Henry M. Hartline (1850-1915)

 

History of  Henry M. Hartline

Henry M. Hartline was my Great-Great-Grandfather. He was born about April in the year 1850 in St. Claire County, Illinois. There has been some puzzling things to note when researching Grandfather Henry. The main stumbling block is that in some documents he is listed as having been born in Germany. For example, in the 1870 Census he lists place of Birth as Germany. In the 1880 Census he lists Holland. Moving on to the 1900 Census it states his place of Birth was Germany and even has an immigration date of 1842. According to my research him being born in Germany is just not possible. Why would he lie and state that he was born in Germany when he wasn't though? I can only let the evidence speak for itself as follows. 

It took me quite a bit of time to track down his fathers birth and life. I have written about him on this blog also. 

Below is a table that I made with information about Henry M. Hartline that is helpful in tracking his life thus far. 

1850 Census	District 10, Jefferson Illinois	Birthplace Illinois
1860 Census	Marshall Kentucky	Birthplace Illinois
1863	Richview, Washington, Illinois	Birthplace Illinois
1865	Illinois	Civil War Records Henry M. Hartline served in the 18th Illinois Infantry, born in St. Clair County, Illinois
1870 Census	Perry, Illinois	Birthplace Germany
1880 Census	St. Clair, Illinois	Birthplace Holland
1890	Bernie, Stoddard, Missouri	1890 Veterans Schedule Henry Hartline, Pvt. Company F, 18th Illinois Infantry, born in Illinois Served 2 Apr 1862-24 Aug 1864. This doc matches info from the 1865 record above proving that Henry in Bernie was born in St. Clair, Illinois and not Germany!
12 Nov 1890	Ralls County, Mo	Henry Hartline newspaper article states that at this time he had a wife and three children living in Bernie, Stoddard, Mo. No place of birth mentioned
1900 Census	Bernie, Stoddard, Mo	Birthplace Germany, year of Immigration 1842, both parents born in Germany and he is a Naturalized Citizen
1915, 1 Jan	Bernie, Stoddard, Missouri	Death Certificate for Henry M Hartline. Info given by son in law, Silas Marion Crain, states he was born in Germany
1918	Butler County, Mo	Son John Silas Hartline`s death certificate gives his fathers name as Henry Hartline, born in Illinois.Note Silas DC under name Sila Harthhire. Son Vance Hartline gave the information.
1964	Butler County, Mo	Death of son John Newman Hartline, info given by his daughter Fern. She states that her Grandfather's name was John Henry Hartline

One piece of concrete evidence that helped me determine his correct place of birth was his Civil War Military Record. Back up to 1860 and at the time he was living with his first wife Patience in Kentucky. At the time they had no children. He was living in the household of a J. Davenport, who I believe was John Davenport. He then appears in Richview, Washington, Illinois where he enrolls in the Draft in the year 1862. In looking at the actual document it states he had signed up for a little over 2 years but then deserted. The following info was given in his Military file:

Enlisted in Company U, Illinois 18th Infantry Regiment on 21 Dec 1863. Occupation at time of Enlistment: Blacksmith, Stood 5ft 10, Sandy Hair, Blue Eyes, Dark Complexion. Deserted

Then on 3rd of July, 1865 he appears on the Illinois State Census for the year 1865. 

1 White Male under 10,(George) 1 White Male 20-30 (Henry) 1 White Female under 10,(Alice) 1 White Female 20-30 (Patient)

In looking at the actual document you will find Henry was neighbors with a John Davenport. I believe this is the same one listed above. It looks like they likely left Kentucky together and traveled to Illinois. I have yet to find any relation between the two. 

By the 16th of July, 1870, Henry and Patience and their children had moved to Pinckneyville in Perry County, Illinois. This years census record lists the following members of the household.

Henry Hartline age 30, Patient Hartline 30, Alice Hartline 10, George Hartline 8, Silas Hartline 5

On 3 June, 1880 the family was now living in St. Clair County, Illinois. Listed below are members of the household that year:

Henry G. Hartline 41, Patient Hartline 39, George Hartline 17, Silas J. Hartline 15, Mamie Dawson (Adopted Daughter) 21

Patient must have died shortly thereafter, because 2 Feb, 1882 he married my 2nd Great Grandmother, Eliza Gambill, daughter of William Gambill of Williamson County, Illinois. 

Per Marriage Record to Eliza Gamble he was an Engineer and living in Perry County, Illinois at the time they were married.

After their marriage they relocated to Williamson County, Illinois where they spend the next few years living there. Both of Henry & Eliza`s children were born in Williamson County.

