Mineral Wells Index, 2 March 1925
PASSING AWAY OF COOK HARRIS, AN OLD CITIZEN HERE.
Cook Harris, of this city, one of the oldest and most highly honored citizens of Palo Pinto county passed away at 7:20 Monday evening, March second, at his home on Northwest Fifth Avenue.
The funeral services will be held on March 4th, at 2 p. m., at the Baptist church, in Palo Pinto, the church which he helped to organize. Rev. Harlan Matthews, pastor of the First Baptist church of Mineral Wells will have charge of the services at the church and at the grave in Palo Pinto cemetery. Beetham and Son of Mineral Wells, will be funeral directors.
The active pall bearers will be: C. W. Cunningham, Dr. R. H. Smith., Ray Abernathy, Joe Taylor, Couts Anderson, Chas. Conaster, Tom Jordan and W. C. Cobb. Honorary pall bearers: Stith Edmondson, John Oaks Sr., S. J. S. Abernathy, J. W. Rimer, Gilbert Gibbs, D. P. Rankin, F. M. Bowman, B. N. Maddox, J. C. Son, Roy Hittson Sr., Tom Carter, John Doan, B. L. Ball and C. L. Dalton.
Mr. Harris’ long life has been full of useful activity. The following is an excerpt from a sketch of his life and work written by an admiring friend, Dr. Harrison, of Graford:
“D. C. Harris was born in Muhlenburg county, Kentucky, November 26, 1846. He came to Palo Pinto county when eleven, at a time when this section was the extreme frontier. He mastered the rudiments of an education before coming to Texas and was deprived of further educational advantages when he began his frontier life. Mr. Harris’ father was a native of North Carolina and moved to Kentucky after he married Miss Sarah Coleman in 1827. His father was a former in Kentucky and when he came to Texas he bought 160 acres of land about seven and one half miles northeast of Palo Pinto town or where the town now stands. In 1858 he made 2,000 bushels of corn and sold 1,000 bushels for $1 and bought each of his sons 160 acres of land. His father was a Baptist preacher by profession. His death occurred in 1865 and was buried at Menardville, Texas. Mrs. Harris died in 1884 and today sleeps in Slaughter Valley church yard in Palo Pinto county.
D. C. Harris remained at home until he was seventeen, working on his father’s farm. In 1865 the family moved to Menard county and his father’s death soon followed. He being the youngest son and then being still at home , the support of the family evolved on him, which duty he assumed with cheerfulness and remained in Menard county until the depredations of the Indians became so serious that they all were forced to leave. From here they went to Bell county and they later returned to the old homestead in Palo Pinto county in 1868. The only farming machinery he had was one old plow and a single yoke of oxen with which he made 700 bushels of corn the first year, selling much of it for $2 per bushel. In 1875 he bought 320 acres more land adjoining his farm. At the time he was accumulating a herd of cattle. He continued to add to his ranch until he has one of the largest ranches in this section. He has a fine farm on the Brazos in high state of cultivation and provided with excellent and well kept buildings. He also has extensive property in Mineral Wells, where he now resides. He is now 77 years old and despite the infirmities of old age, he is still more active than might suppose.
“In 1880 he married Miss Jennie Slaughter, daughter of Rev. G. W. Slaughter, highly refined and accomplished lady. She has been a true companion and helpmate to him. She still presides over their home in Mineral Wells with rarest grace and skill. They have six children, Dottie Mae, Macy Slaughter, Sallie Bell, Columbus Webb, Millie Francis and D. C. Jr., who served with distinction oversee during the late World War.
“As a man Mr. Harris has always been of the strictest integrity in all his business affairs. He comes from a good old line of Southern stock. All who know him, love him. He has been a good husband and father, citizen, and neighbor. He has been a life-long Christian and a member of the Baptist Church. He is sure to inherit the “Crown of Life.”
Source: Frost Bowman, “Various Obituaries Taken from the Records of the Beetham and Son Funeral Home, Beetham-Powell Funeral Home, Buzbee Funeral Home, Now White’s Funeral Home in Mineral Wells, Texas, beginning 1912 to 1961” (Mineral Wells, Texas: unpublished manuscript, 1988), pp. 83-86; Boyce Ditto Public Library, Mineral Wells.