Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Hartwell, Levi 1817 - 
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Author: Portrait & Bios Album, 1890

LEVI HARTWELL. "Deacon" Hartwell as he has been known from boyhood, is 
numbered among the oldest and most honored settlers of Homer Township. There 
are living but two or three of the men whom he found in this township when 
first coming to Will County. Not only has he maintained his residence here for 
the long period of fifty-seven years, but he has been one of the township's 
most prominent and useful men, identifying himself with its most worthy 
enterprises and giving his moral and substantial aid to whatever was 
calculated for the promotion of its best interests. He is a man whose opinions 
are thoroughly respected and who is looked up to by his neighbors as one 
possessing more than ordinary ability and whose integrity has been maintained 
unquestioned during the changes of a long and useful life. His occupation has 
been that of a farmer, in which he has been successful, securing a home to 
defend him against want in his declining years. Mr. Hartwell is descended from 
excellent stock which flourished in New England during the Colonial days. His 
father, the late Samuel Hartwell, was a native of Hadley, Mass., and born in 
1789. His mother who bore the name of Abigail Davis, was born in 1799, and it 
is believed was of French parentage, being also herself probably born in 
France. The parents after marriage settled in Rochester, N. Y., where the 
father occupied himself as a carpenter and farmer. Later they became residents 
of Pittsford, Monroe County, where the mother died in 1828. After the decease 
of his wife Samuel Hartwell returned to his native State, and in 1834 met an 
accidental death by falling from what was known as Dry Bridge, near Hadley, 
where he was found with life extinct. The parental family consisted of three 
sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was the eldest. He was born in 
Hadley, Mass., December 10, 1817, and at the early age of eleven years was 
thrown upon his own resources and compelled thereafter to look out for 
himself. He entered upon an apprenticeship at blacksmithing, serving seven 
years with the late John Lane. In June, 1833, he came in company with Mr. 
Lane, to this county which was then a part of Cook County. After completing 
his apprenticeship he followed his trade mostly in Homer Township, until 1870, 
but at the same time operated his farm in connection therewith. In due time he 
engaged in business for himself and manufactured steel plows which were sent 
all over the country, there being shipped to California alone seven hundred of 
these, which was sufficient indication of their popularity and utility. Mr. 
Hartwell also manufactured other agricultural implements and from this source 
realized handsome returns. In 1839, Deacon Hartwell purchased thirty acres of 
land on section 20, Homer Township, and which was considered practically 
worthless, being mostly a marsh. Its condition to-day illustrates iu a marked 
manner the results of good management, industry and perseverance, as combined 
with what he subsequently purchased, it now comprises some of the most 
valuable soil in Will County. Wisely making provision for a family before he 
assumed the responsibilities of one, Mr. Hartwell remained unmarried until 
approaching the twenty-fifth year of his age and was then wedded November 3, 
1842, at the bride's home in Homer Township to Miss Louisa, daughter of Edward 
and Sarah (Morris) Poor. The young people commenced the journey of life 
together at their own home, and labored with a mutual purpose in gathering 
around themselves the comforts of life and acquiring a competence for the 
future. Mrs. Hartwell was likewise from an excellent family. Her parents were 
natives of South Carolina and came to Illinois in 1830, locating among the 
earliest pioneers of Homer Township. The father secured land and followed 
fanning and built up a good home where he and his estimable partner spent the 
remainder of their days. Mrs. Hartwell was born near Attica, Ind., September 
11, 1823. Her parents had emigrated to that State when it was practically a 
frontier, and thus endured twice the experiment of life in a new country 
peopled principally by wild animals and Indians. They were most excellent and 
worthy people and without making any great stir in the world, performed their 
duty faithfully to those depending upon them and are held in kindly 
remembrance by all who knew them. Edward Poor, is supposed to have purchased 
the first land secured from the Government in Homer Township, the deeds of 
which were the first entered upon the county records for this township. To Mr. 
and Mrs. Hartwell there were born live sons, the eldest of whom, William E., 
died when two years old. William E., second, during the late Civil War served 
in the Union Army as a member of Company A, Third Illinois Cavalry, and died 
in the hospital at Eastport, Miss., during the early part of May, 1865, at the 
age of nineteen years. Charles R. died at the homestead of consumption, he 
being also nineteen years old; Levi, Jr., also died at the age of nineteen 
years. Thus Mr. and Mrs. Hartwell were called to part with three promising 
sons upon whom they had fastened many hopes. In their great affliction they 
were tendered the sympathy of many friends. Samuel follows agricultural 
pursuits and lives at the homestead. He married Miss Emma West. Mrs. Louisa 
Hartwell departed this life at the homestead in Homer Township, October 26, 
1867. On the 22d of April, 1868, Mr. Hartwell contracted a second marriage in 
Chicago, Ill., with Miss Emma A. Trask. This lady was born in St. Lawrence 
County, N. Y.. November 10, 1846, and died of diphtheria in Homer Township, 
March 3, 1886. The Hartwell farm is embellished with firstclass buildings and 
now embraces one hundred and ten acres all of which has been brought to a high 
state of cultivation. In politics our subject is independent and although not 
a member of any religious denomination, believes in the establishment and 
maintainance of churches and contributes to the support of the Gospel. He held 
the office of Constable in 1838, being the first official of this kind in the 
town of Homer. He has been a School Trustee in his district and Overseer and 
Commissioner of Highways for many years. He represented Homer Township in the 
County Board of Supervisors two years, and was the Poor Master for one year. 
No man has taken a warmer interest in the advancement of the best interests of 
the community and none have given a more cordial support to the enterprises 
calculated to aid its progress, socially, morally and financially.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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