(right) North is up on the map. In this 1879 Historical Atlas of Huron County map John Hartman’s farm, on Goshen Line,(Lot 4, Con. 11 Hay Township) is straight north of Sarepta on the west (left) side of the road.

“John [Hartman] (1828-1998) was 18 years old when he came to Canada with his father, two brothers and two sisters. In 1850, while living at Lot 6, Con. 11, [Hay] he leased Lot 4 Con. 11 [Hay] from the Canada Company and began clearing the land. In 1854, he married Marian Eigeldinger. John walked to St Agatha to get married and then walked back to Hay Township with his bride, a distance of about 180 miles round trip.

In 1860, he purchased the 100 acres at Lot 4, Con. 11 from the Canada Company for 78 pounds, two shillings and 6 pence. [Ed. note: If these were British Pounds of the era (rather than Upper Canada Pounds) the current equivalent in today’s funds is roughly $100,000.] Around this time, they built a small triple brick home, now the kitchen of the house. They continued to clear the bush with oxen until 20 acres remained as a woodlot. Mary Anne, their first child, was only ten when her mother died, leaving her with the responsibility of looking after her brothers and sisters. In 1874,, John bought 40 acres of S. Pt. Lot 5, Con. 11 [Hay] from Jacob Weber. In 1884, John built an addition to the existing house and a new barn which is still in use.

John and Marian had seven children. Mary Anne (1854-1921) married Alonza Foster. They resided for 44 years at Lot 4, Con. 9 [Hay] and had eight children. Mary (1856-1924) married Valentine Kochan and they lived in Zurich. Joseph (1857-1937) married Christina Dietrich. They farmed at Lot 16, NB Stephen [Township] and had eight children. August (1859-1937) married Magdalene Dietrich. They farmed Lot 17, NB Stephen [Township] until 1902 when the family moved west to Edmonton, Alberta. They had eight children. John (1860-1947) married Caroline Strub. Philip (1861-1929) married Dora Burbach. They lived on Lot 3, Con. 11, [Hay] until they moved to Watford. They adopted three children. Regina (1863-1942) married Wendall Smith. They lived on Lot 7, Con. 9 [Hay] and had ten children.”

extracted from “Hay Township Highlights: 150 years of Diversified Progress, 1846 – 1996”, published by the Hay Township Book Committee under the auspices of Hay Township Council, Alice Gibb ed.; pgs. 445-446 ISBN : 0-919939-43-0