----Source: COLBY PHONOGRAPH (Colby, Wis.) 01/03/1918

Hart, R. H. (14 DEC 1867 - 9 Dec 1917)

R. H. Hart, a former businessman of this city (Colby, Wis.), died at the Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Sunday morning, Dec. 9, 1917, after an illness of several weeks. He was 50 years of age. The funeral services were held at Hillsboro the following Monday and on Tuesday the body was taken to his old home at Marshall for burial.

Mr. Hart was born at Marshall, Wis., Dec. 14, 1867. His early life was spent at Marshall, where he was married to Cora White, Jan. 1, 1896. After marriage they lived at Marshall for five eyars, where their two children, Beth and Lyle, were born. Sixteen years ago he and his family came to Colby, Mr. Hart entering into partnership with his brother, H. C. Hart, in the furniture and undertaking business. Eleven years ago they removed to Hillsboro, where he again entered the same business, which he still conducted up to the time of his death. The Hillsboro Sentry-Enterprise says of him:

"Mr. Hart was an active church worker the greater part of his life and his life strictly conformed to the church teachings. Such a man could not help being honest, and it was for this virtue that he was so widely liked. His life was an honor to the community in which he lived, and to his good family the sympathy of all is extended as a solace to their bereavement."

The many friends of the family here will agree to the sentiment expressed by the Hillsboro paper, and many expressions of regret are heard because of the death of this good man.

Mrs. George Wicker, of the town of Hull, sister of the deceased, attended the funeral.

***The 1905 State Wisconsin Census Lists Ralph H. Hart, age 38, white male, born in WI to an English father (Edward) and a mother (Harriet) born in PA. He was a furniture dealer married to Cora who was thirty-one. She and her parents were born in WI. Ralph and Cora were the parents of two children: a daughter, Bertha who was eight years old, and a son, Lyle, who was six years old.

Siblings of Ralph Hart were: Jesse (b. 1870), Harry (b. 1873), Edda (sister-b. 1874 in Dakota), Fannie (sister-b.1877 in Dakota) and Eugene (b. 1860 and worked as a Clerk). The Hart family lived in Medina, Dane, WI at the time of the 1880 Fed. Census and the head of the household and father, Edward, was a farmer.

Additional Sources: 1880 Medina, Dane, Wisconsin Federal Census and 1905 Wis. State Census, Colby, WI, household #15.