HART James Patrick

Notes:

Residence: Westport Twp., Pope Co., MN; 1903, Mahnomen Co.

James served as volunteer teamster and surveyer under General Custer. James and Jane served on the town and school board in Beaulieu and were instrumental in starting the Hart School.

Gertrude and Grandpa Hart were best buddies when they were young. Great Grandpa James Hart drove a wagon with General Custer at the age of 16. He was apparently orphaned at a very early age. Took care of his siblings because he had some of them living with him after he married our grandmother, Jane Wamsley. In the early 1900's when the native indians were first able to sell their land, the Hart's (James) moved to the Menhoman area and bought a farm.

James farmed in Glenwood, MN from 1879 to 1901.
James and Jane served on the town and school board in Beaulieu and were instrumental in starting the Hart School.

JAMES R. HART 1855-1935
James R. Hart was born in Madison, Wisconsin on September 25, 1855. His father was Patrick Hart who was born in Ireland on June 15,1829. Patrick.was married in
Ireland on July 10, 1845 and died June 10, 1873. He is buried in the Lake Amelia Cemetery in Pope County, Minnesota. James came to Glenwood, Minnesota with his
parents when quite young. He married Jane Wamsley in Glenwood in 1879 and farmed near there until 1901. Their children were all born near there at Villard, a town
which came into existence later. Mr. Hart served as volunteer teamster and as a surveyor under General George A. Custer in 1876.
The Hart's came to Lagarde Township, Mahnomen County, in 1904 and James farmed there until his wife died on May 23, 1923. After that, he and his younger children
went to live with son, Bert on what was known as the Taylor farm. James helped his son with the farm work until Bert moved to Bemidji in 1927. From then he divided his time with family members until his death on July 13, 1935 at the Frank Hart home. This had been the original family home.

The James R. Hart Family
Lagarde Township, Mahnomen County, MN.
It was in 1905, three years before the building of the railroad, that James and Jane Hart, with their ten children, decided to leave their home at Villard, Minnesota and come to this area. They came by covered wagon, herding their cattle; the boys taking turns walking behind them.
The family settled first at Duane, near Fosston, where Jane was postmistress. Three years later they moved to a small farm mostly woodland, in Lagarde township. They first had a log cabin for a home but as soon as possible they built a small frame house, which I am sure was crowded with five boys and five girls. According to stories told by them, it was a happy, lively home with many get-togethers and activities, a great deal of good natured humor, love and good food. One of the stories my Dad liked to tell about was when his older sisters had beaus call on them, he and his brothers would sit on the stairs and giggle and make strange noises.
James and his sons earned their living as woodsmen until they had enough farmland cleared. They had some interesting stories to tell about lumbering; hauling the logs out of the woods with horses and wagons or sleighs. They cut lumber for the Bliss sawmill, among others. My grandfather liked to tell USA about the wildcats and wolves that worried the lumbermen.
While living in Lagarde Township, the Hart family attended St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Beaulieu. I can remember as a child riding to church in the back of a truck as we did not have a working car. Other times we went in a buggy or sleigh. The family was active in community and township affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Hart were on the town board and the school board. They had many friends whom they visited and entertained. They liked to attend dances in the school house and barn raisings, etc. James and Jane had five boys and girls:

Died:
Cause of death: Anemia, arterial sclerosis, nephritis.

James married WAMSLEY Jane Barbara on 27 Nov 1879 in Glenwood, MN. Jane (daughter of WAMSLEY Edward J. and COSGROVE Mary Byrne) was born on 25 Feb 1857 in Ontario, Canada Huron Co.; died on 20 May 1923 in Lagarde Twp, MN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
5 boys and 5 girls all born near Villard

1. HART Anna
2. HART Dorothy died in 1939.
3. BURKE Marie (Mamie) Hart was born in Beaulieu, Becker Co., MN.
4. HART George was born on 16 Nov 1882 in Villard, Pope Co., MN; died on 26 Nov 1956 in Waubun, MN.
5. HART Gertrude was born on 18 May 1884 in Beaulieu, Becker Co., MN; died in 1964.
6. HART Robert Stephen (John Sphenen) was born on 27 Dec 1884 in Villard, Pope Co., MN; died on 22 Oct 1953 in St. Paul, Ramsey Co., MN.
7. HART Albert Patrick was born on 13 Jan 1893 in Villard, Pope Co., MN; died on 12 Aug 1977 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.
8. HART Francis (Frank) was born on 27 Nov 1894 in Villard, Pope Co., MN; died on 12 Nov 1984 in Mahnomen, MN.
9. HART Gerald J. was born on 11 Nov 1895 in Villard, Pope Co., MN; died on 08 Jan 1966 in OR.
10. HART Agnes was born about 1899 in Villard, Pope Co., MN; died about 1920.

Notes:

Description of Armorial.....................
NAME: HART
CREST: A stag's head erased, with an oak branch in the mouth all
proper.
BLAZON: Argent three lozenges azure, each charged with an escallop
or.
SOURCE: Burke, Sir Bernard GENERAL ARMORY OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND,
IRELAND AND WALES Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969.

Died:
Buried in Lake Amelia Cemetery, Pope County, MN.

Patrick married JANE Elisa on 10 Jul 1845 in Ireland. Elisa was born in Sep 1817 in Ireland; died on 16 Apr 1897 in Pope Co., MN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]