User:Hmich176/West View Park/Theodore M. Harton

Theodore Marshall Harton II  (October 23, 1863 – March 1, 1919 ) was an amusement manufacturer and amusement park owner. He founded T.M. Harton Company which first constructed carousels before constructing roller coasters, fun houses, and other amusement rides.

Early life and career
Harton was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Captain Theodore Marshall Harton and Emily Rinehart Harton Saint. His father passed away in 1866, and his mother later remarried, marrying John. J. Saint, of Sharpsburg. The Harton family relocated to Sharpsburg after the wedding. They lived across the street from the Heinz family.

Harton started a career in selling produce, and later had a partnership with John V. Jenkins circa 1893. This partnership was dissolved in 1894, with Jenkins transferring his half of the partnership solely to Harton. This new company became the T.M. Harton Company, and the company remained in produce for a number of years, while also entering other industries. In 1896, Harton installed his first carousel, at Idlewild Park. In 1901, Harton installed his first roller coaster at the Pittsburgh Exposition, Toboggan Slide, which was constructed using rights purchased from E. Joy Morris of Philadelphia.

At some point, Harton met Erwin and Edward Vettel, and the Vettel's joined the T.M. Harton Company. In 1906, Harton was a co-founder of West View Park, in West View, Pennsylvania.

Harton married Laura Baker in 1907, and they never had children (Baker had a child from a previous marriage). In early 1919, Harton became sick with pneumonia. After several weeks, Harton passed away from complications related to the illness. He was interred in Allegheny Cemetery in Pittsburgh.