Dausa Dow Hartwell was born on October 7, 1878 near Johnston City, Illinois. His parents were John L.D. Hartwell and Nancy Elizabeth Hartwell. Hartwell had completed his medical education and was practicing under the tutelage of Dr. Alonzo Baker in 1900. He lived with Dr. Baker’s family in Grassy Precinct on the west side of the county.
The grandfather of Dausa Hartwell was William Hartwell, who came into Williamson county in 1839 from Tennessee. During the Civil war his six brothers gave their services and almost their lives to the preservation of the Union. William’s youngest brother was Lorenzo Dow Hartwell who served for decades as a lawyer in the Williamson County court system.
In 1904 he was married to a Missouri girl by the name of Rita Drake.
In the 1907 directory he is listed as having a practice at 604 Public Square and he and Rita were residing at 508 S. Buchanan Street.
In 1906 Hartwell was involved in the formation of the “Thorne Club Place” social club at 601 E. Thorn Street. He later became president of the club with his wife Rita as Secretary. From 1915 to 1920 the building was used as Marion’s first hospital and was called “Marion Hospital.”
In the 1910 census, Dausa and Rita were living in their home at 503 E. Everett Street. At this time his parents and Sister Minnie were living at 1828 W. Main Street. Dausa was 31 and Rita was 29, he listed himself as a doctor by trade and she listed having had one child who did not survive.
In the years of 1915 and 1916, D.D. Hartwell served two terms as Mayor of Marion, Illinois in the last years of the aldermanic type of government. In 1917, the system changed to the commissioner type.
In the 1920 census, the couple was still at the same address but now have children in the home. The census identifies them incorrectly as sons and daughters but I am certain this is not true. In a later census, two of them are identified as nephew and niece, which makes more sense. The children are Alden Lashley 14, Elva Lashley 12, Leonard M. Lashley 11, and John Lashley 9. These children were found to belong to Musa Lashley, Rita’s sister and widow of Henry Lashley from Missouri.
In the 1920’s Rita started up an automobile dealership selling the Oakland and Pontiac brands. Her dealership was called Hartwell Motor Sales and was located at 108-112 N. Van Buren Street. This location would be the old converted mule barn that belonged to Joab Goodall and later would be Morrison Bros. Oil Company’s location.
The 1930 census, at the start of the depression, finds the couple still in the same home on E. Everett Street. Dausa claims a value of $10,000 on the home. His parents now live nearby at 502 S. Virginia Street. His 19 year old nephew, John H. Lashley, still live with them as well as his 22 year old niece, Elva A. Lashley.
In the 1940 census, D.D. has reached 61 and Rita 59, they list no occupation but he likely is still working. Two years later in 1942, he completed a WW II draft record where he is described as 5’6” tall, 165 lbs, blue eyes, grey hair, and a light complexion.
D.D. Hartwell passed away on November 18, 1947 at age 69, followed by Rita D. Hartwell on February 22, 1952 at 72. They are both buried at Rose Hill Cemetery. The couple never had any children that lived.
(Data from Federal Census Records, Marion City Cemetery Records, Marion City Directories, Ancestry.com; compiled by Sam Lattuca on 04/04/2013)