Elijah Carson Hart was born in Nevada in a covered wagon on September 9, 1857, while his parents were crossing the plains from Greene County, Indiana to California.

The Hart family settled in Nicolaus, California and eventually moved on to Colusa, Ca.

He had little formal education and started to work at the age of twelve as an assistant to a printer in the city of Colusa.

He was re-elected city attorney in 1890 and served until April 1893 when he resigned to enter the California State Senate.

His wife, Adaline (Addie) Maria Vivian, of more than 50 years was a niece of Kit Carson.