The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-03-20
JOHN HARTONG.
Something Of the Life and
Character of the Muir
dered Man.

dered Man.
John Hartong was essentially a man
of peace. His life was long and not
without events but there was not much
in 1t that would suggest violent DEATH
He was an eccentric citizen, but that
he willfully did anyone an injury in his
lifetime is not apparent on the surface
of such occurrences as can be CLEANED
by cursory glance over the years that
made up his earthly existence. He came
from good old Pennsylvania stock, of
German descent-Pennsylvan Dutch,
so called. He was born in Lancaster
county, Pa, about 1916. What he did
there is not just known, but he was a
man who was not afraid of work. and
was hardy son of the sturdy Penn
sylvania environment. He came to
Ohio when lie was about 40 years of age
and settled at a hamlet between Mas
sillon and Wooster. What induced him
to leaVC pennsylvania was not disclosed
by him. he did not brig a wife with
hin, but /! is said that he left n son in
the east. In the little ham!et that is not
now more than an ordinary farm set
t.rJnent, John HartonS made money in
the grocery and saloon business. The
business of a grocery keeper at that
time nearly always embraced the sa,uon
business as well. That is true of west
ern Stark and eastern Wayne counties
to this day. He was quite q man of af-
fairs when he nved in Wayne county
and was lea Ter in many things lie
was aggressive in politics, and always
took an active interest in state and ma
tiOnA1 affairs He had q f,,r
putting dollars immcl:ptelY back Of
his opinions and any one who wanted an
election bet or friendly hand at draw
was not permitted to depart without re-
celving that accommodation that was
ever a characteristic of a hospitable
host in those earlier days. When Scott
and Pierce was opponents for the presi-
dency John Hartong was a Scott man
and his dollars were Scott dollars. He
took an active part in the campaign
and made fine losing though not suf-
ficient sum to embarrass him in any
way. He had notion that Scott would
carry Ohio, Indiana and Pennsylvania
and few citizens who dropped into the
back part of his grocery store had a
notion that these states We're safe for
Pierce. Hartong put 5000 on each state
and lost all three bets, besides some
smaller ones. That is only an incident
of his life that is injected here for the
purpose of giving those who follow the
trial now in progress. a general idea of
the character of the man who was foully
robbed and murdered some so years
later for the alleged perpetration of
which crime tardy justice now has an
accused at the bar of his countrymen.
When Hartong went to GreentoWn,
he was about so years of age. The Oldest
inhabitant failed TO definitely state
what his business was. He didn't ap-
pear to have any. He was friendly
enough and still had handy pack for
the boys who desired to inveigh against
his ability to undertake a look of ac-
quired vacancy when his hand was full
of the pictures or single spots that are
reputed to have charms. He dealt
somewhat in timber and stock, yet ap-
peared to have no particular line that
can be dignified by the term vocation.
He took unto himself a wife in the
person of Sarah Smith, a comely wo-
man who made him a good helpmate
They lived together for some years
when, in 1882, she died in Greentown, In
the house now occupied by Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles Smith. Sarah Smith was a sis
ter of the father of Charles Smith. After
the death of his wife Hartong develop
ed more eccentricities, which were ac-
centuated by the growing infirmatiVes
of age. He told what little business he
had to few people and few understood
him, though they all conceded him to be
a kindly disposed citizen.
AS years grew on apace he felt the
need of some one to look after his wants.
For his own comfort he moved into a
little shed that was formerly a store
room, and which was situated on the
street leading from the Valley depot to
the village proper, and but a few feet
from the Smith property in which he
had formerly lived, and where his wife
died. About ten years ago grand
Mrs. Amos Williams, came
out from eastern Pennsylvania with her
husband, and she undertook the care
or the eccentric old man. She is the
daughter OF the son of Hartong that
has heretofore been referred to. They
but a short while. Rumor has |
IL that they could not get along with
the old man or he could not get along
with them. Whatever ,he fact about
that is. the further fact remains that
Amos Williams and his wife went back |
20 Pennsylvania and Hartong cast
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