Edgar Hartt, Greenville's veteran merchant, member of the firm of J. G. & E. Hartt, was born on Norton Hill in this town on January 2, 1828, his parents being John and Salome (Miller) Hartt. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Hartt, was a native of Dutchess County, New York. The maiden name of his grandmother was Polly Green.
John Hartt, the father, was born in Hartsville, Dutchess County, and was a shoemaker by trade. He came to Norton Hill in 1820, previous to his marriage, and carried on a successful business here during the remainder of his working life. He hired a number of hands, and did considerable custom work. His death occurred at the age of seventy-four. He and his wife were members of the Christian church; and he was a Deacon and active worker in the church. The house of worship was four miles from their home. In politics he was a Republican. Mrs. Salome Miller Hartt was born in Dutchess County. She lived to be eighty-seven years old. Of her seven children, five are living, namely: Mary Ann, who resides in Greenville; Edgar, the direct subject of this biography; John G., a sketch of whose life appears below; William B.; and George A., who is in the employ of John G. Myers, of Albany.
Mr. Edgar Hartt received a practical education in the public schools of Norton Hill. His first business experience was in shoemaking, which he learned by working with his father. He followed his trade about nine years. The partnership with his brother was formed in 1856, at the old stand; and three years later the store where they are now doing business was built. It is doubtful if there is a single partnership in the State that has existed longer than this. Messrs. Hartt still buy goods in some instances of the firms from whom they bought when they began business. They carry a very complete stock of general merchandise, including dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes, ready-made clothing, hats and caps, crockery and glassware, oil cloth, hardware, grain, drugs and patent medicines, wall paper and stationery. The business has grown from year to year with the growth of the village, which has nearly doubled in size since they began.
In 1860 Mr. Hartt married Augusta Chapman, a native of Westerlo and daughter of Robert and Eliza Chapman, her father a blacksmith. Both her parents died at the age of eighty. They had three children, two of whom are living. Mr. and Mrs. Hartt have three children — Gertrude, Clara, and Henry G. Gertrude is the wife of G. W. Palen, a tanner residing in Western Pennsylvania, near DuBois. Clara resides with her parents. Henry G. Hartt is a partner in the firm of Colier & Co., dry-goods merchants at Coxsackie, where they carry on a most successful business. He married Grace Vanderburg.