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Early Days

  • Who was J. Horace McFarland?
  • Early Days
  • Establishing his Printing Business
  • The Gardens at Breeze Hill
  • Work with the American Rose Society
  • Passion for Conservation
  • The J. Horace McFarland Collection at the National Agricultural Library
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To get to know J. Horace McFarland, it helps to understand the influence of his father, George F. McFarland. George was a Civil War veteran wounded at Gettysburg, resulting in the amputation of his right leg. After recuperating in 1865, George purchased Riverside Nurseries in Harrisburg as a business opportunity.

From a young age, J. Horace McFarland worked with his father, setting out seedlings and working in the greenhouse and orchards. One of his main tasks was to sell grapes door to door from his wagon.  Recognizing which households were reliable customers, he began to develop his business skills from an early age. In addition, McFarland was observant of and curious about nature, wildlife, and plants. 

In 1867, George purchased the Temperance Vindicator and Keystone Good Templar, a weekly newspaper that came with a small foot-driven press. With the help of Thomas MacKellar’s The American Printer and through trial and error, J. Horace McFarland learned all he could about printing. Becoming proficient, he performed all the printing for the nursery as a teen. He loved printing his entire life, evidenced by his success and influence on the industry.

Thumbnail for the first (or only) page of J. Horace McFarland in his childhood, standing next to a chair.

J. Horace McFarland

Thumbnail for the first (or only) page of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania skyline from John Harris bridge.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania skyline

Thumbnail for the first (or only) page of Bagging grapes, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Bagging grapes in Harrisburg

Thumbnail for the first (or only) page of Young adult portrait of J. Horace McFarland .

J. Horace McFarland

Print Business →
Early Days

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