The name “Hartselle” is by no means confined to the “City of Southern Hospitality” in north Alabama, nor to the last names of the descendants of the founders of that city. “Hartselle” or one of its derivatives, is also used elsewhere, especially in North Carolina; most of the people living here in the 19th century had parents and grandparents who had come from the Tarheel State.

There are still a lot of “Hartsells,” as they spell it in North Carolina, especially around Concord – a thriving city, the estimated population of which is about 95,000.  It is located about 25 miles from Charlotte.

Hartsell is a prominent name in Concord. One of the senior members in the North Carolina General Assembly is Fletcher L. Hartsell Jr., a Republican who represents the state’s 36th Senate district.  Sen. Hartsell has been a member of the state’s General Assembly since 1991.

Here is an example of the use of Hartsell for residents of our community as published in the Huntsville Daily Mercury: Jan. 5, 1886—The whiskey traffic and the old year went out together in Hartsell until after the 14th of January, when it is confidentially believed the people will vote it out forever. 

And another from the Moulton Advertiser:  Jan. 2, 1902—Ab Masterson, wife and little Nellie of Hartsell spent part of the holiday season with relatives in Moulton.  No people ever come to our town that we are gladder to see.

There are also folks in Ohio who spell their name “Hartzell.” They are most noted as pioneers in the aircraft industry.  

The Hartzell Propeller Company was founded a little more than a hundred years ago by Robert Hartzell. Hartzell Propeller manufactures its product primarily for smaller recreational aircraft. These attachments for recreational aircraft are very similar to those found at Rountree Airport.

 The smallest “Hartsel” is an unincorporated community in Park County, Colorado.  Its population is estimated to be about 700.

Sometimes people who don’t know any better call our city “Hartsville.”  There is actually a community whose official name is the “City of Hartsville, South Carolina.”  Hartsville is the largest city in Darlington County, S.C. It is a little more than a decade younger than our Hartselle, having been incorporated in 1891. 

Its population is estimated at about 8,000, but this figure expands considerably when an auto race is going on at the nearby Darlington Raceway.  Its track was built for NASCAR races and has been nicknamed “The Lady in Black” and “The Track Too Tough to Tame.” Many Alabama NASCAR fans go to Talladega after witnessing big races at the Darlington Raceway.

A final use of Hartsells to be presented this week is its use to designate a fine sandy loam frequently dedicated to pastureland in which horses, cows, and sheep contentedly graze. The soil is divided into four classes: Hartsells Ap, Hartsells AB, Hartsells Bt1, and Hartsells Bt2.  

In these different classes, the Hartsells soils can extend to as much 20 inches into the ground.  Their colors will range from dark grayish brown, to regular brown, to yellowish brown. The moistness of Hartsells soil extends from the very dry Ap to the quite moist Bt2. It is easier for livestock to graze from the Bt2.