History

Began building the first cabin in the area in 1809. Moving into Brookins’ abandoned and unfinished cabin in 1810, Joseph Purdy became the first permanent settler. Purdy Creek was named after him. More settlers began arriving around 1818. In 1823 the first child was born - Sarah Ann, daughter of Daniel Carpenter. The first death in 1823 – Charlotte, daughter of Ebenezer Martin. The first wedding united Robert Martin and Mary Gleason. The first log school house was built on Daniel Carpenter’s land and the first store opened in Daniel Carpenter’s house. He also built the first sawmill in 1827. Lumbering was the main industry, and 19 sawmills were soon in operation. R.F. Allison put up the first steam-powered mill.

Hartsville was established as a town on lands taken from Hornellsville. The first town meeting was held at the in the home of Erastus Beard. Charles N. Hart became the first supervisor with the town being named after him. Population - 759.

In 1853, Hartsville Centre (Hartsville’s business center) was originally a mile above the current location. Buildings were the Purdy Creek Post Office, One Methodist Episcopal Church, a school, two general stores, a wagon shop, a blacksmith shop and about 15 dwellings.

The lumber supply became depleted about 1855. General farming and Dairy farming became the main industry. In the 1870’s, three cheese factories were in operation. In 1879, the principal settlement and business center was comprised of 40 residences, two sawmills, two stores, M.E. Church and parsonage, school house and the usual trades. By 1890, Hartsville Centre had one M.E. Church, a school, two general stores, a wagon shop, blacksmith shop and about 25 dwellings with a population of 803.

The church is located on Purdy Creek Road in the old Methodist Episcopal Church and the First Baptist Church. Currently this is the only church in Hartsville and serves all denominations.
Services are held every Sunday at 10:30 am.

The town hall was erected in 1913. It is apparent that the main beams came from another building, possibly a bard. A rear door opens to a stairway that led downward to a privy at the right rear corner of the hall. Two voting booths were located at each rear corner. Their frames were covered with cheesecloth. A platform over the rear door supported a brick chimney to accommodate a wood-burning heater at the center of the hall. Lighting was provided by oil lamps placed in wall brackets. Public seating consisted of planks supported by potato crates placed along each side wall. Town Board Meetings are still held here every third Wednesday of the month.

Of the four main cemeteries in the Town of Hartsville, the first three are the responsibility of the town.

The first burial in Hartsville was in the Comfort-Cline Cemetery. It was a member of the Purdy family. This cemetery is still used by descendants of the Clines. The Comfort-Cline cemetery is located at the corner of Ashbaugh Hill Road and Purdy Creek Road.

Hartsville Hill Cemetery is located on the Ells Road. It had its first burial in 1819. Most families buried there are Burdicks, Hemphills, Pettibones and Willevers.

Call Hill Cemetery located on Call Hill was first used in 1819. Members of the Appier, Kennedy, Tuller and Orvis families are buried there.

Hartsville Center Cemetery is located next to the Hartsville Community Church on Purdy Creek Road. Burials began there in the 1830s. It is the largest cemetery in Hartsville and the most used.

The Hartsville Center Cemetery association maintains this cemetery.