Harris was a large individual compared to most men of his day.  He stood nearly six feet tall and weighed 200 pounds.  He typically wore a red undershirt, frock coat, unlaced boots, and a top hat.  His unkempt appearance earned  him the nickname of "Dirty Dan."   He had an independent spirit and declined to work in the Roeder Mill or the Sehome Mine where many of the early settlers earned their  wages.  Instead, Harris made countless trips rowing his dory between Victoria and Bellingham carrying local produce and other agricultural goods to Victoria and returning with rice, millinery, notions, and whiskey for the community.  In the early days, smuggling was not considered an serious offense and Harris was only reprimanded once by Edward Eldridge who sold his cargo at public auction in Port Townsend. During the Civil War, the price of a gallon of whiskey increased tenfold Harris' smuggling business turned quite profitable.  

In 1861, Harris purchased a tract of 43 acres from Americus Poe covering the present site of southwestern Fairhaven and northern Post Point for the sum of $53.75. In 1877, working alone, Harris cleared and graded a road from Sehome to Lake Whatcom to move supplies and machinery to the newly established Blue Canyon Mine. In 1881, the  Kansas Colony re-established the mill at Whatcom Creek and  the community anticipated an economic revival following the decline precipitated by the closure of the Sehome Mine in 1878.   Harris platted the town site of Fairhaven and Harris became a real estate magnate and promoter.  He demanded a fixed payment in cash only and soon had more money than anyone else in town.   It is estimated that Dan realized $32,000 from the sale of lots created from his property holdings.  With the money he built the Northern Hotel at the foot of Harris Avenue and constructed a deep water dock adjacent to the hotel.

In 1883, Harris married Bertha Wasmer and the couple relocated to Los Angeles.  A few yearsl later, Harris sold his Fairhaven property to I.M. Wilson, E.L. Cowgill and Nelson Bennett for $70,000.  Bertha died in 1888 and Harris lived the rest of his life in alone in Los Angeles.  In the last years of his life he was befriended by Dr. A.S. Shorb whose interest in Dan Harris was primary financial.  Harris died in 1890 practically penniless.