Lamon V. Harkness Harry’s Father

Lamon V. Harkness

Lamon V. Harkness
Born 1839
Bellevue, Ohio
Died January 17, 1915
California
Resting place Woodlawn Cemetery
Residence New York City
Occupation Businessman
Children Harry S. (1877-1919)
Parents Stephen V. Harkness

Lamon Vanderburgh Harkness (1839 – January 17, 1915) 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. Harkness who was a primary silent investor in the formation of Standard Oil and Henry Flagler who was Lamon’s step-nephew and eventually his son in law.

Born in Bellevue, Ohio, he was the son of Stephen V. Harkness and his first wife, Laura Osborne. As a young man he entered the cattle business in Kansas City, Missouri before returning to Greenwich, Connecticut following the death of his father in 1888.

Harkness was well known as a yachtsman who owned the SS Wakiva which became part of the United States Navy during 1917 and 1918 and had war service during World War I.

 Walnut Hall Farm

Following on a trip to Kentucky in 1892, Lamon Harkness acquired a 400-acre (1.6 km2) farm in Donerail, Kentucky that he named Walnut Hall Farm. There, he developed a Standardbred horse breeding operation of major importance to the harness racing industry. In recognition of his contribution to the industry, in 1958 Lamon Harkness was inducted posthumously in the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame. Although sub-divided several times, a part of which is now home to the Kentucky Horse Park, Walnut Farm remains in the hands of descendants.

Harkness had daughters, Lela and Myrtle, and a son, Harry. Daughter Myrtle married California businessman A. Kingsley Macomber, a major Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder.

In addition to a home at Walnut Hall Farm, Lamon Harkness owned several homes including a mansion at 933 Fifth Avenue in New York City. He died at another home in Pasadena, California in 1915, leaving on estate of approximately $100 million. Predeceased by his wife, they are buried together in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York.

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