USA > Mississippi > Mississippi : comprising sketches of towns, events, institutions, and persons, arranged in cyclopedic form Vol. III > Part 43
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his dispatch of business, his prompt, fair and able rulings and his uniform courtesy to members of the bar, entitle him to our thanks and commendation. Fourth: That it is the hope of the bar that Judge Hardy may be long spared to serve the people of this district as their circuit judge, and we assure him that it shall be our pleasure, as it is our duty, to aid him in the discharge of the arduous duties of the office. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the chairman of this committee be requested to present these resolutions to Judge Hardy upon the assembling of court, with a request that they be spread upon the minutes of the court, and that the clerk be re- quested to present Judge Hardy with a certified copy thereof." "RE- SOLUTION OF THE LAMAR COUNTY BAR. WHEREAS the county of Lamar, now embraced by the second circuit court district of Missis- sippi, will soon be attached to another district and the distinguished jurist and upright citizen who presides over the court in this county will not be able to longer serve us, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the members of the bar and county officers of Lamar county, that it is with sincere regret that the present able official will soon be impelled by legislative enactment to sever his official relation with us. That we cheerfully bear testimony to the fact that in pre- siding over this court His Honor has been actuated solely by a sense of duty coupled with a due regard to the rights of justice; of his urbane deportment in the transaction of the duties of the high trust devolved upon him; his uniform courtesy to the members of the bar, officers of the court and of all who come in contact with him while in the discharge of his official duties; we gladly embrace the present opportunity of expressing not only our appreciation of Judge Hardy as a distinguished jurist, but our unqualified approval of his conduct as a public official, and our profound regard for his integrity as a man. That in his enforced separation from us, he carries with him our sincere wishes and an earnest belief that he will attain that degree of success which is so justly his rightful portion. Signed." Judge Hardy has written much for the press of the State, political, commercial and literary. He edited the "Tri-Weekly Homestead" of Meridian during the great campaign of 1875, which resulted in the overthrow of the carpet-bag negro government. He was the first to urge the impeachment of Governor Ames, in a well written article which appeared in that paper the third day after the election. This article was heartily approved by ex-Gov. A. G. Brown in a strong communication which appeared in the paper the week following. About the same time Maj. E. Barsdale, editor of the Clarion, pub- lished at Jackson, in a long and well considered editorial urged the impeachment of both Governor Ames and Lieutenant-Governor Davis for "high crimes and misdemeanors in office" with specifica- tions, which was taken up by the press of the State, and resulted in the conviction of Lieutenant-Governor Davis, and the enforced resignation of Governor Ames. Thus affecting the complete restora- tion of the government of the State to the guidance and control of the white people of the State. His writings on the undeveloped resources of the State have been extensive and had much to do with
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its great era of prosperity during the past decade. He also wrote "Recollections of Reconstruction in East and South-East Mississippi," which were published in Vols. 4, 6, and 8, "Publications of the Mis- sissippi Historical Society." These articles attracted wide-spread attention, and formed a highly interesting chapter in the history of those eventful times. "Woman in Education and in Literature," published in The Southern Home Journal, is a rare literary gem, lofty in sentiment, classic in style, and beautiful in expression. "A Remedy for the Evils of Over-production, and Dealing in Cotton Futures," published in Cotton Planters Journal of Memphis, Tenn., was copied by many leading journals throughout the South, and also in a leading journal published in Manchester, England. As a public speaker, whether on the hustings, the platform, or the forum, he has few equals. He is of imposing figure, graceful in gesture, a voice resonant and clear, a vivid imagination, gifted with a com- mand of language in which to clothe his thoughts, made him an ora- tor of great power, and enabled him to seize and hold his audience at will. It is to be hoped that many of his best public addresses and miscellaneous writings will be collected and published. Judge Hardy is six feet, one and one-half inches in height, weighs about 200 pounds and is strong and vigorous in mind and body. He has been abroad, having visited the old world in 1888, spending nearly four months in England. His wide range of reading, his long experi- ence, his travels, his contact with men in all stations of life, make him one of the most attractive personalities to be found in the South and as a conversationalist, he has few equals. He stands today as the representative of a class of refined Southern gentlemen, who will soon be known only in history. Though he is a man of strong convictions, his heart is tender and kind as that of a woman and no human being in distress ever appealed in vain to him. He is passionately fond of children and flowers. . Those who know him best recall the fact that he is seldom seen without a flower on the lapel of his coat. He says, "They are the perfumed whispers of God's love."
