Mary Harmston

 June 10, 1871 (Saturday)    This evening mother & Abbie and I went in to Mrs. Harmstons  I have not been in in sometime.  She has got lots of dresses on hand to make. 
 

July 4, 1871 (Tuesday)     Mrs Harmston came in this afternoon & staid quite a while.  She had not been in since the morning Julia Rudy was married last November.  Ma Abbie & I went in there last evening.  She was very pleasant.  I got a pattern to cut over my black silk sack.  I let her have a spool of thread to pay for it.  She wanted it. 
 

July 5, 1871 (Wednesday)     Abbie and I went in to Mrs Harmstons and got a flowing sleave pattern. 
 

September 25, 1871 (Monday)    Mrs. Harmston came over this forenoon to have us tell her how to can and preserve some quinces.  This afternoon ma & I went over & told her something how to do it. 
 

October 7, 1871 (Saturday)     We went in to Mrs Harmstons to see an Irish Poplin (green) that she was making for Mrs Sears.  It is splendid.  She is having it trimmed with lace. 

October 9, 1871 (Monday)     Abbie & I went over to Mrs. Harmston's just at night to see the green irish poplin.  It looks splendid now it is done.  Mrs. Harmston says it will cost $75. 

Excerpts from the diary of Louisa H. McLallen.  Private Collection.

Household of John Harmsted [Harmston], Dwelling No. 49, Frame Dwelling, Value $1500, Family No. 51 

John Harmsted, age 32, male, [head], born in England, married, Carpenter, alien [not a naturalized citizen] 

Mary Harmsted, age 30, female, wife, born in England, married, Dress Maker, alien 

John Harmsted, age 9, male, son, born in England, single, alien 

Elizabeth Harmsted, age 5, female, daughter, born in Tompkins County, single, native born 

Anna Taylor, age 18, female, servant, born in England, single, alien 

Jane Quin [or Gim], age 21, female, boarder, born in Canada, single, alien 

 Census of the state of New York, for 1875. Microfilm. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.  Tompkins, Ulysses, E.D. 01, p5, line 33.

  “Mrs. Harmston, at her rooms in the Opera Block, Main street, is determined to be better prepared this season than ever before to execute all orders for dress making she may be favored with, and to accomplish this has secured the services of a first class trimmer and designer from New York city who will attend to the wa[n]ts of her numerous customers in that department in a superior manner. Mrs. Harmston has added to her establishment a general assortment of furnishing goods, including buttons, ties, ribbons, ruchings, laces, etc. A full line of samples of all kinds of dress goods to select from always on hand. Thanking the ladies of this vicinity for their patronage, she solicits a continuance of the same assuring them of good work and reasonable charges.” 

“To the Ladies—Dress Making—Ladies’ Furnishing Goods, &c.,” Trumansburg Sentinel (Trumansburg, NY), May 8, 1879, 3.

  “Mrs. Harmston would inform her patrons and friends that she has again opened her Dress Making and Trimming establishment, under the most favorable circumstances. Having inspected some of the finest work found in foreign cities while on her trip to England, and also while spending some days in New York City on her return, her patrons may be assured that the most elegant styles will be attained along with the best of workmanship. She has also a new lot of Trimmings, Buttons, etc., on hand whereby she can materially aid in making appropriate selections. Give her an early call.”

“Paris Fashions,” Trumansburg Sentinel (Trumansburg, NY), May 5, 1880, 3.

  “One of the most complete and extensive, dress making establishment outside of the cities, is that of Mrs. Harmston, in this village. Twelve and fourteen girls are employed the year round, and great pains are taken to insure perfect satisfaction to her customers. Mrs. Harmston makes it a point to keep thoroughly posted as to the prevailing fashions, and there is consequently no necessity for our village maids and matrons going out of town for a stylish and well-fitting dress. Her rooms are pleasantly situated in Opera Block over Mosher Bros’., clothing store, and are large and commodious, so that all delays are avoided when two or more customers wish to be fitted at the same time. Mrs. Harmston has customers in New York, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Geneva, Ithaca, and in most of the towns within a radius of twenty or twenty-five miles, and that she has held them for some years is a good recommendation for the excellence of her work. An establishment of this kind, giving employment to so many hands, is a credit to the village and should receive the full patronage of village ladies. Her help are experienced work-women, and in every case is perfect satisfaction guaranteed.”

Free Press (Trumansburg, NY), May 1, 1886, 3.

James Harmston, male, age 50, born in England, citizen, Mechanic 

Mary Harmston, female, age 46, born in England 

1892 New York State Census, New York State Education Department, Office of Cultural Education. New York State Library, Albany, NY.   Tompkins, Ulysses, E.D. 03, p5.

  “Died, in this village, on Sunday July 10, of cancer of the stomach, Mary, wife of John R. Harmston, aged 46 years.

  By the death of Mrs. Harmston Trumansburg loses one of its most prominent and well-known citizens. For years this lady has been engaged in the dressmaking and latterly in the millinery trade and the magnitude of the business may be judged from the fact that the average number of her employees was larger than any concern in town with the possible exception of the Gregg Iron Works. In her profession Mrs. Harmston was an artist, her reputation extended hundreds of miles beyond the limits of her home and among her patrons were numbered some of the most prominent society people of the country. So much for Mrs. Harmston as a business woman. Personally she was a most estimable lady, kind and generous to a fault. Honorable in all the affairs of life, over indulgent as a wife and mother and her sad death leaves a business and social vacancy in this community that will be hard to fill, well nigh impossible. Mrs. Harmston was a native of England and came to this country in 1866 and although of foreign birth she died as thoroughly American as if to the manor born. She leaves a husband and one daughter, Mrs. Frank Hatfield, of Newburg, to mourn her loss. The funeral took place from the Church of the Epiphany Wednesday afternoon.”

“Local Histories,” Free Press (Trumansburg, NY), July 16, 1892, 1.

Mary Harmeston 

BIRTH 10 Nov 1845

DEATH 10 Jul 1892 (aged 46) Tompkins County, New York, USA

BURIAL Grove Cemetery Trumansburg, Tompkins County, New York, USA

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/106939327/mary-harmeston