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Lee County Biography HARTMAN KERSTEN Ashton, Lee County IL
Hartman Kersten, who has for many years been prominent in the agricultural life of Lee County, is a wealthy farmer and stock-raiser of large experience and more than ordinary capability, is sagacious, far-seeing and prudent in the management of his affairs, and has tilled the soil to some purpose, as is shown by the fine appearnace of his extensive and well ordered farm in Ashton Twp.
A native of Germany, Mr. Kersten was born Jan. 2, 1836. He passed the early part of his life up to the age of 19 in the Fatherland and then boldly ventured across the ocean to try his fortunes in this country. He landed in NY in the month of September, 1854 and caem directly to Lee county, and for some time thereafter he lived in Franklin Grove Twp. He worked as a farm laborer for four year and then entered upon his independent career as a farmer on rented land in Bradford Twp. He remained there four years and then invested some of hard earned money in 115 acres of land in Ashton Twp. At that time he settled here on section 36, where he has erected a substantial conveniently arranged residence and a fine set of farm buildings. He has been very fortunate in carrying on his farming and stock interests, and has accumulated a valuable property, including nearly 600 acres of as fertile land as can be found in the county.
Mr. Kersten was married in Dixon to Miss Anna R. Heldebrand, a native of Germany, in whom he has found a devoted wife, who is a true home-maker. Theirs is a true marriae and has been blessed to them by the birth of 9 children - Hartman who married Sophia Neuman; Martha wife of George Schaffer; George who married Anna Wagner; Kate wife of Henry Neuman, Sophia wife of John Bachelor; Anna; Lizzie; Tena and Minnie who died in infancy.
Our subject possess in a full degree those solid qualities by which alone success is attained in any walk in life. He has a firm will, a strong mind, keen powers of discrimination, and his tenacity of purpose enables him to carry out any plan that he may devise to further his interests. He has been School Director and in that capacity worked earnestly to promote the cause of education in his township. In politics he is a Republican and is a straightforward supporter of the principles of his party. He and his wife are members of the Evangelical Church and tey stand high in the estimation of all who know them.
Source: Portraits & Biographical
Hartman M. Kersten is now living retired in Ashton, but for many years he was a most active, energetic business man, carrying on general farming and the raising of blooded stock. He is still the owner of a valuable farm property upon which is a large grain elevator. Lee county numbers him among her native sons, his birth having occurred in Bradford township, January 13, 1860, his parents being John and Christine (Hildebrandt) Kersten, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. The country schools afforded him his early educational privileges and he afterward spent two winter terms in Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois, attending there in 1881 and 1882. He then returned home and assisted his father through two succeeding years. He afterward purchased seventy acres from his father- in-law, located on section 36, Bradford township, while his wife inherited eighty acres adjoining. Upon this tract, then comprising one hundred and fifty acres, he began farming and converted the land into an arable section, readily producing good crops as the result of his progressive methods of tilling the soil. He erected modern buildings and made a specialty of raising blooded stock, handling largely Galloway cattle. As prosperity crowned his labors he purchased more land from time to time, becoming the owner of the Gleim farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Bradford township and also another tract of one hundred and nine acres in the same township. He likewise has other land in Lee county situated near Dixon. He continued upon the home farm until December, 1903, when he sold his blooded stock and removed with his family to Ashton, which he now makes his home, living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest. In 1913 he erected upon his farm in Bradford township a grain elevator, having a capacity of ten thousand bushels, and he also built a private siding from the Northern Illinois l??ectric Railroad to the elevator, thus securing excellent shipping facilities.
On the 15th of January, 1885, Hartman M. Kersten was married to Miss Mary Gross, a daughter of Reinhart and Martha (Reinhart) Gross, who were natives of Kerr-Hessen, Germany.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kersten were born three children: Arthur R., who owns and operates a farm in Ashton township, wedded Miss Minnie Henert and has one son, Clarence Hartman Kersten. Rosa C. is the wife of Edward M. Herwig, who owns and cultivates a tract of land in Bradford township. Alice E. Kersten is deceased.
Mr. Kersten is a member of the United Evangelical church and has taken an active and helpful part in the various lines of church work, serving for many years as Sunday-school superintendent. When a youth of thirteen he had been converted throwing the efforts and teaching of Christian Schuster and Joetchel. He is a progressive in politics and has been a delegate to republican county conventions. He filled the office of road commissioner and for eleven years was school director. Mr. Kersten believes firmly in promoting the public-school interests and in giving to the youth of the land the best educational opportunities possible. He is one of the prominent and prosperous citizens of Lee county, and while promoting his individual success, has always found time to aid in the general development and the advancement of the public welfare.
Transcribed by Karen Holt - 1914 History of Lee County Illinois Vol 2 by Frank E. Stevens.
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