Background
Harris was born in either Tennessee or Kentucky.
Harris was born in either Tennessee or Kentucky.
He operated a saloon near the Missouri River levee and was councilman from the first ward in 1861-1862. He was elected mayor in 1866, failed re-election in 1867, was elected again in 1868. In 1870 was a deputy sheriff for Jackson County, Missouri and became a county commissioner (called county judge) for the county in 1871.