The subject of this sketch, Dal Hartin, is a man who possesses a quality, the value of which cannot be overestimated, and that is the one of pleasing, or, in other words, an accommodating spirit, and this, coupled with his native intelligence, his faithfulness to his duties and his strict integrity, makes him a popular and most efficient official. He is ably filling the responsible positions of circuit clerk and country recorder of Douglas County, Missouri, and has been a resident of this section since 1868. He was born in Greene County, Missouri, June 10, 1859,
His earliest ancestor of which he has any knowledge was his great-grandfather, James Hartin, who was born in Ireland, and was married there to Jennie Martin. Eventually, with their three children, they came from the Isle of Erin to this country and landed at Charleston, S. C., about the year 1790. The family finally settled in Sumner County, Tennessee, and there they reared their children, whom they named as follows: James, John, Thomas, Nathaniel, Archibald, Martin, Joseph C., William, Jane, Jennie, Margaret and Mary Ann. The sons participated in some of the Indian wars which raged during the early settlement of that and other States, but have long since crossed the river of death, and their descendants are scattered over Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas and Oregon. Archibald Martin Hartin, a member of the above mentioned family, was born in Sumner County, Tennessee, October 11, 1801, and was married in Lincoln County, Tennessee, about the year 1824 to Malinda Joice Gibson, who was born in Davidson County, Tennessee, March 10, 1802. They eventually moved to Greene County, Missouri, and settled on Pearson Creek about the year 1836, and there Mr. Hartin followed his trade of carpentering and cabinet making. The family born to them were as follows: Eliza Jane, deceased; William Alexander, who is living in Douglas County, Missouri; John Hamilton is a farmer and stockraiser of Douglas County, Ore.; James Zeno is a successful medical practitioner of Dallas County, Tex.; Mary Docia, deceased; Margaret Ann, deceased; and Sarah Elizabeth, who is living in Douglas County, Missouri, the wife of a well-to-do farmer and stockraiser. The father of these children died at the home of one of his sons in Illinois in 1867, and his wife passed from life in Greene County, Missouri, in 1862. Their son, William Alexander Hartin, was born in Lincoln County, Tennessee, May 18, 1828, and when about ten years of age was taken by his parents to Missouri, and grew up on a farm on Prairie Creek, in Greene County. He was initiated into the mysteries of farming and carpentering by his father, and was following these peaceful pursuits when the great Civil War opened. He enlisted in the State Militia and served until the war closed, and in 1868 came to Douglas County, and up to within a short time has been engaged in farming. At the present time he is discharging the duties of postmaster at Ray, and although not a stanch Republican in politics was formerly a Democrat. He was married in Greene County, Missouri, December 6, 1849, to Minerva Jane Fagg, who was born in Rockingham County, N. C., January 21, 1830, a daughter of Joel and Amy (Peoples) Fagg who were married about the year 1820, and settled in Rockingham County, N. C., where the father followed the calling of a farmer and tobacconist. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and about 1847 removed with his family to Greene County, Missouri, settled ten miles east of Springfield, and was there engaged in farming up to 1855. He then sold his farm and moved to Springfield, located on St. Louis Street, and was there engaged in the manufacture of tobacco until 1867, when he once more moved to the country. He was twice a man of some wealth, but died in Christian County, Missouri, a poor man. His wife’s death preceded his a few months while she was visiting her daughter, Angeline, at Marshfield. They were worthy members of the Baptist Church and became the parents of the following children: Edward and Pinkney, who died in Georgia; James Harlow was drowned in the Arkansas River in the Indian Territory; Dalphon when last heard from, in 1880, was living in California; Permelia died in Greene County, Missouri; Mary died in Webster County, Missouri; Minerva Jane died in Douglas County, Missouri, in 1887; Matilda Ann died in Louisiana; Pauline died in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri, and Angeline is living in Kansas City, Missouri To William A. Hartin and wife the following children were born: William Henry, who was born in Greene County, Missouri, September 30, 1850, is a farmer and mill man of Berry County; John Gabriel was born in Greene County, February 3, 1852, and is a farmer of Douglas County; Mary Malinda Amy was born in Laclede County, Missouri, December 27, 1853, and is the wife of J. E. Smith, of this county; Angeline Ivey was also born in Laclede County, February 22, 1856, and is the wife of A. Adams, of Christian County; Dalphon, subject of this sketch; Pauline was born in Greene County, January 2, 1862, and is the wife of I. S. Dickerson, of Dallas, Tex.; Ann was born in Greene County also, November 11, 1864, and is the wife of B. B. Ran-dall, of St. Louis; Sarah Elvira was born in Greene County, September 16, 1867; Thomas Nathaniel was born in Douglas County, Missouri, February 21, 1870, and Frederick Jerome was also born in Douglas County, September 24, 1872, and resides in Dallas, Tex. William A. Hartin is a prominent Mason and is one of the old and highly honored citizens of the county.
Dalphon Hartin, the immediate subject of this sketch, received a good education in his youth and in 1877 began the battle of life for himself as a farmer in Arkansas and Texas, and for about twelve years followed the occupations of farming and school teaching, and now owns a good farm in the western part of the county. He was elected to the office of circuit clerk and recorder of Douglas County in November, 1890, and has since filled the position with marked ability, being elected on the third party ticket. He is a member of Ava Lodge No. 26 of the A. F. & A. M. He was married in this county to Miss Dorcas Huffman, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Barger) Huffman, of Harrison County, Indiana The father died in Illinois in 1865, and the mother is living in this county, natives of Tennessee and Indiana, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Jesse Huffman, was a soldier of the War of 1812. Mrs. Hartin was one of the following children: Jesse, living in Indian Territory; Elizabeth, who is living in this county, the wife of George Gall; Ann; Evaline, who lives in Kansas, the wife of Thomas Gailey; Martha, wife of William Dewhirst, of this county; Henry F., of this county; Mary J., of Kansas, is the wife of Smith Gailey; Margaret is the wife of Thomas Benton, of this county, and Jacob, who also lives here. Mrs. Hartin is the youngest of this family and was born in this county.
She and Mr. Hartin have a comfortable and pretty home in Ava, where they dispense a generous hospitality to their many friends. They have five children: Donald V., Mabel B., Claude L., Ada M. and Laties L.