Proctor, Harlan Page 1855-1930

PROCTOR, HOWARD, HAMLIN, UNDERWOOD, TAYLOR, KNAPP

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 8/14/2012 at 08:26:50

The Grinnell (IA) Herald; Oct. 17, 1930

HARLAN PROCTOR BURIED HERE
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Former Grinnell Business Man Dies in San Anselmo, Calif., After Extended Illness.
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WAS A FINE CITIZEN AND CHRISTIAN MAN.
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Thirty Years of Business Success Here Leaves Impress on Entire Community.
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Harlan Page Proctor was born in Ogdensburg, N.Y., Jan. 14, 1855, the son of Augustus Lambert and Annette Lois Howard Proctor and died Oct. 4, 1930 at his home in San Anselmo, California.

In the autumn of 1864 the family came west to Iowa, locating on a farm about seven miles northwest of Grinnell. In the fall of 1869 the Proctors moved to town. Harl learned the jeweler's trade and located first in Fontanelle, Iowa, coming back to Grinnell in March 1876 to open up a Jewelry Store.

On Oct. 23, 1877 he was married to Emma Perry Hamlin, a daughter of Homer Hamlin, one of the founders of Grinnell. Six children were born to them, one dying in infancy and Edna Margaret in the twenty-eighth year of her age. The living children are Harriet Lois (Mrs. H.F. Underwood) of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Mildred Amelia of Redwood City, California; Harlan Page of San Rafael, California, and Raymond Hamlin of San Anselmo, Calif.

In the year of 1908 Mr. Proctor disposed of his business in Grinnell to Bartling and Nuckolls and moved to San Rafael, Calif., going into the jewelry business there. Mrs. Proctor died soon after and on Dec.12, 1917, he married the widow of his brother, Mrs. Carrie Proctor. She preceded him in death Dec. 27, 1924.

His home was in San Rafael and San Anselmo until his death and he was in the jewelry business until ill-health made it impossible for him to continue longer in active work.

Perhaps the outstanding characteristics of Harlan Proctor's life, were his unbounded generosity and thoughtfulness. He was honest almost to a fault, and his energy seemed unlimited. It is indeed hard to mention a virtue that was not his. Perhaps a little too kindly to be a shrewd business man but he was loved and admired by customers for miles around, wherever he made his home. He was a true example of an every day Christian, who lived as he professed.

He loved the beautiful in people, nature and art. His home, garden and flowers were a never ending joy to him. His family was his pride and comfort and his God, his strength.

Surviving him, besides his children, are his brothers, George A. of Long Beach, Calif., John W. of Turlock, Calif., Charles L. of Mill Valley, Calif., and a sister Mrs. T.J. Taylor (Mehitabel), of Cleveland, Ohio. A sister, Mrs. Mary Proctor Knapp and a brother, Frederic Proctor, passed on some years ago.

Services were held in San Rafael, Calif., on Tuesday afternoon, October 7th, at 2 o'clock, Rev. Mr. Stevens, a former pastor and close friend of the family, having charge.

Short services were held at the grave in Hazelwood cemetery, Grinnell, Wednesday, October 15, at three o'clock.

The life of Harlan Proctor in Grinnell was one of continued business success. He was kind and faithful, a worker in the church, a contributor to public enterprises and a citizen whom to know was to honor and love.

He was thirty years in business here, having grown from the mere boy in a simple repair shop to a large dealer in high class jewelry and silverware. His store was always a model of neatness and attractiveness and his friends were practically every one in this town and surrounding country who had any business dealings with him.

In private life and in his relations with the community and with customers he was a model of generosity and useful living. His ashes rest in Hazelwood in the community he loved and served in his early life. The memory of days of his activity will remain with many friends for long years.