My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM HARTMAN, retired, McKeesport, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, June 8, 1822, a son of Philip and Elizabeth (Boelinder) Hartman. He was reared and educated in his native town, and at the age of fourteen was apprenticed for four years to the shoemaker’s trade, after which he worked as a journeyman until twenty-four years of age. In 1846 he was married to Catherine Steinman and sailed for America, locating for a short time in New York city. He continued his journey until he arrived among his friends in Lincoln (then Elizabeth) township, where he opened and carried on a small shoe shop until 1858, when he removed to McKeesport, and here invested in some property. Finally he embarked in the retail boot and shoe business, which he carried on very successfully until 1883, when he retired. In the year 1866 he had erected the large brick building known as the Franklin Hall building, which was destroyed by fire Oct. 3, 1877. In the year following he erected the present large business block known as Hartman’s block, one of the finest and best in the city. He has been for many years one of the leading and most substantial citizens of McKeesport. He is a member of the G. L. Church, the I. O. O. F. Encampment, A. O. U. W. and R. A. Mr. Hartman has ten children living, three sons and seven daughters; his sons are Henry, John N. and William E. Hartman, all well-known and prosperous business-men. Politically Mr. Hartman is a democrat.