Windham

HARRIS, William James

Encyclopedia Vermont Biography: A Series of Authentic Biographical Sketches 
of the Representative Men of Vermont and Sons of Vermont in Other States. 
Dodge. Burlington: Ullery Publishing Company, 1912, p 214

William James HARRIS, Nashua [Hillsborough County], New Hampshire, retired 
clergyman, was born 21 May 1834 at West Brattleboro [Windham County, 
Vermont], son of Rev. Roswell and Matilda (LEAVETT) HARRIS. Educated at 
Brattleboro Academy, and Yale College; honorary degree of D. D. from Trinity 
College, Hartford, Connecticut, 1872. Taught district and select schools in 
Vermont, boarding school in New Haven, Connecticut, and academies at St. 
Stephen, New Brunswick, and Monson [Hampden County], Massachusetts; president 
school board, Rutland, three years; officiated as Congregational minister 
eight and a half years, 1856-1865, his last parishes being at Saxtons River 
[Windham County, Vermont] and Brandon [Rutland County, Vermont]. He then 
entered the Protestant Episcopal church, and was confirmed and ordained by 
Bishop EASTBURN in Emanuel Church, Boston. Has served parishes in 
Philadelphia, Boston, Waltham, and Hyde Park, Massachusetts; Manchester, New 
Hampshire; White River Junction, Barre, Montpelier, and Rutland, Vermont; 
Detroit, Michigan; Yankton and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Has held every 
diocesan office except bishop. For thirteen and a half years edited and 
published from Rutland a church paper under the name of "The Mountain Echo." 
A Knights Templar, 32-degree Mason, member of Eastern Star. Former member 
Vermont Association of Boston, at present a member of Vermont Association of 
Nashua. At his seventy-third birthday anniversary was obliged by failing 
eyesight to retire from all active work, and since the spring of 1911 has 
been totally blind. In 1859 he [William James HARRIS] married [Miss?] Mary 
Gale HILL of St. Stephen, New Brunswick; they have two children: Emma (Mrs. 
William M. HALL, of Montreal); and William Leavett, LL. B. (deceased).

Submitted by Cathy Kubly