Edwin Lawwill Hartman Jr. (1923 - 1998)

Born 29 Jul 1923 in Bowling Green, Warren, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Died 2 Sep 1998 at age 75 in Jacksonville, Jackson, Oregon, United States

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Biography

Edwin Hartman Jr. is one of twins.

Birth - Edwin Lawwill Hartman Jr. was born in 1923 to Edwin Lawwill Hartman Sr and Mary Francis Phelps. Edwin is an identical twin. He and his brother were born at home^[1] one day apart. Edwin was born on the 29th of July before midnight and his brother James was born after midnight making his birthday the 30th of July.

Family

Mother's Death - One week after the twins were born their mother died. She had Eclampsia and uremic poisoning.^[2][3]

Grandmother - Edwin's grandmother, Mary Hartman, came from Nashville to Bowling Green to collect her grandsons. Edwin related the stories told to him by his grandmother, "We were so small that we fit in a shoe box." He also told how his grandmother took the boys home on the train and then raised them in Tennessee. Edwin's cousin Margaret Woodfin Willette told stories of running to get milk from a nursing mother to be used for the twins. Margaret helped her mother Mary Hartman raise the boys. Edwin and his twin brother James spent their childhood in Nashville, and attended East Nashville High School.^[4]

Twin Brother Dies - 1948 Ed's twin James F. Hartman died in an airplane accident.^{[5][6] [7]}He was married, had one son, and was in the military at the time of his death.^[8]

Marriage

Edwin met his wife, Martha Louise Hossack, at the movies in 1943. They were married in Alameda County, CA when she was just 16 and he was 19.^[9] When they married Edwin's age was listed as 23, however he was really only 19-years-old. His Navy ID had his age incorrect because he lied about his age so he could join the Navy! World War II was raging in Europe and with Ed away in the Navy Martha finished her high school years living at her parents house in Oakland, CA.

Ed and Martha divorced in April of 1968^[10]after the family moved to Dallas, Texas. In December of 1968 Ed and Martha re-married in Harris Co, Texas.^[11] Ed moved his family back to California. They move to Hayward CA where they live for a year to 1970, and then they moved to Concord, Contra Costa Co, CA.

Military

Hornet - Edwin joined the Navy when he was just 17, in January of 1941. A news article says that he entered through a youth program. ^[12] Assigned to VT-8, he was not a fighter pilot but a mechanic aboard the U.S.S. Hornet.^[13]

Pearl Harbor - Dispatch reads: AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT A DRILL^[14]

Doolittle Raid - During his military career, Edwin served on the Hornet at the time of the Doolittle Raid in April of 1942, he went to the battle of Midway in June 1942, and in the Solomon Islands at Guadalcanal in August of 1942. A newspaper story from the Nashville Banner tells about his service, "19-Year-Old Nashville Sailor Is Veteran of 3 Major Battles"^[15]

1943 - Nashville Sailor wins Presidential Unit Citation^[16]

Military Retirement - Ed worked as a recruiter for the Navy before he retired. When he retired he was living in Seattle WA with his family. From Seattle the family moved to California about 1965.

Occupation

United Steel Workers - Ed worked for Judson Steel in Emeryville, CA. He was a maintenance electrician for the mill. While Ed was working there he joined the United Steelworkers Union. Judson Steel abruptly closed in 1986 and Ed decided to retire at that time.^[17][18]

Embroidery - Ed and his wife decided to open a small embroidery business. They went to Las Vegas and saw the embroidery machines and then decided which one they would use to start the business. They learned the embroidery trade, down to the details of digitizing the many designs they would stitch on garments. Their early digitizing files were purchased and then loaded onto the machine.

Retirement - Once retired from Judson Steel Ed and Martha sold their house in Concord and moved to Jacksonville, OR. They continued to work their embroidery business, Hartman Creations, until Ed died.

Death

Accident - Edwin Lawwill Hartman died on 2 Sept 1998 in an automobile accident. He had just purchased a truck and went to a friend's house to show it to him. On the way home he was driving on a winding country road and somehow lost control and crashed. Ed died at the scene.^[19]

