My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM HARTWIG.
A brilliant example of a self-made American citizen, his record exemplifying the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities, is shown in the case of William Hartwig, one of the leading German-American citizens of Kansas. His singular success is due to his own energy and the high ideal which his laudable ambition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering effort — characteristics which our subject possesses in an eminent degree.

Mr. Hartwig is numbered among the honored pioneers of Woodson County where he located in 1858, taking up his abode in Owl Creek township in 1863. He was born in the village of Pummean, Prussia, October 9, 1840, and was eighteen years of age when he came to Kansas with his father, Gottlieb Hartwig. His active business life has all been passed in this county. When the country became involved in war over the attempt at secession made by some of the Southern states, he enlisted under the starry banner of the Union, on the 1st of January, 1862, joining Company F, Ninth Kansas Infantry, at Iola, under Captain B. F. Goss. He served all the time in Missouri, Kas., and Arkansas, taking part in few engagements, the most important being at Prairie Grove, Arkansas. He remained in the army, however, for three years, and was then honorably discharged, without having been wounded or taken prisoner.

Upon his return to Woodson County, Mr. Hartwig resumed farming. He was married here on the 9th of December, 1869, to Bertha Shultz, a daughter of Christian Shultz, a German by birth, then residing in Woodson County. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hartwig have been born the following children: Henry A., of Rochester, New York, who is with the Rochester, Buffalo & Pittsburg railroad; Matilda, wife of Luke Beckett of Woodson County; Amelia, wife of Edward Smith, of the same county; Mary, Minnie, Charles, Nellie, Elsie, Freddie and Lillie, all yet at home.

The family residence is a very comfortable one situated in the midst of an extensive farm on section twenty-nine, Owl Creek township. Mr. Hartwig now owns six hundred acres of valuable land, of which five hundred and eighty acres is comprised within the home farm and is a rich and arable tract. None of the modern accessories and improvements are lacking upon this desirable place, good buildings, well kept fences, modern machinery and well tilled fields all indicating to the passer-by the thrift and enterprise of the owner, whose progressive spirit and indefatigable labors have won him a creditable position among the leading and representative farmers of the township. In politics he is a Republican and has served as township trustee and township clerk, capably discharging the duties of both positions. He represents the best class of our German-American citizens, reliable in business, steadfast of purpose, faithful in friendship and loyal to our Republican institutions, thus indicating his strong love for the land of his adoption.