Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/426

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

of the Rockingham county militia, who re- signed his position, September 24, 1781. He married, October 11, 1783, Elsie Black.

Captain Johnston had a son, Thomas Johnston, who died at the great age of nine- ty-one years. He married, in Rockingham county, Nancy Bowyer, who bore him a daughter, Sarepta E., born m Rockingham county in 1842. She married Homer C. Hartman, father of Herbert Thomas Hart- man, of Philadelphia, and a descendant of Johann Hartman, who came to Pennsylvania in 175 1, landing at Philadelphia from the ship "Queen of Denmark." This John Hart- man married (second) a widow, Mrs. Blei- ler, who bore him five children, including two sons, John (2) and Michael. From them sprang the large and important Hart- man families widely distributed throughout the northern counties of Pennsylvania and through the states of the middle west.

Homer Cicero Hartman was born in the state of Ohio in 1840, died in 1905. He was classically educated at Fort Wayne, Indiana, graduating A. B. He then studied law and for many years was engaged in successful legal practice in Fort Wayne. He was a veteran of the civil war, having served with the rank of sergeant-major in the One Plun- dred and Fifty-fifth Regiment Indiana Vol- unteer Infantry. An uncle, William Hart- man, was attached to the United States Signal Corps. Homer C. Hartman was a Republican in politics and during his active years was prominent in party councils. He served as a delegate to several national con- ventions and was one of the strong men of his party. Homer C. Hartman married Sa- repta E. Johnston, of Fowler county, In- diana, born in 1842, daughter of Thomas Johnston, of previous mention. Children : Herbert Thomas, of further mention ; Hugh Homer, born in 1874 in Fort Wayne, now a retired farmer ; Fanny Taylor ; Mary Jo- sephine. Mrs. Hartman survives him, a resident of Detroit, Michigan.

Herbert Thomas Hartman, eldest son of Homer Cicero and Sarepta E. (Johnston) Hartman, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, July 2, 1867. He prepared in the public schools of Fort Wayne, then entered Fort Wayne College. Later he matriculated at Lehigh University, remaining two years, 1884 and 1885. He then spent one year at Amherst College, there completing his col- lege work. His business life began with

the Fort Wayne Electric Company, his term of service with that company extending over a period of two and one-half years. He continued his business career with the great manufacturing concern, the Sprague Elec- tric and Motor Company, connected with the engineering department, remaining until the consolidation of his company with the Edison General Electric Company. He then spent some time in Canada, as superintend- ent of construction for the province of Que- bec for the Edison General Electric Com- pany. From superintendent of construction he rose to the position of district engineer in Canadian territory, holding the latter position until the absorption of his com- pany by the General Electric Company. He remained with that company as assistant engineer for about six months, and was then promoted to be engineer of works at their shops at Peterboro, Ontario, remaining un- til the autumn of 1895. -^^ this time he re- signed his position and located in Philadel- phia, where his expert knowledge and ex- perience gained him instant recognition. He became assistant engineer with the Pennsylvania Heat, Light and Power Com- pany, continuing after the consolidation of that company with the Pennsylvania Manu- facturing, Light and Power Company. In 1898 he resigned from this employ and with others orga-aized the Electric Company of America, becoming chief engineer of the new company. Six months later he was chosen a director and second vice-president so continuing until the winter of 1906, when the company sold its properties to the Amer- ican Gas and Electric Company. This com- pany conducted operations over a large ex- tent of territory, operating plants at Atlantic City, New Jersey ; Scranton, Carbondale, Al- toona, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania ; Wheel- ing. West Virginia ; Canton and Bridgeport, Ohio ; Marion and Muncie, Indiana ; and Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Hartman, as vice- president, director, and general manager, was the active head of the engineering, con- structive and operative departments, later adding to his responsibilities the duties of chairman of the bondholders committee. In 1912 he was elected to his present position, president of the Municipal Service Company, of Philadelphia, a corporation operating public utility plants in the cities and towns of Pennsylvania, Virginia, South Carolina, and Georgia. He is a recognized authority