Notes
Note N1119
Index
Age given as 51.
Notes
Note N1120
Index
Sol Pa
Notes
Note N1121
Index
The indians would come to the house for food; they always seemed to know when her mother was baking. One day an old Indian noticed their youngest daughter Quindarow, playing in the yard. Because of her dark complexion and brown eyes, he was sure she was an Indian and accused grandmother of stealing her. Grandmother must have understood the Indian pretty well, because she convinced him that she was really her child; perhaps the extra bread and pies given to him helped. Grandmother and the older children kept a watchful eye on Quindarow after that.
Notes
Note N1122
Index
Memorial service was at the First United Methodist Church, Sherman Street extension.
Notes
Note N1123
Index
1914 graduate of Harrisburg, Pa High School and 1918 graduate of Lehigh University. Veteran of WW1 in US Navy. Employed by state Bureau of Employment Security until retirement in 1963, then served as Muncy borough secretary until 1968. In 1980, he spent two weeks in Washington DC in the Congressional Senior Citizen Intern program.
Notes
Note N1124
Index
Date is given as 9 Nov 1836 on gravestone.
Notes
Note N1125
Index
Living with his brother Randall.
Notes
Note N1126
Index
Enlisted in the army in 1861. After the war, spent several years with his brother in Arizona and California, then went to southern Kansas to take up a claim (homestead). Occupation in 1860 Iowa Census (Franklin Twp, Des Moines Cty) listed as farmer. Occupation in 1900 Kansas Census (Bellville Twp, Chautauqua Cty) listed as farmer. Served in Company G, 39th Iowa Infantry.
According to "The Roster of Iowa Volunteers", p 987, he was Age 23, Residence Dodgeville, nativity Pennsylvania, enlisted Aug 16, 1862 as Fourth Sergeant, Mustered October 18 1862, promoted Third Sergeant Jan 1, 1863, taken prisoner Oct 5, 1864, Allatoona, Ga, paroled, mustered out June 5, 1865, Washington, DC. According to family legend, he spent time in the infamous Andersonville (Ga) prison camp and this is confirmed by National Park Service records which show that Randall was kept at Andersonville, but that he survived his captivity there. He has been assigned Code Number 65653 by the Park Service. His military records don't say where he was kept before being paroled from Richmond, Va.
On August 10, 1894, Iowa observed the first Battle flag Day in Des Moines, by holding a procession of unit battle flags. Flags 109, 110 and 111 were from the 39th Iowa Infantry. The banners flowing from the 39th staff held the words, "Parker's Cross Roads, Tenn, 1862; Cherokee Station, Ala, 1863; Town Creek, Ala, 1863; Snake Creek Gap, Ga., 1864; Lay's Ferry, Ga., 1864; Alltoona, Ga., 1864; Columbia, S.C., 1865; Bentonville, N.C.; 1865." They were then hermetically sealed in cases on display in the Iowa Capital building.
Randall served as Noble Grand of Peru (Kansas) Lodge No 106, Independent Order of Odd Fellows in the late 1870's.
Randall's military file at the National Archives contains the following information. Appears on Company Muster-In Roll for Co G, 39th Regiment Infantry, roll dated November 24, 1862 at Davenport, Ia. Born Perry Co, Penn. Age 22 years. Occupation Farmer. When enlisted: August 16, 1862. Where enlisted: Dodgeville, Ia. For what period enlisted: 3 years. Blue eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, 5'11" tall. Bounty paid $25.00. Premium paid $2.00. Listed as "Present" on November and December 1862, January and February 1863, March and April 1863, May and June 1863, July and August 1863. "Present" at special muster roll dated April 14, 1863. Continued to be listed "Present" from September 1863 through August 1864. Listed as "Absent" on September 1864 through April 1865 with remarks "Prisoner of War. Captured at Altoona Ga Oct 5, 1864". Listed on muster roll of "Detachment of Paroled Prisoners" from January through April 1865 as "Present" at Benton Barracks, Mo. The following two months, he is listed as "Absent" from the Detachment, with remarks "Sent to state". Appears on Company Muster-Out Roll dated June 5, 1865 at Washington, D.C. with notation "last paid to Dec 31, 1863". Clothing account described as last settled August 31, 1863, amount for clothing in kind or money advanced $80.10. Bounty paid $25.00, amount due $75.00. Remarks report "Appointed Sergt Nov 24, 1862. Paroled Prisoner, captured at Allatoona, Ga Oct 5, 1864. Last heard from at Burlington Ia. A "Notation" card dated February 25, 1890 reports" it has been determined by this Department from evidence furnished by the Second Auditor that this man was mustered out with Co June 5, 1865 and paid to include July 9, 1865, date to which Company was paid on muster out. A "Returns" card reports: Oct 1864 Missing in Action Oct 5, 1864 Allatoona Ga. Apr 1865 Gain Apr 7, 1865 Goldsboro NC from missing in action. Apr and May 1865 absent prisoner of war since Oct 5, 1864. Finally, his file includes a "Memorandum from Prisoner of War Records" which reports "Escaped - February 28, 1865, Sent to Benton Barracks Mo March 14, 1865, reported there March 21, 1865, furloughed March 23, 1865 for 30 days, returned April 27, 1865. Lulu Hanna wrote that he was held for a time at the Andersonville Ga prison.
