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Sac County, IA Genealogy TrailsHe of whom this notice is.written by the publishers has been the supervising editor of the volume entitled "History of Sac County, Iowa," which the reader now holds. Mr. Hart is one of the leading attorneys of the Sac county bar today.
William H. Hart was born March 4, 1859. in Cedar county, Iowa, son of Jeremiah and Julia A. (Whitson) Hart, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. Julia Whitson was a descendant of the Piatt family of Pennsylvania. John Piatt being the ancestor. The mother of Jeremiah Hart was a native of northern Ireland, and a descendant of Thomas Babington Macauley. Jeremiah came to Iowa about 1855, and was united m marriage in Cedar county, the seat of justice of which is Tipton. Julia A. Whitson had come with her father to Cedar county, Iowa, about 1850.
The Hart family came to Sac county, Iowa, in 1882, nearly a third of a century ago. The son, William H., came in the fall of 1880. The family located on a farm in Jackson township, a mile and a half northwest of Sac City. Later in life they removed to the city, where the father, Jeremiah, died at the age of eighty-two years, on September 10, 1910. The wife' and mother died July 23, 1910, aged seventy-one years. Their children were: William H., of this memoir; Clarence E., now residing in Sac City, Iowa; Charles, of Sac City, Iowa, and Lee J., of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
William H. Hart obtained his education in the public schools of Clarence, Iowa, and at Carthage College, Carthage, Illinois. He followed teaching in Cedar county, Iowa, for about three years, and deciding to fit himself for the profession of a lawyer, studied with Piatt & Carr, of Tipton, Iowa. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1880, coming to Sac City in November of that year. He served as assistant cashier in the Sac County Bank (now the Sac County State Bank) for five years, and in 1885 formed a partnership with Hon. C. D. Goldsmith, which continued until Mr. Goldsmith was elevated to the bench. In 1890 Mr. Hart formed a business partnership with Hon. Phil Schaller, in which they carried on an extensive business in law, loans and real estate. This partnership continued until the death of Mr. Schaller in July, 1911.
Politically, Mr. Hart has always been identified with the Republican party, believing that this party best represents the interests of American citizens. Among the various offices he has filled with credit to himself, may be mentioned that of county attorney for Sac county, which position he filled for two terms, equal to four years; mayor of Sac City one term; secretary of the school board in Sac City twenty-seven years, or since 1886; city recorder and treasurer, and the attorney for the commissioners on insanity of the county For fifteen years. In all of these various public positions Mr. Hart has seemed to be the right man in the right place, and has given almost universal satisfaction. His knowledge of the law, his clear-headed and intellectual grasp of the situation, at all times, has made him peculiarly fitted to serve in these various capacities.
Mr. Hart is of the Presbyterian faith and has been an elder in this church
for more than twenty years, and was twice elected to the general assembly of the
church.
Fraternally. Mr. Hart is connected with the blue lodge, chapter, com-mandery and
council of the Masonic order, as well as holding membership with the Mystic
Shriners at Des Moines. He is well informed in the workings of this most ancient
and honorable order. He was custodian of the ole grand chapter of Iowa for six
years, and grand high priest of the grand chapter in 1906.
Mr. Hart was united in marriage March 31, 1881, at Clarence, Iowa, to Anna
Greig, a native of Canada, and the daughter of James and Jeanette Greig.
Unlike the man who goes through life with the sound of a trumpet and full of
egotism, making many warm friends and also many enemies, Mr. Hart has, during
all the years of his career in Sac county,' gone about his daily duties, both as
an attorney and as a public official, in a graceful, gentlemanly manner, never
fearing to stand for the right as he has understood the right,. yet without
causing opposition or friction where duty did not demand it. It goes without
saying that he counts his friends in Sac county and northwestern. Iowa by the
one word, "legion." (History of Sac County Iowa, by William H. Hart, 1914, Pages
376-377)
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Sac County, IA Genealogy Trails
Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in the attaining of a due measure of success, but in following out the career of one who has attained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration. The qualities which have made Mr. Hartsell, the mayor of Early, one of the prominent and successful men of that city, have also brought him the esteem of his fellow townsmen, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods.
Jacob W. Hartsell, mayor of Early, Iowa, and prosperous farmer of Sac county, was born April 6, 1853, in Mercer county, Illinois. His parents were Harrison and Elizabeth (Unangst) Hartsell, who were both natives of New Jersey. They came west in the early history of Illinois and settled in Mercer county, that state, where they both died. They reared a family of six children: Charles, of Preston, Kansas; Mrs. Mary Shearer, of Lorimer, Iowa; Mrs. Elizabeth Moler, of Stuart, Iowa; Elijah,- also of Stuart, Iowa; Ezra, deceased, and Jacob W., with whom this narrative deals.
Jacob W. Hartsell was educated in the schools of Mercer county, Illinois, and, after marrying in that state, came to Sac county, Iowa, in 1882, and purchased three hundred and twenty acres in Cook township, and continued to reside on this farm until he moved to Early in 1905. In 1909 he was elected mayor of Early and has been filling that important position up until the present time. Since taking charge of the executive chair he has installed an electric light plant, at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and the city now boasts of handsome boulevard lights, which gives it a very attractive appearance at night. He has been a strong advocate of all town improvements and has given an administration to the citizens of Early which has been satisfactory in every way.
