Biography - Frederick Hartman
FREDERICK HARTMAN is a general farmer on section 22, of Flat Branch
Township, Shelby County, where he owns one hundred and twenty acres, which
he purchased in the wild state in 1865, and upon which he has since made a
comfortable home. The place is well-stocked and watered and the buildings
are all good and substantial. He located in this county on coming from Ogle
County, where he had lived a good mam years, from 1856 to 1865. There he
received his naturalization papers, being, as his name would indicate, of
German origin and birth.
He of whom we write was engaged in Ogle County as a farmer, where he had
been quite succeessful. Previous to going there he had spent one year in
Pennsylvania. Mr. Hartman was born in Pleidelheim. Wurtemberg, Germany, May
11, 1832. His family in the old country are of good stock. His father,
Frederick Hartman, Sr., lived and died in his native province, having
reached seventy-two years of age. He had married Magdeline Kline, a
Wurtemberg lady, who was a true helpmate and companion to her hushand. Her
death occurred in 1842. She was then in middle life. She and her husband
were members of the Lutheran Church.
Our subject is the eldest of seven children, of whom there were four sons
and three daughters. Of the sons, all came to this country and all are
farmers here, but one, who is a shoemaker in Chicago. Our subject had become
of age before leaving his native land, and in 1855, in the month of April,
he took passage from Havre de Grasse, on a sailing vessel, and in May he
landed in New York City, coming thence to Dawson County, Pa., where he spent
his first year, and then proceeded to Illinois.
November 29, 1858, .Mr. Hartman was united in marriage at Mt. Morris, Ogle
County, to Miss Margaret E. Mitchell. She was born in Fairfieid County,
Ohio, November 14. 1838, and is a daughter of Jacob and Sarah (McGlinsey)
Mitchell, natives of Maryland and Virginia, respectively. Both, however, are
of Irish parentage and descent on the paternal side, while on the maternal
side the lady is of Scotch descent. Mrs. Hartman's parents were married in
Ohio, and later moved to Illinois, settling in Ogle County in 1845, where
they located and improved a farm and there spent their last days, passing
away at a good old age. They had settled at a very early day in Mt. Morris
Township, and had procured unbroken land in the most western part of West
Grove Township. For a number of years they were almost the only settlers in
that part of the county. They both passed away in 1886, and were deeply
mourned by many friends in their adopted home. They were Methodists in their
religious preference, and were consistent members and generous supporters of
that sect in their township.
The father of Jacob Mitchell was Samuel Mitchell, who had come to Ogle
County, Ill., in the early days of 1838, and was one of the earliest
settlers there, where he died at the age of seventy-nine years. Mrs. Hartman
was one of a large family, of which five are now living. She was ten years
of age when her parents came to Ogle County. She afterward lived there until
her marriage. She is a true-hearted, kind friend, and affectionate wife and
tender mother. Both she and Mr. Hartman are active members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church.
The original of our sketch and his wife are the parents of eight children.
One of these died in childhood. This was Sarah M., who was twelve years of
age. The living children are: Jacob F., William H., Henrietta M., George E.,
John W., Elizabeth and Franklin A. Of these, William was united in marriage
to Miss Ada M. Beckett, and is a farmer in this township. Henrietta is the
wife of Elmer Pierce. They also live on a farm in this township. George E.
and other younger members of the family, all reside at home. They are
bright, intelligent young men and women, and promise to make a recognized
position for themselves in life.
Extracted 29 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 631-632.
