WORTH J. HARTZELL.
An an example of industry and perseverance in the face of apparently
adverse circumstances and of the ability to rise superior to whatever adversity
may lie in wait, the following interesting biography of one of the leading
farmers of Greeley township, this county, will prove of value to the
thoughtful reader.
Worth J. Hartzell was born in Hermitage, Missouri, July 23, 1871,
the son of Seth and Julia (Blair) Hartzell, both of whom were natives of
Missouri. The Blairs were ardent adherents of the Union cause during the
Civil War, their course being so obnoxious to their neighbors, the greater
part of whom espoused the cause of the Confederacy, that they found it
necessary to leave their home in Missouri and come north. Seth Hartzell
and his wife came to Audubon county in the year 1876 and remained here
one year, at the end of which they went back to Atlantic, in Cass county,
Iowa, where they had settled after their flight from the south, but a year
later returned to Audubon county, remaining here until about 19 12, when
they went to California, where they now are living. They were the parents
of nine children, seven of whom are now Hving, Worth J. being the eldest.
Worth J. Hartzell remained on the paternal farm until his marriage at
the age of twenty-four. Though he started with nothing but a stout heart
and a team of oxen when he came to Audubon county, Mr. Hartzell's father
had acquired about two hundred acres of land in Greeley township by the time his eldest son was married and Worth J. began by renting from his
father a portion of this farm. Apparent "bad luck" followed his tenantfarming
venture, however, and after the first year Worth J. found it necessary
to give up farming for the time. He built a small house on a wagon
and for a year he and his wife lived in this movable home, going from place
to place as opportunity seemed most propitious. He finally felt himself
financially able to take up farming again and once more entered upon the
business of tenant farming, during this time making several moves, a part
of the time being spent in South Dakota. In 1900 Mr. Hartzell returned
to his father's home and lived there, assisting in the work of the farm until
1908, in which }ear he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land in
sections 15 and 22 of Greeley township. In 1909 he added to this farm
another forty in section 15 and in 191 1 bought an additional tract of eighty
acres in the same section, this giving him a farm of two hundred and forty
acres, one of the most thoroughly-equipped places in the township. When
Mr. Hartzell bought his farm there were some improvements on the same
in the way of buildings, but these he has completely supplanted by new and
modern buildings, his house being one of the most complete and modern in
that part of the county, being equipped with gas lights, furnace, bath, waterworks
and all the conveniences that are required to add to the comfort of
a modern home. His farm buildings are constructed on a similar scale,
being designed for the utmost convenience and efficiency, his stock barns
and pens being unusually complete. He annually feeds about one hundred
head of cattle and two hundred head of hogs and has found this a very
profitable phase of farming. He has about five miles of hog-tight fence on
his place.
To Worth J. and Mary E. (Jaynes) Hartzell five children have been born, Wayne V., Wylie W., Donald J., Charles L. and Clarice E. Mrs. Hartzell is an earnest member of the Greeley Center Methodist church and is rearing her children to the faith of that church. Mr. Hartzell's parents were among the founders of this church. Mr. Hartzell is an ardent RepubHcan, as was his father, and is keenly interested in local political affairs. He served his township as justice of the peace for a term of two years and is now the treasurer of the school board. He is public spirited and enterprising and is a strong force for good in his community, where he and his wife are held in the highest regard, being looked upon as among the leaders in all good works thereabout.
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Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, September, 2019 from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 773-775.
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