Joseph Emile Harley

Joseph Emile Harley (September 14, 1880 – February 27, 1942) was the 100th governor of South Carolina from 1941 to 1942 and a member of the "Barnwell Ring."

Joseph Emile Harley
100th Governor of South Carolina
In office November 4, 1941 – February 27, 1942
Lieutenant	Vacant
Preceded by	Burnet R. Maybank
Succeeded by	Richard Manning Jefferies
74th Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina
In office January 15, 1935 – November 4, 1941
Governor	Olin D. Johnston Burnet R. Maybank
Preceded by	James Sheppard
Succeeded by	Ransome Judson Williams
Mayor of Barnwell, South Carolina
In office 1912–1922
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from Barnwell County
In office January 11, 1927 – January 13, 1931
In office January 10, 1905 – January 12, 1909
Personal details
Born	(1880-09-14)September 14, 1880 Williston, South Carolina, United States
Died	February 27, 1942(1942-02-27) (aged 61)
Resting place	Baptist Cemetery, Barnwell, South Carolina
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Agnes Richardson
Alma mater	University of South Carolina
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	1st South Carolina Volunteers
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War

Early life and education

Harley was born September 14, 1880, in Williston, South Carolina. Harley received an LLB from the University of South Carolina in 1902. He married Sarah Agnes Richardson and had three children with her.^[1]

Occupations

Harley served as a colonel in the South Carolina National Guard and as sergeant of Company L, 1st SC Volunteers in the Spanish–American War. He also worked as a lawyer, where he fought on behalf of three major railway companies including: the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Southern Railway, as well as the Seaboard Airline Railroad. As a member of the democratic party, Harley was a delegate at the 1908, 1924, 1928, and 1932 party conventions.^[1] Harley also served as the mayor of Barnwell, South Carolina for ten years from 1912-1922.^[2]

Governor

After being elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina in 1934 and re-elected in 1938, Harley became Governor of South Carolina on November 4, 1941, upon the resignation of Governor Burnet Maybank, who was elected to serve in the US Senate.^[3]

On February 27, 1942, Governor Harley died in office after having served only four months. He died of terminal throat cancer. Harley could only communicate by writing in the last months of his life. He is buried in Baptist Cemetery, Barnwell, South Carolina.

References

1. Edgar, Walter, ed. (2006). The South Carolina Encyclopedia. University of South Carolina Press. ISBN 9781570035982.
2. "South Carolina Governor - Joseph Emile Harley - 1941-1942". www.sciway.net. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
3. "Joseph Emile Harley". National Governors Association. January 12, 2011. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved February 7, 2021.

Political offices
Preceded by James Sheppard	Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina 1935–1941	Succeeded by Ransome Judson Williams
Preceded by Burnet R. Maybank	Governor of South Carolina 1941–1942	Succeeded by Richard Manning Jefferies