This is where it gets interesting. In July of 1890, Henry made application for his Military Pension. It lists the following:

Enlistment Date 2 Apr 1862

Discharge Date 24 Aug 1864

Regiment or vessel 18 Illinois Inf.

Company F

Length of Service 2 Yrs 4 Mos 22 Days

In looking at this record, compared with the 1863 Draft Registration Record from Washington County, Illinois, the information matches exactly. He was married at the time and lists his place of birth as Illinois. Thus it appears that the Henry Hartline who was living in Washington, Illinois and married to Patient Johnson was indeed the same Henry Hartline who later lived and died in Bernie, Stoddard, Missouri

Above is a screen capture of my Ancestry DNA results. As you can see I currently have matches to 4 Descendants of John Silas Hartline, a son of Henry & Patient Hartline. I have tested at all the major sites and have multiple matches to his descendants across all sites. I believe both Henry`s are the same man. I have never seen him with the name John Henry Hartline only Henry M. Hartline. 

In closing, I do not feel that he was born in Germany. My DNA and those of our children's have multiple matches to the descendant of Nikolaus Herdlein and Barbara Hess, both born and died in Germany. One census record lists him as Henry G. Hartline. It is my current guess that Henry likely descends from Nikolaus Herdlein and Barbara Hess`s son Leonhard Herdlein. Not much information is available on Leonhard`s line. His son Michael, born in 1743 or thereabouts was living in Tioga County, New York for a period of time. That is where our Henry Hartline Sr was born, Tioga County. I will share much more on my Hartline ancestors in other posts. 

I have much more to share about Henry M Hartline in later posts. 

Henry Hartline of Tioga, New York

 Henry Hartline was born 1 Jan, 1789 in Tioga County, New York.  He was married twice.  His Military file gives us some very important information and clues with which to further our research. There is a letter written by Henry himself that gives us his date of birth, his years, places, dates of service as well as his last known address and the fact that he was married twice, both wives deceased at the time said letter was written 

Henry filed his application for Pension on 21 April, 1871 in Washington County, Illinois. His application was rejected for “want of evidence of Sixty Days service in the war of 1812 and presumptive abandonment of the claim. Three months having elapsed after sending the Special Circular Copy enclosed. Calls for this evidence were made July 10, 1872, and by Special Circular, October 23, 1872”.

His claim was rejected on 23 January, 1873. The Survivors Pension Claim #11,317 stating Henry Hartline served in the 3rd Michigan Militia under Captain Miller. The report at the bottom of the document states the following: “Discharge on file shows service of Henry Hartline, Cap. John Garland`s Company, 3rd U.S.I from 22 April, 1824-22 April, 1829, Enlisted in Detroit, Michigan and Discharged at Fort Leavenworth, Mo. Age 72. Above was the only Henry Hartline to be found”.

Henry first enlisted on 8th October, 1812 in Buffalo, Erie, New York. He served under Captain Garland`s Company 8th Regiment and was discharged in December of 1815. He alleged that he was a substitute for one Nicholas Winans, Also stated he served in Capt Miller`s Company K during that same enlistment term. Discharged: Surrendered by Hull.  His file states that he made several enlistments and his final date of discharge was in 1832. 

Henry`s original letter regarding his pension was dated 31st March, 1871. The letter submitted by his attorney, L.M Phillips, dated 25 Jun 1872, stated that Henry “is old and feeble and I doubt whether he could give a better description of his service than is stated by him. He is needy and desirous to have his claim settled early for which season. I forward his letter without waiting as I would otherwise do.To have a special answer made by him, if this letter of his is not sufficient, let me have notice and I will have him present another statement of his service…”

The Pension office then sent a letter, dated 19 Jun, 1872,  to Henry`s attorney stating “no evidence of claimants service in the 3rd U.S Infantry prior to 28 June, 1819.” Said letter goes on to state that there are no rolls of Captain Miller`s company on file. They ask that if he has any service prior to the date of Ratification of the Theory of Peace, dated 17 Feb, 1815 they request him to forward such evidence. 

18th April, 1871 a court document where Henry Hartline appeared before the Clerk of the Court, J.B. Needles. Document states: “Henry Hartline, aged eighty seven years, a resident of the County, two miles South West of Ashley and in Washington county, Illinois..” ….”Declares that he is an unmarried man, that his wife died about sixteen years ago.” Henry stated that he had “filed to obtain a land patent under Barrett. Barrett has since died and his Discharge was not found among his papers' ' This statement which I have shared here on my blog, was attested by: N.E (Ninion) Hartline and W. J Stephenson. 

