John E. Carhartt

Far back into the early history of this country can the ancestry of the Carhartt family be traced. The first of the name in America was Thomas Carhartt, who crossed the Atlantic to serve as secretary to Governor Dugan, and in our subject’s home is a complete genealogical record, giving the lines of descent from Thomas Carhartt down to the present. The parents of our subject were James S. and Mary (Elder) Carhartt, the former a son of Seth Carhartt and the latter a daughter of John Elder. They resided for some time in Coshocton county, Ohio, and both were natives of that state, but in 1850 they started westward and established their home in Monroe county, where the father engaged in farming. He spent his last days in the home of our subject, where he died aged seventy-six years. The mother afterward went to Union county, Iowa, where she died at the age of eight-two years, but John Carhartt brought her remains back to this county, and she was buried by the side of her husband. In the family were six children, but John E. and one sister are the only ones now surviving.

John E. Carhartt was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, September 13, 1840, and was reared upon the home farm, spending the first ten years of his life in the state of his nativity, and then accompanying his parents on their removal to Iowa, with the interests of which state he has since been identified. His education was begun in a log schoolhouse, and he conned his lessons while sitting upon a bench made of a slab laid on wooden pins driven into the wall. Later, however, he enjoyed better educational privileges and for a time was a student in Albia. Reading upon the current topics of interest has made him a well informed man, and he keeps well versed on general subject, political and otherwise. Through his youth he assisted in the work of the home farm, but during the early part of the Civil war he enlisted in Company E, Sixth Iowa Infantry, under Captain Sanders. He was with his regiment in a number of battles and skirmishes, and though he often went upon long marches or took part in battles when suffering from ill health, he reported for duty every day and loyally stood by the old flag until it was planted victoriously in the capital of the southern Confederacy. After the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and was mustered out at Davenport. There was no braver man in the army, and with a creditable military record he returned to his home.

Mr. Carhartt at once went to his father’s home, near where he now resides, and in the spring of 1866 purchased his present farm in Troy township. He further completed his arrangements for having a home of his own when in 1868 he married Miss Alice A. Boggs, a native of Monroe county. Four children have been born to them, of whom three are yet living; Mary L., who married S. H. Latham and has four sons; James S., who is married and has two sons and a daughter; and John W., at home, assisting his father in the cultivation of the farm. Since his marriage Mr. Carhartt has resided continuously upon his present farm and has made it a fine country home, its neat and thrifty appearance being indicative of the care and supervision of a progressive owner.

Never an active politician in the sense of office seeking, Mr. Carhartt has always had firm faith in the principles of the party which he endorsed by casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, while in the army. He has labored for the success of the party and is recognized as one of the stalwart Republicans of the locality. He is a charter member of J.R. Castle Post No. 313, G.A.R., of Avery, the oldest post in this section of the state; for two years he served as its commander, after which he became quartermaster and has since held that office. He also belongs to the Presbyterian church, and his Christian faith and belief have been manifest in his conduct toward his fellowmen, who know him to be a man of upright purpose and of intrinsic worth of character.