This man was born across from Lew Wallace
By Karen Zach, Around the County Thursday, April 22, 2021 4:00 AM • • • “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 thei