Proof of Date and Place of Birth

Henry stated in his Letter he sent with his application for pension some concrete things that can be backed up with several sources. While he did not state where he was born he did give the day, month and year of his birth within his letter. He also stated that he had served in Louisville, Kentucky for a period of 5 years and that he was in the 3rd Regiment, Company K. In looking at the United States Army, Register of Enlistments, page 396, dated 8 Feb, 1819 in Louisville, Kentucky we can glean the following:

Henry was 5 foot, 6 inches tall, blue eyes, fair hair and fair skin. He was 23 years of age at the time, giving him an estimated birth year of 1796. Said record gives his place of birth as Tioga County, New York. An enlistment date of 28 June, 1819 in Louisville, Kentucky. Serving at Fort Howard during his 5 year term of this enlistment, as of 30 April, 1821 he was listed as being in confinement.

Further, his Bounty Land Warrant #24156 for 160 Acres in Jefferson County, Illinois gives the following information:

“Henry Hartline, Private in Captain Gray`s and other Companies, 3rd United States Infantry, March 1812”

We know from Henry`s Letter and other Military File info that he indeed served in Captain Gray`s company, therefore we can ascertain that the Henry Hartline living in Jefferson County, Illinois in 1853 is the same Henry Hartline who was born in Tioga County, New York. This info coupled with the Deed dated February, 1854 in Deed Book G, pg 117, 80 Acres in Jefferson County, Illinois from William J. Gamble Jr and wife Mary lends credence to this being the same Henry who married Mary Gambil in St. Clair County, Illinois. Mary was William`s Sister.

Proof of Mary Gambil-Hartline`s Death

In one document contained in his Military file, we read that Henry stated his wife had been dead 16 years. At the time he wrote that on 1 Jan, 1874, that would give her an approximate Death Year of 1858. Henry and Mary appear on the 1850 Census living in Jefferson County, with their children. By the 1860 Census Henry was living alone with his two youngest daughters. The youngest daughter Elizabeth was born about 1854. We can then suppose that Mary died sometime between the year 1854-1860, which backs up Henry`s claim of her having been dead 16 years. 

 

 

Henry Hartline b.1796

 

Photo (c) Pexels Public Domain

NOTE: There is a new version which adds some critical and important information about this Henry Hartline. You may read the update here.

Henry Hartline was my paternal third great-grandfather. Research into his life has been somewhat complicated by conflicting information as well as other men named Henry Hartline. I feel confident that I have finally located the correct man and have more information on him as a result of my search.

DNA testing on myself as well as our three children confirms that Henry was likely a descendant of Nikolaus HERDLEIN (1663-1733) and Barbara HESS (1668-1731). We have multiple DNA matches to his Descendants. The Website Hartline's of America has listed a big amount of research into Nikolaus and Barbara and their descendants. Little information has been found by their researchers on Nikolaus and Barbara`s son Leonhard Herdlein b. 1694. According to their research he was the first of Nikolaus sons to come to America, landing in Pennsylvania. It is unknown by me at this time just which son our Henry descends from. I am currently researching trying to track Leonhard`s Descendants to see if perhaps he is our Progenitor. 

Henry Hartline was born about 1796 somewhere in Pennsylvania, likely Burkes County or Montgomery. The first record I have for Grandfather Henry is his marriage record to my 3rd Great Grandmother; Mary Gilbert. Henry and Mary were married 20 November, 1833 in St. Clair County, Illinois. Mary Gilbert was the daughter of William J. Gilbert (1783-1826). Mary was born in Tennessee, probably Giles County. She has two known siblings, William J. Gilbert Jr (b. 1822) and Harriet C. Gilbert-Beale (1818-1897).

Henry Hartline and wife Mary moved to Jefferson County, Illinois where they appear on the 1850 Census with several of their children.

30 July, 1850: United States Census, District 10, Jefferson, Illinois

Henry 54, born PA, Mary 32, born TN, Nancy J. 12, born IL, Sarah 10, IL, Francis 5, born IL, Emily 3, born IL, Henry 0, born IL. There is a Hiram R. Hartline living in household of Brother in Law William Gilbert Jr, may have been Henry & Mary's son

Note that the remainder of this household is continued on the following page of this census.

