Edward Harris (1801–1872) was an American wool manufacturer,

abolitionist Abolitionism, or the abolitionist movement, is the movement to end slavery. In Western Europe and the Americas, abolitionism was a historic movement that sought to end the Atlantic slave trade and liberate the enslaved people. The British ...

temperance Temperance may refer to: Moderation *Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed *Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion Culture *Temperance (group), Canadian danc ...

supporter, and philanthropist. He founded the Woonsocket Harris Public Library, the second public library in Rhode Island, and the Harris Institute. The latter building is now used for the

Woonsocket City Hall The Woonsocket City Hall, (also known as the Harris Institute) is located in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Edward Harris, a leading Woonsocket industrialist, constructed the earliest part of the building in 1856, and it was known as the Harris Block ...

Biography

Harris was born in

Smithfield, Rhode Island Smithfield is a town that is located in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville. The population was 22,118 at the 2020 cen ...

in 1801. At a young age he moved with his parents to

Dutchess County, New York Dutchess County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 295,911. The county seat is the city of Poughkeepsie. The county was created in 1683, one of New York's first twelve counties, and later orga ...

, where he worked on the family farm and taught school. In 1818 he moved to

Ashtabula County, Ohio Ashtabula County ( ) is the northeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,574. The county seat is Jefferson. The county was created in 1808 and later organized in 1811. The name Ashtabula deriv ...

, but he returned to Rhode Island in 1823. There he started working with his paternal uncles William Harris and Samuel Harris in their manufacturing businesses at Valley Falls and then

Albion, Rhode Island Albion is a village and historic district in Lincoln, Rhode Island, in the United States. Albion is home to several mill buildings, churches, and the Kirkbrae Country Club golf course. The historic Blackstone River flows through the center of the ...

. In 1831 Edward Harris started his own small mill in

Woonsocket, Rhode Island Woonsocket ( ), is a city in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 43,240 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, making it the sixth largest city in the state. Being Rhode Island's northernmost city, Woonsock ...

. He eventually built several other successful larger mills there. Harris made large donations to many public causes in Woonsocket, including new roads for the city, land for Woonsocket High School, the site of Oak Hill Cemetery, and the Harris Institute. This library and auditorium was later used as the Woonsocket Harris Public Library. The former Harris Institute building is now adapted for use as

. Harris entered politics, being elected to both the Rhode Island State Senate and House of Representatives. He was a strong

and

supporter. In the 1840s he ran for governor as the Liberty Party candidate advocating for abolitionism. In 1859 Harris wrote a letter and sent a check to

John Brown John Brown most often refers to: *John Brown (abolitionist) (1800–1859), American who led an anti-slavery raid in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859 John Brown or Johnny Brown may also refer to: Academia * John Brown (educator) (1763–1842), Ir ...

after his conviction for killings at Harper's Ferry. Harris hosted

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

at his North End home when Lincoln spoke at the Harris Institute in 1860. Harris married Rachel Farnham, and they had children together. After her death, the widower married again, to Abby Metcalf and they also had children. Harris died in Woonsocket in 1871.''History of Providence County,'' Vol II Ed. by Richard M. Bayles (W.W. Preston & Co., NY. 1891) under Biographical sketches, Town of Woonsocket, pp. 397-399 http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/RIGENWEB/1999-09/0936639354 In addition to the Harris Institute (Woonsocket City Hall), several other buildings constructed by Harris survive, including

Harris Warehouse The Harris Warehouse is an historic storage facility on 61 Railroad Street in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The 3-1/2 story stone structure, built in 1855, by Edward Harris, a leading Woonsocket industrialist, rises abruptly from the street opposite ...

(1855).

References

, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Harris, Edward Philanthropists from Rhode Island American abolitionists American chief executives of manufacturing companies American textile industry businesspeople American financiers Burials in Rhode Island 1801 births 1872 deaths Politicians from Woonsocket, Rhode Island 19th-century American philanthropists 19th-century American businesspeople