WILLIAM MORGAN HARTMAN.

WILLIAM MORGAN HARTMAN, deceased, was identified with the mercantile and financial interests of Iola during its childhood and early youth. He came to Allen county in 1865 and was first en-

gaged in the stock business with the pioneer, John McClure, his father-in-law. When the prairies began to settle up and the village became a town "Morg" dropped out of the stock business and entered the field of merchandise. He clerked for L. L. Northrup, conducted a furniture business with Norris and a hardware business with Jacob Casmire, and was one of the popular merchants of the city. He prospered as time passed and when he reached middle life the thought of establishing a banking business in Iola took serious hold upon him. He became associated with Geo. A. Bowlus in the loan business and the two formed a partnership and started the Bank of Allen County. To the success of this institution he devoted his few remaining years, for he died October 6, 1887.

W. M. Hartman was born in Indiana, June 4, 1834. He was a son of William Hartman who established his family at Ridgefield, Ill., and died there. His mother was Agnes Gibson, who is also buried at Ridgefield, Ill. Her children were: David, who was a Union soldier, died during the war; Gibson, at Ridgefield, Ill; W. M., our subject; Isaac, of Chicago; Lem H., who died in Minneapolis, Minn., and was once a resident of Iola; Sophia, wife of Joseph Wayne, of Center Point, Ia., Lizzie, wife of William Morey, of Ridgefield, Ill., and Gussie, who died at Ridgefield.

Morg Hartman acquired a fair education in the district schools, was all his life a great reader, his fine memory enabling him to give quotations from the Bible or Shakespeare to fit every occasion. He was very fond of poetry, often reciting whole poems which he had learned when a boy. He was a lover of nature—birds and flowers especially.

His father moved to Ridgefield, Ill., about 1834 and Morg grew up on a farm. His first wife was Mary McClure, whom he married at Ridgefield. She died in 1862 leaving one child Gertrude, now the wife of Benjamin Throop, of Crystal Lake, Ill. Agnes Throop is the only grandchild. On April 16, 1874 he married Melissie, a daughter of William Buchanan, of Iola.

In politics he was an independent, voting for the man or the principle. He read all sides, forming his opinion and voting as he thought right. He was public spirited, giving liberally to every good enterprise.

He was a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows fraternities and although not a religious man in the usual sense of the word he thought deeply on spiritual matters. He did his whole duty toward his fellows. His sympathy extended to the poor and he helped men when they knew not the source of their benefaction.

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