William L. Harkness

Early life

William Lamon Harkness was born in Bellevue, Ohio, the son of Daniel M. Harkness, who was the half-brother of both Henry Flagler and Stephen V. Harkness, both founders of Standard Oil, and his wife Isabella Harkness. Upon his father Daniel's death in 1896, he inherited a large share in Standard Oil, a company in which his father had been an early shareholder. He is also a cousin of noted philanthropist Edward Harkness who also benefitted from his father's involvement with Standard Oil.

He attended Bellevue Public Schools in Bellevue, Ohio and The Brooks Military School in Cleveland. In 1881, Harkness graduated from Yale University.

Life

In 1896, he moved from Cleveland, Ohio to a home at 12 East 53rd Street in Manhattan, New York City. He also owned a country home on Dosoris Island, at Glen Cove on Long Island. In 1913, he contracted James Gamble Rogers to remodel the old house into the residence that he named "The Wings".

A yachtsman and sportsman, he was a member of The Union Club of Cleveland, The Metropolitan Club New York, New York Yacht Club, the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club and Piping Rock Club.

In August 1911, while in command of his steam yacht Gunilda on Lake Superior, he ran her aground, due to his failure in recognising a requirement for a pilot and then compounding the matter by not hiring tugs at the appropriate time. She would sink in days. He put in a claim against the ship's insurer, Lloyd's of London for about $132,000, and received $100,000 compensation.

Philanthropy

Shortly before his death, Harkness donated $400,000 to Yale University. The William L. Harkness Hall at Yale University was completed in 1927 as the gift of Mr. W.L. Harkness, B.A. 1881, and his family. It is a Collegiate Gothic building of Aquia sandstone with Ohio sandstone trim and contains offices and lecture & recitation rooms for the French, German, and Music departments. William Adams Delano was the architect.

Personal life

Harkness was married to Edith Hale (1863–1947), daughter of Edwin B. Hale, a prominent banker from Cleveland. Together, they were the parents of:

• Louise Hale Harkness (b. 1897), who married David Sinton Ingalls (1899–1985) in 1922. His mother, Jane Taft, was the niece of President William Howard Taft. He was the grandson of railroad executive Melville E. Ingalls, and great-grandson of industrialist David Sinton.
• William Hale Harkness (1900–1954), who married Elisabeth Grant in 1932, and later on October 1, 1947, he married Rebekah Semple West Pierce (1915–1982).

Harkness died in New York City in 1919 and was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York. He left an estate of $53,439,437, which would be approximately $ in dollars, of which $37,272,254 was stock in Standard Oil. He left half of his estate including his houses at 12 East 53rd Street in New York City and Dosoris at Glen Cove, New York to his wife Edith Hale Harkness. The remaining half was divided between his daughter Louise Hale Harkness and his son William Hale Harkness.

References

Sources

• Klein, Henry H. Dynastic America and Those Who Own It (1921) reprint 2003 Kessinger Publishing.

References

1. Western Reserve Historical Society Publication, Issue 102, pg 26
2. (October 25, 1905). "Cleveland Man Buys C.A. Dana's Old Home". Brooklyn Eagle.
3. "Dosoris".
4. "Gunilda, Great Lakes Deep Diving Pinnacle".
5. (16 November 1919). "Yale Alumni Gave $640,000 Last Year; University Devoted $100,000 to War Expenses as a Free-Will Contribution.". [[The New York Times]].
6. (31 January 1926). "Yale to Build Hall to Honor Harkness; Family Increases His $400,000 Gift to the University to $900,000.". [[The New York Times]].
7. (27 August 1948). "Harkness Estate Cut By $25,272,154 Taxes". [[The New York Times]].
8. (28 June 1922). "$12,000,000 Heiress, Miss Harkness, Wed; Daughter of Mrs. William L. Harkness Marries David S. Ingalls of Cleveland Locust Valley Church Bridegroom, Kin of Chief Justice Taft, Won Distinction as Naval Ace During War.". [[The New York Times]].
9. (July 12, 1914). "Melvillee. Ingalls, Financier, Is Dead". The New York Times.
10. (14 June 1932). "Miss Grant is Bride of W. H. Harkness; Christ Church at Rye, N. Y., Is Decorated With Lilies and Daisies for Ceremony. The Bridal Party Large Fergus Reid Jr. Is Best Man for Mr. HarknessuReception at Home of the J. P. Grants.". [[The New York Times]].
11. (22 May 1988). "'Is There a Chic Way to Go?'". [[The New York Times]].
12. (11 May 1919). "William L. Harkness Dies {{!}} Capitalist and Yachtsman a Victim of Heart Disease at Home". [[The New York Times]].
13. (10 April 1921). "$53,439,000 Estate Of WM.L. Harkness to Pay Tax Here; Large Owner in Standard Oil Company Declared Himself Resident of New York. Wealth Exceeds Estimate: His Standard Oil Holdings Alone Valued at $37,272,254 and All Securities at $53,272,254. State Goes to Family Widow, Son and Daughter the Heirs --$400,000 Gift Made to Yale Before His Death.". [[The New York Times]].