HARTMAN, William H. 1838-1895

HARTMAN, CLARK, VON LACKUM

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/20/2014 at 23:48:34

[Waterloo Courier, Wednesday, July 03, 1895, Waterloo, Iowa]

HE IS DEAD.

The Spirit of W. H. Hartman
Responds To Summons To
"Come Up Higher".

GOOD MAN GONE TO REST.

He Was Founder of "The Courier"
And Also One of the Pioneer
Newspaper Men of Iowa.

W. H. Hartman is dead. He died at 8:15 o'clock last night, passing away peacefully as though closing his eyes in sleep.

He was bom in Allentown, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1838, and died at Waterloo, Iowa, July 1, 1895.

He founded the WATERLOO COUIER, the first number of which was published on Jan. 17, 1859, and from that day until his death he continued in the management of the paper practically all the time.

The funeral will be held from the First Baptist church at 2 p. m. tomorrow, Wednesday.

The statement which appeared in yesterday's issue of THE COURIER prepared our citizens for the sad news which came last evening that W. H. Hartman, the editor of this paper, was dead.

Death came to him painlessly. Durting the afternoon he grew weaker and the watchers at the bedside could see that the end was at hand. As night approached he showed signs of coming] dissolution as he sank into a comatos state. Then at 8:15 the heart stopped beating; his busy life was ended; he was dead. The news soon spread along the streets and was received with sincere expressions of regret by every one.

Ever since the attack of Sunday morning he realized that in all probability death was at hand. He talked freely while his strength lasted and did not hesitate to express his hopes for the future. He was not afraid to die and said he believed it would be well with his soul and that he would meet his family in the home beyond, when the sorrows of this earth life will never come. Then he quietly breathed out his life.

William H. Hartman was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1838. When two years of age his parents removed to Tiffin, Ohio, where he lived his early boyhood days. The educational advantages which he received were only such as were afforded by the common schools of Ohio at that time, but he made the most of them and early manifested that earnest de sire for success which always characterized his every action. In 1850 he came with his parents to Iowa and they located at Anamosa. Soon after their arrival the Anamosa News, the first paper ever published in Jones county,) was established and his first work in printing office was on that paper when he "rolled" the first edition that was issued. He remained in that office several years and then worked for some time in Delhi, Dubuque, Tiffin, (Ohio) and at other points. In March, 1858, he came to Waterloo and was employed for a few months in the office of the Iowa State Register and Waterloo Heraid, by which name Capt. Haddock's paper was known. Later on he went to Cedar Palls where he tried to make a success of the Cedar Palls Banner, but becoming satisfied that Waterloo was a better field, he together with Geo.J D. Ingersoll purchased the modest plant of Col. W. H. McClure an moved it to this place. The Herald was a short lived affair and THE WATERLOO COURIER, which was first issued Jan. 18, 1859, had the field to itself for many years. From a small beginning it continued to grow, though at times it required all the energy of the man who had soon become its sole; proprietor, to keep it at the front. He was determined that it should succeed, however, and it did. During the 36 years which have elapsed since the WATERLOO COURIER was first issued. Mr. Hartman has been, as stated, practically continuously connected with its management. Among those who have been associated with him as partners at various times were J. W Logan, M. C. Woodruff, Andy Pelr, and, for a short time the paper was owned by M. C. Woodruff and Charles Aldrich, though Mr. Hartman soon became the owner of Mr. Aldrich's interest and was back in the harness again after a brief respite. The office had had several different habitations, but about six years ago Mr. Hartman purchased the building in which the plant is now located and named it The Courier Block, with the purpose that it should be the future home of the paper.

In 1890, after carefully looking over the field, he determined to begin the publication of a daily edition and, on the evening of Dee. 1-3 of that year, the first number of the WATERLOO DAILY COURIER made its appearance. By dint of hard work and careful attention to the business the daily passed beyond the field of experiment and became a permanency. Its success was a matter of great gratification to its editor and he took special pride in it and in making it as near this ideal as all circumstances would permit.

Mr. Hartman was always a strong and consistent Republican and the Courier had at all times done hard work for the principles of that party and loyally supported and striven for the success of its nominees. For twelve years, or three consecutive terms, Mr. Hartman was postmaster of Waterloo. He was first commissioned in 1873 and when he retired from the office he went out with the Republican administration at the first election of Grover Cleveland.

Scrupulously honest in all his dealings, he made a thoroughly satisfactory public officer, for he conducted the affairs of that office, as he did those of his own business, along the lines of the strictest rectitude. He, did everything possible for the accommodation of the public and at his retirement from office none had other than good words for him.

In October, 1860, Mr. Hartman was married to Dora Z. Clark. She was a native of New York and they were married in Ohio. To them were born three children, Jon C., William D., and Genevieve. The former has been connected with the Courier office ever since his boyhood, and his brother, William, is a conductor on the A. & P. R'y line in Arizona. The daughter is wife of Dr. J. P. Von Lackum, and they reside in Chicago. Mr. Hartman was the oldest of four children. Feb. 17, 1894, his father died, but his mother is living at Amber, Iowa, at the age of 77 years. Two brothers, Henry C. and Peter J. Hartman, reside at Anamosa. The other child, a sister, died in December, 1885.

The two brothers are here, having the city council attend the funeral in a body. The members of the newspaper fraternity of the city will do the same.

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