David Hartin


David Hartin was born in 1825. He married Sarah Malcomsom, daughter of Robert Malcomson, and together they had seven children - Charles, Robert, Gilbert, David, William Henry, Catherine, and Margaret Ann. David Hartin died 23 November 1893 and was buried in the Carp Road Presbyterian Cemetery, Huntley Township.
On July 23, 1870, David Hartin purchased the former Malcomson Tavern in Bells Corners from then owner William Corbett Jr. who had acquired it from Malcomson in 1855. Unfortunately, in August of that year it was destroyed in the great fire. He subsequently rebuilt a larger stone structure on the site in 1871 and named it Hartin's Hotel. It still stands today as the home of the East India Company restaurant and conference centre. It is one of the oldest buildings in Bells Corners. In November 2014 it was designated a heritage building by Ottawa City Council.
According to the 1881 census, David is described as a 56-year-old Presbyterian farmer of Irish descent born in Ontario. With his wife Sarah, they had a large family, five sons and two daughters, ranging in age from 26 to 11. The three youngest were all attending school. David and his eldest son Charles farmed 50 acres of land in the area. One structure is visible in the 1879 Belden map.