Harper, Col. Alfred Yarborough, is an eminent member of the bar of the State and is now police judge in the city of Bil- oxi. He has practiced his profession for many years and his also is the distinction of having rendered valorous service in the Confederate cause during the dark period of the Civil war, in which he rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Colonel Harper was born in Sumter county, Ala., April 3, 1836, and is a son of James and Tabitha (Yarborough) Harper, the former of whom was born in Georgia and the latter in North Carolina. When the subject of this sketch was a child the family removed from Alabama to Scott county, Miss., where he received his early
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educational training in the country schools, his father was a planter by vocation and was one of the honored and influential citizens of Scott county. After due preliminary study Colonel Harper was matriculated in the University of Mississippi, at Oxford, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1857 and from which he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then took up the study of law and was duly admitted to the bar. Just before the outbreak of the war he engaged in the practice of his profession at Brandon, Rankin county. At the time when Virginia passed the ordinance of secession the news was received at Brandon and caused much excitement. Under these conditions Colonel Harper was serenaded at night and was called out to make a speech to the assem- bled crowd, delivering his address while still attired in his nightrobe and uttering sentiments which are literally recalled today by many pioneer citizens who heard the impromptu speech. When it became evident that war between the North and South was inevitable Col- onel Harper was among the first to manifest his allegiance to the section under whose institutions and beneficent influences he had been reared. He joined Joseph M. Jaynes' regiment of Mississippi volunteers, and soon afterwards he raised a company in Scott county. This became Company K of the Sixth Mississippi infantry and the organizer of the company was made its captain. He served as cap- tain until the battle of Shiloh, in which all other officers of his com- pany were killed and disabled, and shortly afterward he was pro- moted lieutenant-colonel. He took part in the campaign around Vicksburg and was a gallant and able officer. A few days before the final surrender he resigned his commission to become reporter of the decisions of the high court of errors and appeals of Mississippi. This office he held a short time and he then engaged in the practice of his profession at Forest, Scott county. Soon followed his election to the office of district attorney, and he retained this incumbency until Ames was appointed provisional governor of the State, under the so-called "reconstruction" plans of the Federal government, and he then resigned the position and removed to Okolona, Chicka- saw county, where he continued in practice for many years and where he gained high prestige in the work of his profession. He later removed to Birmingham, Ala., and during the second administra- tion of President Cleveland held a semi-professional position with the department of the interior, in which connection he divided his time between Birmingham and the national capitol. After retiring from this office he continued in the practice of his profession in Bir- mingham until his health became so impaired as to cause him to. seek a change. He thus came to Biloxi, Miss., in 1900, and here he has since maintained his home. He has secured a large and repre- sentative professional business here and is associated in practice with his younger son, Daniel W. Colonel Harper was elected to his. present office of judge of the police court, being the first incumbent under the provisions of the new law. He is a stalwart adherent of the Democratic party and is affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans and the Delta Kappa Epsilon college fraternity. His
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life has been actuated and governed by a spirit of integrity and he has ever held the unequivocal confidence and esteem of his fellow men. In 1857 was solemnized the marriage of Colonel Harper to Miss Emily Moore, of Oxford, Miss. She was born in Huntsville, Ala., and her father was one of the leading physicians of that place. Colonel and Mrs. Harper became the parents of four children, of whom two are living, William R., who is a representative member of the bar of the city of Jackson, Miss., and a member of the faculty of the law department of Millsaps college; and Daniel W., who is associated with his father in practice at Biloxi, as already noted.
