[Elisha Harris was the] son of Joseph Harris, and
descendant of William Harris, who emigrated to
America in the ship Lion with Roger Williams

Roger Williams (theologian)

Roger Williams was an English Protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious freedom and the separation of church and state. In 1636, he began the colony of Providence Plantation, which provided a refuge for religious minorities. Williams started the first Baptist church in America,...

, and
was one of the original proprietors of Providence,
and later of Pawtuxet. Elisha Harris was educated
at the public schools of his town, and
was for a time at the East Greenwich Seminary.
Soon after leaving school he became book-keeper at
the mills at Phœnix, then called the Roger Williams
Mills. Subsequently acquiring the water privilege
next above, he entered upon the manufacturing
business for himself in 1822. Possessed of good mercantile
habits, he succeeded in developing a considerable
business, which is yet under the control and
management of his descendants.
The village of his creation
is a very handsome one,
and is known as Harris. Although
too modest to seek public
office, he conscientiously
accepted it, when assured that
it was but duty to do so. He was lieutenant - governor in
1846-47 and governor, 1847-49.
He belonged to the Whig party
until its dissolution, and then
became a Republican, and was
a presidential elector in 1860....

External links

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