Our Family History


Since 1836, our family has proudly dedicated ourselves to providing the highest quality funeral services to the families of our community. Since our establishment, our firm has always been family owned and operated and has become one of the longest standing family owned funeral firms in all of New York State. Please take a moment to learn more about our history of service.


Issac Harter | First Generation

Our story starts with Issac Harter. Originally a native of Herkimer County, in Southern NY. As a young adult, Issac relocated to Mexico, NY. In moving to Mexico, he started his own business making and selling cabinets locally. While in the cabinet business, Isaac began to build caskets as well. The Harter Family then purchased a lumber mill, which provided the wood for the caskets. We also built a delivery stable, which held the horses that were used to deliver the cabinets and caskets locally. The horse stable also provided the ability to carry out their jobs as the local postmasters, over seeing the mail routes along now Route 69 from Camden to Mexico. Finally, our family opened the J.W. Harter Furniture and Undertaking store, which would start our transition into funeral service. In 1836, Isaac opened the Harter Funeral Service in Parish, NY.


Jacob W. Harter | Second Generation

Jacob W. Harter began his career in funeral service, at the age of 16 and continued to work with his father for 47 years. Jacob also owned a successful furniture store. Jacob attended Mexico High School and became a teacher. Jacob also served as a Postmaster under the Grant administration.


William B. Harter Third Generation

William B. Harter became the sole owner of the J.W. Harter Furniture and Undertaking store and Harter Funeral Service, when his father Jacob passed away. There were multiple stores in and around the village of Parish in 1895. William was also a postmaster under the Harrison administration.


Beryl H. Harter | Fourth Generation

Beryl H. Harter was the son of William B. Harter. Beryl started in funeral service with his father, and they worked together until William's passing in 1930. Beryl then became owner and operator of the Harter Funeral Service. In 1928, William and Beryl brought the service to its current home, on West Main Street. Beryl would go on to work with his son Robert from his teenage years, until Beryl passed away in 1959.


Robert W. Harter | Fifth Generation

Robert "Bob" W. Harter is a graduate of the Simmons Institute of Funeral Service, Class of 1949. Robert is a Licensed Funeral Director, registered with the New York State Department of Health. Bob became the owner of the Harter Funeral Home in 1959, and owned and operated the firm until 1993. Along with being a funeral director, for 29 years Robert drove a school bus for the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown school district and also operated an Ambulance Service. In 1972, Robert brought the firm to the Mexico community.


Robert B. Harter | Sixth Generation 

Robert B. "Chip" Harter is the current owner of the Harter Funeral Home and has owned the firm since 1993. Chip is a graduate of SUNY Canton, and is a Licensed Funeral Director, registered with the New York State Department of Health. In 1983, Chip moved to Mexico and became the Manager of the Mexico Chapel. In 1996, Chip brought the firm to the Brewerton community. Like his father, Chip has worked with his father from his early years as a teenager; and now brings over 30 years of funeral service experience. 


Marcus R. Harter | Seventh Generation

Marcus R. Harter began his funeral service career as a member of the funeral staff during his high school years. He then went on to graduate from Virginia Tech and Simmons Institute of Funeral Service and become a Licensed Funeral Director, registered with the New York State Department of Health in 2014. Marcus aspires to be the next owner of the Harter Funeral Home, with his brother, Christopher; and to continue the proud Harter tradition of service, into the future. 


Christopher B. Harter | Seventh Generation

Christopher B. Harter began his funeral service career as a member of the funeral staff during his his school years. He went on to graduate from Syracuse University and the  Hudson Valley Community College Mortuary Program. Christopher is a Licensed Funeral Director, Registered with the New York State Department of Health; and aspires to be the next owner of the Harter Funeral Home, with his brother, Marcus; and to continue the proud Harter tradition of service, into the future. 

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