Bio: Green Washington Hartsfield, Arcadia, La, Bienville Parish La Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 Submitted by: Gaytha Thompson ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ ************************************************ GREEN WASHINGTON HARTSFIELD Arcadia, La Rev. Hartsfleld is a gentleman so well known in Louisiana and portions of adjoining States that no special introduction is necessary. He was born in Muscogee County, Ga., on December 14, 1833, and was seventh in a family of eight children--five sons and three daughters--born to Andrew and Ghasky Hartsfield, natives of North Carolina, the father born in 1792. The elder Hartsfield was an agriculturist all his life. To his marriage were born these children, who are named in order of birth: Mary (died in infancy), John (was an agriculturist, and died at the age of fifty years), Jasper (resides in Texas and has followed the carpenter and joiners trade until recently, since which time he has been in the agricultural business), James (died from exposure contracted in the Confederate army), Amanda (died at the age of forty years). Sarah (resides in Caddo Parish, and is the widow of Benjamin Shaudoin), Andrew Sydney (was killed while in the Confederate army, and left a widow and two children). Green Washington Hartsfield received his rudimentary education in the common schools of Tennessee and Louisiana, and in 1860 he entered that far-famed institution of learning, Mount Lebanon University, where he remained for neatly three sessions. He was ordained as a minister the year he entered the University, and while in attendance there he preached to different congregations. After leaving the university he continued to serve these congregations until the fall of 1865, when he accepted a call to take charge of the Baptist Church in Mansfield, La., and remained at that point for a period of twenty-three years, during which time he served said church as pastor for fourteen years. During that time he also preached in Keatchi, Coushatta and other places in connection with Mansfield. He filled the pulpit at Coushatta, La., for eight years. His ordination took place in Caddo Parish, La., in 1860. During his sojourn in De Soto and the other contiguous parishes he was secretary of the Grand Cane Association for twenty~two years, and is also recording secretary of the Louisiana Baptist State Convention, having filled that important and arduous position for twelve years. He is at present the incumbent of that position. Rev. Hartsfleld commenced his ministerial life at the age of twenty-five years with limited means, and every farthing that he had except a little help occasionally, was of his own earnings. He earned most of his first money as a teacher in order that he might pursue his chosen life work intelligently and with satisfaction to himself and to his God. Rev. Hartsfield, in his life work as a minister of the Gospel, is a man who has been characterized as an earnest, indefatigable, tireless and uncompromising worker in the vineyard of the Lord. His life has been replete with the many trials, joys and sorrows with which the lives of all good, true, earnest Christians are fraught. On May 1, 1862, he was married to Miss Eunice (Hasseltine) Brown, a native of Bienville Parish, born December 22, 1841, and the daughter of George W. Brown. Mr. Brown was one of the most successful and prosperous farmers, and his excellent wife, at the age of eighty-four years resides with Rev. Hartsfield and wife, and is a constant benediction to them. Mrs. Hartsfield was educated in the Mount Lebanon Female College, where she received a finished and thorough course. To the union of Rev. Hartsfield and wife were born nine children--two sons and seven daughters--five now living: Nora G. (resides in Mansfield, La., and is the wife of Henry Youngblood, who is engaged in merchandising, and who is a gentleman of honor and integrity), Mary Helen (resides at home with her parents, she has been a student at the Female College at Arcadia, La., and formerly at Mansfield, La.), George (is attending the Arcadia Male College), Lillian White (is in Arcadia Female College), Edna Hackett (is too young to attend school). Rev. Hartsfield is a Democrat in principle, but supports men of honor and integrity. He cast his first presidential vote for Millard Fillmore. He is a man who has all his life advocated the great Sunday-school work. He was president of the Sunday-school convention in the parishes of Caddo and De Soto for eight years, and he has been an active and earnest advocate of the temperance work, holding the banner aloft in his work all along the line of his ministerial labor, which stamps him as a valuable and honored man in all communities, besides his bright and effectual pastoral labors. Rev. Hartsfleld has, since the early days of his childhood, imbibed the true principles of Christianity, and has with fortitude, energy and his love of God in his heart, ever unfurled the banner of right and Christian sympathy at all times and places. At present he is the honored and beloved pastor of the Missionary Baptist Church at Arcadia, La. and this pulpit he has filled since January, 1889. The church at Arcadia is a very flourishing organization, and the members are stanch men and women, who stand by the pastor at all times, in supporting and aiding the cause of religion. Rev. Hartsfield is intimately connected with the excellent colleges in Arcadia, and has been chosen at 33 different times to deliver the commencement sermons, literary addresses at Keatchie and Mount Lebanon Colleges. His life work is that of a minster of the gospel, and he covets no higher calling To be the means of saving souls and helping to advance the cause of Christ is to him honor enough. His excellent wife has always been an earnest and able helper in aiding her husband in his grand work. He attributes much of his success in life to her constant help. Mr. Hartsfield is an able newspaper correspondent, having the talent of condensing so as to put a great deal in a little space, and he is also a frequent writer for religious papers. He has been requested by more than one prominent newspaper man to prepare a series of reminiscences of the past for the press.