The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-07-28
BROTHER OF H.b. HARTS,
ARDM0RE, HEADS YANKS
ON THE FIRM G LINE

fleld, ILL.,, NeWS-Kecord carried the
following story of Brig. Gen. VIII
liam w. Harts, brother of II. &.
Harts of Ardmore:
As greater numbers of American
soldiers take part in the fighting in
France there is an increased inter
est in the whereabouts and the do
ings of Springfield boys with the
United States armies.
Brig. Gen. William w. Harts,
now commanding American troops
brigaded with the British on the
western front, was Springfield boy
40 years ago. He was born and rails
ed in this city, graduating from the
old Springfield high school with the
class of 1855.
Recognized as one of the fore
most engineers of the United States
Harts, holding the rank of colonel,
had been chief military aide TO
President Wilson since the presi-
dents first election in 1912, and
also was superintendent of govern
ment buildings and grounds in
Washington. Last fall he request
ed that he be transferred to active
war service, and in December he
embarked for France in command
of the Third regiment, U. s. engi-
neers. Upon his arrival in France
he found that he had been promot-
ed to the rank of brigadier general
and was placed in command Of
troops brigaded with the British.
Parents Still Here.
General Harts' parents still live
in Springfield. His father, Capt.
p. w. Harts, was an officer under
Gen. q. S. Grant in the Civil war.
Since that war he practiced law
in Springfield, and now, at the age
of 81, is retired. The generals
mother is II. They celebrated their
Saith wedding anniversary last Feb
ruary. They now live at 1917 Low
ell ave-, having given up their old
home at End street and Lawrence
avenue in 1912 to make for the new
St. Paurs Episcopal church which
now stands on that property.
Captain Harts entered the Civil
war as commander of company
of the Tooth Illinois infantry. He
was disabled home from Vicksburg,
later re-entering the service as an
officer of the 9th u. s. regiment.
Following the war he came back
to Springfield and took up the prac-
tice of law for which he had been
studying when the war began. He
had known Lincoln in Springfield
and had heard him speak many
times before the war. Captain
Harts is brother of the late Capt.
David II. Harts, who for many
years before his death two years
ago was prominent attorney in
Lincoln, Ill.
Only Captain and Mrs. Harts live
in the big house on Lowell avenue
now. Besides General Harts there
are two other sons. Attorney Ed
win B. Harts of Chicago and At
torney B. Harts of Oklahoma. the
latter recently named a candidate
for congress from Oklahoma on the
Republican ticket.
Nephew at Fort Sheridan.
Attorney Edwin B. Harts ran
down from Chicago to visit his !
parents the latter part Of the week.
His son, Hanson Harts, Is years
old, grandson of Captain Harts, is
in the officers training camp at Fl.
Sheridan.
In Captain and Mrs. Harts' home
is a great scrap book OF newspaper
clippings telling about their son,
his feats of engineering in con-
struction of dams, bridges, bald
ings, notably the Lincoln Memorial
building in Washington, and in re-
clamation work in the west, as
well as his participation in court
functions and other ceremonies at
Washington as the presidents chief
aide.
1--WE are very proud of our son.
the aged father said today. He'll
make good over there. I'm sure OF
it. He only needs to get a chance.
He always has made good.
I'VE often get letters from him,
but orders are that they be not pub
ished. He doesn't discuss military
affairs much in his letters, and there
sn't much OF interest to the public
n them, either. In his last letter
ne tells of an interesting incident
hat occurred on one of his tours
n the war zone. The children of
hat country sadly lack .he care Of
rood homes. he says. \ smashed
window in his auto, he says. brought
hat fact closely to his attention.
"'A stone smashed through the
Iuto window. My son and his
hauffeur went back to find the
ulprit. 1t was in a little village
lear the front line. They found no
ignS of any bad boys. until loud
rying attracted them TO where
mall boy crCuched in mortal ter
or. 'After making an investigation
We couldn't have the heart to pun
sh him. The letter says. 1T seems
hat two little Belgian boys were