The October 1864 Burlington Hawkeye listed Sgt R. M. Hartzell as missing.
As mentioned in his brother Austin's letter to a lawyer (see his notes), Randell spent several years out West after the war was over. Here is a letter Randell sent from Sante Fe, New Mexico on September 5, 1866.
Dear Mother and Father,
It is with pleasure I take my pen in hand this morning to answer the receipt of your kind and thrice welcome favor which came to hand the third instant, your kind letter of July 29th and Maggies of the 12th of August are the only two letters I have received from Iowa since I left Leavenworth. My friends (if I have any) in Casa, seem to have struck me from their list of correspondents (but whats the hoods, so long as a man is Appy.) You must excuse me for not writing oftener than I have. The facts in the case are I have had but few opportunities of mailing letters since we left the States. John wrote from several of the forts that we passed, stating we were well, and that is about all that a person can find to write about in this country. Our trip across the Plains was very monotonous. The first day out from Council Grove gave us a very good idea of what the Plains were. Every day was a repition of the first. Nothing to be seen from one day's end to another, but prairie and sky, until we struck the Raton Mountains, several hundred miles south of Pike's Peak. Did not see a stick of timber large enough for a walking stick, until we crossed the Red River. Wood being scarce, we burned chips (Buffalo dung) which by the way is an excellent substitute for wood. I got so I could bake biscuits by such a fire to perfection. We had some fine fun while going up the Arkansas River hunting buffalo. I wish Sam could have been with me one night while we were along the Arkansas. I was out on herd, about daylight there came up a terrific rain storm and with it came a herd of about eight hundred Buffalo. They dashed in among our cattle and stampeded them. Cattle, Buffalo and Ran (the writer) in a promiscuous mass went thundering down the valley. I emptied my revolver at them, then went for them with my little Wesson rifle. We got our cattle out of the herd. After running several miles, killed several monarchs of the prairie in that skirmish. We forded the Arkansas river at Cimarron Crossing. We had a stretch of 65 miles to the Cimarron River with but little grass and no water. Hauled water for cooking but had none for our cattle. We had some very warm weather while on the Plains and the mosquitoes and Buffalo gnats nearly used us up.
I am so glad to hear that you have such good crops and have been so fortunate in saving them. Aussey (Austin) is a husky boy and I will bring him something nice when I come home. He beats all the other boys to work that I know of.
The Mexicans are just harvesting now. They do not farm very much, all they raise is done by irrigating their farms. I have seen some very good wheat and some good corn here in the Sante Fe valley. Those Mexicans are the most indolent set of creatures in the world nearly, but no little better than the Indians. Just think of it, here is Sante Fe, a city that was founded over two hundred years ago. It consists of about one hundred mud, or as the native call them "adobe" huts, with only one frame house in the town.
There is no enterprise about them and they are very much prejudiced against American enterprise and do all they can against them. We had no trouble with the Indians crossing the Plains. We passed several tribes who were on the war path. They were going out on the Smokey Hill route to drive off the Pale Faces, they said. I have not heard whether they have committed any depredations on that route or not. They are a miserable, treacherous set of vagabonds. They have not one redeeming quality.
We expect to stay here a week or ten days to rest our cattle and wait for Col. Anderson's party, who is a week or ten days behind us. His party was gotten up in St. Louis and were in camp i Topeka when we left there. We will go from here to Albuquerque. From there we have not fully determined whether we will go down to the newly discovered gold fields near Pinos, New Mexico (distance 375 miles from here) or go on to the headwaters of the Gila River in Arizona. The Indians are the only drawback at either place. They are very bad at both places, but more in Arizona than in New Mexico.
As I can think of nothing that would interest you, I will close this scribble. When you write (and I hope you will write often), direct your correspondence to Sante Fe until further notice, and we will make arrangements here to have them forwarded to us.
