Hench, Philip S. (Philip Showalter), 1896-1965 person
associatedWith Kean, Jefferson Randolph, 1860-1950 person
associatedWith Lazear, Jesse William, 1866-1900 person
associatedWith Pendleton, William Nelson, 1809-1883. person
associatedWith Reed, Walter, 1851-1902 person
associatedWith Rhodes, William P., person
associatedWith United States. Army corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
Virginia
Rockingham County (Va.)
United States
Virginia
Subject
Elections
Judges
Lawyers
Practice of law
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1823-05-08

Death 1899-10-14

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