Dec. 5, 1890:

Dan Harris Used to Use the Soles of His
Shoes for a Bank.
    "I see by the paper that Dan Harris, the owner of land where Fairhaven now stands, is dead," said A. G. Robinson, an old pioneer of San Juan county, the other day, as he looked from the deck of the Eastern Oregon upon the erstwhile home of old Dan Harris.
    "Old Dan and I were up at Cariboo during the mining excitement," continued Mr. Robinson, "and I thought a good deal of him. But he was a shrewd one. When I first knew him he was packing into a camp about twelve miles from where I was running a little store. We had run short on nails, and I had by good fortune just received several kegs. Dan wanted to buy my nails, and when we had struck a trade at $3 a pound and cleared $1,000 on the transaction, I thought Dan had lost money on the goods. But I did not know hem then. He took the nails twelve miles and sold them for $5 a pound.
    "I have known Dan from that day on, and although his appearances for many years while on the Bay looked as if he was not possessed of more money than would be required to buy most men a square meal, I know that he was of a saving disposition and always had considerable sums of money. I asked him one day what he did with his wealth, and he picked up an old shoe that laid in the corner and appeared to be worn out.
    "See," said he, "I just cut the stuffing out of these soles and pack in a few twenties when I have any to spare, and just toss them into the corner, so," and he threw it back with several other old pairs. "No one would think to look in the bottom of an old shoe for wealth, you know, and besides no one thinks 'Old Dan' has money."
    "So he is dead, I am sorry, for Dan with all his peculiarities was a good companion and a friend to many an old timer like
.myself." ⁷³


Jun. 25, 1904:

OLD FLAGPOLE CUT DOWN

Historic Land-mark Removed
Dan Harris's Democratic Flagstaff.
   Another pioneer landmark has had to submit to the influence of time and change. Yesterday M. S. Cody, for the Fairhaven Land Company, cut down the Dan Harris flagpole which had stood for nineteen years on Bennett avenue (now Fourth street) and transferred its upper half to the home of E. M. Wilson, secretary of the land company,who will erect it on his place of residence.
   The pole was erected by the local democrats under the leadership of Dan Hrris on March 4, 1885, in honor of Grover Cleveland's first presidential onauguration, and at its top was immediately floated an American flag 20 by 40 feet in size.. It was secured from the surrrounding forest and stood 110 feet in height. It was made in two sections, the upper section, which Mr. Wilson will preserve, being 52 feet long a trifle less than half, The staff was made by J. R. Taylor of Marietta, who still resides at tht place.
   It was erected on the property of Dan Harris, which was transferred in 1888 to the Fairhaven Land Company, who are still the oqners, and who found it necessary to remove the pole because its foundation has so rotted as to render it unsafe to be left standing. Mr. Wilson states that the pole has now changed politics.
   Dan Harris was a democrat of the old school and a great admirer of Cleveland. He had stated that in case of Grover's election he would raise on the occasion of his inauguration the finest flag in the northwest. He kept his word.
   The event was advertised far and near, and democrats from all over the northwest congregated either in the capacity of assistants in erecting the pole, or as participants in the attending festivities and absorbers of the various kinds of liquid refreshments which, with characteristic forethought, had been provided.
   Now, the raising of a 110-foot flagpole is no easy task, and it was well along toward evening before it was accomplished, with the aid of some of the Republicans present and two sailors who were familiar with that sort of work. Finally the task was done, and Old Glory raised to the breeze.
   The booze had been attacked with enthusiasm all day; and on leaving, many of the old-timers saw a whole boom of footlogs crossing Padden creek, where there was in reality but one, with the result that they went home as wet externally as they were internally.
   Among pioneers present were Edward and Part Connelly, Martin Gallagher, Henry Osler, Chas. Donovan, George Francos, T. E. Monahan, and others not so well know in this later day. Whether any of these were among the number who slipped from the footlog our informant was not able to recall.
   It was a grand celebration, easily the most memorable of those early days. ⁷⁴


Jan. 10, 1905:

DAN HARRIS,  'FATHER OF FAIRHAVEN,'
*    *    *      *    *    *        *    *    *
MADE FORTUNE WHEN TOWN BOOMED--
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SPENT    IT   IN   SEARCH   OF   PLEASURE
______________

