Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 April 1908 — DR. W. W. HARTSEL DIES SUDDENLY [ARTICLE]

DR. W. W. HARTSEL DIES SUDDENLY

Apparently In His Usual State of Health He Visits Farm Near Rensselaer and Dies There. Another occurrence that has added to the deplorable tragedies of the past week occurred Friday afternoon. It was the death of Dr. W. W. Hartsell, a homeopathic practitioner here for the past twenty-five years and a man who had endeared himself to all who were acquainted with him. Death occurred at his farm Just west of Rensselaer, occupied by George Wood and family. ■

- The farm tenant, Mr. Wood, was trying out a new manure spreader and Dr. Hartsell had gone out to see it work. He reached the farm at about 2 o’clock. He took much interest in the farm work, as he always did. He thought he would do a little work and he took a shovel and began filling up a ditch where a tile drain had been laid. He worked for quite a little while and probably became overheated and the exercise proved too violent for him and at a little after 4 o’clock he went to the house and told Mrs. Wood that he was sick and as he laid down on the sofa he requested her to get his medicine case and he opened it and took a dose of acenite. He told Mrs. Wood That he felt feverish and was in great pain and that his stomach was thumping just as though some one was striking it with their fist. He asked for George, and Mrs. Wood went out, and called her husband and when he entered the, room he asked if he had not better call for a doctor, but Dr. Hartsell did not reply. Mr. Wood hastened to his side and he drew only one or two long breaths and all was over. Drs. Washburn and Kresler were at once summoned and reached the farm in a few moments but found him beyond their power to aid. Philip Blue, with whom Dr. Hartsell, had made his home for many years, also responded to the call and accompanied Dr, Washburn to the scene of his death iu an automobile.

The remains were brought to Rensselaer that evening and tdken to the resiendee of Philip Blue, where they will remain pending arrangements for the funeral, which awaits response from some of his relatives who have been notified of the death. Dr. Hartsell came to Rensselaer In June, 1883, and at once took up his residence at the Makeever Hotel, which was then conducted by Phillip Blue, and when Mr. Blue was elected sheriff he went to the jail and boarded there with him, and with the exception of a short period since then he had lived with Mr. and Mrs. Blue and when he had a severe attack of rheumatism which confined him to the house for eight or nine months Mr. and Mrs. Blue nursed him through his long sickness, and he had only been out again for the past year. His full name was William Wallace Hartsell, and he was of Pennsylvania German stock, being born at Allegheny City, Pa., Jan. 27, 1844, which makes his age 64 years, 2 months and 7 days. He served for a short time in the union army during the civil war, being enlisted in a light artillery battery. He was wounded through the muscle of the left mm, and this caused a ligament in the fetefinger of the left hand to draw the first joint back. He was sent to the hospital after his injury and was discharged by special order from President Lincoln. Dr. Hartsell was educated in the Hehnemann Medical College, a homeopathic school, and beforq to Rensselaer he practiced in Nebraska, Colorado and Monticello, 111. He was stationed at Lincoln for some time and purchased a farm of 160 acres while living there and this be has always retained. Older residents of the city will remember when Dr. O. C. Link was in Rensselaer, and it was he who wrote to Dr. Hartsell and pursuaded him to come here, and he succeeded to Dr. Link's practice, and the latter returned to Lincoln, Neb. Dr. Hartsell at once established a large practice here and this he maintained until his death and although for many months his health was such that he could not be out, his old patients largely returned to him when he was again ready to actively attend to his practice.

He was never married and took but little Interest in social' matters. He has always given much attention to his farm holdings and took great delight in them. He has been a very thrifty business man and has prospered considerably since coming to Rensselaer and it is probable when

his affairs are looked into more thoroughly it will be found that he Is worth from >60,000 to >75,000. He has several vacant lots in this city, the farm just west of Rensselaer contains 356 acres and he has something like >30,000 in cash deposited In banks here and at other places. In looking over his papers to try to find out where his relatives might be located and to ascertain what he wished to have done with his body an old will was found. It was dated in July, 1883, twenty-five years ago, or just one month after he came to Rensselaer. By the terms of that will he was to be buried according to his station in life, and he left an inscription for his tombstone, which bore out his ideas along spiritualistic lines, he being an athiest. The will provided that his property be all left to his brother Joseph, but his brother was never married and he died some four or five years ago. He has an older brother living in Boulder, Colo., and several nieces and nephews, whose residences are somewhat in doubt At this hour none of them have been heard from. Dr Hartsell was not in very close communication with any of them. % If there was any later will it has not been found, and, although he was sick for so long recently he seems to have made no will at that time and he never talked with any one about what he intended to do with his money. He was very reticent on these matters and disliked to have any one, pry him with questions about his personal affairs and during all the years he has lived with Mr. Blue he has talked very little to him about his business or his family. Dr. Hartsell was an excellent citizen and was highly esteemed by every one in Rensselaer and vicinity. He was an athiest in belief and some quite peculiar ideas about life' were possessed by him and he would discuss these with any one, but his views did not tend toward making his life vicious or immoral and he was a good man and lived a good life and leaves behind him a legion of warm friends and admirers.

He was a close friend of-the late Dr. I. B. Washbuhi and later of his son, Dr. I. M. Washburn, but he never talked to them extensively of his business. In addition to these men and Mr. Blue he was a warm friend to George Wood, who resided on the farm where Dr. Hartsell died and who had worked for him a great many years, and Frank King, the blacksmith, who had also worked for him a long while, was one of his favorites. i

The funeral arrangements have not yet been made and will await some word from the relatives, but It Is certain that they will be interred In Weston cemetery.

The Funeral of Dr. Hartsell. Although a thorough effort has been made to get into communication with relatives of Dr. Hartsell, and telegrams were sent to several places in an effort to notify some of his nephews and nieces, only one response was received and that was from a niece in Pittsburg, Pa., who evidently misunderstood the telegram that had been forwarded to her from Chicago, for it merely expressed the sorrow of the sender. When it was seen that there would be no relatives here to attend the funeral or to make arrangements for holding it, the friends here made the arrangements, and the funeral was held this Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the M. E. church, Rev. H. L. Kindig, the pastor, and Rev. B. F. Ferguson, conducting the service. Burial was made in Weston cemetery.