Springfield-Greene
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JOHN W. HARTT. In these days of large commercial transactions, when credits cut a large factor in the daily round of business, the province of the banker is very wide and very important. The excellence of the banks of the present compared with those of the past gives to all classes of business men first-class security for their deposits, assistance when they are in need of ready money to move their business, and a means of exchanging credits, that could be accomplished in no other way. In a large measure the success of the present time in all branches of business is largely the result of the present banking methods. One of the flourishing and substantial banks of Greene county is the Bank of Strafford, of which John W. Hartt is the present able and popular cashier.
Mr. Hartt was born in Hardeman county, Tennessee, February 19, 1869. He is a son of John S. and Eliza A. (Johnson) Hartt. The father was born in Missouri, August 10, 1839, and was reared on a farm in this state. He received a limited education in the public schools. When a young man he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed in later life. He also devoted considerable time to the butchering business, maintaining the same in several different parts of his native state, his last location being Fair Grove, Greene county, where his death occurred in the year 1889. He was a member of the Baptist church. His wife was born in Hardeman county, Tennessee, January 13, 1841, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated, coming to Missouri in 1876. She survived her husband two years, dying in Fair Grove. She, too, was a member of the Baptist church. To these parents seven children were born, namely: Joseph, deceased; Amanda, deceased; John W., of this sketch; James, deceased; Frank, deceased; Margaret; Mrs. Mae Putman lives in Springfield.
The first seven years of our subject's life were spent in Tennessee. He lived with his parents in different parts of Missouri until he was sixteen years old, when he came with the family to Fair Grove. He received a common school education and when a young man worked on the farm and also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for some time. He worked for some time in different stores, including the Long Brothers' general merchandise store at Fair Grove. He then carried the mail for eighteen months; then went into the drug business for himself; later became assistant cashier of the Bank of Fair Grove, in which he remained two years, and then went to Strafford and assisted in organizing the Bank of Strafford, of which he is the present cashier. He has done much toward building up a popular and sound banking institution which would be a credit .to any community. It has a capital stock of ten thousand dollars, is excellently housed and modernly equipped and managed under safe and conservative methods, and has a large list of depositors. A general banking business is carried on. The directors of the bank are L. C. Ricketts, Theo. Thorson, A. B. Grier, C. A. Womack, J. J. Foster, Jr., W. P. Camp, J. W. Hartt. The officers are: L. C. Ricketts, president; Theo. Thorson, vice-president; J. W. Hartt, cashier, and T. F. Womack, bookkeeper.
Mr. Hartt came to Strafford in February, 1911, and on the 14th of that month the bank began business, which has increased gradually in volume ever since.
Our subject was married September 15, 1896, to Sarah I. Minor, who was born in Kansas in 1877. She is a daughter of William and Amanda Minor. They spent their lives on a farm and are now deceased.
Mrs. Hartt grew to womanhood on the home farm and received a good education. One child has been born to our subject and wife, Pauline Hartt, whose birth occurred October 24, 1907.
Politically, Mr. Hartt is a Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and in religious matters he is a member of the Baptist church. He is a man who has relied very largely upon his own resources and has succeeded in life despite obstacles that would probably have thwarted the purpose of a man of less ambition and determination.
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