William Hartsook (1925)

BELL, HARTSOOK, NEWELL, SCHOENENBERGER, SMOOT, WOOTEN

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 2/1/2006 at 18:41:20

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, July 2, 1925
Page 2, column 4

MORTUARY - William Hartsook

William Hartsook was born in Gallia county, Ohio, December 28, 1828. He died at his home in Lincoln township, Madison county, Ia., June 27, 1925, aged 96 years, 5 months and 29 days. His parents were Peter Hartsook, a native of Maryland and Ann Wooten Hartsook, a native of Ohio. His grandfather, William Hartsook, was born in Amsterdam, Holland, was a soldier in the American revolution and was with Washington's army at Valley Forge.

In his childhood William heard his grandfather tell experiences and incidents of the war and he could retell them to his later years. His youth was one of hardships and privation, his parents having little wealth and a family of ten children, he being the fifth child. In later years he liked to talk of these experiences, among which was his work on boats which floated down the Ohio and Mississippi to New Orleans with produce.

In 1850 he joined the gold seekers in California, driving a mule team overland; he returned two and a half years later by way of Lake Nicaraugua. With his parents and their family he came to Madison county, Ia., in 1853 where they established a home in Monroe township. In 1854 William secured the eighty acres of open prairie which became a part of the home which he maintained during the remainder of his life.

He was married to Catherine Reed Smoot on the 20th of March, 1860 and they began keeping house in the log building which was their home for ten years preceeding the building of the present one. Nine children came into their home; Andrew W. of Des Moines; Elida, who died at the age of twenty years; James W. of Adair county; George, who died in his twenty-seventh year; Fredrick P. of Winterset; Bertie Ellen, wife of F. E. Bell, living on the home farm; Sarah Allen, wife of Newton Newell of Howard, Kansas; Grace Adeline, wife of R. T. Schoenenberger of Winterset and Ben Butler of Lincoln township.

The pioneer home was a hospitable one and practically no one was refused lodging or food. The husband and wife took an active part in community affairs. They were members of the Christian Union church from its organization in the neighborhood. They were charter members of the Lincoln township Grange and active in its work throughout its existance.

William Hartsook was a member of Evening Star lodge, No. 43, A.F. & A.M. He was a man who had many friends whom he loved to be with and to have in his home. He was happy when he could help some one, could give aid or comfort.

On the first day of August, 1924, he suffered the loss of his wife and companion of nearly sixty-five years. She had been an invalid for fifteen years, and the object of his devoted care. There remained little of interest in life for him and rapidly lost the vigor which he had retained past his fourscore years and ten. He was ready for the going and slept gently and peacefully away.

Funeral services were held from the late home at three o'clock Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Fredrick Cooper. The Masonic order participated in the last rites of the beloved brother.

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