DeHart, Francis A.

DEHART

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 17:22:53

Francis Asbury DeHart

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.527)
FRANCIS ASBURY De HART is the name of one of the enterprising citizens of Waveland Township, who has made his home in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, since 1874. He is a son of the late Larkin De Hart, a well-known and highly esteemed early settler of Waveland Township, who was born in Tennessee, a son of John and Letta De Hart, both natives of Tennessee. Larkin De Hart was married in Kentucky, to Sarah COLLETT, daughter of William COLLETT, a Kentuckian. The De Harts are of French extraction. The great grandfather on the maternal side was an Englishman, the son of an English lord by the name of TOLISON; but, being a spendthrift in his school days, he became involved in debt; and being ashamed to face his parents he contracted with a man to act as valet to get across the water to America; twice he took passage to visit his father, but each time was ship-wrecked. This so discouraged him that he settled here and raised a family. Some of his descendants became wealthy people. Some time subsequent to his marriage, Larkin De Hart moved from Kentucky to Indiana, and from there to Warren County, Illinois. He remained in the latter place until 1874, when he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and located on the land where his son, F. A., now resides. To Larkin De Hart and Sarah, his wife, sixteen children were born, nine of whom are now living, four sons and five daughters, viz.: Verleny, wife of G. RAWLINS, Guthrie County, Iowa; Elisha F., Allen County, Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of W. T. JOHNSON, Saunders County, Nebraska; Mary, wife of Ben CONKLIN, Ringgold County, Iowa; James, Saunders County, Nebraka; Asa, an old soldier, resides at Los Angeles, California; Miranda, wife of John CHAPMAN, Allen County, Kansas; Ellen, wife of Clarkson GODFREY, Waveland Township, Pottawattamie County, Iowa; and Francis Asbury. Mrs. GODFREY was a successful teacher before her marriage. For many years Larkin De Hart was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, doing much toward advancing the cause of his Master. Later in life he was a Baptist. His wife was a Methodist all her life, her father having been a local Methodist minister for years.

F. A. De Hart was the youngest child of his parents' numerous family. He was reared at farm work in Warren County, Illinois, and received his education in the public schools. At the age of sixteen he came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. In April, 1875, he married Miss Rosa M. BLANEY, daughter of William and Catherine (NOGLE) BLANEY. Mrs. De Hart was born in New York city, in 1856. Her father, a worthy citizen of Grove Township, settled in this county many years ago. Mr. and Mrs. De Hart have five children: Charles Frederick, Clarence L., Lillian May, Maud Ethel and Larkin Ewall. Julia Irene died at the age of eight months.

Mr. De Hart's farm consists of 120 acres and is located in section 7. It has good buildings, orchard, grove and wind-pump, all being kept in first-class condition. On December 16, 1890, his house burned to the ground, with about all its contents. The ashes were cleared away, and with the help of his neighbors a new house was soon raised, in every way superior to the old one, and on January 23, 1891, the family moved into their new home. Mr. De Hart is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Cass Lodge, No. 412, Griswold, Iowa. He casts his vote and influence with the Democratic Party.