Will H. Harris (2 obits)

The Choctaw Herald July 6, 1911 - transcribed by Ron Henson

    Will H. Harris, vice-president and manager of the R.V. Womack Mercantile company died at 5 o'clock Monday morning after an illness of only a few hours. He was partially overcome by heat Saturday afternoon while engaged in superintending the unloading of some merchandise at the store and was carried home and medical assistance obtained. All was done for him that could be, but it availed nothing. Mr. Harris dying as stated after many hours of the most intense suffering.
    Will Harris numbered his friends by his acquaintances being one among the most popular merchants in the county or this section of the state. He was a Texan by birth, coming to Hugo with the Womack Mercantile company about six years ago.
    The funeral occurred at the family residence on West Duke street Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock, burial in Mount Olive ¹ cemetery.

W.H. HARRIS DIES FROM HEAT ATTACK
STRICKEN SATURDAY AND LINGERS UNTIL THIS MORNING AT 5 O'CLOCK
Was a Prominent and Popular Business Man With Host of Friends - To be Buried Tuesday Afternoon
The Hugo Husonian July 6, 1911 - transcribed by Ron Henson

    W.H. Harris died Monday morning at 5 o'clock of congestion of the stomach.
    Saturday evening Mr. Harris, who for the past few months has been in rather poor health, underwent a severe shock from the extreme heat he experienced in superintending the unloading of a shipment of wagons consigned to the R.V. Womack Mercantile company. Upon going to this home he took to his bed and remained there until his death under the watchful care of his doctors, Rutherford, Phillips and Shull. Mr. Harris was too sick for the aid of man, however, and after intense suffering all day Sunday and during the night he passed away at 5 o'clock this morning.
    Will H. Harris was born Jan. 9, 1871 in Sylvan, Texas. His family was an old and prominent one in Texas, and one of considerable wealth. At the age of eleven Mr. Harris was made an orphan. J.H. Campbell, a very wealthy and prominent business man of Sylvan was the guardian of the boy and remained so until his majority. The early education was received in Sylvan and Honey Grove; after this followed two years in the classic halls of the splendid old college of Washington and Lee in Lexington, Va. For the next few years after leaving college Mr. Harris taught in various schools in North Texas, later going into the mercantile business in Blossom, where he worked for the R.V. Womack Mercantile Co. Six years ago he came to Hugo and opened up the present Womack house here upon the spot where the Hoffman Hotel now stands. He was manager here until Mr. Womack came over and assumed the charge of the rapidly growing business. At the time of his death Mr. Harris was the vice president of the company.
    He was a Mason and Woodman, and a friend to everybody. Incapable of treating a friend unjustly Mr. Harris was as kind to strangers. By twos and threes the friends of the dead man have been going out to the house all day to show their respect and affection.
    The funeral will be held Tuesday afternoon at 4 o'clock from the residence at 802 East Duke street. Burial will be in Mount Olive cemetery ¹.

¹ transcriber's note: probably should be Mount Olivet.