Last week’s story about Alice Thompson DeHart brought several questions about her husband, their large estate, and the historic Woolwine community of Hartville. This week, I’ll do my best to provide some answers.
Alice Thompson (1886–1971) married Isaac Carrell “Ike” DeHart on September 24, 1931. Alice was Ike’s second
wife. His first wife, Miss Mollie Jane Hash (1867–1938), was the daughter of James Henry Hash (1841–1920) and Sarah Frances Thompson (1843–1907) of the Long Branch community in Franklin County, just over the Patrick County line.
Interestingly, Alice Thompson’s father, Waddy Thompson (1848–1921), was the brother of Sarah Frances Thompson Hash — making Alice and Mollie first cousins. So, Ike’s first wife’s mother was the sister of his second wife’s father!
Ike DeHart was the eldest son of Fleming DeHart (1838–1923) and Millie Jane DeHart (1838–1899). In the 1850’s, Fleming DeHart built a grand home, licensed distillery, and flour milling business on the site of what is now the I. C. DeHart Memorial Park. Fleming would name his large estate Hartville and even establish a post office for shipping whiskey. As the eldest son, Ike inherited his father’s home, business, and land, following the long-standing English tradition of passing the family estate to the firstborn. Fleming and Millie Jane would have three sons:
Isaac Carrell “Ike” DeHart (1866–1949)
Joseph Howard “J.H.” DeHart (1870–1956)
Darius Ira DeHart (1879–1915)
Fleming DeHart’s parents were Thomas DeHart (1798–1852) and Martha “Patsy” Via (1803–1840). Millie Jane DeHart’s parents were Aaron DeHart (1801–1861) and Tamar McAlexander (1815–1865), all of Woolwine.
Joseph Howard DeHart married Miss Daisy Via (1877–1953), daughter of merchant and dentist Dr. William Dennis Via (1838–1915) and Minnie Via (1855–1928), on February 27, 1896. The couple had two children:
George Via DeHart (1898–1933)
Ruth DeHart Smith (1900–1992)



Joseph Howard DeHart established his own mill and the Mountain Rose Distillery Number 250 in Woolwine, which he operated from 1900 until the 1940s, except during Prohibition. People now would know the J. H. DeHart home as the Mountain Rose Inn. J. H. then moved his family to Depot Street in Stuart, where he managed a rooming house that had previously served as both the Riverside Hotel and the Ashby Hotel. On May 19, 1956, at the age of 86, J.H. suffered a fatal heart attack while watering his garden. He is buried beside his wife, Daisy, at Stuart Town Cemetery.
Darius Ira DeHart married Miss Sarah Elizabeth “Sallie Bett” Hash (1883–1965) on July 25, 1907. Sallie Bett was also the daughter of James Henry Hash and Sarah Frances Thompson Hash, and the sister of Ike’s first wife, Mollie — adding yet another layer to these intertwined family connections.
Darius and Sallie Bett had three children:
Herman Isaac DeHart (1908–1977)
Noel Edmond DeHart (1910–2003)
Mildred Frances DeHart (1911–1998)
Sadly, on January 4, 1915, Darius was killed in an accident at his father’s roller mill in Hartville. He was just 35 years old. Darius was laid to rest at the DeHart Family Cemetery in Hartville. After his death, Sallie Bett and her children lived in the large home of her sister Mollie and brother-in-law Ike. Ike had no biological children with either Mollie or Alice.
For those interested in the DeHart family’s involvement in licensed distilling, Jack Sullivan has written an excellent blog post titled “The DeHarts of Virginia: Moonshine in the Sunshine,” which can be found at pre-prowhiskeymen.blogspot.com.
For questions, comments, or ideas, please contact Woody at rockcastlecreek1@gmail.com or 276-692-9626.