California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WILLIAM NATHANIEL HARRIS. A prominent citizen of Laton, Fresno county, Cal., William 
Nathaniel Harris is representative of the developing forces of this section. He was born in 
Burlington. Vt., January 27, 1862, the son of William L., of Middleboro, Vt., and the grandson of 
Nathaniel, of New York state. The elder man owned a marble quarry in Middleboro, Vt, where 
he also engaged as a dentist, becoming a popular and prominent citizen of the community. His 
death occurred there after a long and useful life. William L. Harris also became a dentist and 
located in Burlington, Vt., where he engaged at his profession until his removal to Chicago, Ill. 
Later he returned to Burlington, thence located in Washington, D. C, where he filled the office 
of deputy assistant commissioner of pensions for three years. On account of impaired health 
he came to California and in Santa Barbara engaged in stock raising until his death, which 
occurred in 1870, at the comparatively early age of forty-two years. He served in the Civil war, 
enlisting in 1861 for three months as captain of his company in the Seventh Vermont Regiment. 
He was a strong man, of fine physique and splendid constitution, but was severely wounded 
and compelled to stay four months in the hospital. He rejoined the regiment earlier than he 
should have done, so eager was he to be in active service again, and consequently lost his 
health. He was sent to New Orleans in charge of a prison ship, where, after one and a half 
years' service, he was honorably discharged. His wife, formerly Sarah A. Hoyt, was a native of 
Rochester. N. V.. and died in San Francisco at the age of sixty-one years. Of their three children 
two died in infancy, William Nathaniel being the youngest. 

William N. Harris attended the common schools of Vermont and later of Washington. D. C. He 
accompanied his parents to Santa Barbara. Cal., where he finished his education, in 1879 
entering the Berkeley Gymnasium, having previously completed the high school course. He 
later entered the class of 1884 as a special student in chemistry and civil engineering in the 
University of California, having spent the year previous in Boston, where he took a course in 
the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, studying engraving under Victor L. Chandler. After his return 
to California and the years spent in the University of California he took up book illustrating and 
engraving, after which he was employed in the art department of the San Francisco Chronicle 
for two years. Deciding to take up a commercial life he entered the insurance business with the 
George Easton company, of San Francisco, and in 1893 engaged with Easton, Eldridge & Co. in 
real estate operations, his principal work being colonizing. He was afterward associated with 
other companies. In 1897 he came to Fresno, where he acted as the agent for the Canadian & 
American Mortgage and Trust Co. and the United Trust (limited), for the period of three years. 
During this time he colonized three large tracts in Fresno county and took an active part in the 
growth and development of the country. In 1890 he became associated with Nears & Saunders, 
and handled the larger part of their business. He represented Kings county at the Louisiana 
Purchase Exposition and is a stanch supporter of the best interests of California. 

In Los Angeles Mr. Harris was united in marriage with Fleeta W. Cummings, a native of Illinois, 
whose death occurred in San Francisco. Fraternally Mr. Harris is associated with the Benevolent 
and Protective Order of Elks and is a member of the Sequoia Club. He is a prominent member 
of the Chamber of Commerce and the San Joaquin Valley Commercial Association. He is actively 
identified with the work of St. James Episcopal Church, of Fresno, where he has held the 
position of choir master for the past three years. Politically he is a stanch advocate of the 
principles of the Republican party. Mr. Harris was the originator of lecturing and stereopticon 
views in California, and has given lectures throughout various parts of the states, as well as in 
the middle west and Pennsylvania. It is his plan to go to the Lewis and Clark Exposition with his 
views and lectures and anticipates his usual success.