The world has ever been charmed with the story of military prowess and individual valor and as long as memory remains to the American people they will hold in grateful remembrance the soldiers of the Civil war who were the defense of the Union in the dark hours in the history of the country. Among this number was Jerome Hart, who is now living retired in Stanwood. He is numbered among the early settlers of Cedar county, dating his residence here from 1860, so that for half a century he has witnessed the transformation of this section of the state.
Mr. Hart is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, his birth having there occurred November 8, 1832. His father, Ithel D. Hart, was a native of Massachusetts and was married in the state of New York to Miss Emeline Lewis. Subsequently he took up his abode in Buffalo, New York, and in 1835 became a resident of Branch county, Michigan, where he opened up a new farm, continuing its cultivation until his death, which occurred in 1849.
Jerome Hart, then a lad of seventeen years, remained with his mother until twenty-five years of age and carried on the farm work for her. He also worked out by the month as a farm hand and contributed to the support of the family, which numbered five sons and three daughters. He came west with his mother to Illinois in 1852, settling in La Salle county, where he purchased an eighty acre tract of land on which slight improvements had been made. There he carried on farming for eight years, at the end of which time he sold that property and came to Cedar county, Iowa. During the period of the Civil war, however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country’s call for troops, enlisting on the 6th of August, 1862, at Tipton, as a member of Company B, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. With that command he went to the front and was first under fire at Port Gibson, Mississippi, while later he participated in the hotly contested battle of Champion’s Hill. He was also in the engagements of Black River Bridge and Vicksburg, being stationed at the latter place for forty-seven days and nights in besieging the city, which he assisted in capturing. Later he took part in the battle of Jackson, subsequently returned to Vicksburg and was afterward sent down the river to New Orleans. He also went with General Banks on the expedition up the Red river, in which connection he participated in numerous battles and skirmishes. The troops then returned to New Orleans and spent the winter at Madisonville, Louisiana, and afterward again went to New Orleans. Mr. Hart again went up the Red river under General Banks and later participated in the battles of Sabine River and Pleasant Hill. He next went down river to Alexandria, where the troops went into camp and subsequently proceeded to New Orleans, where they went on ship board, sailing from the Crescent City to Fortress Monroe, Virginia, whence they were sent to Washington, D. C. and on to Harpers Ferry. From that point they joined Sheridan’s forces and participated in the battle of Winchester, later were at Fishers Hill and subsequently in the battle of Cedar Creek. Sent to Baltimore, Mr. Hart there took ship for Savannah, Georgia, where his command joined Sherman’s army. They next proceeded to Morehead City, North Carolina, and on to Goldsboro and were with Sherman when General Johnston surrendered near Raleigh. They then returned to Morehead City, where they took ship for Savannah, Georgia, and then marched up the Savannah river one hundred and fifty miles. Crossing the river, they went into camp at Hamburg, South Carolina, where they spent ten days, and then marched to Augusta, Georgia, where he was mustered out July 17, 1865. From there he proceeded by boat to Baltimore and by train to Davenport, where he was discharged on the 6th of August, 1865, with the rank of sergeant. This brief account to those familiar with the history of the Civil war indicates something of the nature of his arduous services. He met with all of the hardships and privations meted out to the soldiers who took part in active warfare. Well may he be proud of the record which he made as he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battlefields.
Mr. Hart had been married in Tipton, Iowa, on the 30th of January, 1859, to Miss Cordelia Rickard, a native of Massachusetts, who was reared, however, in Cedar county, Iowa. After the war he joined his family and purchased an eighty acre tract of land near Stanwood. This he at once broke and with characteristic energy began developing his farm which in due course of time was transformed into productive fields. Later he bought eighty acres more adjoining and had altogether one hundred and sixty acres, on which he erected good buildings. Mr. Hart farmed this place for a number of years, or until1892, when he rented his land and removed to Stanwood, where he has since lived practically retired. He continued to own the farm, however, until 1894, when he sold out. He was also one of the promoters and stockholders of the Stanwood bank, has built five residences in the town and still owns two. He bought over five acres of land here, which he has laid out in lots and streets, and the district is now covered with good residences. Thus his efforts have been of value in promoting the welfare of the community as well as in advancing his individual success.
In 1901 Mr. Hart was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in October of that year. The news of her demise was received with sadness by many friends, for she was held in high regard by all who knew her. There were four children of that marriage who are still living: Ellis, a business man of Chicago; Janette, the wife of Frank Miller of Portland, Oregon; Zora, the wife of R. A. Claney, who is employed on the Northwestern Railroad at Clinton, Iowa; and Tillie, the wife of F. E. Clark, cashier for the Gas & Electric Light company of Clinton, Iowa. They also lost a son, Fred, at the age of two years.
On the 5th of November, 1902, in Galesburg, Illinois, Mr. Hart was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Katie Rummel, a widow, who was born in Vermont but was reared in Illinois. By a former marriage she had one son, Dallas Rummel, now a resident of Chicago.
Mr. Hart attends the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally is a Mason, holding membership with the lodge in Mechanicsville. He also belongs to the Grand Army Post and has been commander for a number of years. In politics he has been a republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln while serving in the army in 1864. He filled the office of township trustee for fifteen years and was also officially identified with the schools. He has been a delegate to state and county conventions and at all times, whether along political lines or otherwise, supports those measures and movements which he deems of practical benefit to the community in advancing the best interest of citizenship. He is one of the well known early settlers of Cedar county and is numbered among those who sacrificed personal interests to aid in the defense of the Union, leaving his family that he might do his duty by his country. He participated in many important battles and no one more heartily rejoiced when it was known that the old flag floated over the capital of the Confederacy. His has been a useful and well spent life and for many years he has been closely associated with the growth and development of Cedar county. For a number of years he has lived practically retired and he and his wife are now pleasantly situated in Stanwood in a home where refinement and hospitality are the crowning feature.
