James A.'s mother Barbara was a live-in housekeeper for Joseph Walker.

At the age of 38, and four years after J.A. Hartsell's marriage to Sophronia Walker, a daughter was born. She was Minnie Alberta Hartsell, born May 15, 1872. Three years later William Webster was born, on July 5, 1875. In still another 3 years, Oma Estella Hartsell was born April 8, 1878.

As related by DVH: James A. & Sophronia Hartsell rented land in Richland and Ash Grove townships prior to 1872. He and Sophronia lived on a farm east and south of the Ash Grove Church, reckoned by DVH to be in the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 8, Ash Grove Township. The house was back off the road about 1/2 mile east of the crossroad just south of the church. They were living there as of March, 1870 and presumably until 1872.

On February, 29, 1872, James A. Hartsell purchased 80 acres of partly improved land in Ash Grove Township from William Jordan at $34.00 per acre ($2720.00). This was 12 years after he came to Illinois and it was his first land purchase. These 80 acres are located on N.1/2 of NE.1/4, Section 19, Township 11 N., Range 6 E. It is 3 miles south of Windsor. The west 40 acres belongs (still?) to Bertha Juanita (Hartsell) Risley, while the east 40 acres belonged to Edna (Dietz) Hartsell until her death in 1982. The east 40 acres contained (and still does as of 1998) a timber, and a creek flows alongside it.

James A. Hartsell's sister Rebecca Ann (Hartzell) Small died April 8, 1874. She was buried at Ash Grove Cemetery.

  Shelby County, Windsor Township, page 23, dwelling 166, family number 153
  Head of household:  Joseph Walker, occupation farmer
  in household:
    Walker, Joseph              age 57  born in Ohio,$56800 real estate, $2500 personal
    Hartshel, Barbe             age 52  born in Virginia,keeping house
    Marget                      age 32  born in Indiana
    William                     age 22  born in Indiana
    Salesta                     age 18  born in Indiana
    Joseph (?)                  age 16  born in Indiana
  Notes:
    Barbe Hartshel is Barbara (Nipp) Hartzell, widow.
    Marget (Margaret), William, and Salesta (Celestia) are Barbara's children.
    It is unknown who the child Joseph is.

The year 1876 saw Custer's Last Stand, and Chicago got it's first telegraph poles and gas lights that year. The memory of Lincoln was still strong during this centennial year.