Typed by: Kay Cunningham
THOMAS DANIEL HARLAN
SURNAMES: HARALN, McGLASSON, TORRENCE, BLOCKER, GODDARD, VINSON, CROW,
NOONE, ROTHE.
Thomas
Daniel Harlan, b October 29, 1894 in the Blue Ridge Community of Falls County,
Texas, d July 5, 1939 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas and buried there in Calvary
Cemetery - was a son of John Luther and Elizabeth (“Bettie”) McGlasson) Harlan. Thomas Daniel Harlan (called “Dan”)
attended the Blue Ridge elementary school, Reagan High School, and Peacock
Academy. His education was interrupted when the United States entered World War
I, in which he served with the U.S. Army until the Armistice.
On
January 15, 1922, in Waco, Texas in the of the bride's parents Dan was
married to Josephine Blocker Torrence, b January 28, 1895 in Waco, d March 11,
1978 and buried by her husband in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin - a daughter of
Clifton Hurley and Julia (Blocker) Torrence. Dan and Josephine made their in Marlin.
Dan was a farmer and ginner, by occupation, in Falls and Robertson Counties;
however, he had many interests and diversified his ventures. He was active in
community, state, and federal affairs; served on the Marlin School Board for
many years before his death; was director and president of the Marlin Country
Club; and was a member of Masonic Lodge #152. While on the school board, he
promoted and negotiated for the Arlington Hotel bricks - and these were used for
the W. P. A. to build the first Marlin School Gymnasium. The building included a
band and choral club room, and Dan was actively interested in these activities.
He was the primary force to instigate the replacement of the grand-stands at
McQueen Field - changing them from the wooden structures to a softer steel
grand- stand. Dan also worked closely with Professor Hines-Superintendent of
Booker T. Washington School in Marlin - to secure uniforms for that school's
band. The school paid tribute to Dan in their 1940 Yearbook.
In 1932,
Thomas Daniel Harlan went with a group of Texans to Washington, D.C. in support
of a "Relief Bill" for the cotton farmers, and this was passed in 1933. He
assisted many men to establish their own businesses, and without publicity,
assisted young students to attain higher educations. His primary relaxations
were hunting and skeet shooting, and he established a skeet range for that
sport.
Initially, Dan was a member of the Blue Ridge Baptist Church, in which he was
reared; however, in later years and through a friendship with Reverend (later
Bishop) Frederick Percy Goddard, Dan became very interested in St. John's
Episcopal Church, and supported that church's activities. .
After
Dan's untimely death, Josephine (Torrence) Harlan (called "Josie") took over the
management of the family estate, until her own death. She was active in the
Marlin Community Garden Club - serving as its president many
years. She also was active in the Marlin Study Club, and belonged to many Bridge
Clubs -one of her favorite pass-times. Josie was a member of the First Methodist
Church of Marlin.
Thomas
Daniel and Josephine Blocker (Torrence) Harlan were the parents of two
daughters:
Julia
Elizabeth Harlan, b January 25, 1923 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, who married
Carl E. Vinson, Jr., of Marlin. They had no children, and Julia resides in the
which was her parents home, in Marlin.
Agnes Versula Harlan, b December 10, 1924 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas -
married Fred Boone Crow, and they had three children: James Harlan Crow (called
Jim), who married Pat Noone, and had Scott Harlan Crow and Kevin Noone Crow, and
resides in Waco, Texas; and Paula Crow, who married Michael Rothe, has no
children, and resides in San Antonio, Texas. Fred Boone Crow is a retired
engineer, and he and Agnes continue to reside in Waco, Texas, where they are
active in that community's civic, club, and church affairs.
Copyright Permission granted to
Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to
this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical
Commission, page 215 column 2, page 216 column 1 and 2.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.