Like many of the men who have attained a prominent position in the glove industry of Fulton county, Harry A. Jenner, senior partner of the Northrup Glove Manufacturing Company, is the son of a man who was long identified with the glove trade. His father, Harry Jenner, came to America from England in 1864 and located in Broadalbin, Fulton county. In 1872 he went to Toronto, Canada, and there lived until his death in 1892. He was a glove cutter by trade and taught his son the business. Harry A. Jenner's mother, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Hambridge, was likewise English by birth and came to this country after her marriage. She died in 1910.
Born in England in March, 1859, Harry A. Jenner was a child of five when he was brought to the United States by his father and mother. He was educated in Broadalbin, New York, and Toronto and in the latter city mastered the glove cutter's trade as an apprentice under his father. In 1882 he came to Johnstown to become a glove cutter for the Northrup Glove Manufacturing Company, of which he is today the senior member. Mr. Jenner's rise has been steady and consistent with his thorough knowledge of the trade, ambitious efforts to advance his own position and business ability. In 1890 he was made foreman in the company. His opportunity to become one of the proprietors of the concern came in 1911, when he, in company with James A. Northrup and Albert Rosenthal, purchased the business from James L. Northrup. James A. Northrup died on the 28th of January, 1922, but the two remaining partners have continued to operate the business under the old name and the old policies.
The company of which Mr. Jenner is the head is known all over the United States and Europe as the house that manufactures the finest of mocha gloves. In fact, the film claims to be the originator of the use of mocha leather for glove purposes in America and the first to import the skin which it began to ship in as long ago as 1876. Mocha skin is haired sheep, which comes from Arabia and Africa. Its use for gloves is too well known today to need further description, but needless to say its introduction was a great contribution to the glove industry. In addition to this special line the Northrup company makes a regular line of fine gloves — cape, chamois and kid. Its staff of eight traveling salesmen covers the entire United States and finds customers in every state in the Union. Some idea of the size of the entire organization can be gained from the fact that the firm employs thirty-six cutters and has one hundred and fifty people on its pay roll. The building occupied by the company at No. 25-27 South Market street is one of the landmarks in that part of the city, having been built by the Northrups for factory purposes in 1875.
Mr. Jenner was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Adeline Clark on December 11, 1884. Mrs. Jenner is the daughter of Charles L. Clark, a native of Ballston, Saratoga county, New York, who was a Mexican and Civil war veteran. He served in the Union army with the rank of lieutenant and in after life held the office of constable for Fulton county for many years. He died in 1906, a year after the death of his wife, Cynthia (Soule) Clark, who was born in Broadalbin. Mr. and Mrs. Jenner had two children, a son and a daughter: Lewis C. Jenner, the son, was born in March, 1889, and died during the terrible influenza epidemic of 1918. The daughter, Miss Anna V. Jenner, born in October, 1890, lives at home.
A republican in his politics, Mr. Jenner has taken active interest in local affairs. He served as trustee of the village of Johnstown under Presidents Edward Bayliss and Isaac Morris, and was last chairman of the excise board of the village. When he was trustee he was much interested in the then somewhat new "good roads movement" and was instrumental in introducing macadam roads that did so much for this community. Mr. Jenner is a member of the Protestant Episcopal church and belongs to the Colonial Club of this city.