The Harrington family of Rhode Island (sometimes written in the early days, Hearnenten and Herrington) is one of the old families of the state and through intermarriage with Reynolds, Grinnell and Irish are connected with all the old and important names of the colonial period. The progenitor of the family in Troy is David Harrington, of Rhode Island, who married Waty (or Waite) Reynolds.
(II) Nicholas, son of David and Waty (Reynolds) Harrington, was born in Exeter, Rhode Island, December 11, 1771, died at Berlin, New York, January 7, 1842. He removed in 1804 to Hancock, Massachusetts, and thence to Berlin, New York, where he died. He was a farmer, and a member of the Baptist church. He married Nancy Grinnell, born in Jamestown, Rhode Island, February 23, 1772, died April 26, 1863, daughter of Jonathan and Martha (Irish) Grinnell, of Rhode Island.
(III) Horace, son of Nicholas and Nancy (Grinnell) Harrington, was born at Hancock, Massachusetts, July 4, 1804, died at Brunswick, near Troy, New York, August 15, 1881. He came to Troy when he was a young man of seventeen years, and later engaged in the produce, flour and grain trade, owning two flour mills. In his later years he removed to a farm in Brunswick, which he cultivated until his death. He was always interested in agriculture, and when in business in Troy owned and operated a farm at Berlin, New York, also a cheese factory. He was prominent in public affairs, and in the Democratic party. He was elected county treasurer of Rensselaer county, and served one term in that office; also served as school commissioner, and in other less important offices. He was a member of the Unitarian church, and a prominent business man of Troy for over half a century. He married (first), April 14, 1830, Eliza A., born 1813, died April 3, 1850, daughter of David and ———— (Maulin) McMurray, of Lansingburg, New York. Children: Caroline L., deceased; Julia F., deceased; Julia F., Horace, deceased; William Henry, see forward; Horace, Caroline L., Charles, Helen L. He married (second) Sarah E. Strong, widow of Henry W. Strong. Children: Maria, Walter C., Sarah E., Harriet S., Louisa L., Letitia D.
(IV) William Henry, son of Horace and Eliza A. (McMurray) Harrington, was born in Troy, New York, July 19, 1840. He received his education in the Troy public schools, Scram's Collegiate Institute, Sand Lake, New York, and Jonesville Collegiate Institute. He was with his father until 1862, when he left Troy and spent several years west, going to Chicago, where he was employed in a flouring mill for one and one-half years. He then learned telegraphy, was operator at Elkhorn and points in Wisconsin and Illinois on the line of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. He was a skillful operator, and in time became chief operator and manager of a division, with headquarters at Clinton, Iowa, where he remained four years, after which he returned east, but only remained until 1871. In that year he was at Elgin, Illinois, Omaha, Nebraska, Denver and Georgetown, Colorado. He then settled for a time in Denver, where he was manager of the city office of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He then went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained seven years. The first six months he was engaged in telegraphing, then resigned and entered the newspaper field. He became associate editor of the Salt Lake Herald and correspondent on the staff of the New York World, was western press agent and regular correspondent of the Sacramento, California, Record. He continued in newspaper work for two years, then returned to the telegraph key until he returned east, at the expiration of his seven years spent in Salt Lake City. After a short stay in the east, he went to Chicago, where, in association with George H. Bliss, he organized a company for the manufacture and sale of electric machinery of various descriptions and use. They were also importers of foreign-made electric appliances and machinery, and had a five years' lease to manufacture Bell telephone apparatus. Mr. Harrington was secretary and treasurer of the company. After two years he sold out his interest and took a position in New York City, where he remained four years. He located in Troy, where he was on the staff of the Troy Times as legislative reporter and Saratoga Springs correspondent. He was connected with the Times for four years. He was appointed administrator of the estate of Latham Cornell, and other trusts of similar nature, including the settlement of the estate left by his stepmother; also settled the estate of the late William W. Cornell, of Poughkeepsie, New York, of which his half-brother, Walter C. Harrington, was one of the executors. He owns a fine estate just outside the city limits of Troy, on which he has his residence. He has practically retired from all business save such matters as relate to his own private estate. He is fond of sport with rod and gun, and has an unusually fine collection of pictures and trophies of the camp and chase. During the civil war he was a member of Company G, Twenty-fourth Regiment, New York, and was a member of "Ellsworth's Zouaves," Second Illinois Regiment, but did not see service at the front. He is strictly independent in politics, owing allegiance to no party, choosing his candidates with sole regard for fitness. He was chairman of the board of inspection for the fourth Brunswick district for ten years. He is a member of the Rensselaer County Society, but has resigned from his other clubs and societies. He is unmarried.