1925 Biography - Thomas O. Harris

Thomas O. Harris. The opening period of the year 1925 finds Mr. Harris giving most effective administration in the important office of assistant supervisor of public accounts, and he is one of the honored members of the official family of this commonwealth in its capital city of Baton Rouge.

Mr. Harris was born in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, on the 27th of March, 1870, and is a son of Otis and Kate (O'Neill) Harris, the former of whom was born at Mobile, Alabama, in 1842, and the latter of whom was born in the City of New Orleans, where she still maintains her home. Otis Harris was reared in his native city, and there was graduated from Springhill College, besides which he attended the State University of Vermont. He was a young man when he established his residence in New Orleans, where he became a representative figure in business, as well as a citizen of no minor influence in civic affairs. He was secretary and treasurer of the corporation of F. F. Hansell & Brother, dealers in stationery, New Orleans, for many years prior to his death in 1919. He was a stalwart advocate of the principles of the democratic party. Of his three surviving children, Thomas O., of this review, is the eldest; Augustus B. resides in New Orleans and is district United States inspector of internal revenue; and Cary I. is engaged in the publishing business in the City of Atlanta, Georgia.

In the public schools of New Orleans Thomas 0. Harris continued his studies until he had duly advanced through the curriculum of the high school, and later matriculated with the Louisiana State University. He was a member of the first law class of that institution. Thereafter he was identified with newspaper business in his native city until 1904, when he became private secretary to Hon. N. C. Blanchard, governor of Louisiana. He retained this position until 1908, in which year he was appointed traveling auditor of Louisiana. In this capacity he continued his service until 1909, and thereafter he held until 1920 the position of editor of the Shreveport Journal and Shreveport Times, leading daily papers in the City of Shreveport. In 1920 he was called to the executive office of secretary-manager of the Independent Oil Producers' Association at Shreveport, but in the following year he received appointment to the position of secretary to Governor John M. Parker. In August, 1922, he was appointed to the office of state auditor of Louisiana, to fill out the unexpired term of Hon. Paul Capdevielle, deceased.

Mr. Harris has been active and influential in the local councils and campaign work of the democratic party, and is an effective exponent of its principles and policies. In 1906 he served as secretary of the Louisiana Probe Commission. In the World war period he served on committees directing the drives in support of government war loans in Caddo Parish, and was most loyal and liberal in advancing the service of all local organizations of patriotic order. He made many speeches throughout Northwestern Louisiana in connection with the drives for the, government loans, Red Cross service, etc. Mr. Harris is an active member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and he holds membership in the Christian Science Church.

On the 19th of October, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Harris and Miss Marie Wolff, who likewise was born and reared in the City of New Orleans. Of the children of this union the elder is Otis G., who resides at Shreveport and is city editor of the Shreveport Journal. He was one of the gallant young sons of Louisiana who served in the United States Army in the World war, he having been first lieutenant in a machine gun company and having served eighteen months with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Thomas A., the second son, is engaged in the automobile business at Shreveport, and he likewise was in overseas service in the World war period, he having been in active duty in France and also having been with the allied Army of Occupation in Germany after the close of the war, his stay overseas having covered a period of one year.

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Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 55-56.

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