Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 8th ed., 1888,
Jefferson Co.

WILLIAM HUME HARRIS, the subject of this sketch, was born in Franklin
County, Tenn., October 28, 1840, and is a son of John and Rosanna (Hume)
Harris, natives of Virginia.  His father was born in Albermarle [sic]
County, graduated in the classics and law at William and Mary College, of
Williamsburg, and practiced law in Richmond, Va., moved to Franklin
County, Tenn., and settled on a plantation.  He continued to practice his
profession, rose rapidly to prominence and represented his district five
terms in the United States Congress; at the end of which he declined a
renomination and retired to the shades of private life, honored and
respected by all.  He raised and educated a family of six boys and four
girls.  All the boys enlisted in the Confederate cause in the war between
the States.  Four fell in battle with their faces toward the enemy; two
still survive.  The subject's grandfather, John Harris, was born near
Richmond, Va., graduated in the classics from William and Mary College,
read law in his father's office and was admitted to the bar.  He served
with distinction in the Revolutionary war, having fought at Princeton,
Trenton, Monmouth, Brandywine and Germantown.  After the war he resumed
the practice of law in Albermarle [sic] County, Va., was a representative
in the House of Burgesses and raised a family of seven boys and three
girls.  The subject's great-grandfather, John Harris, was born in Swansea,
Wales, and was a lawyer by profession.  He emigrated with his brothers,
Jacob, Daniel and Eli, to America, and settled near Richmond, Va. (from
this branch of the Harris family sprang all by the name now in Virginia,
and spreading from that State to every State and territory in the Union),
and continued to practice his profession.  Being a member of the House of
Burgesses a number of terms, he was present and a member when Patrick
Henry made that memorable speech which immortalized him and placed his
name among the first in the hearts of his countrymen.  Mr. Harris served
with distinction in the Revolutionary war.  After the war he retired to
private life, raised a family of eight boys and two girls, and then
patiently waited for old Charon and his canoe to ferry him across the
Styx.  Dr. W. H. Harris was brought up on a plantation, graduated in the
classics from Princeton College, studied medicine under Wm. K. Bowling,
of Nashville, Tenn., thence went to Paris, France, and continued his
studies in medicine under Prof. Trousseau.  He is a graduate in medicine
of Paris, France, of the Ecole de Medecin.  After graduating he returned
to Tennessee and entered the Confederate army as a surgeon.  After the war
he continued the practice of medicine and met with great success.  These
medical schools, standing second to none, conferred upon him the degree
of Doctor of Medicine, and his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of
Doctor of Laws.  He now has the honor of being the recipient of seven
diplomas, viz: A.B., A.M. four M.D.'s and LL.D, all worthily bestowed.  He
was also admitted to the bar.  As a regular practitioner of medicine he
has but few equals.  He is a gentleman of fine abilities, rare culture and
irreproachable moral character, is a Knight Templar and a member of the
Episcopal church, also standing among the advanced thinkers in medicine.
He was several times offered a professor's chair in medical schools, but
declined, thinking the best field for him was that of a general
practitioner, which would the better enable him to give battle to disease
in every form whatsoever.  His acquirements as a physician, and especially
as a neurologist, are such as to place him among the first of those who
work in the most important department of medical science.  We hereby
append an extract written by the late W. K. Bowling, M.D., LL.D., to Dr.
Harris, to whom the intimate and friendly relations existing between
these two eminent physicians, one as preceptor the other as pupil.  Dr.
Bowling was one of the best and most distinguished physicians in America.
He was not only distinguished in medicine, but in literature, like Oliver
Wendall Holmes, of Massachusetts, and had been fifty years known as
professor in various medical schools and as editor of medical journals. He
had also been president of the National Medical Association, and president
of the National Association of Medical Editor of the United States.

                                        "Nashville, Nov. 13, 1883.

"My Dear Doctor Harris:
     Dr. ________ handed me your letter of the 27th of September last
do-day.  He showed me your papers, which I like exceedingly.  He told me
that he had written you that only one honorary degree could be conferred
by each college a year, under the law of colleges, and all that, and I
said that it was only one degree you wanted; that man and wife were one,
and that one was the man, and you and I were one in this case, and that
you were the one.  For really I have made up my mind that you will
hereafter appear as the big fish on our string of immortals. * * * And
now, dear Doctor, farewell.  If alive, I will sign my name to your diploma,
if I have to have my arm bandaged to enable me to do it. God bless you.

     In the bond of the brotherhood,
          Fraternally and cordially,
               Your friend,
                    W. K. Bowling."


Harris Hume Bowling
=
Franklin-TN VA Wales France

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/harris.wh.txt