Aug. 21, 1890:

    There died in Los Angeles, Monday, the 18th inst. a man who was intimately identified with the fortunes and interests of the Pacific Coast. Daniel J. Harris, or as he was commonly known here, Colonel Harris, was born in Maine in 1834. Early developing that taste for the sea that characterizes the sons of that hardy State, Mr. Harris went to sea at an early age, and after adventures all over the world, came to British Columbia in 1852 as captain of a British vessel. He settled in Washington Territory in 1853, took up a donation land claim on Bellingham Bay, and laid out on it the prosperous and growing town of Fairhaven, which has since developed into a city, and is now the chief town of that bay, and is a railroad terminus, being only thirty miles from the Canada and Pacific across the line in British Columbia, with which it is to join. Colonel Harris came here on account of his wife's health about four years ago and settled then on his late home on Girard street. Here he pursued, as usual, his enterprising career and engaged in the financial interests of the country. His name was known in many of the important enterprises of the period, and many a useful project for the advancement of Los Angeles' interests has felt the stimulus of Colonel Harris's encouragement. Among his other ventures was the purchase of a valuable property on Main street, near Second , on which he was to erect a magnificent block to be known as the Harris Block, and for which he already had the plans made. He had also plans for a $50,000 building for Fairhaven, already referred to, in which he was to erect a magnificent opera house, for which the plans were already prepared. Death has cut short the usefulness of Colonel Harris, but his kindly personal character, his unpetentatious demeanor, and his sterling friendship to those who were worthy of it, will long live in the circle of his friends. He was a member of the Oregon and Washington Pioneers, who will mourn his loss. His wife, for whose sake he came here, having preceded him in death, he leaves as the nearest surviving resident relative, a nephew - Benjamin F. Harris. The funeral will be held to-day at 4 o'clock, from the undertaking rooms of Peck, Sharpe & Neliske 144 North Main street, where there will be a short funeral service, to which his friends are respectfully invited. ⁶⁶

Aug. 28, 1890:
DIED.
   In Los Angeles, Ca.l, on Sunday, August 17th, Daniel J. Harris. The deceased was for many years a resident on Bellingham Bay and is well remembered by many of our citizens. In 1853 he purchased the land where the city of Fair-haven now stands and remained in possession of it till about two years ago when he sold out to Nelson Bennett for $75,000. He had been living in Los Angeles a short time previous to this and at once returned. His wife, the only relative he had in this country, died two years ago and it is not know who will inherit the $100,000 he left behind him. ⁶⁷

Aug. 29, 1890:

The Founder of Fairhaven
    Dan Harris, well known to all of the old settlers is dead at Los Angles Cal. of dropsy of the heart, aged 55 years. He leaves no near relatives. His estate is valued at $100,000 which amount he received for the townsite of Fairhaven. He as born on Long Island, and settled at Dead Man's Point or Poe's point in 1853 when a young man in his teens. He enjoyed a very happy-go-lucky kind of a life--fishing, hunting, and smuggling. He was a very successful smugglar. At one time, as he afterward stated to Capt. Roeder, he had over six thousand dollars worth of opium in the hollow of an old cedar tree near his home. He finally about 1883 concluded that he would plat a townsite at his place. He did so. The result is the bright town of Fairhaven. A story is going the rounds that the place was called Seceelichel by the Indians or "good winds and safe ancorage" which Mr.harris translated into Fairhaven. This origin of this name is made questionable from the fact that Harris came from a hamlet on Long Island called Fairhaven. In 1888 Nelson Bennett, disagreeing with Eugene Canfield in negotiations then in progress for the building of the Canfield road, determined to buy up a townsite for himself and build an independent road. He gave Mr. Harris $75,000 for his interest in the place and the settler immediately went to Los Angeles. His wife died some two years ago withut children. He had been talking of building an opera house at Fairhaven. But the grim call boy has ushered him before a different audience. He was a pecular man and old settlers delight in telling of his oddities. When Cleveland was elected he procured the largest flag purchasable, 52 feet long, and spread it to the breeze. He found his flag pole to short for it. ⁶⁸

Sep. 12, 1890:

The Late Daniel Harris
EDITOR REVEILLE: Daniel J. Harris was born near or in Bridgehampton, Suffolk county, Long Island. When a youth he shipped on board a whaler, about 1851, at Sagg Harbor. Deceased did have at the time President Cleveland was inaugurated two brothers living, with families, and one sister, also a de eased brother leaving a widow and one son. His name is Benjamin Harris -- a blacksmith by trade. Dan, when here the last time in April 1888, mentioned about his brothers and nephewy, and his sister is in the insane asylum. He said she went crazy on religion. Dan had made a will in 1871, and said he left it in the probate office in this county. He may have revoked the will, or it may have been lost. Yours,

        JAMES H. TAYLOR, Lummi, Sept. 4, 1890. ⁶⁹

Oct. 18, 1890:

DAN HARRIS' WEALTH.
    George W. Harris, brother of Dan Harris, the original Fairhaven townsite owner, who lately died in Los Angelos, is in the city. Mr. Harris lives in Norwich, Conn., and he is out here looking up Dan's wealth. Dan lived on the bay for years and was known as Dirty Dan. Fa honable clothing and French cooking Dan knew nothing about; clams and scenery were his staple food. He sold out to Nelson Bennett for $75,000 and went to Los Angelos, where he soon became known as Grease Pot Dan. He was taken sick and, it is said, he fell into the hands of a physician who wanted to see Dan enjoy a little of his life before he passed in his checks, poured a little chamgagne down the old mans throat, which caused him to become hilarious and seeing what he had missed by not taking in the sights occasionally said: Doctor, here is $25,000, go and blow yourself. I see the mistake I have made in this life, and Dan turned up his toes. His relatives now think something is crooked and are going to look it up. ⁷⁰

Oct. 24, 1890:

THE ESTATE OF DANIEL HARRIS
    The brother and relatives of the late Dan Harris expect to exhume the body and hold an autopsy, as there is suspicion of foul play. It seems that Harris was under the care of a physician who, upon his death, took possession of his effects and secured all his ready money in bank--some $25,000. Criminal proceedings have already been commenced against this doctor. He claims that Harris gave this money to his wife for her kindness to him. It is alleged that during his last illness the deceased was braced up on champagne, and danced and played on the piano, and said to a visitor that his attendants were killing him. Whether this alluded to high living or otherwise has not transpired. The relatives secured from the physician the watch and other personal effects of Mr. Harris, after considerable trouble, and succeeded in stopping payment on a check for $6,000. Action will be taken against the bank that turned over the $25,000 to the physician. Mr. Harris had property worth $53,000 in Los Angeles and about $45,000 worth of real estate here. ⁷¹ (Note J)

Oct. 25, 1890:

DIRTY DAN'S MONEY
   The Los Angelos Times publishes a long account of the proceedings in the suit brought by the heirs of Dan Harris against Dr. A. S. Shorb for the recovery or accounting of money. They appear to know that Dan's Bellingham Bay record was not spotted with acts of benevolence or evidence of a generous heart, that he had the reputation of being miserly and niggardly and the heirs think that something is crooked because he gave the wife of the doctor who attended him $25,000 and the doctor $5,000. We expect Dan is looking up now and watching this scramble for his wealth either kicking or "fanning himself," to think that he died wealthy and lived poor, that he lived like a pauper and died like a king. Dan Harris left money for some one else to enjoy, which he might have had the use of during life and then when he died, left it, a little the worse for wear, but still a circulating medium. Let them scramble. ⁷²