Harris, Henry Robins - 1861 to 1939

General Manager of the LS&I railway.

Marquette, June 8, 1939 - Henry Robins Harris, 78 years old, one of Michigan's oldest railroad men, chief executive of the Lake Superior & Ishpeming railway since 1897 and for many years prominent in Marquette's business and industrial affairs, died Monday in his residence after a prolonged illness. Harris' death was caused by a heart ailment.

Harris was born in Beloit, Wis. on July 31, 1861, the son of James M. an Sarah L. Harris. His father was a railroad man. In 1876 at the age of 15, after common school education, Henry R. Harris began his long railroad career, starting as a clerk and operator on the Galena, Ill., division of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad. He served in that capacity until 1880.

From 1880 to 1889 he was clerk to the general superintendent of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern railway, which later became the Peree Marquette. From 1889 to 1890 he was rodman with a construction corps for the Chicago & West Michigan, which later became a part of the Pere Marquette. He also served in various capacities with the Central railroad of Georgia, the Chicago & Northwestern and the A.T. & S.F. railways.

From 1890 to 1892 he was clerk to the superintendent of the northern division of the Grand Rapids & Indiana railway, now a part of the Pennsylvania railroad system. In 1892 and 1893 he was superintendent of the Pullman company and from 1893 to 1897 master of transportation for the Grand Rapids & Indiana road.

Harris came to Marquette from Grand Rapids in 1897, the year of the organization of the Lake Superior & Ishpeming railway, and he served as its general manager until 1917, when he became vice-president and general manager of the railroad, serving in that capacity until his death.

He served as vice-president and director of the Union National bank of Marquette, since its organization in October, 1921; was vice-president and director of the First National bank of Alger county, Munising; and a director of the Munising Paper company and a director of the Fort Smith & Western railway. He also served as a member of the board of trustees of St. Luke's hospital for 23 years. [Ironwood Daily Globe, June 8, 1939.]

Harris Ore Yard on the LS&I is named after Mr. Harris.