My Genealogy Hound

HENRY HARTZ, a most highly respected citizen of Monroe township, Cumberland county, where he owns a fine farm, was born in 1824, in Lancaster county. In 1833 his parents moved to Cumberland County.

The family is of German extraction, reaching back to the grandfather of Henry Hartz, a native of Germany, who came to America prior to, or during, the Revolutionary War, taking part in the same and being wounded in the leg. With his wife he died in Berks county, Pa., where he owned a farm. His four sons were: Caleb, Samuel, Conrad and Peter.

Conrad Hartz was born in Berks county and attended school there. In the year of his marriage he located near New Holland, Lancaster county and engaged in teaming to Baltimore, Philadelphia and Pittsburg. In 1820 he came to Cumberland county, and located in Middlesex township to engage in agriculture. Some nine years later he came to Monroe township, and farmed the Michael Betzhoover farm, then the Goodyear farm, and finally the Moses Bricker farm, where he lived for twenty-one years, and where both he and wife died. They left these children: William died in the West; Jacob died in Ohio; Conrad and Samuel both died in the West; George took part in the Mexican War, and disappeared; Mary died at Churchtown; Henry; Elizabeth died in Carlisle; and Catherine is a resident of Churchtown.

Henry Hartz obtained the best education possible at the time in the district schools of Cumberland county, and remained with his father until he was thirty-three years of age. Prior to purchasing his own farm he had many years of experience, working for ten years with his father, and, after marriage, five years on the William Brandt farm in Monroe township, five years on the George Brindle farm, after which he spent one year in York county. Upon his return he bought, in 1879, what was known as the old Piper farm in Monroe township, and located on it in the following year, ever since making it his home.

In 1857 Mr. Hartz married Esther Baker, daughter of Peter Baker, of Cumberland county. She died in 1899, and was buried in the cemetery at Baker’s Church. They had these children: George, who is a farmer in Monroe township, near Mechanicsburg, married Annie Smizer, and they have three children, William H., Alda and Delia, all at home; and Annie Elizabeth, who is her father’s neat and capable housekeeper, a most estimable lady.

For the last nine years Mr. Hartz has been a valued member of the Dunkard Church. He is highly regarded by all who know him. For his years he possesses wonderful vitality, and takes a great interest in hearing of the welfare of neighborhood friends, exerting a good and pious influence on all with whom he comes in contact. He has led a long and useful life, upon which he can look backward with few regrets.