BIO: Reuben B. HARTMAN, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  R. B. HARTMAN.  In the career of this gentleman we find an excellent 
example for young men just embarking in the field of active life, of 
what may be accomplished by a man beginning poor, but honest, prudent 
and industrious.  He is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having 
occurred in Heidelburg township, Lehigh county, April 19, 1820, and he 
is a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Bysell) Hartman.  The father, who was 
born, reared and married in the same county, was a son of Jonathan 
Hartman, who there died.  The maternal grandfather of our subject was 
Peter Bysell.
  About 1824 Simon Hartman removed to Hartley township, Union Co., 
Penn., where he engaged in farming for a time, when there were a great 
many wild animals in the forests, such as wildcats, wolves, panthers 
and bears, who would approach the house and carry off sheep and hogs

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  291

as their prey, and could often be heard at night.  Later Mr. Hartman 
followed weaving in the town of Hartleton, in the same county, where 
his death occurred at the age of seventy-one, and he was there buried.  
He was a Whig in politics, and an earnest member of the German Reformed 
Church, as was also his wife.  She passed away in Millheim at the age 
of seventy-three years, and was laid to rest there.  In their family 
were the following children: Lydia, who married William Hazel, and died 
in Wooster, Ohio; Saloma, who married George Catherman, and died in 
Union county, Penn.; Peter, who died in Wooster, Ohio; R. B., subject 
of this sketch; Elizabeth, who married John Royer, and died in 
Hartleton, Penn.; Rebecca, who married John Swartz, and died in 
Millheim; Caroline, who married James Rouch, and died in Clearfield 
county, Penn.; and Henry, and another that died in infancy.
  The early educational privileges which our subject received were not 
of the best, and his teachers often permitted the scholars to play 
rather than study.  He was reared in much the usual manner of farmer 
boys, and on leaving home worked at farm labor for others.  In 1839 he 
started out to fight life's battle, and on the 19th of May of that year 
arrived in Millheim with all his possessions on his back, his capital 
being his ambition.  He first worked for John Harter, the pioneer 
carriage and wagon maker of the place, with whom he remained for 
several years.
  During that time, Mr. Hartman was married, June 1, 1843, to Margaret 
Harter (a daughter of his employer), who was born in Millheim, December 
12, 1824, and whose mother bore the maiden name of Mollie Shreffler.  
Eleven children blessed this union: Sarah J., who died in infancy; C. 
W., a molder, of Millheim; Mary E., wife of John Harshbarger, of the 
same place; Anna M., wife of Willis Weber, of Rebersburg, Centre 
county; Amelia M., wife of Leonard Stover, of Haines township, Centre 
county; Lydia R., wife of Philip P. Leitzel, of Millheim; John H. B., 
who is in partnership with our subject; William, a machinist, of 
Millheim; Minnie, wife of Adam Harter, of the same place; and Thomas 
and Gertie, who died in infancy,
  Soon after his marriage, Mr. Hartman began peddling the old Hathaway 
cook stoves, manufactured by Search & Rockey, selling them throughout 
several counties in Pennsylvania, and later became foreman in their 
foundry.  After acquiring considerable experience, he in company with 
his brother-in-law, J. D. Foote, purchased the foundry then owned by 
Haupt, Cummings & Haupt, which they conducted under the firm style of 
Foote & Hartman, manufacturing stoves, implements, mill gearings, plow 
points, and castings in general.  At the end of seven years, Mr. 
Hartman sold out and made a trip to Illinois, with the view of locating 
in the West, but soon returned to Millheim.  He stopped at Bellefonte 
on his way back, and at a sheriff's sale purchased the property which 
he now owns.  To the coach shop already standing he added a foundry, 
with which he has since been connected; but is now practically living 
retired, leaving the active business management to his son.  Besides 
his own comfortable residence he has also erected five others for his 
children.  Always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, he 
has sold many thousand dollars worth of goods on credit to men who were 
unable to pay for them at the time, and much of which he never 
collected.  Integrity, honesty and fair dealings have characterized all 
his transactions, and his word has ever been considered as good as his 
bond.
  Mr. Hartman was a Democrat in politics until 1892, since which time 
he has voted the Prohibition ticket at State and National elections, 
but on local affairs votes independent of party ties.  He has served as 
a member of the council and school board of Millheim, but cares nothing 
for official preferment.  Socially he is an Odd Fellow, while, 
religiously, both himself and wife have been active members of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church since 1842, and for half a century he has 
served as class leader.  They are earnest, sincere Christians, and 
their home has ever been the headquarters for visiting ministers.  
During the fifty-three years that have passed since they were made man 
and wife, they have been true to the vows taken, and Mrs. Hartman has 
proved a true helpmeet to her husband, cheering him in hours of sorrow 
and adversity, and aiding in securing their present prosperity, which 
is so richly merited.

1860 Penn Township, Centre County census -
Reuben Hartman, 40  
Margaret Hartman, 36  
Wesley Hartman, 15  
Mary Hartman, 13  
Anna M. Hartman, 10  
Wm M. Hartman, 8  
Lydia Hartman, 6  
John H Hartman, 3  
Wm. M. Hartman, 3/12