HARTMAN, Ebenezer W. (1834-1909)

HARTMAN

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 1/8/2021 at 23:41:26

Ebenezer William Hartman
(January 24, 1834 – February 27, 1909)

Advocate Tribune, Indianola, Iowa, Thurs., March 4, 1909, p.3
E. W. Hartman
E. W. Hartman, the eldest son of John Dixon Hartman and Margaret Parker Hartman, was born at Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio, January 24, 1834 and died at Indianola, Iowa, February 27, 1909 aged seventy-five years, one month and four days. His father emigrated with his family to a homestead claim in what is now Warren County, Iowa, on August 16, 1846, before Iowa was admitted to the Union and seven years before the first railroad entered the state. He built a log cabin and store and traded extensively with the Indians, and afterwards engaged in the milling business. He platted the town of Hartford on his homestead. He died at Indianola in 1878, at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow died in 1898 aged eighty-two years.
E. W. Hartman assisted his father until he reached manhood, when he established himself in business at Hartford. He removed to Indianola in the spring of 1862 and resided here continuously thereafter. He was twice rejected as an applicant to enlist for the ward, but both his brothers served in defense of the Union. Two brothers and one sister survive him: William H., a merchant and farmer at Clarkson, Iowa; David H., a retired merchant and farmer of Bellvue, Missouri, and Vianna M. Deakin, widow of James E. Deakin of Napa, California. One sister, Sarah J. Deakin, wife of Thomas J. Deakin, now deceased, died in 1907 at Des Moines, Iowa. He united with the Baptist church while living at Hartford, was one of the charter members of the First Baptist church of Indianola and was a member of this church until his death. He was for over fifty years a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and was always greatly devoted to the principles of that order. He was elected Grand Patriarch of the lowa Grand encampment in 1870, served as grand representative to the Sovereign Grand lodge from 1873 to 1876, inclusive, and again in 1890 and 1891. He introduced in that body the resolution prepared by Schuyler Colfax which created the degree of Daughters of Rebekah. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand lodge of Iowa in 1887. He prized most highly a diamond fifty years veteran’s jewel presented to him July 31, 1906 by Indianola lodge No.70. He was elected mayor of Indianola in 1869, afterwards served as city clerk for many years, and was again elected mayor in 1907, his term not yet having expired. He also served in other official positions and for many years prior to his death was secretary of the school board.
He was always a stalwart republican. Enjoying very limited school privileges, and none after he was thirteen years of age, he studied by the light from the fireplace and the tallow dip. He read law with Lewis Todhunter, was admitted to the bar in 1873, and continued in active practice until his death. He served continuously as secretary of the Old Settlers association from the date of its organization. He owned farms and took an especial interest in stock raising. In December 1858 he married Miss Celia McKinney, who died in 1863, leaving one child, Charles Walter, of Los Angeles, California, now engaged in a mining enterprise near Winnemucca, Nevada. In 1864 he married Miss Sallie L. McKee, a niece of the late Edd R. McKee, and who died in 1878. To this union were born three children, Estella, of Indianola, Iowa; Ida, deceased in young womanhood, and Harry H., for several years in partnership with his father, now residing at Fort Collins, Colorado. On June 24, 1880, Mr. Hartman married Mrs. Anna R. Dale, of New Castle, Indiana, who survives him, with her sons, William A. Dale, of New Castle, Indiana, and Dr. Harry M. Dale, of Los Angeles, California, the latter of whom grew to manhood in Indianola. All of the children are now at the old home except Dr. Dale, who is unable to be present.
Mr. Hartman maintained his health and strength to a remarkable degree until a few months ago. His health had been failing for several months, but he had continued to give close attention to his official and office duties until Tuesday evening of last weeks, and he was not confined to his bed until Friday. He suffered from a cold which developed into pneumonia on Friday and resulted in his death at eleven o’clock Saturday night.