Elizur Kirke Hart (1841-1893)
E. Kirke Hart, Congressman, of Albion, Orleans County, New York
He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1872 as a Republican, but afterwards became a Democrat when he was elected to the 45th Congress in 1877. On returning to Albion, he was prominent in local affairs. In 1882, he founded and was President of the Rochester Post-Express; he was a director of the Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge Company; and, he was Treasurer of the Albion Electric Light Company. In 1890, he succeeded his father's business partner as President of the Orleans County National Bank, of which he was the principal owner after his father's death. He had purchased Hemlock Island in the Thousand Islands and renamed it Hart Island. He built Hart House there which was removed to Wellesley Island when Boldt Castle was built in its place. In Albion, he lived at the Hart House on 134 Main Street. Hart was survived by his wife, six children, and an estate of $800,000.
