William L. Harris
(Photo courtesy of Rootsweb)
4 November 1817 - 12 September 1887
Bishop William Logan Harris
Bishop William L. Harris was born near Gallion, Ohio, November 4, 1817, and died in New York City, September 2, 1887. He was converted in 1834, and joined the church at a camp meeting. In his nineteenth year he was licensed to preach and in 1837 joined the Michigan Conference which then included the northern portion of Ohio. After several years in the pastorate, he became in 1848 Principal of what is now Baldwin University. In 1852, he was made professor of Chemistry and Natural History in the Ohio Wesleyan University. In 1860, he was made by the General Conference one of the Secretaries of the Missionary Society. He was elected General Superintendent in 1872, at Brooklyn, New York. He was nine years a pastor, fourteen a teacher, twelve a Missionary Secretary, and fifteen a Bishop.
His knowledge of parliamentary law, of ecclesiastical rules, and the economy of the Church was pre-eminent. Sometimes he seemed to be more of an advocate than judge. Yet his service was of a manly type. His service in critical situations and difficult dilemmas was of highest value.
- Unidentified memoir from clergy file
- Licensed to preach in the early part of 1837 and admitted on trial to the Michigan Annual Conference (which at that time covered northwestern Ohio as well on 7 September 1837
- Although a member of the Michigan Conference, the churches he served were in Ohio and he transferred to an Ohio conference when that area was removed from the Michigan Conference in 1840.
- He was elected as a Bishop in 1872.
Appointments
- 1838-1839: Wooster (Ohio)
- 1839-1840: Mansfield (Ohio)