This man was born across from Lew Wallace
By Karen Zach, Around the County
Thursday, April 22, 2021 4:00 AM
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“A laugh, that’s all there is to life!” was the motto of our subject this week and his constant goal from his first job in the theater was to make people laugh. Wow and what an amazing job he did with that!
Born in our fair city, right across from Lew Wallace’s home, he noted: “not that it affects either of us.” He was the oldest child of three born to Julia (Peck) and William Hartman, Ferris Hartman was born probably laughing (on June 12, 1862). That activity is how he became so famous! His brother, William Wade Hartman was born in March of 1866 but passed in October of the next year. The last was sister Aletha who lightened the family in October of 1869. They would later have a half brother, as well. At age 15 months, Aletha (and Ferris, age eight) lost their mother and not long after, were adopted by his mother’s sister, Sarah and her husband, AP Luse; however, Sarah too passed young and although I’m uncertain of the circumstances, at the age of 17 (reported at 15 but too early) Ferris ventured out on his own when he eyed a sign in the window of the Chicago Choir Opera Company wanting a prop boy. He had nary an idea what that was but got the job! Here, he began in the backstage area, sweeping, packing trunks, fixing and borrowing props and all at $6/week. To show the type of person Ferris Hartman was when he met another prop boy who was making only $5/week, he felt bad but the young lad explained the Swindle Sheet to Ferris – example: buy a broom for $1 and charge the theater $2, thus you make an extra buck!