J. W. Hart, a prosperous merchant of Brewer, Mo., and a member of the firm of J. W. Hart & Son, is a son of Thomas Hart, a native of Ireland, who was married in his native land, and immigrated to America, settling in Perry County prior to the birth of J. W. Hart, who for fifty-two years, as boy and man, has been one of the best known citizens of the county.

The latter�s wife was Louisa Tropp. They are the parents of nine children, all of whom are living. They are Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry I. Moore), William S. (his father�s partner in the store), Mary T. (Mrs. James V. Moore), Edward J., Ellen, Odine T., Rosa J., Francis J., and Louisa C. The three eldest daughters were educated in the convent at Perryville, and William and Edward at St. Mary�s Seminary.

Besides his mercantile business, which he has operated for many years, J. W. Hart has for some time been engaged in agriculture. He is a large land owner and devotes most of his attention to stock dealing, shipping largely to St. Louis.

His son, William, manages the store, and his well assorted stock of goods and neat display give evidence of fine mercantile ability and taste. He is intelligent and enterprising and is destined to become one of the prominent citizens of Southeast Missouri.

The family circle is unbroken, and all are devoted members of the Catholic Church.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.