Dan Harris in 1884

Daniel Jefferson "Dirty Dan" Harris (c. 1833 – August 18, 1890) was an early settler of the Bellingham Bay area and founder of the town of Fairhaven, Washington. Following a stint as a whaler in the Pacific Ocean, Harris arrived in Washington Territory in either 1853 or 1854.[1][2] After years of trading and buying land surrounding his original homestead, he platted the property into the town of Fairhaven in 1883 and began selling plots for gold. By 1889, Harris sold off his remaining land to Nelson Bennett and C. X. Larrabee for US$75,000.[3] Bennett and Larrabee continued to develop Fairhaven until its incorporation with other Bellingham Bay towns into the city of Bellingham in 1903.[4][5] Harris retired to Los Angeles where he died in 1890.[6] Residents of Bellingham today celebrate an annual festival in Harris's honor where visitors can learn about the early history of the city.[7][8]

Early life

Much of Harris's early life is unclear. He was born on Long Island in New York, with Southampton, Patchogue, Sag Harbor, and Bridgehampton cited by various sources as his birthplace.[9] On the other hand, an obituary in the Los Angeles Times gave his birthplace as Maine.[10] Sources also differ on when exactly Harris was born, with dates ranging from 1826 to 1833.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Daniel J. Harris". Fairhaven History. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  2. ↑ Henry, Francis (November 1, 1889). "The Washington Pioneers". The Washington Standard. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Death of the Eccentric Pioneer of Fairhaven". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. August 29, 1890. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Meet Dan Harris". dan-harris.info. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  5. ↑ Vanderway, Richard (November 8, 2007). "Brisk debate preceded consolidation in Whatcom communities". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  6. ↑ Teck, Frank C. (April 25, 1903). "Last days of Dan Harris in Gay Los Angeles". The Evening Herald. Fairhaven. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Bikman, Margaret (April 23, 2015). "Dirty Dan Harris Festival offers a glimpse into local history". The Bellingham Herald. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Annual Dirty Dan Harris Festival". Fairhaven.com. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  9. ↑ Bourasaw, Noel V. (March 31, 2011). "Introduction to legends of Daniel J. Harris, his character and accomplishments as founder of Fairhaven". Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  10. ↑ "OBITUARY: Daniel J. Harris". Los Angeles Times. August 21, 1890. p. 7 – via Newspapers.com.


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