Hartman - John P.
Source: A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens
of the City of Seattle and County of King, Washington. New York:
Lewis Pub. Co., 1903 p 421
The profession of law, when clothed with its true dignity,
purity and strength, must rank first among the callings of man
for law rules the universe. The work of the legal profession is
to formulate, to harmonize, to regulate, to adjust, to administer
those rules and principles that underlie and permeate all
government and society and control the varied relations of men.
As thus viewed there is attached to the legal profession a
nobleness that cannot but be reflected in the life of the true
lawyer who rising to the responsibilities of the profession and
honest in the pursuit of his purpose, embraces the richness of
learning and the purity of morals, together with the graces and
modesty and the general amenities of life. Of such a type John P.
Hartman is a representative. He has resided in the Sound country
for 11 years and during this time has made rapid progress in his
chosen calling. Mr. Hartman was born in Fountain County, Indiana
July 3, 1857 and comes of a family of German lineage that was
established in America 250 years ago the first representatives of
the name in this country being among the pioneer settlers of the
Carolinas. They followed agricultural pursuits. George Hartman,
the great grandfather of our subject, and one of his brothers
were soldiers of the Revolutionary War, serving under General
Francis Marion, the noted Swamp Fox. They had to live upon acorns
and sweet potatoes and when visited by a British officer the
latter remarked that men who lived in such a way could not be
defeated. John P. Hartman, the grandfather of our subject was
born in Carolina and carried on agricultural pursuits and in 1822
removed to Indiana casting in his lot among the first settlers of
the part of the state in which he located. He secured land from
the government and had a patent, which bore the personal
signature of President Andrew Jackson. This land is still in the
possession of his descendants.
The father of our subject also
bore the name of John P. Hartman and was born upon the family
homestead in Fountain County, Indiana and reared to farm life,
carrying on agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business
career but at the present time he is living retired. He served in
the 63rd Indiana Infantry two years during the Civil War. He then
entered the regular army and was mustered out with the rank of
colonel in 1865. He joined the army as a private but his
meritorious conduct and his valor won him promotion until he
became the commander of his regiment. He was with the Army of the
Tennessee for two years and afterward with General Sedgwick's
corps in the Army of the Potomac. He took part in most of the
engagements with which those divisions of the army were connected
and was at the head of the 1st Regt to enter Richmond. He was
never captured or seriously wounded although he was often in the
thickest of the fight and had many close calls. On one occasion
there were 12 or 15 bullet holes in his clothing and hat. In the
year 1873 he went to Nebraska where he took up land and engaged
in general farming and stock business for a number of years.
Later he sold his property interests in that state and removed to
Indiana once more. He is a very active and influential member of
the United Brethren Church, serving as one of its officers and
his life has ever been in harmony with its teaching. He was
united in marriage to Miss Mary Singes and unto them born 7
children of whom 3 died in infancy while only two are living, t
he sister of our subject being Mrs. Mary Torger. The mother has
also passed away. In the public schools of his native state John
P. Hartman gained his early education, which was afterward
continued in the state university of Nebraska. He went to that
state with his father in 1873. It was then a wild district,
buffalo ranged over the prairies and Indians were numerous. The
land was wild and uncultivated and the work of development and
progress had scarcely been begun. There were few farms, but over
the broad prairies were seen large herds of cattle in charge of
cowboys and Mr. Hartman became one of their numbers. Later he
attended the state university and subsequently was connected with
the engineering corps of the Union Pacific Railroad for a year,
but thinking that he would prefer the practice of law as a lie
work he began studying for the profession in Kearney, Nebraska
and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He then practiced in that
place until 1891 when he came to the west settling first in
Tacoma and in 1896 removed to Seattle. Since his arrival upon the
coast he has been very successful in the practice of his chosen
profession, devoting his time almost exclusively to corporation
law. He has a well-selected and extensive library and is the
representative of many of the large firms and business houses of
this city. He has studied closely and carefully the great
questions of jurisprudence and in the handling of his cases
demonstrate his superior skill and ability. To some extent Mr.
Hartman has been engaged in real estate dealing and has erected
some building in the city, both residence and business property.
He also has farming interests in Kent. He was reared upon a farm
and has always had a liking for the occupation. His investments
have been judiciously and carefully made and have brought him a
good financial return. On September 16, 1883 Mr. Hartman was
married at New Helena, Nebraska to Miss Caroline E. Dryden the
daughter of a Wisconsin pioneer and their children were: Eva
deceased; Dwight 14; Harold 12 and Robert 5. In his political
views Mr. Hartman is a stalwart Republican active in the ranks of
the party and has attended county, state and national
conventions. He is also a campaign worker and has made a wide
acquaintance among the leaders of the party in this portion of
the state and elsewhere but has never sought or desired official
preferment for himself. He is an active member of the Westminster
Presbyterian Church, was one of its organizers and is now a
member of its session. Nature bestowed upon him good gifts. He
possesses a mind of broad compass, and the industry that brings
forth every spark of talent with which he has been endowed. Few
lawyers have made a more lasting impression upon the bar of the
state both for legal ability of a high order and for the
individuality of the personal character which impresses itself
upon the community. - typed by kbz