Family of John Adams Harris & Emerite Magdalene Derbes
John Adams Harris was born 5 September 1859 in New Orleans, Louisiana and died 25 February 1939 in San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Burial was 27 February 1939 at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Palo Alto, California. Link to Photo.
First wife May Crumhorn was born 25 September 1862 in New Orleans, Louisiana, and died 30 June 1893 at 939 Constance Street, New Orleans, Louisiana (eclampsia). Burial was 1 July 1893 in Lafayette Cemetery #1, Harris Family Tomb. They were married 2 August 1887 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Their children:
1- Erastus Horton Harris b: 15 April 1890 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; d: 3 August 1914 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA (suicide); burial: Lafayette Cemetery #1, Harris Family Tomb
Notes for Erastus Horton Harris:
- 4 July 1913- Times Picayune (N.O., LA) - A Spider's Bite : E. H. Harris, 23 years old, of No. 1400 Magnolia Street, was bitten in the eye by a huge spider while he was asleep early yesterday morning. Awakened by the pain in his eye, Harris arose and took steps to ascertain the cause of the injury. On his pillow he discerned a large house spider, which he killed. The spider was as large as a silver dollar. Harris' eye became so swollen that he could not see out of it, and he went to Charity Hospital, where the injury was dressed. While the spider was one of the poisonous kind, it was not of the species whose bite proves fatal.
- 5 August 1914 - Times Picayune (N.O., LA) - E. Horton Harris fires bullet into his brain - Promising career of well-known young Orleanian brought to end - suicide shocks all his friends - E. Horton Harris, secretary to Congressman H. Garland Dupre, a law student at Georgetown University in the national capital, and formerly a brilliant young newspaper man of this city, shot himself to death in the private law office of Mr. Dupre, in the Hennen Building Annex in Common street, Monday night. The hour of his death is not definitely known. Mr. Harris has been at home from Washington several weeks, and his friends had not seen anything in his manner indicating despondency. On the contrary he seemed to be cheerful and jolly. The body of Mr. Harris was found by the negro janitor of the building at 7:30 o'clock Tuesday morning when he opened the office. It was resting in a large leather reclining chair, and a .38-caliber revolver was in his lap. The porter notified the police and the coroner was called. It was found that the bullet had passed entirely through Mr. Harris' head, after entering on the right side. The twisted piece of lead was found on the floor. - Heard Pistol Shot - Mr. Harris was at the office just before closing time in the evening Monday, and after joking with Mr. Echezabal, an attorney having offices in the suite, and others, asked that the office be left unlocked at night, as he wanted to do some work and did not have a key. He said he expected Mr. Dupre. Mr. Echezabal, rather than leave the door unlocked, gave his key to Mr. Harris. Men of an office on the upper floor said that about 9:30 o'clock Tuesday night they heard what sounded like a pistol shot below, but believed it might have been the popping of an automobile tire. No note nor anything to indicate why the young man committed suicide was found. It was said by the family that he was engaged to be married to a lovely young woman in this city. His father is John A. Harris of the United States revenue office in the Custom House, and for twenty years or more engaged in the cotton business on the river front and as a deputy port commissioner. The father said he was entirely bewildered as to any reason why Horton should have shot himself. He had not noticed any indication that he was not in good spirits. Horton Harris was twenty-four years of age. He was born in New Orleans, and after finishing the High School course in the public schools he was appointed by Mayor Behrman to a scholarship in Tulane University. He was a reporter on the local staff of The Times-Democrat, and later in charge of the sporting page. While thus engaged he was appointed, about eighteen months ago, private secretary to Mr. Dupre, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death. Mr. Dupre said the young man was remarkably efficient, and that he regarded him almost as one of his family. Mr. Dupre's mother and sister, who were with him at Washington, also regarded the young man highly, and left their home at Opelousas Tuesday to come to the city as soon as they heard of the sad event. - Had Many Friends - Mr. Harris was very popular, both in New Orleans and Washington. Col. John P. Sullivan said Tuesday he regarded him as one of the most promising young men in the city. When he was a newspaper reporter every one had confidence in him, and he had a faculty of making friends that was remarkable. Col. Sullivan said that if he had lived and entered public life, as he no doubt would have done, the possibilities of his advancement were unlimited. Similar comments were made by many others who knew him. The young man's father was almost overcome with grief at the death of his oldest son. He has been married twice and Horton was the only child by the first marriage. By the second marriage there are two sons, Earl and Ashton, and a daughter, Miss Hazel Harris. Last year Ashton Harris was attacked by two negroes while in State street with a companion, and his throat was cut. He recovered after lingering near death for some time. The family home is at 6026 Perrier street, but the members of the family were spending the summer near Biloxi, on the Gulf coast. Mr. Harris' remains were taken to the home of his aunt, Mrs. Sarah E. Crumhorn, 1434 Constance street, from which place the funeral will be held. -- Mourned in Washington -- Young secretary's Death Regretted in Many Circles at Capital - Staff Special to The Times-Picayune -- Washington, Aug. 4 -- Deep sorrow as a result of the death of Horton Harris was not limited to-day in the Louisiana delegation. In the office building of the House of Representatives where Mr. Harris spent most of his time in the active discharge of his duties as the secretary of Representative Dupre, he was well known. He was very popular and had the reputation of being one of the quickest witted employees on his floor. He was also well known in the offices of the Public Health Service, where expressions of regret were general.
