Harry R. Jeffords (January 25, 1855April 3, 1891) was a lawyer and politician who served as a United States Attorney from 1889 until his death. He also served in the Mississippi Senate.
Jeffords was born in Dayton, Ohio on January 25, 1855.[1] The son of Elza Jeffords, his father moved the family to Mississippi following the American Civil War. The younger Jeffords grew up in Natchez, Mississippi[1] and was educated in Natchez's schools. He received his legal education at Columbia College's (now Columbia University) law school.[1] He became the cotton register for Issaquena County, Mississippi in 1873, and then advanced to become Cotton Tax Collector for the county.[1]
Jeffords was admitted to the Mississippi bar in December 1874.[1] After obtaining his law license, he practiced law with his father, Elza Jeffords.[1] He was elected to represent Issaquena, Sharkey, and Washington counties in the Mississippi State Senate in 1881.[1] During his two year term, Jeffords served as chairman of the judiciary committee.
Jeffords moved to the Arizona Territory in 1884 for health reasons,[2] and was elected Pima County district attorney in 1886.[2] He was appointed United States Attorney for Arizona on May 24, 1889.[3]
Jeffords contracted Mountain fever in July 1890. The illness triggered a relapse of his previous health issues.[2] He died of Bright's Disease on April 3, 1891,[2] leaving his wife and 3 children,[2] including two daughters and one son.[1]