William Rowland Harris was the son of Isham Green Harris, Sr. and Lucy Davidson. He was born on 26 Sep 1803 in Montgomery Co, NC. His father was a farmer and a Methodist minister. The family moved from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1806. his grandfather on his mother's side was Col. George Davidson, known as "The Father of North Carolina." William was admitted to the bar in 1827 and in 1836 was appointed by Governor Cannon as Judge of the Ninth Judicial District and held that office until 1845. In 1830, he married Evalina Parsons Atkins, daughter of John Atkins, a wealthy planter living west of Paris, Henry Co, NC. William and Evalina settled on a plantation three miles west of Paris until they moved to Memphis, TN in 1849. They were the parents of James M. Harris, George L. Harris, Bettie Harris, and Eleanor Harris. William made many successful investments including a cotton plantation in Arkansas. In 1851, Judge Harris was appointed to succeed Judge Turley in the court of common law and chancery. In 1855, he was promoted by Andrew Johnson to the Supreme Bench at Tennessee. He held this office until his death on 19 Jun 1838. William had been to New Orleans and was returning to Memphis on the steamer Pennsylvania. He received fatal injuries when the boiler blew up.
William Rowland Harris was the son of Isham Green Harris, Sr. and Lucy Davidson. He was born on 26 Sep 1803 in Montgomery Co, NC. His father was a farmer and a Methodist minister. The family moved from North Carolina to Tennessee in 1806. his grandfather on his mother's side was Col. George Davidson, known as "The Father of North Carolina." William was admitted to the bar in 1827 and in 1836 was appointed by Governor Cannon as Judge of the Ninth Judicial District and held that office until 1845. In 1830, he married Evalina Parsons Atkins, daughter of John Atkins, a wealthy planter living west of Paris, Henry Co, NC. William and Evalina settled on a plantation three miles west of Paris until they moved to Memphis, TN in 1849. They were the parents of James M. Harris, George L. Harris, Bettie Harris, and Eleanor Harris. William made many successful investments including a cotton plantation in Arkansas. In 1851, Judge Harris was appointed to succeed Judge Turley in the court of common law and chancery. In 1855, he was promoted by Andrew Johnson to the Supreme Bench at Tennessee. He held this office until his death on 19 Jun 1838. William had been to New Orleans and was returning to Memphis on the steamer Pennsylvania. He received fatal injuries when the boiler blew up.
Gravesite Details
His middle name is also seen spelled as Roland.
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