Harris was born in Cedartown in Polk County, Georgia, and attended the common schools.

While in the Senate, Harris was a member of the National Forest Reservation Commission from 1929 to 1932.

He died of a heart attack in Washington, D.C. Funeral services were held in the Chamber of the United States Senate.

After Harris' death in 1932, the governor of Georgia, Richard Russell, Jr., declared a special election for September of that year to fill the vacant seat.

[1][2] On July 28, 1905, Harris married Julia Knox Hull Wheeler in New York City.