Gravestone Replacement Project
Pvt. William F. Hartman (1848-1903)
By Gordon W. (Gordy) Struve
William F. Hartman was born on December 16, 1848 in Lancaster, Schuyler County, Missouri, USA; son of John C. Hartman
(1819-1896) and Susan Drescher (1827-1900). His parents were born in Germany.
In the 1850, 1860, and 1870 U.S. Federal Census, William is shown living with his parents in Schuyler County, Missouri.
He has an older sister named Mary, and younger siblings named Henry, Jacob, Eliza, Emily, Anna, Margaret, John, and
Amelia. His occupation was listed as farming.
William’s military duty period was August 24, 1864 to July 19, 1865 (end of the war). He was only 15 years old at the
time of his enlistment; his father, John, signed a consent form. His highest rank attained was Private. He served in the
Union Army, Company K, 39thMissouri Regiment Infantry under the command of Lt. Colonel Edward A. Kutzner. Captain
Martin A. Lyle commanded Company K.
“Mustered in August 1864 in Hannibal, the 39th Missouri was formed as part of the larger Union effort to
mobilize mounted infantry units to counter guerrilla activity – a constant issue in such a divided, occupied state.
The guerrilla war had continuously worsened, especially as Confederate troops had left the state since 1861.
However, concurrent to the formation of the 39th Missouri, Confederate Major General Sterling Price’s 15,000-
man Army of Missouri advanced into Missouri to liberate his home state from the Federal grasp. To counter Price’s
advance, approximately fifty-thousand Federal volunteers and militia were organized throughout the state, which
included the 39th Missouri.” [emergingcivilwar.com]
Company K served provost duty at Cape Girardeau, Missouri until the end of the war. William was honorably discharged in
Benton Barracks, Scott County, Missouri on July 19, 1865.The regiment lost 2 officers, 130 enlisted men killed and
mortally wounded, and 64 enlisted men by disease; total 196.
William married Ruhama (Cleveland) Parmenter in Breckenridge, Summit County, Colorado on July 16, 1890; she was
born in Illinois in October 1851. She brought with her two children from a former marriage into this bond; one of which
was Alice May “Posey” Parmenter Mitchell (more about her later in the story.)
In December 1890 William and Ruhama relocated to Colville, Washington. In the 1892 Washington State Census they are
living in Stevens County; his occupation is Farmer.
The 1900 U.S. Federal Census has William living with his wife Ruhama and two children in Colville, Washington; his
occupation is Farmer. The two step-children are Daisy E. (Parmenter) Scott (age 25, born September 1874) and Alice May
(Posey) Parmenter (age 15, born September 2, 1885).
According to records obtained from the Washington State Digital Archives in Cheney, Washington, on August 25, 1903
William F. Hartman made application for admission to the State Soldiers Home in Orting, Pierce County, Washington. His
application #944 was signed by E. S. McCloud, Post Commander, GAR #98. His disabilities consisted of heart hypertrophy
with partial paralysis, rheumatism, and asthma. He was in a condition of very poor health. He was admitted on September
2, 1903. He died there 5 days later and was transported to Colville on September 8, 1903 for burial at Evergreen
Cemetery.
William F. Hartman is buried in Block 17 at Evergreen Cemetery on Aladdin Road in Colville, Stevens County, Washington.
With him are buried his three step grand-daughters, Luceile Mitchell (1907-1907), Beth Mitchell (1908-1909), and
Waneta Mitchell (1911-1911); all children of “Posey” Mitchell. Historical records of Colville, Washington of the early
1900’s indicate a plague of diphtheria throughout the region; many babies and young children with undeveloped auto-
immune systems died because of it. Unfortunately, there were no antibiotic medications available during that time period.

The burial site of William F. Hartman and the three children is covered by a concrete slab. In the slab is a rectangular
notch which contains a military-issued gravestone. Over the course of more than 100 years, the gravestone is
weathered to be nearly unreadable. Close inspection of the engraving on the stone shows that the surname is
misspelled as HARTMON.
In February 2021 the Department of the Columbia, SUVCW initiated a project to replace the gravestone of William F.
Hartman at Evergreen Cemetery. A replacement granite stone was applied for through the Veterans Administration and
has, as of the writing of this report, been received at the Colville Monument Works in Colville, Washington. Placement
of the new stone will be accomplished prior to Memorial Day this year. Of particular interest here is the inclusion of
birth and death dates on the gravestone provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In cooperation with the Evergreen Cemetery sexton, a memorial ceremony will be conducted later in the year once the
COVID-19 pandemic has subsided.

Source: https://www.suvpnw.org/newsletter  The Columbian No. 1 Spring 2021

Created by Brian

William F. Hartman

Birth

16 Dec 1848

Lancaster, Schuyler County, Missouri, USA

Death

7 Sep 1903 (aged 54)

Orting, Pierce County, Washington, USA

Burial

Evergreen Cemetery

Colville, Stevens County, Washington, USA

Plot

Block 17

Memorial ID

14093576

Served as a private in Co. K. 39th Missouri Infantry; Age 17 Enlisted; Dec 24, 1864. Mustered out on July 19, 1865
.
Organized at Hannibal, Mo., August 18 to September 30, 1864.
Attached to District of St. Louis, Dept. of Missouri, to November, 1864. Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, to December, 1864.
District of Kentucky, Dept. Ohio, to January, 1865. District of Nashville, Tenn., Dept. of the Cumberland, January, 1865.
District of St. Louis, Mo., to July, 1865. Companies A, G and K on provost duty at Cape Girardeau, Mo., April 24 to July 6.
Regiment mustered out July 19, 1865.

NOTE: All of William Hartman's documents for the military as well as his marriage, census, etc. spell his surname: HARTMAN. On his headstone, his surname was misspelled HARTMON.

William married Ruhama (Cleveland) Parmenter in Breckenridge, CO on 16 Jul 1890 and it's her three granddaughters that are buried next to him in Block 17. After William's death, Ruhama married John Peterson and she's also buried in the Evergreen Cemetery along with her daughter, Alice (Parmenter) Ham Vibrans, and family in Block 12.
Contributor: The Seakers (50146847)

Buried at Evergreen Cemetery Colville
Row: Block 17