Harris, Rev. George Carroll, D. D., is one of the representative members of the clergy of the Protestant Episcopal church in Mississippi. He served as chaplain in the Confederate army during the war be- tween the States and his life has been one of signal consecration to the work of his high calling and the uplifting of humanity. He is now, though venerable in years, rector of the parish of the Chapel of the Cross at Rolling Fork, and is a prominent figure in general affairs of the church in his diocese. Dr. Harris was born at La- Grange, Fayette county, Tenn., Feb. 6, 1836, and is a son of Elisha W. and Celestia (Whittaker) Harris, the former of whom was born in Montgomery county, N.C., July 25, 1799, and the latter in Prince George county, Md., in 1809. The Harris family was founded in America in the colonial era and the name has been prominently identified with the military, profes- sional, business and general civic history of the nation. Dr. Harris received his early academic education in the high school at Browns- ville, Tenn., and from 1854 to 1857 he was instructor in Latin and Greek in St. Thomas' Hall, Holly Springs, Miss., in the meanwhile prosecuting his theological studies under the preceptorship of Rev. J. W. Rogers, D. D., of that place. On April 25, 1858, in St. Andrew's church, Jackson, Miss., he received from Bishop Green the orders of the diaconate, and March 25, 1860, he was ordained to the priesthood at the apostolic hands of Bishop Otey, in St. Mary's church, Memphis, Tenn. In 1877 he received from the University of New York the degree of S. T. D. or Doctor of Sacred Theology, and later the same degree was conferred upon him by the University of the South. He began his church work at Pinola, Miss., but a few months later in June, 1858, he went to Nashville, Tenn., where he became rector of the Church of the Holy Trinity, which rectorship he held four years. During the last of these years he also had charge of the Church of the Advent in that city whose rector, the Rev. Dr. Quintard, had gone into the army as chaplain of the Rock City guards, Colonel Maney's regiment. The Federal lines having been thrown around the city, Mr. Harris withdrew in March. Going to Decatur, Ala., he reported to Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, from whose office
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there application was sent for his commission as chaplain. After waiting a month for orders Mr. Harris reported to Gen. S. D. Lee who assigned him to hospital duty in all the hospitals of his depart- ment, which was the State of Mississippi. In July of that year he was appointed military chaplain on the staff of Gen. William H. Jackson, and he continued in active service in this capacity until the close of the great internecine conflict. His services were arduous and were performed with a spirit of self-abnegation and with a full sense of his high stewardship. At the close of the war Dr. Harris became rector of the parish of the Chapel of the Cross, near Annan- dale, Madison county, Miss., and also held the office of general mis- sionary of the stations from Terry to Osyka and from Clinton to Brandon. He thus served, with unflagging zeal, until 1871, when he became dean of St. Mary's cathedral in the city of Memphis, Tenn., where he remained ten years. When he assumed the office of dean, the parish had but sixty communicants and when he left the cathedral parish its communicant membership aggregated three hundred and fifty, notwithstanding it had met with grievous losses during the yellow fever epidemics of 1873, 1878 and 1879. He was at the head of the little band of faithful workers who rendered so tender aid and ministration to the afflicted during these periods and in 1878 he himself suffered an attack of the dread malady, but was mercifully spared for years of usefulness. Concerning the labors of the noble band of priests and of the sisters of St. Mary of the city, Rev. Morgan Dix, D. D., of New York city, prepared and printed a beautiful memorial, for private circulation only. Two priests and four of the devoted sisters sacrificed their lives in the epidemic of the year noted, and their names merit place on the roll of the "glorious army of martyrs." Theirs was the faith that makes faithful, for they were ever mindful of those "in any ways afflicted in mind, body or estate." For nearly ten years Dr. Harris was chap- lain and director of the Memphis branch of this great sisterhood. In 1883, when Rt. Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson was consecrated bishop of the diocese of Mississippi, Dr. Harris was appointed arch- deacon of the diocese. This office he held until 1888, when he ac- cepted a call from Trinity church, St. Louis, Mo., where he remained incumbent for two years. He then returned to Mississippi and resumed the duties of the office of diocesan archdeacon, under Bishop Thompson. Incidental to his labors in this capacity he did efficient service in organizing and fortifying the church work in the Delta district, and here took up his residence. He established the church at Rolling Fork and has since continued its rector, while he resides on his beautiful plantation of Mont Helena, in the immediate vicin- ity. The parish has erected a fine church edifice and also a rectory and is one of the vital and prosperous parishes of the diocese. In 1872 Dr. Harris introduced the first vested choir in the Episcopal church south of Ohio, with the exception of one in the Collegiate chapel at Sewanee, Tenn., and at the present time all of the leading parishes throughout the South have such choirs, though the move- ment met with much clerical and lay objection at the inception.
