The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-08-09
NTDCE C.SHARTMAN
CROSSES BIG DIVIDE
Filled Many High Places During
Iife-Fort Benton Jurist Had
Reen Assemblyman, Diplomat
and Congressman-Was Member
Of Constitutional Convention


Great Falls, Aug. 3.-District
Judge Charles S. Hartman, OF FofC
BENTON, member of the constltu-
tional convention in 1889, congress-
man from 1898 to 1897 and Amerl-
con minister to Ecuador during the
Wilson administration, died at 2:5f
Saturday afternoon at Columbus
hospital following an operation. lie
entered the hospital July %.
Funeral services were held Tues
dav. He is survived by a son, 10y
K. Hartman of Tacoma and a
daughter, Mrs. Flora H. Salmon OF
Seattle.
From late in 1926 to 1927 Judge
Hartman practiced law in Great
Falls.
He was born in Monticello,
White county, Indiana March l,
1861, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Sampson
Hartman. The father died about
the time of the sons birth. Mr.,
Hartman's maternal ancestors were
pioneers of Pennsylvania. His IA
theirs people had long been resi-
dents of Indiana.
To Montana in 1882
Mr.. Hartman was educated in
the Monticello high school and at
! Wabash college, Charlottesville, In
! diana after which he began the
study of law in the office of Owens
& Uhl in his native town. When he
: was 81 the west lured him and in
January 1882 he arrived at Boze-
, man. There he continued his law
: studies and in August 1884 was
admitted to the bar.
The same year Mr.. Hartman was
, elected probate Judge of Gallatir
county. In 1889 he was chosen {
: member of the constitutional con
vention and in this capacity he par
ticipated in the drama which mad,
: Montana a state and gave the new
, commonwealth it's Fundamental
laws.
d In 1892 Judge Hartman wa
= elected to congress. He was then
e republican but in 1896 as a sup
/ porter of William Jennings Bryan
IL silver platform, he began to es
S pouse the democratic cause i
e which he remained.
S During most of his political ca
d reer Judge Hartman was associat
Ie ed in law practice with his bro
Ie Their, Walter S. Hartman of Boze
man.
N In Diplomatic Service
to In the Wilson Administrative
k Charles S. Hartman was ministe
IN to Ecuador. Leaving the diplomat
service he returned to Bozema
ii where he remained until 1926 whe
IN he came to Great Falls and forme
ps a law partnership with S. G. For
nd now associate justice of the 81
to preme court.
no This partnership continued unit
to late in the winter of 1927 wht
lis Gov. J. Erickson appointed N
tic Hartman district Judge for Che
'r- teau county to succeed John \
Tattan who had died after mai
years as Judge Of the 18th judici
n district. Since that appointing
Judge Hartman has resided at FL
Benton and last fall was elected
. the office to which he had been "a
for pointed.
yes At Fort Benton Judge Hartm
nts was leader in civic enterpris
in and constant worker in the
terests of the chamber of co
ty- nerce. His oratorieal talents W.
out frequently called on for public (
in therings in the river town. WI
ter the community required a spok
Wi man Judge Hartman was Of
ted chosen.
: is For the last few years JuC
and Hartman's health has not been
son best and several times he had
ac- relinquish his work temporarily
Of was not generally realized that
condition of health was anyth
rye to be alarmed at. He was in Gu
ears Falls several tiEes during the
ears few week and on those occasion
the seemed to his friends that he :
ints in good health.
ers. Factor in Politics
in Charles S. Hartman was one
Re- the most interesting factors
Montana politics, especially in
DAYS when statehood was just
ginning and even in the more n
ern times. He was an apt c
paigner and was in every campo
on through mere love of it. He stu
lice ed the state many times and
Ting involved in some of the most h
not ed issues.
AT Tn 1896, at the end of his
ana in congress Judge Hartman bee
aary the leader of the silver republic
'pec- in Montana. The contest was
stormy one. That famous pior
$ OF the late Col. Wilbur F. SAND
'lven fought this detection from the
nublican ranks, but Hartman's
the yer republicans were triumphal
not Tn 1910 Judge Hartman bee
the democratic nominee for
have gress but was defeated by
and oressman Charles N. Pray,
darn. living at Fort Benton and nov
and. s. district Judge residing in G
Falls.
ALE The activities of Judge Hart
Dag in the democratic ranks attrs
omar more than statewide attention
The that Woodrow Wilson appoi
cold him minister to Ecuador. An
sale the many experience of his life
ch is &c Americas representative in
rpose South American country was
serv- of the most interesting. j