Background
Harstrom was born in Västerås, Sweden. He was the son of Carl Gustaf and Amelia Adolphina Fosberg Harstrom. His father was a manufacturer in Sweden who brought his family to America in 1872, when Carl Axel was nine years of age.
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Carl Harstrom
Edit ProfileEducation
He attended the Peekskill Military Academy, and graduated in 1880. He graduated as valadictory orator and with magna cum laude honors.
Career
He taught school for two years before entering Hobart College. He earned an A.B in 1886, and an Master of Arts in 1889. He served as headmaster at the Peekskill Academy for three years, and principle of Vienland Preparatory School for four years.
On June 20, 1888, Professor Harstrom married Lee Selden Partridge of Phelps, New New York
He moved to Norwalk in 1891 to take a position as headmaster of the Norwalk Military Academy. He started his own private preparatory school for boys in Norwalk in 1893.
While teaching and serving as headmaster, he also pursued his own education at Yale University in classical Philology from 1896 to 1899. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy. in 1899.
Political career In 1915, Harstrom was elected mayor of Norwalk and served a two-year term.
During his term of office he reconstructed the financial system, with the result of making it more transparent to the public. He is credited with introducing voting machines to Norwalk. He is also credited for the many miles of hard pavement laid during his term.
During the World War he was chairman of the local draft board.
Member, American Philological Association Member, Society Member, Yale Club of New York City Member, Norwalk Club Member, Knob Outing Club of Norwalk President of the Grand Lodge, Theta Delta Chi Member, Senior Warden, Master Mason (1917), Worshipful Master (1922), Saint John"s Lodge Number. 6, Free and Accepted Masons.
Achievements
Membership
He was a member of Theta Delta Chi, and served as its national president for five consecutive terms. In Norwalk, he served as a member of the Board of Estimate. He was a founding board member of the Norwalk Savings Bank and of the Fairfield County Savings Bank.
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Born
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Died
January 24, 1926 (aged 62) -
Nationality
United States -
Political Party
Republican party