The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-02-24
DEATH OF JAS. H. HARTwELL.
Another Old Pioneer Leaves Shiawassee
County to Mourn His Loss.

County to Mourn HIS Loss.
Shiawassee county has suffered another
severe loss In the death of one of the
noblest of her old pioneers, James II. Hart
we'll who died Sunday afternoon at four
o'clock, at the home of his daughter. Mrs.
Frank Greenman, on North Washington
street, where he was spending the winter.
The funeral was held Wednesday morning
at ten O'clock.
Mr.. Hartwell was born in Norwich, New
York, in 1925. Thirteen years later with
his parents and their other children, he be-
ing the eldest, he came to Michigan, settling
M. Hartwell, had already been and beguu
the clearing of farm and the erection of a
house. The farm was located on the old
Grand River road, which was for so many
years the only passenger and freight route
across the State, and soon after moving into
this house 1t was thrown open to the pub
lie, and the fame of the hospitality of the
Hartwell tavern spread along the whole
to be known as a tavern the old time repu-
tation for hospitality clung to 1t, and with
good reason, as many who have crossed its
threshold can testify. At the same time
more and more under cultivation until they
appeared as large fourishing farms, and
their later owner has long been regarded
one of the wealthlest of Shiawassae farm
ers, who added prosperity to hospitality as
another characteristic for which the home.
stead was noted.
The Hartwellville postoffice was estab-
lished In 1874 with Jonathan M. Hartwell
as postmaster, and for nearly the whole
period of almost fifty-ive years since then the
Office has been held by one of the two men
who, being opposed to each other in politics,
simply exchanged the Office from one to the
other with the changing administration, but
still making it possible to assert that for
almost fifty-fve years Mr.. j. I'll. Hartwell
has handled the mails for the neighborhOod.
The Crystal Fount Lodge of Good Tenn
plars is the Oldest working lodge of that
order in the world, and its story is just one
more side to the life of Mr.. James III. Hart
we'll, who was one of the charter members
of the order and has thrown the energy of
of his own energetic life into the work of
the Crystal Fount Lodge and the temper
ance cause. Through his efforts the lodge
has been kept alive and active all these
years, its commodious hall being situated
opposite his own house on the old Grand
River road. The good done by this lodge
alone through the many years of Its life can
never be fully told, but his work remains in
the work OF his favorite lodge, and the edu-
eating influences of its programs and de.
bates, and the moral and social influences of
Its meetings will be a fitting memorial to
him.
Mr.. Ha;twell was also a charter member
of Shiawassee Lodge l. D. o. F., organized
nearly forty years ago In Hartwellvlle and
still In existence at MOrrice. He was also
member of the l. o. o. f. Encampment
and Canton at Owosso. Besides his fra
ternal occupations he served his town in
various political capacities including that of
supervisor in addition also to his work as
postmaster.
Mr.. Hartwell Is survived by one daugh-
ter, Mrs. Frank G. Greenman, and by his
wife, who was Miss Sarah 5. Stuart, of
Hartwelville, whom he married in 1850.
Although a member Of no church Mr..
Hartwell's life was consistent christian
life on generous, whole souled lines. He
believed in doing good deeds and In the
real substance of things rather than show.
Though a member of the Odd Fellow
Canton he wished simple funeral without
display, and the services held at his daugh-
ter's home were accordingly simple and i'm
pressive. They were conducted by Rev. K.
w. Hunt, of Lansing, and Rev. r. o.
Cooper, of Christ church, In this city.
Mrs. Hunt sang the solo, IL Know That
My Redeemer Liveth," and Mrs. l.. e.
Gould read an appropriate selection from
Whittier.