Burial - Ed was buried with military honors in the veterans cemetery at Eagle Point, OR. His wife Martha is buried with him. His headstone has had incorrect information on it. Edwin was in the Navy for 22 years and retired, however he was not in the Korean war or the Vietnam war.^[20]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80885722/1923-hartman-twins-born-at-home/ The Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 01 Aug 1923, Wed, Page 8,
   • Born To Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Hartman Sunday night at their home on Nutwood Avenue, twin boys.
2. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/660388518/?terms=Hartman&match=1 Obituary, The Park City Daily News, Bowling Green, Kentucky, 06 Aug 1923, Mon, Page 3
   • Obituary Mrs. Mary Frances Hartman
3. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9TK-397L-F Kentucky Death Index, 1911-2000, about Mary F Hartman,
   • Name: Mary F Hartman, Death Date: 6 Aug 1923, Death Place: Warren, Age: 020, Volume: 46, Certificate: 22501
4. ↑ Edwin's childhood as told to his daughter
5. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81059368/1948-hartman-air-search01/ Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, 12 Aug 1948, Thu, Page 1-2
   • Air Search Launched for Missing Flyer
6. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81055164/1948-hartman-james-funeral-plans/ Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, 13 Aug 1948, Fri, Page 12
   • Funeral Plans Incomplete for Local Flyer
7. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81060180/1948-hartman-rites-set-monday/ Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, 14 Aug 1948, Sat, Page 8
   • Hartman Rites Set Monday
8. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DKT9-VNP Tennessee, death records, 1914-1966 Authors: Tennessee. Division of Vital Records (Main Author) Tennessee State Library and Archives (Nashville, Tennessee) (Added Author) Tennessee. County Court (Davidson County) (Repository) Tennessee State Library and Archives (Nashville, Tennessee) (Repository) Format: Manuscript/Manuscript on Film Language: English Publication: Nashville, Tennessee : Filmed by the Tennessee State Library & Archives, 1981-2012 Physical: 863 microfilm reels ; 35 mm. ; 16 mm. James Hartman Death Certificate Death records no. 16,000-16,471 [Shelby-Wilson counties], July 1948; no. 16,472-17,999 [Anderson-Rhea counties], Aug. 1948
   • James Hartman Death Certificate
9. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80868952/hartman-hossack-intention-to-wed/ Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, 28 Mar 1943, Sun, Page 35, Intentions to Wed
   • Hartman, Edwin Lawwill - 23, Nashville, Tenn, Hossack, Martha Louise - 16, 2528 Coolidge Avenue, Oakland.
10. ↑ "Texas Divorce Index, 1968-2010," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYD5-C33 : 12 December 2014), Edwin Lawwill Hartman and Martha Louise Hartman, 26 Apr 1968; from "Texas, Divorce Index, 1968-2011," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2005); citing Dallas, Texas, United States, certificate number 002423, Texas Department of State Health Services.
    • Name Edwin Lawwill Hartman, Sex Male, Age 45, Divorce Date 26 Apr 1968, Divorce Place Dallas, Texas, United States, Marriage Date 02 Apr 1943, Birth Year (Estimated) 1923, Spouse's Name Martha Louise Hartman, Spouse's Age 42, Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1926, Number of Children Under Age 18 4, File Number 002423, Affiliate County Code 057
11. ↑ "Texas Marriages, 1966-2010," database, FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VYMY-TM8 Edwin L Hartman and Martha L Hossack, 09 Dec 1968; citing Harris, Texas, United States, certificate number 125849, Vital Statistics Unit, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin.
12. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/58666319/hartman-twins-edwin-and-james/ Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, 15 Aug 1941, Fri, Page 15,
    • NASHVILLE TWINS PULL "FAST ONE" ON PETTY OFFICER - When Jimmy Hartman (right) went to Norfolk, Va., to visit twin brother, Edwin L. Hartman Jr., at the Naval Air Station two weeks ago, he stepped into the Commanding Officer's outer office to wait for Edwin, a seaman at age 17. Chief Petty Officer Boyle glowered at Jimmy, asked severely what he meant, being dressed in civilian clothes. "Trying to goldbrick, are you?" asked Officer Boyle. "No, sir," said Jimmy, soberly. "I don't know what you are talking about." At this critical moment Edwin breezed in, Chief Petty Officer Boyle's eyes popped in amazement and comprehending, his rugged features broke into a good old Irish grin. Jimmy was treated royally to a tour of the station, and last Monday came home to Nashville with Edwin on leave. Edwin, son of E. L. Hartman, Memphis engineer, enlisted here in the Regular Navy January 13, has been in the Navy's aviation mechanics school for several months, and Monday reports to Norfolk for duty in a torpedo plane squadron aboard the new aircraft carrier, USS Hornet. "The Navy is fine- the best thing for a fellow my age," said the slight but sturdy Edwin. He enlisted in the Navy's minority cruise, which allows youths of 17 to enlist for only four years in the Regular Navy. Edwin said that when he is discharged at 21, he will be prepared for college enrollment, since he completed the eleventh grade at Hume-Fogg High School before enlisting. Jimmy is employed as a shipping clerk in a Nashville department store. In the evenings he attends the defense training school at Hume-Fogg, where he is preparing to become an aircraft worker. However, as Edwin walks around in his Navy uniform, Jimmy's look becomes wistful, and he allows he may follow Edwin into the Navy soon. Jimmy lives with his grandmother, Mrs. M. A. Hartman, at 703 Lischey Avenue.
13. ↑ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/USS_Hornet_%28CV-8%29_underway_in_Hampton_Roads_on_27_October_1941.jpg
14. ↑ https://catalog.archives.gov/id/596244?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pearlharbor80-dec2021 National Archives
    • This is not a drill dispatch
15. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/image/603268878/?terms=Hartman&match=1 Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, 30 Dec 1942, Wed, Page 8 , Col 6 *19-Year-Old Nashville Sailor Is Veteran of 3 Major Battles
16. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/81039890/1943-hartman-wins-presidential-unit-cita/ Nashville Banner, Nashville, Tennessee, 03 Nov 1943, Wed, Page 15, Col 7
    • Nashville Sailor wins Presidential Unit Citation
17. ↑ https://evilleeye.com/history/eville-archive-thirty-years-ago-sudden-closing-judson-steel/ 29 Aug 1986
18. ↑ https://youtu.be/gx7qxTjpoEk News Video of the closing of Judson Steel
19. ↑ "Oregon Death Index, 1903-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ4G-WGF : 11 December 2014), Edwin Lawwill Hartman, 02 Sep 1998; from "Oregon, Death Index, 1898-2008," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2000); citing Jackson, Oregon, certificate number 98-19413, Oregon State Archives and Records Center, Salem.
    • Name Edwin Lawwill Hartman, Death Date 02 Sep 1998, Death Place Jackson, Oregon, Birth Date 29 Jul 1923, Spouse's Name Martha Hartman, Certificate Number 98-19413
20. ↑ Eagle Point National Cemetery Edwin L Hartman, BIRTH 29 Jul 1923, DEATH 2 Sep 1998 (aged 75), BURIAL, Eagle Point National Cemetery, Eagle Point, Jackson County, Oregon, USA, PLOT 21, 0, 1430, MILITARY LT, US NAVY, MEMORIAL ID 762493