Pioneers of Marion County by Wm. Wm. M. Donnel, 1872

Henry Harstman

Henry Harstman was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, December 17, 1818, and left that country for America, in 1847, first settled in Ohio, from whence he came to Indiana, and from thence to his present residence of section 8, in September, 1850. Here he purchased a claim of 160 acres, of Henry Wagoner, for thirty dollars. This claim had no improvements on it, and Mr. Hartsman proceeded at once to erect a cabin 18 by 20, near the creek. Here he lived for some time, during which he occasionally suffered severely with the ague, and was at one time, for nine consecutive days, without any other food than potatoes. This, however, was not for the want of grain, plenty of which Mr. H. had stored away, but for the want of ability to get it carried to a mill and ground. He is now the owner of a well-improved farm of 490 acres.