 Erastus Horton Harris |
2- Beverly Crumhorn Harris b: 29 June 1893 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; d: 25 August 1894 New Orleans, Orleans, LA
Notes for Beverly Crumhorn Harris:
- Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 26 August 1894: Harris - On Saturday, Aug. 25, 1894, Beverly Crumhorn, youngest son of John A. Harris and the late May Crumhorn, aged thirteen months and twenty-five days. Friends of the family are invited to attend the funeral at residence, 939 Constance, corner Soniat street, this day (Sunday) at 4 o'clock.
Second wife Emerite Magdalene Derbes was born 28 May 1859 at 64 Burgundy Street, New Orleans, Orleans, LA, and died 7 December 1950 in Oakland, Alameda, CA. Burial was in Palo Alto, California. They married 27 December 1894 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA. Link to Photo.
Their children:
1- Earle Palmer Harris b: 21 September 1895 in a house on the corner of Constance & Soniat Streets, New Orleans, Orleans, LA; d: 8 March 1985 in Mercy Hospital, San Diego, San Diego, CA.
+Ethlyn Johnson Richardson b: 9 May 1896 at 919 Erato Street, New Orleans, Orleans, LA; m: 1 August 1916 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; d: 24 January 1986 at 5000 Congress Drive, New Orleans, Orleans, LA; burial: 27 January 1986 Lafayette Cemetery #1, Johnson Family Tomb. (divorced)
*2nd wife of Earle Palmer Harris:
+Maude Anita Tooke (Wright) b: 3 June 1899 Arcadia, Bienville, LA; m: 4 November 1921 Crowley, Acadia, LA; d: 5 November 1957 Wiesbaden, Hesse, Germany.
*3rd Wife of Earle Palmer Harris:
+Madelyn Ware b: 3 July 1894 in California; m: 29 September 1928 in California; d: 26 April 1989 in San Diego, San Diego, CA
2- Hazel Adelaide Harris b: 4 November 1896 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; d: 1 February 1984 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, CA
+John Harrison Gihon b: 28 March 1898 in Pennsylvania; m: 23 February 1917 Gretna, Jefferson, LA; d: 12 November 1959 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA [divorced]
*2nd Husband of Hazel Adelaide Harris:
+Frank Broadus Mansfield b: 2 August 1893 Collinsville, Grayson, TX; m: Abt. 1922; d: 20 May 1966 Walnut Creek, Contra Costa, CA
Notes for Hazel Adelaide Harris:
- New Orleans States (N.O., LA), Sunday, 25 February 1917: Girl Reporter Weds News Gatherer in Office Romance - Bride Third in Family to Seek Marrying Judge Across the River - It started some months back when their desks were side by side in the city room of a New Orleans newspaper. When she wanted to know how to spell a word she asked him, and when he wasn't sure about the correct initials of a prominent citizen he asked her. They were married Friday in Gretna by Judge Trauth. It was the third Gretna wedding in the girl's family since August, when one of her brothers eloped. Her second and remaining brother was married in Gretna January 16. Miss Hazel Adele Harris, erstwhile girl reporter on The American, Newcomb graduate and only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Harris, of 405 Audubon street, was the bride. And J. Harrison Gihon, newspaperman formerly of Chicago, was the man she married. First marriage in the Harris family took place in August when Earl P. Harris was married to Miss Ethelyn Richardson in Gretna. On January 16, J. Ashton Harris married Miss Henrietta Walthers in Gretna without informing their parents until afterward. William Ritter, assistant secretary to the Association of Commerce, was one of the witnesses at the wedding. Mrs. Ritter was another. Since leaving The American Miss Harris had been head of the tourists' bureau of the Association of Commerce.
