[6] A decade later, the census already characterized Harris as a lawyer (and his brother as a medical student), although their youngest sister no longer lived with the family and their household included two adopted siblings.

[7] While in Alexandria, Harris edited the Summer Tribune and in April 1876 joined the editorial staff of the People’s Advocate.

Voters in Petersburg and surrounding Dinwiddie County elected and re-elected Harris to represent them in the Virginia House of Delegates during the Reconstruction era.

[10][1][11] In Alexandria on December 31, 1884, Harris married Ida R. Morris of nearby Prince William County, who would bear several children as well as survive him.

[15] Alumni and staff of that college erected a gravestone at historic Blandford Cemetery to mark his legislative service.