Stephen V. Harkness
Encyclopedia
Stephen Vanderburgh Harkness (November 18, 1818 – March 6, 1888) was an American
businessman from Cleveland, Ohio
, who invested as a silent partner with oil titan John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
in the founding of Standard Oil
.
, he was the son of Dr. David Harkness and his first wife who died in 1820. His father relocated to the Western Reserve
region of Northeast Ohio, settling in Milan
where he remarried to Elizabeth Caldwell Morrison. David Harkness died in 1825 and his widow later returned to Seneca County, New York
where she remarried to the Reverend Isaac Flagler, a Presbyterian minister in Milton, New York
with whom she had a son, Henry Flagler. David Harkness had a younger brother, Lamon G. Harkness, who was also a doctor but who became a successful businessman in Bellevue, Ohio
.
At age twenty-one, after finishing his apprenticeship as a harnessmaker, Stephen Harkness moved to Bellevue, Ohio
. Harkness worked for a time in harnessmaking but in 1855 set up a distillery in Monroeville, Ohio
that was a success. Within a few years he organized a bank
and in 1864 formed a partnership with Wm. Halsey Doan to provide crude oil to refineries - that made him a rich man. In 1866 he sold his Monroeville businesses and moved to Cleveland. There, he joined Henry Flagler in investing in Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler
, the firm that became eventually Standard Oil. Harkness became its second largest shareholder; the company's success made him enormously wealthy. Although Stephen Harkness was a silent partner, he was a member of Standard Oil's Board of Directors
until his death in 1888.
Stephen Harkness married Laura Osborne in 1842 with whom he had sons, Lamon
and William
; in 1853, after the death of his first wife, he married Anna M. Richardson.
After his death, Anna M. Harkness
, Harkness's second wife, established the Commonwealth Fund
, a foundation dedicated to the improvement of healthcare. Their second son, Edward Harkness
, was an important philanthropist.
Three sons (Anna was the mother of the third son, Charles
, and the fourth, Edward) helped found and sustain The Third Society, later known as Wolf's Head Society
, at Yale University
, in 1883. William, the second son by Laura Osborne, was also a member; their Yale Classes were William, 1881, Charles, 1883, and Edward, 1897.
Including Anna's philanthropy, the family made possible the residential college system at Yale
as well as the house system at Harvard. At Yale, their donated buildings include the Memorial Quadrangle
, Harkness Tower
, William L. Harkness Hall, and the new or second hall for Wolf's Head Society on York Street, New Haven, CT.
Stephen V. Harkness is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery
in The Bronx
, New York
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman from Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, who invested as a silent partner with oil titan John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
John D. Rockefeller
John Davison Rockefeller was an American oil industrialist, investor, and philanthropist. He was the founder of the Standard Oil Company, which dominated the oil industry and was the first great U.S. business trust. Rockefeller revolutionized the petroleum industry and defined the structure of...
in the founding of Standard Oil
Standard Oil
Standard Oil was a predominant American integrated oil producing, transporting, refining, and marketing company. Established in 1870 as a corporation in Ohio, it was the largest oil refiner in the world and operated as a major company trust and was one of the world's first and largest multinational...
.
Biography
Born in Fayette, New YorkFayette, New York
Fayette is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 3,643 at the 2000 census.The Town of Fayette is on the western border of the county and is southeast of Geneva, New York.- History :...
, he was the son of Dr. David Harkness and his first wife who died in 1820. His father relocated to the Western Reserve
Connecticut Western Reserve
The Connecticut Western Reserve was land claimed by Connecticut from 1662 to 1800 in the Northwest Territory in what is now northeastern Ohio.-History:...
region of Northeast Ohio, settling in Milan
Milan, Ohio
Milan is a village in Erie and Huron counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 1,445 at the 2000 census.The Erie County portion of Milan is part of the Sandusky Metropolitan Statistical Area, while the Huron County portion is part of the Norwalk Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History...
where he remarried to Elizabeth Caldwell Morrison. David Harkness died in 1825 and his widow later returned to Seneca County, New York
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
where she remarried to the Reverend Isaac Flagler, a Presbyterian minister in Milton, New York
Milton, New York
Milton, New York can refer to the following places in New York:*Milton , New York - a town in Saratoga County**Milton , Saratoga County, New York - a census-designated place in the town of Milton...
with whom she had a son, Henry Flagler. David Harkness had a younger brother, Lamon G. Harkness, who was also a doctor but who became a successful businessman in Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 8,193 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Bellevue as a Tree City USA....
.
Bellevue, Ohio
Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Sandusky and Seneca counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 8,193 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Bellevue as a Tree City USA....
