"Portrait and Biographical Record of Hunterdon and Warren counties, New Jersey"
Chapman Publishing Company, New York and Chicago, 1898
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HON. HENRY SCHENCK HARRIS. As
one of the members of the bar of Warren
County, this gentleman occupies a prominent place. During a period extending over
twenty-five years he has from time to time come
frequently before the public as counsel in cases of
more than local interest, and has won a reputation in the legal profession. In the realm of politics he has had some experience. He has been
firm in his allegiance to the Democracy and has
been active in the support of its principles. In
1880, after a very exciting contest, he was elected
a member of congress from the fourth congressional district of this state, comprising the counties of Hunterdon, Warren, Sussex and Somerset.
His opponent on this occasion was Gen. Judson
Kilpatrick, a very popular man with his party
friends. Mr. Harris served for his two years'
term in the house with distinction and ability, being a member of numerous important committees,
such as the committee on naval affairs and one of
the board of visitors to the United States Naval
Academy, etc.
Born December 27, 1850, in Belvidere, Warren
County, H. S. Harris is, and has been for many
years, one of the representative citizens of the
place. His father, Israel Harris, a native of
Readington, Hunterdon County, N. J. (born June
8, 1820, died in November, 1891), was for a long
period cashier of the Belvidere Bank, he having
taken up his residence in this town in 1845. He
was a leading Odd Fellow of the state, being
grand master of New Jersey and for six years a
representative to the grand lodge of the United
States. He married Susan, daughter of John and
Eliza Lawrence (Everett) Stuart. She died in
August, 1894. Of their five children four survive.
Carrie is the wife of E. M. Beesley, of Belvidere;
Franklin V. is a lawyer of Atlantic City, N. J.;
and Charles E. is a member of the bar of this
county and is now occupying the position of
county clerk, his home being in Belvidere. The
paternal grandfather of our subject, Henry S.
Harris, was for half a century a physician of Warren County, N. J. Through his paternal grandmother, Permelia (Stout) Harris, he is a direct
descendant of John Hart, of New Jersey, one of
the famous signers of the Declaration of Independence.
It was the privilege of Henry S. Harris, of this
sketch, to obtain a classical education. After
leaving the public schools of Belvidere he studied
under the tutelage of Rev. Frederick Knighton
and was graduated from Princeton College in
1870. Three years later he was admitted to the
bar as an attorney, and in June, 1876, as a counsellor. Since then he has been very successfully
engaged in practice in Belvidere. In March,
1877, his ability was recognized by his being appointed prosecutor of the pleas of Warren County
by Governor Bedle. While serving in that capacity he was brought into special prominence
through his connection with the famous Warren
County trials of 1878, wherein twelve high officials of the county were indicted, convicted and
sent to the penitentiary for conspiracy, forgery
and embezzlement. These cases are among the
most noted in the annals of New Jersey and attracted widespread interest. Mr. Harris was
counsel for the state in the trial of James J. Titus
for the murder of Tillie Smith (September, 1886),
and was retained for the defense in the case of
Samuel C. Carpenter, who was indicted for the
murder of Rachel Blackwell. This trial took
place in July, 1896, and resulted in the acquittal
of Carpenter. In the extensive litigation between
the United States Pipe Line Company and the
Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and the Pennsylvania Railway Companies, Mr. Harris was the
counsel for the first-named corporation. He is
employed as legal advisor of the same, also of the
Lehigh & New England Railway Company in
this county, and represents niany other corporations in special cases. At present he is counsel
for the board of freeholders of Warren County.
He is a member of the New Jersey Society of the
Cincinnati, representing Surgeon Jacob Harris,
of the Third New Jersey Regiment of the Continental Line.
August 19, 1874, Mr. Harris married Martha,
daughter of the late Anthony B. Robeson, of Belvidere. She died January 22, 1894, leaving one
daughter, Roberta Robeson, who is still living.
Another daughter, Susan E. S., died December
7, 1880, aged three years.
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