My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM D. HART, the genial and popular postmaster of Minden, who is the subject of this sketch, is a native of Indiana, having been born in Decatur county, that state, May 25, 1859. His father, Calvin D., was a miller by trade, and a Mexican veteran, who also served during the war of the rebellion as second lieutenant of Company C, Forty-seventh regiment Indiana volunteers. The mother of Mr. Hart was Ann Eliza (Blood) Hart.

Mr. Hart was the second of two children, and is the only living representative of his family, all the rest having passed over to the silent majority. Mr. Hart was educated in Indiana, at Fremont, and came to Nebraska in 1879 in search of a place to locate — arriving at Minden soon after the town was laid out, and has made Kearney county his home since that time.

He first engaged in teaching, but shortly thereafter decided to turn his attention to the study of law, and began to read with this end in view. As a means of livelihood, while preparing for his profession, he engaged in the loan and insurance business, which so greatly increased on his hands that he was obliged to abandon the study of law, and, in 1882, to admit a partner to his business. He afterwards sold his interest to his partner, and bought an interest in the Kearney County Gazette, taking editorial charge of the same. This position he continued successfully to fill, and in November, 1887, he purchased the entire concern, greatly increasing its facilities by the addition of steam-power presses. Under his efficient management the circulation of the paper rapidly rose from seven hundred to eleven hundred.

In October, 1888, he organized The Gazette Publishing Company, of which he, himself, was elected president; Joel Hull, vice-president, and A. M. Louie, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Hart, on May 1, 1889, disposed of the controlling interest in this company to citizens of Minden. In August of that year, he was appointed, by President Harrison, postmaster at Minden, and the appointment was confirmed on December 24, 1889. Mr. Hart is a republican in politics, and is also an enthusiastic advocate of temperance, heartily favoring the prohibitory amendment soon to come before the people.

Mr. Hart was married on the twenty-fifth of June, 1885, to Miss Ella Van Hise, daughter of W. H. and Mary H. Van Hise, of Minden. This union has been blessed by two children — Ray W. and Leone Clare. In addition to his laborious business enterprises, Mr. Hart has found time to cultivate the social side of his nature. He is a Mason, and a member of the A. O. U. W., a select knight, uniform degree, being its first commander. Mr. and Mrs. Hart are members and earnest workers in the Presbyterian church, Mr. Hart being an elder.