- 1920 New Orleans, Orleans, LA, 1118 Amelia Street (ED 210, pp. 12 A/B): Harrison Gihon 24 (roomer) mgr of Felorn? Co., wife Hazel 22, Jacquelyn 2.
- 1930 San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (ED238, p. 10A): Frank Mansfield 36 (TX-KY-KY) [house value $8000], newspaper writer, wife Hazel 34 (LA-LA-LA), Jacqueline 12 (LA), Frank B. 3 years 11 months; father-in-law John A. Harris 70 (LA-NH-Quebec, English Canada), wife Emerita Harris 70 (LA-FR-LA).
- 1940 San Francisco, San Francisco, CA: Frank B. Mansfield 47 proprietor/retail chromium furniture, wife Hazel H. 43 advertising manager/hotels, Frank B. 14, widowed mother-in-law (Mrs.) John A. Harris 81. [3620 Market Street]
- Obituary, Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA), Sunday, 22 May 1966: Frank B. Mansfield, in a Walnut Creek Hospital, May 20, 1966 of 1116 Oakmont Drive, Walnut Creek, beloved husband of Hazel H. Mansfield; loving father of Frank B. Mansfield Jr. of Orinda and Jacqueline M. Stetler of Strawberry; dear brother of Arthur Mansfield of Sonoma and L. Mansfield of Seattle, Washington; also survived by 4 grandchildren. A native of Texas, aged 72 years. A member of Live Oak Lodge No. 61 F. & A.M., Oakland Scottish Rite Bodies and Aahmes Temple of the Shrine. Family services were held in the Garden Chapel of Hull's Walnut Creek Chapel, 1139 Saranap Avenue off Boulevard Way, Saturday, May 21, Reverend Alfred B. Seccombe of St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Walnut Creek officiated. Concluding prayers and interment Oakmont Memorial Park, Lafayette.
 LtoR: unknown woman, Jacqueline 'Jackie' Gihon, Hazel Harris (Mansfield), Emerite Magdalene Derbes (Harris), Frank Mansfield - c1927 California |
3- John Ashton Harris b: 8 September 1898 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; d: 8 January 1968 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; burial: Lafayette Cemetery #1, Walter Family Tomb
+Henrietta Madeline Walter b: 13 April 1896 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; m: 15 January 1917 in Gretna, Jefferson, LA; d: 14 November 1989 in New Orleans, Orleans, LA; burial: Lafayette Cemetery #1, Walter Family Tomb
Notes for John Ashton Harris:
- WWI Registration: John Ashton Harris, 717 Robert, N.O.; b. 7 Sept 1898; pipe fitter w/Du Pont; rel: Mrs Etta Harris; medium height/medium build, brown eyes & black hair, silver tube in neck; 6 Sept 1918 New Orleans
- 1920 New Orleans, LA: Widower C. F. Walter 50 laborer/cotton warehouse, Alba 18, Anita 17, son-in-law Jack Harris 24 foreman/cotton warehouse, wife Etta 19, Audrey 1 year 11 months. [1026 Soniat Street]
- 1940 New Orleans, LA (36-360, p. 1a): John Harris 40 owner/cleaning establishment, wife Henrietta 38 clerk/cleaning establishment, Audrey 21 stenographer/university, father-in-law Charles F. Walter 73 (widower) laborer/cleaning establishment, sister-in-law Albertina Walter 30 clerk/cleaning establishment [1034 Robert Street]
- Death notice clipping in Harris family bible: Times Picayune (N.O., LA), Tuesday, 9 January 1968: HARRIS- On Monday, Jan 8, 1968, at 5:15 o'clock a.m., John Ashton Harris, husband of Henrietta W. Walter, father of Audrey H. Silbernagel, brother of Hazel Mansfield and Earl Harris, also survived by 2 grandchildren. Relatives and friends of the family, also employees of Comus Cleaners and L & L Cleaners, are invited to attend the funeral. Services from the House of Bultman, St Charles Avenue at Louisiana Ave. on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 1968 at 3 o'clock p.m. Interment Lafayette Cemetery No. 1."
