JOHN HARTSHORN

John Hartshorn, publisher of the St. Francois County Democrat, at Farmington, is a native of St. Louis County, born in 1830, the son of David and Mary (Baird) Hartshorn. The father was born in New Hampshire, in 1791, and was a farmer by occupation. He immigrated to St. Louis County, Mo., in 1818, and died in 1844. His wife was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800, and was of Irish descent. She died in 1850. She was the mother of five children, who lived to maturity, three now living, John Hartshorn being the eldest. He received a fair education in the common schools of St. Louis County, and at Des Peres Institute, St. Louis County, Mo. At the age of twenty-two, he engaged in the profession of teaching, and he has followed that occupation from that time until the present, with occasional vacations of a few years. In 1868, he came to Farmington and taught the public school at that place two terms. He also taught one term in Farmington during the winter of 1875-76. During the winter of 1886-87 he taught at De Lassus. Since 1868, he has resided at St. Louis two years and he spent eighteen months in 1872 and 1873 in Colorado. February 18, 1886, the St. Francois County Democrat was established as a Democratic paper by Isaac H. Rodehaver, and in November of the same year it was purchased by Mr. Hartshorn, who has since been proprietor of the same. It is now Republican in politics, and is devoted to the interests of the taxpayers of St. Francois County. In 1875 Mr. Hartshorn married Miss Susan A. Evans, who was born in St. Francois County in 1844, and who is the daughter of David and Catharine (Murphy) Evans. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartshorn have been born three children: John C., David E., and Susan. Mr. Hartshorn is a Republican in politics, is a member of the I. O. O. F., and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

GOODSPEEDS HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI, Goodspeed Publishing Co., 1888, page 639-640.