Harris was born March 29, 1864, at Harrisville, Utah to Martin Henderson Harris, early settler and namesake of Harrisville, Utah, and Louisa Sargent. He was the third child in a family of four boys and three girls. His early schooling included instruction under Louis F. Moench. He later attended the University of Utah, where he taught himself the organ. Harris attended the University of Michigan Law School, graduating in June 1894.
