The back of this picture says “George Hartwell, Saw Filer” and it’s the only picture we have of my husband’s great grandfather. The picture tells us a few things about him:
His occupation was “Saw Filer” and if you look carefully you can see the saw he’s working on has rather large teeth and is the type of saw commonly used in logging operations. Although you can’t see the saw’s handles it was probably a two-man crosscut saw. The 1910 U.S. Census for Garfield Township, Mackinac County Michigan confirms George Hartwell’s occupation as “Filer” and states he was 49 years old.
George is wearing warm looking clothing, a ragged sweater, wooly socks and ankle high boots. The boots don’t appear to be heavy duty, more like shoes with high tops. He’s working inside a building, not out among the logging crew.
More of the story of George Hartwell:
George N. Hartwell was born in Island Pond Vermont in May of 1861, the child of Charles Hartwell and Calista Langs. The family settled in Branch County, Michigan prior to 1870 and later moved to Echo Township, Antrim County, MI.
George married Mary Jane Edgeworth November 27, 1882 in Echo Township, Antrim County Michigan. George and Mary Jane were the parents of a stillborn baby born July 18, 1884 and Johannah, born August 11, 1887. Mary Jane doesn’t appear in the records after that so it’s possible she died, but we just don’t know.
On April 18, 1893 George married Allie Vanica (or Veronica) daughter of John Vanica and Amanda Schook in Langlade County, Wisconsin. George and Allie became parents to Frank H. Hartwell who died September 5, 1900 of “Cero-Spinal Meningitis” Frankie is buried in Dunsmore Cemetery, Antrim County Michigan. The 1900 census states that Allie was the Mother of six children, three living.
On the 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Mackinac County, MI George Hartwell is listed as a widower, 49 years old.
In February, 1920, George was admitted as a patient to the Schoolcraft County Hospital. He had been working at the Jackson Lumber camp prior to admission, but the admission documents don’t indicate the reason he was brought in.
George Hartwell died on June 29, 1920 and is probably buried in an unmarked grave in Lakeview Cemetery, Manistique, Michigan. A section of the cemetery was set aside for burials of County inmates who died during their hospitalization.
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SOURCES:
1870 US. Census, Population Schedule, Branch County, Michigan, Digital Image, Ancestry.com, 2010
1880 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Antrim County, Michigan, Digital Image, Ancestry.com, 2010
1900 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Charlevoix County, Michigan, Digital Image, Ancestry.com, 2010
1910 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Mackinac County, Michigan, Digital Image, Ancestry.com, 2010
1920 U.S. Census, Population Schedule, Schoolcraft County, Michigan, Digital Image, Heritage Quest, 2010
Antrim County, Michigan Marriage Index, FHC microfilm #0980364
Antrim County, Michigan Death Index, FHC microfilm #0980362
Langlade County, Wisconsin Marriage Index, entry #22, document 02511 120
Schoolcraft County, Michigan Death Certificate record #2691, George Hartwell
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Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington, 5/30/2011. All rights reserved
Picture is the sole property of Susan J. Edminster, Granite Falls, Washington
