Hartman, 1899-1916

The post office went first. Jim Forte's postal history of Minnehaha County gives Hartman's office a run from 1899 to 1908, so the counter in Hans J. Johnson's store closed eight years before the 1916 end the bronze records. Humboldt, the town about nine miles south that the state register measures this sign from, has kept its post office since 1889, incorporated in 1891 and counted 579 people in 2020. The bronze casts the founder's name both ways, Hartmann for the homesteader of 1878 and Hartman for the town and the telephone manager.

What the plaque says

Hartman, 1899-1916 20 Rods West Townsite of Hartman was homesteaded in 1878 by John Hartmann, Sr. Town started in January 1899. Hans J. Johnson, Postmaster & General Store; Charles F. Bartling, Creamery; Jarvis W. Phelps, Blacksmith; John and Carl Johnson, Farm Implements; John Hempfling, Hardware Store; Hartman, Humboldt, Wellington Telephone Com- pany, John Hartman, Manager; also Community Hall. Went out of exist- ence in 1916. Erected 1962 by Citizens and Former Residents

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Falls Park — 23 mi
  The falls a town company came for in 1856, abandoned in 1862, and tried to make pay with a seven-story quartzite mill that ran for barely two years.

More markers nearby

• Town of Hartford — 12 mi
• Old Madison - First County Seat — 13 mi
• Rumpus Ridge — 15 mi
• Pumpkin Center — 16 mi