 John Ashton Harris |
Notes for John Adams Harris:
- 1890 N.O. city directory: John A. Harris, cotton exchange, levee inspector
- Obituary, New Orleans Item (N.O., LA), Saturday, 1 July 1893: Mrs. John A. Harris - Yesterday at 1:45 p.m., Mrs. Mary Crumhorn, the young and beloved wife of John A. Harris, returned her gentle spirit to the Creator who gave it, leaving a disconsolate husband and baby, as well as a host of sorrowing relatives and friends to mourn her loss. Mrs. Crumhorn was the daughter of H.N. Crumhorn, formerly U.S. Internal Revenue Ganger at this port, and was beloved for her many graces of mind and person. The funeral, will take place from the late residence of the lamented deceased, at the corner of Soniat and Constance streets, at 5 o'clock this afternoon. The Item tenders its sincerest sympathy to the afflicted family in this sad hour of their bereavement.
- Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 16 July 1893: Miss Emerita Derbes will leave this evening by the Queen and Crescent for an extended trip North, taking in Chicago, New York and Niagara Falls.
- Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 6 January 1895: Harris-Derbes: On the 27th of December Miss Emerita Derbes was married to Mr. John A. Harris. The ceremony, which was a very imposing one, was performed at the residence of the bride's sister, Mrs. B. Solache, the Rev. R. Wynne officiating. The rooms and parlors were richly and artistically decorated with flowers and plants, and the bride and groom stood under a four-leaf clover made of natural roses. At the appointed hour the bride, dressed in a rich white brocade silk dress, and with a veil draped with pearls, came in leaning on the arm of her brother, Mr. Jos. B. Derbes, while Miss M. Hageney played the wedding march. She was attended by Miss Henrietta Miller, who was also dressed in white brocade silk, and Mr. Henderson. The presents were numerous and costly, both useful and ornamental. A host of friends were present to join in the well wishes made to the new couple. Mr. and Mrs. Harris have taken up their residence at No. 939 Constance street.
- Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 9 August 1896: Mr. John A. Harris, levee inspector of the Cotton Exchange, will leave Monday for a fifteen days' stay at North Shore, on the New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad, where he will endeavor to win over to McKinleyism the sojourners at that resort.
- Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 1 August 1897: Mrs. Harris, of Natchez, after several weeks' stay here with Mrs. John A. Harris, returned home last week. An impromptu dance was given Wednesday night at the residence of Mrs. John A. Harris, and all present had a most delightful evening.
- Times Democrat (N.O., LA), Sunday, 19 August 1900: [photo of Earle and Hazel Harris] The picture above represents Earl and Hazel Harris, the children of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Harris of New Orleans. Earl, the elder, can both read and write, although he is only four years and a half old. Hazel, his sister, is also very bright and intelligent; and both of them are sweet and winsome children.
- 1900 New Orleans, 5027 Constance Street (ED127): John A. Harris 40 (Sep 1859) asst. superintendent, wife of 6 years Emerita M. 41 (May 1859; LA-FR-LA) [3 of 3 children still living], Earl P. 4 (Sep 1895), Hazel A. 3 (Nov 1896), Ashton J. 1 (Sep 1898), Erastus H. 10 (Apr 1890)
- 24 January 1901, Times Picayune (N.O., LA) - The Dock Board --- Elects John A. Harris to succeed Thomas Agnew. The board of dock commissioners met yesterday afternoon in a called session for the purpose of electing a deputy commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Thomas Agnew. All the commissioners were present. John A. Harris was their choice for the place. Mr. Harris is well known along the river front, having been inspector for the Cotton Exchange for some years. There was no other business before the commissioners.