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Dr. Harris has long been a strong factor in the work of the church at large and is a man of fine scholarship and gracious personality. His years rest lightly upon his head and his life record has been one of utmost consecration and of most effective service in the vineyard of the Master. His political support is given to the Democratic party, and he is affiliated with the United Confederate Veterans and the Masonic fraternity. For ten years he served as chaplain of Banner lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Memphis, Tenn., and he is now affiliated with Deer Creek lodge, No. 346, of which he is ex-chaplain. On Aug. 21, 1862, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Harris to Miss Helen Johnstone, daughter of John T. and Margaret (Thompson) Johnstone, of Annandale, Miss. Her parents were both native of North Carolina, where her father was an extensive planter and slaveholder. In 1833 he disposed of his in- terests in that State and removed to Mississippi, where he purchased a large tract of land, in Madison county. Here he developed the beautiful plantation known as "Annandale," the same having been named in honor of his Scottish ancestry, as he was at the time heir to the earldom of Annandale, Scotland. He died on the home plan- tation, in 1848, and there his remains were laid to rest. His cher- ished and devoted wife survived him by thirty-two years and is like- wise buried at Annandale. They became the parents of two chil- dren, Frances, who is the widow of William Britton and who still resides in Madison county ; and Helen, who is the wife of the immedi- ate subject of this sketch. Mr. Johnstone was a great-grandson of John Johnstone, who was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, as were also other members of the family. The original representa- tive in America was this John Johnstone, who was sent from Eng- land by the government to assume the office of surveyor general of the colony of North Carolina, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a lineal descendant of the earls of Annandale, Scot- land. Gabriel Johnstone was governor of the colony of North Caro- lina for fifty years and was a brother of the John Johnstone just mentioned. Rev. Gabriel Johnstone, grandson of .John, is the direct heir to the earldom of Annandale and is a second cousin of Mrs. Harris. He was a valiant soldier of the Confederacy in the Civil war and now resides in Welland, Canada. It should be noted in this connection that Mrs. Harris gave distinctive evidence of her loyalty to the Confederate cause in the dark days of the Civil war, since she equipped at her own expense Company I of the Twenty- fourth Mississippi infantry known as "The Helen Johnstone Guards" and maintained its equipment, when it could be reached, during the entire period of the war. On the maternal side Mrs. Harris is descended in a collateral way from the Whitmels and Hintons, rep, resentatives of each of which held office under the crown in the co- lonial epoch of our national history. Members of the Hinton family were patriot soldiers in the Continental line during the War of the Revolution. Dr. and Mrs. Harris became the parents of two sons and one daughter-George Carroll, the firstborn, died in infancy and was buried at the Chapel of the Cross, at Annandale; George Carroll,
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second, was born June 12, 1867, and is now engaged in planting and merchandising; he married Miss Cecile Nugent, daughter of Col. William L. and Amie (Webb) Nugent; Helen Johnstone Harris, the only daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Harris, is the wife of Rev. Frank Thompson, who is a chaplain in the United States navy and who is a son of Bishop Thompson, of Mississippi.
