The townsite of Hartman was homesteaded in 1878 by John Hartmann, Sr. The town began in January 1899 and included Hans J. Johnson as postmaster and general store operator, Charles F. Bartling with a creamery, Jarvis W. Phelps as blacksmith, John and Carl Johnson with farm implements, John Hempfling with a hardware store, the Hartman, Humboldt, Wellington Telephone Company with John Hartman as manager, and a community hall. Hartman went out of existence in 1916.