Article from Staten Island Advance

HARRY L. HORTON, formerly president of the village of New
Brighton, and for many years one of Staten Island's most aggressive citizens, was born in Bradford county, Penn., July 17, 1832. His youth gave promise of more than average business capacity, and at the age of 17 he left his father's farm to engage as clerk in a mercantile concern at Towanda, in his native state. Here, by faithfulness to their interests, he won the confidence of his employers, and developed many of the sterling qualities which have rendered his subsequent business career a success.
At the age of 22 Mr. Horton left Towanda for Milwaukee,
where he engaged in the produce commission business on his
own account. For nine years he continued to conduct it, but at the end of that time, in 1865. various interests dictating the step, he concluded to leave the West for New York. Immediately after his arrival in the metropolis he connected himself with its stock and other exchanges, and has since conducted one of the most successful banking and broking establishments in the city. He is at present the senior member of the firm of H. L. Horton & Company, No. 56 Broadway, one of the few houses which have honorably weathered the financial storms of the last twenty years.

Soon after engaging in business in New York, Mr. Horton
took up his residence at New Brighton, where he is now in possession of a handsome property. He early became impressed with the thought that Sfaten Island had a brilliant future before it, an idea which recent events have in a remarkable manner confirmed. In accordance with this view he has prominently connected himself with every aggressive work in Richmond county, and is especially entitled to credit for his energy in promoting the interests of the Staten Island Water Supply and the Rapid Transit Companies.
Mr. Horton has been twice married and has two children.
Cordial in his social life, useful as a citizen, of sound judgment as a business man, his friendship, influence and advice are widely sought and, if deserved, are freely given. He has and is constantly making for himself a host of warm and valuable friends,to whose esteem he is in the highest degree entitled and will long retain.
The first village election was held May 22, 1866, for the
election of a police justice. One of the first ordinances of the village trustees, on the 12th of May, "ordained" that a public pound be established on the premises of Edward Roe on the Mill road, and the said Roe was appointed pound master. The expenses of the village incorporation for the first year, to June 1, 1867, were twenty-two thousand three hundred and twenty- six dollars and forty-two cents. The charter was amended by acts of the legislature in 1867, 1871, 1872, 1873 and 1875. Its
limits are now identical with those of the former town of Castleton. The office of village president has been held by the following : Augustus Prentice, 1866 ; John Laforge, 1867-69 ;
Anson Livingston, 1870 ; George M. Usher, 1871 ; M. J. Fowler, 1872; D. A. Pell, 1873; William Chorlton, 1874; R. B. Whittemore, 1875-76 ; William II. J. Bodine, 1877; Harry L. Horton, 1878-79; David J. H. Willcox, 1880-84; John J. Featherston, The " Staten Island Eowing Club " was established at New Brighton, Staten Island, in the spring of 1878, with a membership of fifty and the following officers: A. P. Stokes, president; H. L. Horton, vice-president; E. Kelly, captain; G. B. West, secretary; G. S. McCulloh, treasurer; C. D. Ingersoll, lieu tenant.

The club has not participated in any of the regattas or races with other clubs, but has confined itself to the quieter exercise of steady daily pulls. Every year the circuit of Staten Island (forty miles) is made four or five times, the quickest time for the distance (five hours and twenty minutes) having been made by the four-oared barge crew in 1884. In 1883 a day was set aside in each week for the instruction of ladies in rowing in the
boats of the club, and a large number of ladies are now enrolled as members.