My love to all the members of the family and to all inquiring friends, if any of them wish to write me tell them to direct their communications to Sante Fe.
Regards to you and Mother. So good-bye for the present. Hoping to hear from you often.
I remain Yours truly, Ran M. Hartzell.
"Although our part of the county consists of prairies, sand ridges and blackjacks, we believe it is worthy of some note and wish to call your attention to the same. As Belleville township contains two progressive towns, Peru and Chautauqua, with our little Jonesburg, we most always have something to do with the county affairs and "North Belleville" always comes in with their share, with Sol Huffman in charge of the county poor farm. School district 125 has a new school house and district 46 is out of debt. Most all of our farmers, as farming and stock raising is our occupation, have built for themselves either new residences or barns, granaries or stock sheds within the last two or three years. Our most ffore-handed men ae Wallace Heath, F.M. Golden S.B. Jennings, H.C. Brown, F.E. Smith, A.R and R.M. Hartzell, W.S. Keys, Paul Jenson, Ambrose Spires and Hugh Moore. Quite a lot of hay has been shipped from here during the winter. Jer. Ellexson and his neighbors always come in with a good supply of fruit from their well cultivated orchards, and we believe anyone passing through our part of the county will find themselves within the bounds of a progressive civilization, at least."--28 February 1901, Sedan (KS) Lance
"Mr. Hartzell Declines. Editor Sedan Lance. Dear Sir: Hearing I have been nominated for Clerk of the District Court by the Independent convention held at Sedan August 27, would say, I cannot accept same on account of my present business interests at Peru. Thanking my many friends for their kindly interest in my behalf, I remain, Very Truly Yours, R.M. Hartzell. Peru, August 29, 1904."--9 September 1904, Sedan (KS) Lance
"H.C. Dryden of Topeka was in town this week and reorganized a G.A.R. post here with fourteen comrades present. Ran Hartzell was elected post commander and comrade Hazelton adjutant. They are to meet next Saturday with W.R.C. ladies and make plans for Decoration day."--31 March 1910, Sedan (KS) Times-Star
"A jolly crowd of young folks were out picknicking Sunday evening on the Ran Hartzell place west of town. They took their lunch and spread supper and a jolly good time was had by the entire crowd, who decided to go again sometime."--4 August 1910, Sedan (KS) Times-Star
"Frank Coral of Caney has rented the Ran Hartzell place for next year. Mr. Hartzell has moved to Peru."--13 November 1903, Sedan (KS) Lance
"Randal McAllister Hartzell was born November 9, 1838 in the state of Pennesylvina. When but a small boy he with his parents moved to Dodgeville, Iowa; there he grew to manhood.
On the 16th day of August 1862 he answered the call of his country and enlisted in the Union Army as a fourth sergeant and was mustered into the service October 8th the same year. On the (5th day of October) [transcribers note: the 5th day of October is what is written, but the year is omitted] he was taken prisoner at Alattona, Georgia and remained a prisoner until the close of the war; Serving in both Southern prisons, Libby and Andersonville. He was mustered out June __1865 at Washington, D.C.
At the close of the war he returned to his home in Iowa, remaining there for a number of years. He was married to Mary Ellen Wait in November of 1865 at Burlington, Iowa. To this union four children were born, three of whom survive him.
In the spring of 1871 Mr. Hartzell with his wife come to Kansas and settled on his farm just west of Peru where he resided for many years. A few years ago as age crept upon him he moved into Peru, built a nice home and settled down to spend the remaining days of his life in a quite way.
Later he moved to Sedan where he resided until the death messenger sounded the alarm at the outer door and his spirit was summoned to the land were our Fathers have gone before us.
Mr. Hartzell was well known throughout the county and loved by all who knew him. He was a faithful member of the I.O.O.F. for more than 38 years. He was also a member of the Masonic order and not only a member but a true Brother. He stood in our midst a straight forward and upright man.
He departed this life November 13, 1918 at his home here. Funeral services Saturday by the Rev. Joseph B. Brown of Elgin and his body taken for burial to his old home at Peru for interment in the Peru Cemetery. Services at the grave were conducted by the Masonic lodge of Peru."--Find-a-grave
"R. M. Hartzell Dead. -- R. M. Hartzell passed away at his home in Sedan at 9 o'clock following an illness of about six weeks duration. Mr. Hartzell had been failing in health for ayear, but only recently did his condition become serious. He has resided in the county for many years, moving here from Peru a few years ago. Funeral arrangements are waiting upon word from relatives. He leaves a wife and daughter, Miss Dorothy, and two sons, Max and Harold."--14 Nov 1918, The Sedan (KS) Times-Star