. Harkness worked for a time in harnessmaking but in 1855 set up a distillery in Monroeville, Ohio
Monroeville, Ohio
Monroeville is a village in Huron County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,433 at the 2000 census.Monroeville High School sports teams are known as the "Eagles".-Geography:Monroeville is located at ....
that was a success. Within a few years he organized a bank
Bank
A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
and in 1864 formed a partnership with Wm. Halsey Doan to provide crude oil to refineries - that made him a rich man. In 1866 he sold his Monroeville businesses and moved to Cleveland. There, he joined Henry Flagler in investing in Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler
Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler
Rockefeller, Andrews & Flagler was a business concern formed in 1867 in Cleveland, Ohio which was a predecessor of the Standard Oil Company. The principals and namesakes were John D. Rockefeller, William Rockefeller, Samuel Andrews, and Henry M. Flagler. Flagler’s wife’s uncle, Stephen V...
, the firm that became eventually Standard Oil. Harkness became its second largest shareholder; the company's success made him enormously wealthy. Although Stephen Harkness was a silent partner, he was a member of Standard Oil's Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
until his death in 1888.
Stephen Harkness married Laura Osborne in 1842 with whom he had sons, Lamon
Lamon V. Harkness
Lamon Vanderburgh Harkness was an American businessman and a partner in Standard Oil who was one of the company's largest stockholders. Lamon V. Harkness became involved with Standard Oil through his father Stephen V...
and William
William L. Harkness
William Lamon Harkness was an American businessman. He was born in Bellevue, Ohio, the second son of Stephen V. Harkness and his first wife, Laura Osborne...
; in 1853, after the death of his first wife, he married Anna M. Richardson.
After his death, Anna M. Harkness
Anna M. Harkness
Anna M. Richardson was an American philanthropist.She married Stephen Vanderburgh Harkness, a harnessmaker of Cleveland, in 1851. They were parents of Charles William Harkness and Edward Stephen Harkness. Harkness senior invested with John D. Rockefeller and became the second-largest shareholder...
, Harkness's second wife, established the Commonwealth Fund
Commonwealth Fund
The Commonwealth Fund is a private U.S. foundation whose stated purpose is to promote a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency, especially for society's most vulnerable.-History:...
, a foundation dedicated to the improvement of healthcare. Their second son, Edward Harkness
Edward Harkness
Edward Stephen Harkness was an American philanthropist. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, one of four sons to Stephen V. Harkness, a harness-maker who invested in the forerunner of Standard Oil, John D. Rockefeller's oil company. Harkness inherited a fortune from his father...
, was an important philanthropist.
Three sons (Anna was the mother of the third son, Charles
Charles W. Harkness
Charles William Harkness was the son of Stephen V. Harkness, an original investor in the company that became Standard Oil, and his second wife, the former Anna M. Richardson....
, and the fourth, Edward) helped found and sustain The Third Society, later known as Wolf's Head Society
Wolf's Head (secret society)
Wolf's Head Society is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Membership is recomposed annually of fifteen or sixteen Yale University students, typically juniors from the college...
, at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
, in 1883. William, the second son by Laura Osborne, was also a member; their Yale Classes were William, 1881, Charles, 1883, and Edward, 1897.
Including Anna's philanthropy, the family made possible the residential college system at Yale
YALE
RapidMiner, formerly YALE , is an environment for machine learning, data mining, text mining, predictive analytics, and business analytics. It is used for research, education, training, rapid prototyping, application development, and industrial applications...
as well as the house system at Harvard. At Yale, their donated buildings include the Memorial Quadrangle
Memorial Quadrangle
The Memorial Quadrangle at Yale University, USA, was donated by Anna M. Harkness with Harkness Tower named in memory of her son, Charles Harkness, Yale Class of 1883. Commissioned from James Gamble Rogers to supply much-needed student housing, the Quadrangle now consists of Saybrook College and...
, Harkness Tower
Harkness Tower
Harkness Tower is a prominent Collegiate Gothic structure at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States.The tower was constructed between 1917 and 1921 as part of the Memorial Quadrangle donated to Yale by Anna M. Harkness in honor of her recently deceased son, Charles William...
, William L. Harkness Hall, and the new or second hall for Wolf's Head Society on York Street, New Haven, CT.
Stephen V. Harkness is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery
Woodlawn Cemetery, Bronx
Woodlawn Cemetery is one of the largest cemeteries in New York City and is a designated National Historic Landmark.A rural cemetery located in the Bronx, it opened in 1863, in what was then southern Westchester County, in an area that was annexed to New York City in 1874.The cemetery covers more...
in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
External links
- Biographical detail from Case Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve UniversityCase Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...