Bellevue's Flagler/Harkness Timeline
Click HERE to view the Henry Flagler Interactive Timeline - a pretty cool way to view history.
Arguably, Bellevue's wealthiest and most famous former resident was Henry Morrison Flagler. Henry's first career was that of a founder of Standard Oil. Henry went from working in the Harkness Dry Goods store in Republic, OH to a true gilded age tycoon. After he retired from Standard Oil, he took on his second avocation/career as the primary developer of Eastern Florida and "Father of Miami". In fact many people only know of him for his role in bringing Floridia into the mainstream. Henry began his business career in Bellevue in the 1840s. He was indirectly related to another Bellevue resident, Stephen V. Harkness . Stephen invested as a silent partner along with with Henry Morrison Flagler and oil titan John D. Rockefeller, Sr. to found Standard Oil. The other two partners were William Rockefeller and Samuel Andrews.
Stephen Harkness' son Lamon V. Harkness was born in Bellevue as well and was a "Standard Oil Heir" from his father's investments in Standard Oil.
Another Harkness, Daniel M., was the hallf brother of both Henry Flagler and Stephen V. Harkness. He was also wise enough to invest in Standard Oil. While Henry had moved on to Cleveland and then New York City and Stephen moved to Cleveland, Daniel remained in Bellevue and was Bellevue's weathiest long term resident. His final resting place is in the Bellevue Cemetery.
William L. Harkness, son of Daniel M. Harkness and also a "Standard Oil Heir" was born in Bellevue and helped fund the building of the Bellevue Hospital. Will moved to Cleveland and then to New York. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in New York.
Click here to read more about Henry Flagler.
