Loren Thomas (Buck) Harris

One of my wife's Great Great Uncles was named Loren Thomas Harris. Loren Thomas (who went by the nickname of "Buck") was brother to my wife's Great Grandfather, Hindman Harris Sr.

The other day, when doing research on Buck, I ran across an article in a newspaper called "The Daily Ardmoreite", from Ardmore, Oklahoma. The following was written in celebration of Buck's impending 100th birthday on July 31, 2001. The photo is also from that article. The original article was published by The Daily Ardmoreite on June 24, 2001

Buck was born on July 31, 1901 in Tishomingo, Indian Territory (Oklahoma did not officially become a State until November, of 1907) and passed away on October 23, 2002 at age 101.





"Soon-to-be centenarian Buck Harris qualifies as more than a senior resident approaching 100 years old. He's a page of Chickasaw history.

Officially named Loren Thomas, Buck has the distinction of being one of 52 original Chickasaw enrollees with the Dawes Commission still living. He's also a great-grandson of Cyrus Harris who was elected in 1856 as the first governor of the Chickasaw tribe. Cyrus served as tribal governor five terms during a pre-statehood era when the headquarters was located in Tishomingo.

Tribal history, though, was secondary Saturday at Elmbrook Nursing Home when relatives, Chickasaw leaders and several friends gathered to recognize Harris who will turn 100 on July 31. In addition to the family gathering and fellowship, the reception centered on the presentation of a silver medal by Kennedy Brown, special assistant to Gov. Bill Anoatubby. The medal was struck as a tribute to original enrollees and has 2654, Harris' enrollment number, engraved on the back side. He was enrolled on May 21, 1906, in Tishomingo, Indian Territory.

Sharing the ceremony were granddaughters LaVanda Rhynes, Pat Fowler and Deborah Kraus of Moore and Nela Hickey of Oklahoma City. Third- and fourth-generation family members from the six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren also attended. Beverly Tallbird from the tribal headquarters emceed the brief program.

Harris' life in and around Tishomingo was the primary focal point as he shared a busy day with family and friends. Interviewed about approaching his centennial birthday, Harris was slightly impish in a fun-loving way.

Recalling life in and around Tishomingo, he "didn't do much" as a young man, other than "farmed a little." One has to learn from other sources that he owned upwards of 800 original allotment acres at one time.

He married Mae Hatton and raised a step-son, Neal Everett. Both are deceased.

While he lived near Milburn, less than a mile from his Johnston County birthplace, Harris had a variety of jobs, primarily as a truck driver. He talks about working the oilfields in Oklahoma and Kansas. In work, as well as retirement, his primary goal was "to keep busy."

"Raising gardens" became his primary interest during retirement, according to Fowler. Harris and his gardening were featured in a 1991 newspaper article talking about a 91-year-old resident who worked almost daily with a rototiller and used a tire mounted with a bicycle "to prepare the ground for the garden, which surrounds his house and runs into the nearby woods."
He was innovative -- designing a homemade irrigation system. He pulled water by hand from a well and poured it into a large barrel to feed a hose flowing to terraces. Variety was another garden feature -- sweet corn, peas, beans, onions, tomatoes and cabbage, plus other fruits and vegetables.

"I ain't satisfied just sittin' in a rockin' chair," he said. "People do that, and pretty soon they can't get up."

Life may continue at a more casual pace for Harris today, but be alert for his subtle wit."