- Sunday, 5 October 1902, Times Democrat (N.O.): Mr. John A. Harris and little family, Earle, Hazel and Ashton, having spent the summer in Asheville and other points of interest in the mountains of North Carolina, have returned to New Orleans.
- 1910 New Orleans, 511 Audubon Street (ED 221, W14, p. 76B): John A. Harris 50 port commission, wife of 25 years Emrita 50 [3 of 4 children still living], Horton 20, Earle 14, Hazel 13, Ashton 11.
- 2 February 1914, Times Picayune (N.O., LA) - Income Tax Collector -- John A. Harris Appointed to the Important Post - John A. Harris, who is better known as Jack Harris, has been appointed special deputy internal revenue collector in this city for the purpose specially of having charge of the collection of the income tax. Mr. Harris received notification yesterday from Revenue Collector Walter Kemper of his appointment, and will qualify on Monday. Mr. Harris is a native of this city, and has always been connected with the river front and cotton-shipping business. He is one of the most popular men in that line of work in the city. He was for twenty years assistant chief supervisor for the Cotton Exchange and was thirteen years a deputy port commissioner, serving until after the beginning of Governor Hall's term. Congressman H. Garland Dupre is one of Mr. Harris' friends and was glad to help secure the appointment, for which Mr. Harris was indorsed by the Cotton Exchnage, Sugar Exchange, former President Hugh McCloskey, of the Board of Port Commissioners, both Louisiana senators and many other prominent citizens. At the preset time Mr. Harris is employed on the river front as a supervisor for the Cotton Exchange. He will, when not engaged on income tax work, perform the duties of a general deputy internal revenue collector. Mr. Harris' youngest son, Ashton, was recently seriously stabbed by a negro while on the way to a picture show. and is still confined to his bed and unable to hold his head up, but it is confidently believed that he will recover soon, the wound having practically healed, though there has been trouble with glands which were severed by the knife cut. The family have had much sympathy and great interest has been taken in the condition of the boy.
- 1920 New Orleans, 515 Audubon Street (ED 246, W14, p. 19A): John A. Harris 61 (LA-KY-CT) deputy collector/custom house, wife Emerita M. 61 (LA-France-LA); boarder Marie Dayrias 32 (LA-France-LA).
- 1930 San Francisco, San Francisco, California (ED238, p. 10A): Frank Mansfield 36 (TX-KY-KY) [house value $8000], newspaper writer, wife Hazel 34 (LA-LA-LA), Jacqueline 12 (LA), Frank B. 3 yr. 11 mos., John A. Harris 70 (LA-NH-Quebec, English Canada) father-in-law, Emerita Harris 70 (LA-FR-LA) mother-in-law
- Obituary, Times-Picayune (N.O., LA), 15th March 1939, p. 2, c. 7: HARRIS - In San Francisco, Cal., JOHN A. HARRIS, known as Captain Jack Harris, beloved husband of Emerita M. Harris, father of Hazel Harris Mansfield, Earle P. Harris, and J. Ashton Harris of New Orleans, La., aged 79 years, a native of New Orleans, La. Interment took place on February 25, 1939, in Cypress Lawn Memorial Park.
- 1940 San Francisco, San Francisco, CA (39-453, p. 4b): Frank B. Mansfield 47 proprietor/retail chromium furniture, wife Hazel H. 43 advertising manager/hotels, Frank B. 14, widowed mother-in-law (Mrs.) John A. Harris 81. [3620 Market Street]
- Obituary, The San Francisco Examiner (San Francisco, CA), Friday, 8 December 1950: Harris - In Oakland, December 7, 1950, Emerita D. Harris, dearly beloved wife of the late John Adams Harris, loving mother of Mrs. Frank B. Mansfield, Earle P. and John Ashton Harris; a native of New Orleans, La., aged 91 years. Friends are invited to attend the funeral services on Saturday, December 9, at 10 a.m., from the Piedmont Memorial Chapel of John J. Cox, 3479 Piedmont Ave. Interment, Cypress Lawn Cemetery.
Parents of Emerite Magdalene Derbes
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Last updated: 12 March 2023.