Harris, Nathan J., president of Harris' Business university, of Jackson, is one of the well known and successful educators of the State, and in his chosen field exerts a wide and helpful influence. His career has demonstrated most fully that success is the prerogative of valiant souls, and he is putting forth the best of his abilities and efforts in encouraging the youth of the State to develop the same determina- tion and courage which have conserved his own success and advancement. He stands today at the head of the leading institution of the sort in the State, and no more pertinent estimate of his standing and character can, perhaps, be given than that afforded in the fol- lowing extract from the Jackson Evening News: "This is an age of opportunity. Men born in obscurity and in moderate circumstances have risen to places of prominence in the world, and this process is going on every day. Among the men who have helped to make the latter-day Jackson what it is, is Prof. N. J. Harris, the president of the Harris Business college, which is today recognized as one of the leading business colleges of the South. Professor Harris reached this plane of eminent usefulness in the city and State by years of hard toil and diligent application. He was born and reared on a farm and, owing to the death of his father, was compelled at an early and tender age to go to work to help support his widowed mother and his brothers and sisters. He started in life at twenty- one, with no money and no education but with that ambition which is all-conquering. He recognized in his early career that education was the essential thing, and he bent all his energies to getting a good practical education. It was an up-hill work, but his pluck and per- severance won out. Today Professor Harris combines that book learning which is so essential for a successful teacher and that prac- tical experience gained in the school of necessity. What he knows he can impart to others. The graduates of his institution have been wonderfully successful, and many of them are now drawing salaries of from seventy-five to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per month. He has taken young men from the fields and factories of the State, instilled into them ambition, and taught them how to win for themselves a higher place in the world. So well known has he become to the business world through his excellent institution that it is impossible for him to supply the demand for office help. The time was when the young men of the State were compelled to
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leave the borders thereof to get a business education, but this is no longer necessary, as Harris' Business college is one of the best equipped in the South for training young men and women. Skilled and practical professors are employed in all departments. Profes- sor Harris has had a very extensive experience as an accountant, and this branch of the school is in his charge. For six years he held one of the most responsible positions with one of the largest insti- tutions in the State. Professor Harris and his excellent college are worthy of the large patronage they receive from all parts of Mis- sissippi and both are doing a great work in dispelling the demon of ignorance and consequent incompetency. It gives the News pleas- ure to testify to the good work this excellent school has done." The college was established in 1895 and in 1900 it was incorporated with an authorized capital of $30,000. Plans have been formulated for the erection of a modern college building and also for the securing of an endowment fund for aiding worthy young men and women without financial means to avail themselves of the advantages of the institution. In July, 1906, the name of the institution was changed to the Harris Business university. Professor Harris was born at Duck Hill, Montgomery county, Miss., June 5, 1855, and is a son of David Higgins Harris and Mary Elizabeth (Williams) Harris, both of whom were born in Alabama, whence they came to Mississippi in 1835, settling in Montgomery county, where their marriage was solemnized. The father died in 1863, while serving as a Confederate soldier, and his widow still maintains her home in Montgomery county. Of the eight children, four are living and all remain residents of Montgomery county except the subject of this review. David H. Harris enlisted early in 1862, as a private in the Fifteenth Mississippi infantry, and he remained in the service until his death, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., in March, 1863. Professor Harris was but eight years of age at the time of his father's death and the circumstances of the family were such that he soon began to depend largely upon his own resources. He attended the com- mon schools of Montgomery county when opportunity offered, and his ambition led him to devote much time to individual study and reading at night. In 1889 he entered the Capitol commercial col- lege at Jackson, in which he was graduated the same year. For three months thereafter he was an instructor in this college, and for the following six years he was employed as bookkeeper for a large mercantile concern. He then established a business college at Terry, Hinds county, in May, 1895, and in August, 1897, he returned to Jackson and purchased the college in which he had graduated and to which he gave the title of Harris' Practical Business college, which name was changed to the present form in 1906, as already noted. Professor Harris enjoys unqualified popularity in both business and social circles, and ever holds the affectionate regard of his students. He is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Woodmen of the World, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South, while his wife is a member of the First Baptist church. On Aug.
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