T.J. HARTWELL, a businessman of Oakland, was born in Rockford, Illinois, February 24, 1855, the son of George and Chloe (Dodge) Hartwell, the father a native of Pennsylvania and the mother of New York. The senior Hartwell was a millwright by trade, lived near Janesville, Wisconsin, some time, and was married there. After that he moved to Rockford, Illinois, and thence to Muscatine, Iowa where he bought a farm and erected a mill. Finally he went to Marshalltown to repair a mill, and there by accident met his death, at the age of forty-four years, leaving a wife and six children, namely: George W., now residing at Lincoln, Missouri; Helen, a wife of George W. Welsh and residing at Boone, Iowa; T.J., the subject of this sketch; Sanford, editor of the News; Charles and Harding, residents of Marshalltown.

T.J., the third child in the above mentioned family, at the age of thirteen years began to learn the trade of tinner. His mother, being left a widow, lost what money she had, and the education she gave her children was therefore very limited, and the boys were placed out early to learn some trade. Thus by industry and economy they have won for themselves a comfortable home in Marshalltown, where she and two of her sons reside. After completing his term of apprenticeship, Mr. Hartwell spent a year in Des Moines; then was in several places; spent four years at Malcolm; after that he sold fruit trees and was in other employments until he came to Carson, Pottawattamie County, engaging in trade in agricultural implements, grain and coal.

February 21, 1884, two years after he came to Carson, he married a lady whose parents first emigrated to Illinois, settling upon a farm and finally came to this county and settled near Carson, where the father about five years ago was accidently killed, leaving his wife and three daughters: Annie, wife of F.S. Coy of Center Township; Libbie G. is the next, and Allie, a resident at home. Mrs. Hartwell was born in Illinois, August 16 1863, and was brought up as a farmer's daughter.

At length Mr. Hartwell disposed of his business at Carson and came to Oakland, buying his present establishment, where he is carrying on the same trade, in two large warerooms and a nice office adjoining. Here he has a large stock of farming implements, farm machines and apparatus of all kinds, also an extra repository for wagons, buggies, etc. He also deals to some extent in seeds for the farm. His gross income amounts to about $20,000 a year. The conduct of his business has been such as to win for him many friends, and favor among all his patrons. He is a fixed Democrat, being chairman of a central committee. He has been Assessor of his township two years, Recorder for a period, and is now Mayor of the city, where he takes great interest in building up the material interests and moral standing of the community.

He is a member of Oakland Ark, No. 335, F. & A.M., also of Lodge No. 442 of I.O.O.F., at the same place, and of the lodge of the Daughters or Rebeckah. His two children are Lottie Chloe, born December 26, 1884, and Katie May, born August 16, 1886.