David Hart was the father of a large family of children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Melissa, married John White, both are deceased, but left one child, Sarah E., who married William Turner of Macoupin co., Ill. Ellen deceased married Robert Privott, of Kentucky; they had seven children - Harlan N., Wilburn, Sarah, John, Robert, George and Luella. Washington married Sarah White, now deceased, and they had nine children - David, Lydia and Nancy (deceased), Harvey, Anderson (deceased), Emma, Francis, Martha and Ellen. Harvey married Margaret Dugger; they are living in Christian County, and are the parents of eight children - Belle, Douglas, Mary, Melinda, Maria, Clay D., Dwight and Carroll. Elizabeth married Marion Redfern and they have six children - America, Edward, Jefferson, Jasper, henry and Wesley (deceased). Benton (deceased) married Lucy A. Austin, of North Carolina; they had six children, two of whom, John and Ada, are deceased. The four living are Nettie, Charles, Alvah and David. Jefferson married Emma Dugger, now deceased, and is the father of five children - Belle, John, Malissa, Eva and James (deceased). Jane married Dred Dugger, of Gallatin Co., Ill., and they had eleven children - Kate, Edgar, Tillie, Alice, Clara, Hattie, Rosella, James, Maggie Laura and Ralph. Martha married Rev. William Evans, of Kentucky, (and now deceased) and they had seven children - Sarah, May, William, James, David, Eddie and Ella (deceased). William married Ella Belsher, of Macoupin County. They are the parents of nine children - Alice, America, Emma, Louis, Martha, Everett, Nora, Annie and Bert (deceased).
John D. Hart was married to Annie E. Anderson, whose people were from Kentucky. She traces her ancestry to Scotland. In this family are six children - Sylvia O., Willard W., Mura M., Garney C., Iva I. and Carson C.
Mr. Hart, in common with other pioneers of this country, started in life with little money, but with a large amount of hope, and with this capital, has succeeded admirably. His economical habits, unabated industry and good business faculties have placed him in the enviable position of independence. His farm contains 416 acres of first-class land, peculiarly adapted to agriculture and stock raising. The buildings upon this farm are models of convenience and utility. Mr. Hart is a breeder of stock, and makes a specialty of black Polled Angus cattle. He has a splendid herd of these superior cattle, and is justified in being proud of their fine breeding.
Mr. Hart is a member of the Masonic order, and politically votes with the Democratic party, because he believes that party to be in the right, and he takes great interest in politics, but he is not now, and perhaps never will be, an aspirant for office.
The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Hart emigrated from Scotland to Kentucky in the beginning of the nineteenth century, and, after living there a few years, came to Illinois, settling in Morgan County. Their son, Andrew Anderson, the father of Mrs. Hart, was born in Kentucky, and was married in this county to Miss Elizabeth Cole. Their seven children were named respectively, Robert W., James T., John P., Annie., Sarah J. (deceased), Stephen D. and Alfred R.