The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1924-05-29
FORMER MAYOR JOHN W.
HART DIED SUDDENLY
End Came To Prominent Citizen
Of Oakland at His Home
Monday Evening.

Former Mayor John w. Hart, of
Oakland, died suddenly at his home
on Fourth street Monday evening a
few minutes before seven o'clock, fol-
lowing an attack of appoplexy with
which he was stricken while sitting
on the porch at his home.
Mr.. Hart was merchant in Oak
land for forty-seven years, having en-
tered the business with his father. the
late Owen Hart, in 1877, which CO.
partnership existed for twenty years,
after which Mr.. Hart became sole
owner of the store which he conducted
successfully until the day of his sud
den death. Mr.. Hart was honored by
the citizens of Oakland by being chos-
en- as Mayor three times and as a
member of the Town Council twice.
He was active in church and civic
affairs. AS a churchman he was a
leader in his faith, being a lifelong
member of st. Peters Catholic church
and was associated with all the activ-
tiles of that congregation. He was
also member of the Knights of Co.
lumbus and was a delegate to the
State convention of that fraternity
which convened at Havre de Grace on
the 18th inst. AS a citizen he was
loyal to the best interests of the town
and community, always standing for
what he considered the best for the
town, the county and the State, and as
such his advice was sought upon mat
terS having to do with civic govern
ment and the really worth while
things of community life and the well
fare of the people.
Mr.. Hart was the eldest son of the
late Owen and Ellen Hart, and was
born on farm near Oakland on No
vember 16, 1856. Arriving at school
age he attended the public school in
Oakland until he was II years old,
when he was sent to Brooklyn by his
parents where he entered St. Francis
Academy, from which he graduated
swhen he was fourteen years old. He
then entered st. Charles College, Bal
timore, and withdrew from it after
a period of two years, when he re-
turned to his home here.
Mr.. Hart was married on October
10, 1879, to Miss Anna Marie Helbig,
of Oakland, daughter of the late Mr..
and Mrs. John Helbig, who are well
and favorably remembered by the OIL
der residents of town. To this union
were born twelve children, namely:
Mrs. James A. Sweeney, of Balti-
more; Mrs. Elizabeth Shaffer, Wash
ington, D. c.; Sister Mary Marcella,
Baltimore; John F. Hart, Boston,
Mass, and Misses Estella, Marguerite,
Bernadette, Helen and Cecilia and Mr..
James Hart, all of Oakland; Mary,
who died in 1909, and Thomas, who
died in infancy thirty-six years ago.
Besides his wife and ten children,
Mr.. Hart is survived by four grand
children, three sisters, namely: Mrs.
Joseph P. Helbig, of Oakland; Mrs.
C. A. Bolden, of Meyersdale, Pa, and
Miss Mary Hart, also of Oakland, and
by one brother, Eugene Hart, of De-
troit, Michigan, besides large cir
Gle of friends.
The funeral services were conducted
this morning at 1920 o'clock in st.
Peters Catholic church, the Rev. j. F.
Eckenrode, pastor, officiating, with in
terment in the Catholic cemetery. The
active pail bearers were Messrs. c. T.
Riley. ]. NJ. Stanton, Edward A. Shat
fer, P. ]. Garrett, M. w. Pendergast
and H. A. Loraditch, while the hon
orary pail bearers were DR.. ii. W.
McComas, Messrs. Gilmor 5. Hamill,
James D. Hamill, G. A. Fraley, VIM.
r. Offutt and VIM. A. Sturgiss.