Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-02-17
GOES BACK $50 YEARS
Worlds Richest Woman Can Trace
Her American Ancestry to
the Pilgrims.
MARRIAGE WAS A LOVE MATCH
Blessed with Wealth, Mrs. Hartman
Materially Assisted Husband
in Early Struggles.

Mrs. Edward H. Hartman, who, by
the terms of her husbands will, De.
comes the worlds richest woman, can
trace her American ancestry back to
1850. For two centuries, says the
New York World, her forbears have
lived in the northern section of this
State-men Of solid responsibility and
women OF assured social position. She
was Mary Williamson Averell, and her
birthplace was the thriving little city
of Ogdensburg, in st. Lawrence Coun-
ty.
Further back than goes the memory
of any living man the Averells have
been a power in the business and so
cial life of Ogdensburg. Her father,
William Averell, was the head Of a
banking house and president of the
old Ogdensburg & Lake ChampIain
Railroad Company. which is now the
Rutland. Her grandfather was Judge
Averell, one of the most distinguished
jurists in the history of st. Lawrence
County.
The judges wife, Mrs. William Av-
erell, was rated a beauty in her day,
and throughout her long life in Og-
densburg her social supremacy was
never disputed. She lived to be SO
years old and almost every member of
her family was long-lived and remark
ably vigorous to the end.
1t was from this stock that Mary
Williamson Averell sprang. lowered
from the start of life with good
health, social position and consider
able wealth She had hardly made her
social debut, when Edward H. Harri-
man came into her life. He had al
ready made a name for himself in
Wall street and big fnanciers were
talking of him as a coming man.
Almost before Ogdensburg society
realized that young Mary Averell had
laid aside her school books, her en-
gagement to Mr. Hartman was an
nounced.
1t had been love match in the tru-
est and best sense of the term and the
years brought 70 WaVering of mutual
devotion Six children were born to
| the Harrimans and all survive save
| the eldest, Edward H. Hartman, Jr.,
who died in infancy.
The other children are Carnelia, the
wife of Robert Livingston Gerry; May,
who was recently reported engaged to
Robert w. Goelet; Carol, who has only
A1T0ro11 fhl oldest
son, who is learning railroading, and
Roland, boy in his teens, studying
| under private tutor.
Mrs. Hartman has been prominent
figure at many of the social functions
which live in history She was a guest
at the wedding of Janet Reid, daugh-
| ter of Whitelaw Reid, in London, and
her gorgeous diamond necklace made
up of huge and perfectly matched
stones worn on that occasion drew
| out press comments throughout Eu-
rope.
Mrs Hartman was also a guest at
James Hazen Hyde's Louis Quinze
| ball, at which Nine. Rejane, the noted
French actress, figured
In January of last year at her din
ner dance which introduced her young
est daughter to society Mrs. Hartman
entertained Mr.. and Mrs. Arthur Ise-
lin, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mackay,
Mr.. and Mrs. James A. Burden, Jr. !;
| Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney,
| Gladys Roosevelt, Mrs. Henry Rogers
Winthrop, Ruth Twombly, Dorothy
Whitney and a host of others number
ed in the elite.
Of Mrs. Harriman's social future
there is no feeling Of doubt. With
practically limitless wealth at her
command, society confidently expects
that she will ultimately exert a power
full influence in its affairs.
The future of the great house on
Tower hill, with it's 200 rooms and
more is an interesting topic of specu-
lation.