1850 Census Household Henry Hartline in Jefferson Co, Illinois

9 Dec, 1853 in Jefferson County, Illinois, Land Warrant 

Henry was granted this acreage due to his service in the Military. Volume 105, pg. 166 for 80 Acres located Aliquot Parts or Lot N2SW Section Number 21 Township 01S Range 02E Meridian3 & Aliquot Parts or Lot S2NW Section Number21 Township 01S Range 02E Meridian3 160 Acres total.

4 Feb, 1854 in Jefferson County, Illinois-Deed

William GILBERT Jr & wife Mary TO Henry HARTLINE-Deed Book G, pg 117, 80 Acres in Jefferson County, Illinois

22 October, 1856 in Jefferson County, Illinois-Deed

Henry HARTLINE to Henry M RICHARDS:

Deed Book H, Pg 767- This deed refers to Henry as Henry Hartline of Jefferson County. No wife is mentioned within this deed, really faded out and hard to read. This Deed is for 80 Acres in Jefferson County.

1860 United States Census-Jefferson County, Illinois

 Henry 57, Martha 11, Elizabeth 6. Note that a wife is not listed in the household this year. It is my firm belief that Henry`s wife must have died sometime after their youngest child Elizabeth was born about. 1854. The fact that she was not mentioned in the 1856 deed might mean she died before 1856, but certainly believe her to have died between 1854-1860. 

Children of Henry & Mary (Gilbert) Hartline

Henry`s son Henry M. Hartline was my 2nd Great Grandfather. There have been some inconsistencies even within documentation regarding him. Several of the Census records list his place of Birth as Germany and or Holland. The earlier census records (1850-1860) give his place of Birth as Illinois. I believe he must have been born in St. Clair County, Illinois. I have no reasoning for why some documents give Germany as his place of birth.  I do know as I stated at the beginning of this post, the line of Nikolaus Herdlein came from Germany. Henry first married Mary Patient Josephine Johnson and had three children by her: George, Laminty Alice and John Silas Hartline. They had an adopted daughter Mamie Dawson. Henry then married Elia Gamble, she was my 2nd Great Grandmother. Henry and Eliza had two children; Minnie Viola Hartline and John Newman (Lack) Hartline (My Great Grandfather). Eliza was Henry`s 3rd wife. I have not yet located his first. His 4th wife was Nancy A.E Hamilton. Henry died in Bernie, Stoddard, Missouri. I will post more about him in his own post.

Daughter Nancy J. Hartline born about 1838, probably in St. Claire, Illinois. Nothing more is known of her at the time this post is made.

Daughter Sarah Hartline born about 1840, probably in St. Claire, Illinois. Nothing more is known of her at the time this post is made.

Daughter Frances Hartline born about 1845, probably in St. Claire, Illinois. Frances married Miles Cuberly/Coberly 3 Aug, 1859 in Jefferson County, Illinois. They had at least one child, a son, named James E. Cuberly/Coberly. James was born about 1860 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Nothing more is known of Frances and Miles at this time.

Daughter Emily Hartline born about 1847 in Illinois, either St. Clair or Jefferson County. Nothing more is known of her.

Daughter Martha Hartline born about 1849 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Martha married Crawford Rush on 20 Jul 1866. Crawford had been previously married and had several children with his first wife. He was 53 years old when he and Martha married, she was just 17.

Daughter Elizabeth Hartline born about 1854 in Jefferson County, Illinois. Nothing more has been found about her to date.

***Possible Son** Hiram R. Hartline Hiram may have been a son of Henry and Mary. He was born about 1839 probably in St. Claire County, Illinois. Hiram married Hannah Giles. Though he was not in the household of Henry during any of the census years I did locate him within the house of Mary`s Brother, William J. Gilbert Jr on the 1850 Census. Hiram was just 11 at the time. No relationship is listed.  

Note: There is a 2nd Henry Hartline in Jefferson County. This second one married Margaret Roberts. I do not feel this is our Henry. Said Henry and Margaret were married in 1843 in Jefferson County. We find our Mary Gilbert Hartline in the household of our Henry on the 1850 Census and they married in 1833 so this could not have been him. It could not have been their son Henry M Hartline as he was not born until 1850.  I feel this may have been the Henry Hartline from Pulaski County, Illinois. More research is needed to confirm. 

Many researchers,(especially descendants of Henry M and Mary Johnson-Hartline) have Henry`s name listed as "John Henry Hartline" I have yet to find any documentation of the name John. I do know he named two sons John Silas and John Newman. Most documents list Henry M. Hartline, the 1880 Census has his named listed as "Henry G. Hartline" he named his oldest son George so perhaps his name was Henry George Hartline? Still no explanation as to why he used the middle initial M.