John G. Hartt, brother of Edgar and his partner, was born at Norton Hill on October 3, 1829. Upon leaving home and starting life for himself, he entered the employ of Thomas Saxon in South Westerlo.
From that place he came to Greenville and began working for Mr. Bentley, with whom he remained for the next nine years, during the first three of which he worked for fifty dollars a year and found his own clothes. His hours were from six o'clock in the morning to nine o'clock in the evening, and he often had to work until midnight. His motto always was that, no matter how small an amount he earned, he must save a little; and he always kept to it. He left Mr. Bentley to join his brother in business, starting, as has been said, in the old corner store.
Mr. Hartt married in 1859 Jane A. Tallmadge, a native of Greenville, N. Y. Her father, Henry Tallmadge, a native of Poultney, Vt., was a physician by profession; but he came to Coxsackie, and engaged in mercantile business there. He died at the age of sixty-three. His wife, whose name before marriage was Jane A. Reed, was born in Coxsackie, and died in Greenville at the age of seventy-five. She bore him eight children. Mr. and Mrs. Hartt have only one child, Arthur, who is a merchant at Ravena, Albany County, this State, and Postmaster in that place. He was in the Greenville Local printing-office for nine years, and has taken an active part in politics. He married Rose Wilsey, and has one son, Harold.
Both John and Edgar Hartt are prominent members of the Republican party in this section. The former has been Town Clerk and Assistant Postmaster. Neither has cared for public office. Both are attendants of the Presbyterian church, and their wives and the three children of Mr. Edgar Hartt are members of the church. The brothers are among the best-known men in the county, and command universal esteem.