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Below is a family biography included in Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published by Biographical Publishing Company in 1903.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Charles Henry Hartung, one of the representative farmers of Pontiac township, Oakland County, has a fine farm of 347 acres in section 1. He is a self made man in all that the term implies, having begun his business career without capital, and all that he possesses to-day represents years of toil and judicious management. He was born in Knowlton township, Warren County, New Jersey, August 5, 1860, and is a son of Robert H. and Rachel B. (Brands) Hartung, grandson of Philip Hartung, and great-grandson of John Hartung, who was born in New Jersey, and was of Holland descent.

Philip Hartung was born in New Jersey, and followed farming, also working at his trades of wagon-maker and blacksmith. He was very successful in business, owning at one time two good farms and being worth $20,000. He was an industrious man, of temperate and exemplary habits. He was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. He married Elizabeth Robbins, a native of New Jersey and a member of a wealthy and cultured family. They had four children: Robert H., John; Annie and Margaret (Stout).

Robert H. Hartung was born and always lived in Knowlton township, Warren County, New Jersey. He was a man of considerable wealth but spent money freely and generously, his children being left to create their own fortunes. He was twice drafted into the Union Army, the first time furnishing a substitute. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church and led a good, Christian life. In politics he was a Republican. His first marriage was with Rachel Brands, by whom he had three children: James P., of Warren County, New Jersey; Isaac A., of Oakland County, Michigan; and Rachel (LaPell), of Oxford, New Jersey. He formed a second union with a cousin of his first wife, Rachel B. Brands, a daughter of John B. and Betsy Brands, and granddaughter of David Brands. They had the following children: Charles Henry; Elizabeth (Plouck), of Newark, New Jersey; John B., of Brooklyn, New York, who attained success in the wholesale nursery business; Ida M. (Shubel), deceased: Maggie (Raymer), of East Bangor, Pennsylvania; Mary C. (twin), also of East Bangor; Robert H., of Warren County, New Jersey; Roxie (Emmerman), of New York City; and Olive, of New York City.

Charles Henry Hartung spent his boyhood on the old home farm, attending school in the winter and working on the farm in the summer until he was 21 years old. He then came with his half-brother, Isaac A., on a visit to Orion, Oakland County, Michigan, where he remained for a period of four years. He then purchased his present home in section 1, Pontiac township, where he has since lived. The house is a stone structure which was erected in 1860 at a cost of $4,000, and at that time was the finest country home in Oakland County. The six barns have all been re-built by Mr. Hartung. He has carried on farming successfully and added to his property until he now has 347 acres in Pontiac and Orion townships. He engages in stock raising and feeding principally, at times having a large number of cattle and steers on hand; he has about 100 lambs each spring. The past year he threshed 2,700 bushels of grain, raised 40 acres of corn, producing about 3,000 bushels, in all raising about $5,000 worth of produce. He has a fine orchard of 200 apple trees and 1,000 peach trees. He is a public spirited citizen and takes an earnest interest in all that pertains to the development of the community. He is a Republican in politics, and at one time was a candidate for highway commissioner of his township. He met with defeat because his party is in the minority, although he ran ahead of the ticket.

Mr. Hartung married Hattie M. Laird, who was born in Oakland County and died here in 1893. He formed a second union with Theodosia Brown, a native of Oakland County and a daughter of William and Emma Brown. They have two children: Esther Delia and Howard Chail. Religiously, they are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Hartung is also a stockholder in the American Savings Bank of Pontiac.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the Biographical Record of Oakland County, Michigan published in 1903. 

View additional Oakland County, Michigan family biographies here: Oakland County, Michigan Biographies

View a map of 1911 Oakland County, Michigan here: Oakland County Michigan Map

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