Charles Zera Harris

Charles Zera Harris was born March 9, 1864 in Richmond to William and Emeline Whittle Harris. Charles is a Pioneer of Richmond. Charles served as the 13th Mayor of Richmond. Charles served as a member of the Utah House of Representatives. Charles was on the committee to establish the Richmond Library.

History

Charles was born in the Richmond Fort before the Harris family built a home in north Richmond. Charles was raised as a farmer and helped his father move cattle from Richmond to Gentile Valley, Idaho to visit his Uncle Alexander. 

"To illustrate how in early life they endured the pangs of poverty, here is a little incident related many times by my mother [Emma Harris]. She told of when her brother, Charles, was about seven years old, he went to Ogden with his father. This was the nearest railroad point to Cache Valley, and they went to meet Grandmother Mary Givens Harris who was coming to Richmond to pay her children a visit. They arrived in Ogden quite a while before train time, so his father showed him the town. In store after store the oranges and other fruit were displayed on the sidewalk. Child-like, the apples, oranges, and peaches captivated Charles. How he did want some of them. He would stop for minutes and look earnestly at them. His father would stand patiently and wait for him with a sad expression on his face. Finally, he was so touched by the eager look on Charles’ face that he said, “My boy, I would like to buy you some oranges, but it will take very nickel I have to pay for getting Grandmother and ourselves back to Richmond.” So Charles did not get a change to taste the oranges he so longed to try."3

Charles was able to receive higher education and graduated from the University of Deseret (U of U). After, he taught school in Richmond. Charles married Sarah Alice Andersen on April 14, 1886 in Richmond.1

From 1890-1896, Charles lived in Ogden, Utah working for Gibson & Smirthwaite as a bookkeeper. With his skills, his family and friends asked him to return to Richmond to become the manager of the Peoples Mercantile. He did so until he became the first manager of the Sego Milk Plant.1 Charles served as City Recorder from 1886-1889.2

Utah House of Representatives (1899 - 1901)

Very little is known about Charles's time as a member of the House. His son Melvin writes in his history that Charles did not enjoy his time and "preferred not to run for public office but that he could do a greater public service helping pick good men for office."1

Richmond Library

In June 1912, Herbert A. Adamson presented a petition signed by 67 individuals to the Richmond City Council about constructing a library in Richmond. An election was held about its construction and was in favor 95-12. The city appointed a Board of Directors for the library. Members were Charles Z. Harris, President; Mayor Samuel W. Hendricks, Vice-President; George G. Hendricks, Secretary, with other members James W. Funk, George M. Thomson, Thomas H. Merrill, and Herbert A. Adamson. The Board sent a letter to receive a grant to construct the library,1 asking for $10,000, but received only $8,000 for its construction, and was approved. The Richmond Carnegie Library was constructed in 1914.

Mayoral Term (1914-1916)

Charles Zera Harris served for a single term as the 13th Mayor of Richmond from 1914-1916.

He was succeeded by August C. S. Schow.

Richmond Lions Club

On March 22, 1920, a meeting was called by Mayor Clarence L. Funk for the formation and creation of a Richmond Chamber of Commerce. The following day, another meeting was held in the Club Room of the Richmond Library to elect and reject 5 individuals to serve on a Board of Directors. The five individuals that were elected were Charles Z. Harris, President; Jessie Webb, VP; Brigham Monson, Secretary and Treasurer; and Albert C. Fisher and Walstein Hendricks as Directors. In 1929, the Commerce was reorganized as the Richmond Lions Club.4

Epilogue