Mr. Hartsell was married in 1877 to Amanda McLaughlin, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. McLaughlin, of Mercer county, Illinois, and to this union there have been born five children, James, Charles, Vernon, Nellie and Ruth. James and Charles are now on the home farm, Vernon is farming near Early and Nellie resides on a farm near the same place, while Ruth remains with her parents.
Politically, Mr. Hartsell is a Democrat and is a firm believer of the principles as set forth by that party and advocated by President Wilson. His party has honored him by electing him to the office of mayor of Early, while he has honored his party by giving his services, not only for the benefit of the members of his own party, but for all the citizens of the city, irrespective of their politics. Fraternally, he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, while he belongs to the Mystic Shrine at Des Moines. The members of the family are all Presbyterians and render that church their earnest support. Mr. Hartsell is, first of all, distinctly a man of the people, whose interests he has at heart and for whom he wouldn't hesitate to make any reasonable sacrifice. He believes in the ultimate glorious destiny of our free institutions and that the best way to realize that destiny is for each member of the body politic to live up to his highest ideals of right, which, to the best of his ability, Mr. Hartsell has endeavored to do. (History of Sac County Iowa, by William H. Hart, 1914, Pages 358-360)
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Sac County, IA Genealogy Trails
There is no section of the United States which has held and still now holds greater promise for investors in lands than western Iowa and especially Sac county. It is a fact that land values have trebled and quadrupled in value during the last decade and are still on the upward swing. Consequently the men who have had the foresight and the faith in the future of the country to continue to invest in the farm lands have become prosperous and wealthy. It was never designed by Providence that men should be poor and wretched. There are enough good things in the world for every one- and the best things come from the bosom of Mother Earth. He who gets close to the earth and uses skill in combining the elements of soil and air in producing the crops which are always in demand for the purpose of feeding the millions of inhabitants of this broad land is performing a high vocation and is certain of success. Henry Hanson, of Odebolt, is a citizen who began his career in Sac county in tilling the soil and has enlarged his operations to such an extent that he is one of the most important factors in the community and one of the largest estate holders in the county. Mr. Hanson is a native of a foreign land which has contributed some of the best citizens in many of the Western states. The Swedish-Americans of Sac county are among the leaders in all walks of life, and are universally respected as men of intelligence and pronounced ability everywhere they have settled.
Henry Hanson, farmer, of Odebolt, Iowa, was born in wSweden June 1, 184.9, the son of Jens ancl Kirsty Hanson. Jens Hanson died a few weeks before Henry's birth. His mother later came to America and died here. At the age of nineteen years Mr. Hanson crossed the ocean and landed in New York City in September of 1868. He spent six years at various pursuits in New York City and then came westward. In the spring of 1874 he came to Sac county and, in partnership with A. E. Johnson, purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Wheeler township. They operated this tract together until 1877. The land cost them six dollars and sixty cents an acre and was purchased on a time contract with five years' time allotted them in which to complete the payments. In 1877 each of the partners took one hundred and sixty acres for his own use. Mr. Hanson added eighty acres to his quarter in 1876 at a cost of five dollars and fifty cents an acre. In the year 1880 he disposed of his Wheeler township.tract of two hundred and forty acres and invested in one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the town of Odebolt. Mr. Hanson has dealt considerably in farm lands since his first venture and at the present time is the owner of a total of eight hundred and ninety acres of land in Wheeler township. His home farm, occupied by his son, is the model farm of the southwest portion of Sac county and fitted with beautiful buildings and every convenience for the carrying on of scientific farming operations.
In 1877 he made his residence in Odebolt and located his family here in 18-78. when the town was first started. He immediately took advantage of his opportunity and engaged in the buying of grain and live stock for shipment to the markets. He continued in this pursuit until 1883 and was the pioneer grain dealer of Odebolt. He began as manager of the Swedish Farmers' Elevator Company and soon bought out the business, which was the second grain buying establishment in the city. Since 1883 he has devoted his time to looking after his Crawford and Sac county agricultural interests and his business affairs.
Mr. Hanson is a large stockholder and vice-president of the First National Bank of Odebolt. He has a large modern residence on Lincoln avenue. He is a Republican in politics and devotes a considerable portion of his time to civic affairs, being a member of the school board and having served on the city council. His family attend the Presbyterian church, and he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has taken the degrees in Masonry in the Sac City chapter and commander.
Mr. Hanson's marriage occurred in 1872 to Augusta Eckblom, a native of Sweden. They are the parents of four children, as follows: Mrs. Robertina Yon Marell, of Phoenix, Arizona; Lillian, the efficient librarian of the Odebolt public library; George, on the home farm in Wheeler township; Grace, at home.
By a life of persevering industry and fair and honest dealings Mr. Hanson has acquired a fair share of this world's goods, and, what is of more value, the respect and esteem of every one with whom he has come in contact. He and his family occupy an enviable social standing in their community, in which they are among the pioneers, and possess in a marked degree that happy faculty of making stead fast friendships. (History of Sac County Iowa, by William H. Hart, 1914, Pages 367-368)