    Dan Harris, the "Father of Fairhaven," was an unfettered spirit whose memory stands unique among those hardy souls who first settled on the shores of Bellingham bay. Harris liked hard work, loved to tell stories of his adventures, and paid little heed to his personal appearance. The latter shortcoming won him the soubriquet of "Dirty Dan."
    Harris took up residence at the mouth of Padden creek (the present site of the Pacific American Fisheries plant) late in 1853. In the early 80's he probably possessed more money than any other bay resident, yet at the time of his death in Los Angeles, August 19, 1890, he was practically penniless.
    Harris played a heavy role in the founding of Fairhaven, now South Bellingham, and never wavered in his belief that a great city would be built on the southern slopes of Bellingham bay.
    The "Father of Fairhaven" was born of Irish descent on Long Island, New York, in 1826. Dan ran away from home when a boy, shipped on a whaler and became an expert harpooner. Coming to Pacific waters in 1851, he left his ship at Victoria in 1853 and rowed to Bellingham bay in a dory.
    In after years Harris made the water voyage between the bay and Victoria frequently, old-timers declare, and carried on a productive smuggling business.
Death Claims Friend     John Thomas, one of the three first donation claimants on the southern shore of the harbor, took a liking to the newcomer and invited Harris to live with him. Thomas had landed here a few months ahead of Harris and was preparing to build a log cabin. Harris volunteered to help with the work, and together they hewed logs for the structure near the mouth of Padden creek. Thomas was consumptive and contracted a bad cold and died before the building was completed. Harris succeeded to the donation claim and lived in the cabin for years.
    The passing of John Thomas marked the first death and funeral of a person in the new bay settlement. When neighbors decided Harris must shave and dress his dead companion, it is recorded in Lottie Roeder Roth's history of Whatcom county, the "Father of Fairhaven" superstitious and fearful in the presence of death, fled to the woods in terror and remained in hiding until time for the funeral. Garb Crude, Soiled     In the early days of his residence here Harris' garb was crude and soiled. But in 1883, when he platted the original townsite of Fairhaven, he blossomed out with a high silk hat and a Prince Albert coat and trousers of broadcloth. The hat was usually tilted back and revealed a wealth of shaggy hair, Postmaster Hugh Eldridge remembers; an unbuttoned red flannel shirt exposed a hairy chest, and the tops of heavy woolen socks loomed above cowhide shoes.
    The arrival of the Kansas colony at Whatcom brought a small boom to Fairhaven in'83 and Harris found the demand for lots brisk. He built the original Fairhaven hotel at the foot of Harris avenue and a wharf nearby. Marble-top furniture was brought to Fairhaven for the parlor of the hotel and the building housed the first piano brought to the bay. In that year, it is recorded, Harris realized $32,000 from the sale of lots. The hotel and dock are said to have cost him about $16,000.
    The "Father of Fairhaven" was a life-ling Democrat and the election of Grover Cleveland in 1884 brought him boundless joy. He laid plans for an inaugural celebration on March 4, 1885, and invited friends near and far to join him in the festivities. Harris ordered a flagpole 125 feet in length, and a large American flag. He also laid in a supply of hard liquor. Spree Sets Record     Raising the great flagpole on March 4 was no easy task. The work was not completed until late afternoon, old-timers recall. By that time they say, Harris' hospitality had resulted in the greatest drinking spree in the history of the bay.
    Harris sold his Fairhaven holdings to the Nelson Bennett syndicate in 1888 and purchased a handsome residence in Los Angeles. There the pioneer, by nature liberal and generous, spent his money lavishly. Little remained at the time of his death of the comfortable fortune he had built up, it is said.
    It was during his early residence on the bay that Harris saw the advantages of water commerce with Victoria. He made countless voyages there and return, rowing a big dory both ways.
    Harris filed the plat to the townsite of Fairhaven on January 2, 1883. "How he came to name his town Fairhaven is doubtful," the Roth history says, "although Harris told E. M. Wilson that he got the idea from the Indian name for Harris bay and beach-"Seeseleechem"-which Harris claimed meant a place of safety, hence a fair haven. Others claim that he named it in honor of the old Maine whaling post, Fairhaven, with which Harris was probably familiar when a young Atlantic sailor." ⁷⁵