RICHARD W. HARTMAN - The Hartman family of Napoleon is of Prussian stock, the great-grandfather of the subject having been born in that country. The subject's father, Samuel Hartman, was born in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, on December 23, 1807, and came to Ohio in 1844, settling in Wayne county. He followed his trade, that of hatter, in both states. In 1848 he moved to Ashland county, Ohio, and on the first day of April, 1850, came to Henry county, locating two and a half miles southwest of Napoleon. He bought eighty acres of land from the government, paying therefor one dollar and a quarter per acre. The trip from Ashland county was made by team and two cows were brought along, but on the way it was found necessary to sell them to defray traveling expenses, so that upon their arrival here they had but ten dollars in money, which sum was spent for a heifer. The father cleared and improved this farm and lived upon it until about 1881, when he sold it and returned to Pennsylvania, where he died on August 17, 1900. He married Lucy Holcomb, who was born in New York state on September 15, 1810. They were married in Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and her death occurred on September 3, 1880. Their children were Charles C, Nathaniel H., George B., Sarah A., Thomas R., Richard W., Daniel V., Samuel W., Elizabeth A. and Harriet F. Both parents were members of the Methodist church.
Richard W. Hartman was seven years of age when he came to Henry county, and his education was secured in the primitive log school houses of that period. His first attendance was in the winter of 1852, under the instruction of Phoebe Caldwell, that being the first school taught in Napoleon township outside of the city. Nevertheless Mr. Hartman secured a good knowledge of the general branches. On October 10, 1861, he enlisted in Company F, Sixty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, known as the Florida Company. The regiment went first to Camp Chase, then to Fort Donelson, where a fierce engagement was fought, thence to Pittsburg Landing (Shiloh), where the regiment was held in reserve. They were next in the Corinth campaign, thence going in succession to Bolivar, Tennessee, Iuka, Hatchie river, where the subject went through the battle barefooted, a new pair of boots just received from home hurting him too badly. They then started for the rear of Vicksburg, but at Holly Springs their supplies were burned, and they returned to Memphis. In the spring of 1863 they were again on the Vicksburg campaign, being at the siege and surrender of that stronghold. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Hartman veteranized and came home on a furlough. Returning to the regiment, they joined Sherman at Resaca, Georgia, and participated in the march to the sea, whence they went to Buford Island, thence up through South Carolina to Columbia, thence to Goldsboro, Raleigh and to Washington City, where they took part in the Grand Review. They were mustered out at Louisville and discharged at Cleveland. After the war Mr. Hartman attended school about one year, and then worked on the home farm. In 1867 he was married and removed to Macon City, Missouri, where for five years he engaged in the marble and tombstone business. In 1872 he returned to Napoleon and started the first marble shop in this city, it being where the county jail now stands. He later removed to a building now a part of the brewery, but in 1876 he sold out. After a year or two he re-entered the same business, but five or six years later again sold out. In 1885 he engaged in the florist business on a small scale, being at that time about sixteen hundred dollars in debt, but so successfully has he conducted his business that his property is now valued at between six and seven thousand dollars, his business amounting to over three thousand dollars annually, and the plant is considered one of the best of the kind in this section of the country.
In 1867 Mr. Hartman married Miss Rebecca Wilson, a native of Ohio and the daughter of Jesse Wilson. They have had three children, Maude, deceased, Flora Ellen, deceased, and Wilbur B. His first wife died in 1872 and Mr. Hartman subsequently married Miss Mary Elizabeth Suydam, who was born in Norwalk, Ohio, the daughter of Richard Suydam. They have one child, Kate. Mr. Hartman is a member of Post No. 66, Grand Army of the Republic, while he and family are members of the Methodist church.