For some time I have been planning to write a story to go with my legacy, which is a little German book, "Pilgrim's Progress", which was given to my grandfather, Christian Hartman, was born in Brunswick (Braunschweig?), Germany, August 26, 1803. As today is August 26, 1931, the one hundredth and twenty-eighth anniversary of his birth, I have decided to celebrate his honorable birthday by beginning to write about him such doings as I have heard from his daughter, Wilhelmina Hartman, who was my mother, Wilhelmina Moeller.

Third Part of the story -
Click to go to Part 1 , Part 2 or Part 4

They also had a friend who went to Australia. He wrote them all about that country too, and in comparing the conditions in the two countries it was decided that the whole remaining family would go to Australia together. Herman was married before leaving Germany and his wife gave birth to their first child while on board the ship enroute to their new home. The entire family settled in New South Wales, Australia, and Wilhelmina never again saw any of her family as long as she lived.

Christian Hartman had some unusual experiences in their new home, one of which was with a kangaroo. One morning they were awakened by the violent barking of their dogs. Christian arose hurriedly to see what was the cause of all this commotion. As he stepped from the house door into a shed made for firewood, he saw the dogs had a large kangaroo backed up against the shed. He stepped back into the house and brought out his sword with which he killed the fighting kangaroo, piercing him through a crack in the wall of the shed. I remember too that when he wrote told of some beautiful pet birds he had, and when one of them died he sent some of it's beautiful feathers to his daughter and said his pet bird was the Bird of Paradise. It must have been very beautiful as it's feathers were so brightly colored and they were curved. There were some very long white feathers that
curved so gracefully and were very lacy.

The entire family seemed to prosper there, especially those who took up sheep raising, which Herman did. August learned photography while in Germany and kept to it as his profession many years. Lena Hartman married Jacob Westerweller. They had a jewellery store and much real estate in the town of Gunnedah. She is said to have been noted for her benevolence, always helping the needy of their community. I remember well the many good letters telling about the work she was interested in and of her Christian faith. I do not remember much about the two brothers, only that they were both Christian men and their families were taught rudiments of Christian life. Christian Hartman died August 29, 1887, and his beloved wife died in the spring of 1889 in March or early April.

All of the Hartman family have remained in Australia. Only Lena's youngest daughter, Theodosia, and her husband, Walter Westerweller, ever came to the U.S.A. They arrived in Pueblo, Colorado on May 25, 1922 and visited among relatives for six months. They then proceeded on their journey around the world, and spent the winter months in England. They continued their journey, arriving safely home at the end of a full year of traveling and sight seeing. Later they again came to the U.S.A. time their passport called for three months. Though Walter seemed to be in the best of health when they began their journey, and all the way across the Pacific, he was taken suddenly with nervous breakdown as soon as they landed. At first they thought it was the effect of being on ship so long and that he would soon be better. But not so, for he constantly grew worse and after spending a month or six weeks at Los Angeles, California they returned to their native land, Australia. After several years of very poor health he again was well and able to carry on his business, as a contractor, for a number of years. Then while engaged in a large contract on the City Hall in Gunnedah he was smitten with a paralytic stroke from which he never recovered and died leaving only his widow to mourn his passing. There were no other heirs. She still lives in Gunnedah.

(Third Part of the Story from the writings of Elizabeth Griffith, daughter of Wilhelmina & Charles MOELLER, entitled "From Then Till Now")
Typed by Sharron (Wetmore) Dexter

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has any information or photgraphs on any of these families. You can write to me at <jvbryant at halenet dot com dot au>

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