Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

After many years of active connection with the agricultural interests of Buena Vista county, Manly W. Hartshorn is now living retired in Marathon.  He was born in Boone county, Illinois, March 4, 1844, a son of William H. and Charlotte (Eastman) Hartshorn, the former of German descent.  Both the paternal and maternal great-grandfathers served in the Revolutionary war.  His mother was a daughter of Jeremiah Eastman.  The father of our subject was born in New Hampshire, January 4, 1814, and made his home in the east until about 1840, when he came west and located in Boone county, Illinois.  After a brief period there spent, he removed with his family to Beloit, Wisconsin, in 1847, locating on a farm ten miles from Beloit.  In 1852 he took up his abode in Green county, Wisconsin, living there for two years, subsequent to which time he spent two years in Iowa county, Wisconsin, he then took up his abode in Steele county, Minnesota, but in 1863 returned once more to Illinois, locating in Sandwich, De Kalb county.  In 1876 he came to Buena Vista county and became identified with its agricultural interests, continuing: to follow farming throughout his remaining days.  Both the parents are now deceased, the mother passing away in June, 1882, when seventy-five years of age, while the father, surviving for a few years, died November 25, 1891, when seventy-seven years of age.  Their family numbered four children, of whom our subject is the eldest, the others being:  Frederick G., who lives in Poland township, Buena Vista county; Harvey, who died in infancy; and Clara C, who lives in Decatur county, Iowa.

Mr. Hartshorn accompanied his parents on their various removals through the northern states and acquired his education in the schools of the localities in which he lived.  He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and in the spring of 1865 enlisted for service in the Civil war.  He joined the army at Sandwich, Illinois, becoming a member of the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment of Illinois Infantry.  He was mustered out at Memphis, Tennessee, having made a most creditable military record.  He then returned to his home in Illinois and remained in that state until 1876, when he came to Buena Vista county and purchased land in Poland township at five dollars per acre.  He developed and improved a good farm and was engaged in general farming until 1895, in which year he took up his abode in Marathon and engaged in the implement business, giving his attention to the same during the years of 1898 and 1899.  He then disposed of his stock of goods and since that time has lived retired in a pleasant home in Marathon.  His business was ever conducted with the most straightforward and honorable methods and thus his success is well merited.

Mr. Hartshorn was married in November, 1866, to Miss Catherine Rogers, a daughter of David K. and Margaret (Yerdon) Rogers, both of whom were natives of New York, the former a son of David Rogers, likewise a native of the Empire state.  The parents removed to the west in 1840, settling in Kendall county, Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives.  The father, who was born December 5, 1819, died January 3, 1897, when seventy-eight years of age, while the mother, who was born February 12, 1816, died March 28, 1891, at the age of seventy-five years.  Their family numbered nine children, as follows:  Mary E., who was born April 24, 1843, and died May 3, 1901; Sarah J., who was born November 14, 1844, and lives in Sandwich, Illinois; Catherine, who was born November 10, 1846, and is now the wife of Manly W. Hartshorn; Isabelle, who was born August 17, 1850, and resides in Iowa Falls, Iowa; John E., who was born August 11, 1852. and lives in Sandwich, Illinois; Ophelia, who was born December 2, 1855, and resides in Lawrence, Kansas; Owen D., who was born July 14, 1858, and departed this life in 1865; Menzo, who was born August 20, 1860, and lives on the old homestead farm near Sandwich, Illinois; and David Henry, who died in infancy.  Mr. and Mrs. Rogers also adopted a son, David Henry Thomas, who died in youth.

Mr. and .Mrs. Hartshorn have become the parents of six children, namely:  William O., who was born May 20, 1868, wedded Miss Belle Olney and lives in Marathon; John F., who was born November 1. 1870, was married January 19, 1893, to Miss Clara Dingman and lives on the homestead farm; Nellie, who was born February 5, 1873, and died in infancy; Clara B., who was born May 4, 1877, and is at home; Katie O., who was born March 18, 1882, and is also under the parental roof; and Mary J., who was born July 9, 1889, and is also at home.

Mr. Hartshorn has given stalwart support to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.  He holds membership relations with the Reorganized Church of the Latter Day Saints, while he keeps in touch with his old army comrades through his membership in James Miller Post, No. 503, G. A. R.  His success has come as the result of his own labor and now, having passed the sixty-fourth milestone on life's journey, he is enjoying a well merited rest.  His residence in the county covers nearly a third of a century and therefore he has intimate knowledge of its history and of events which have left their impress upon its annals.