Hartzler, Jonathan B. (1850-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Sep 21 p. 5

Birth date: 1850 Aug 30

Ohio Centenarian Was Ordained in 1879 and Preached Last Sermon Sixty-Two Years Later

200 RELATIVES, FRIENDS GREET JONATH. HARTZLER ON HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY

Orrville, Ohio. — The 30th day of August was a day long looked forward to by the relatives and friends of Pre. Jonathan B. Hartzler. It was the occasion of his 100th birthday.

Approximately 200 people had the happy privilege of calling at the Harvey Hartzler home near Orrville, Ohio to extend their best wishes of the day to Grandpa Hartzler, as he is known to many people. We are assured that he too enjoyed the day for his health is remarkably good in considera- [sic text missing in original] quite a number of days.

Traveled in Covered Wagon

He was born on a farm in Fairfield county, Ohio. At the age of three he moved with his parents, the late Pre. David and Barbara Hartzler, to a farm near Ligonier, Ind. This trip was made in a covered wagon and required quite number of days.

In 1877 he married Esther Hooley of Pretty Prairie, Ind. Two years later he was ordained to the ministry zy [sic] lot at Pretty Prairie. He still has in his possession the quotation which was in his book when he was ordained. It was written in German script and reads as follows: “Master acquainted with every heart, show us who you selected of these four.”

They also resided in Logan county, Ohio for a number of years before coming to Wayne county, where he now lives with his eldest daughter, Mrs. Ida Beechy. Mrs. Hartzler passed away almost five years ago.

There are seven of ten children living: Ida, with whom he resides in Orrville, Simon of Wakarusa, Ind., Noah of Goshen, Ind., David of West Liberty, Enos and Harvey of near Orrville, Mrs. Ida Eigsti (Esther) of Tiskilwa, Ill.

He enjoys taking short walks outside when the weather permits. He lost his ability to speak loudly a few years ago but can be understood with a whisper.

Recalls Death of Lincoln

His memory is more alert than that of others years younger than he. He recalls as a boy on the farm using oxen to till the soil. He can remember when news swept the county of the death of Abraham Lincoln.

He preached his last sermon at the age of 91 at the Crown Hill church near Orrville. Only a few weeks ago he attended tent meetings at Wooster conducted by Bro. C. F. Derstine. He last attended services at the Crown Hill church when Nelson Kanagy held a Bible conference.

Grandpa has one son Enos, who was ordained as a bishop at the Crown Hill Mennonite church, and a son-in-law, Ira Eigsti, who was formerly minister at the Willow springs church, Tiskilwa, ill. Two grandsons, Earl and Lloyd Hartzler, are ordained minister sin mountain missions in West Virginia. Just recently Eunice Hartman of Goshen, Ind., a great granddaughter, sailed for Ethiopia to teach at a girls school in Addis Ababa. Another grand-son-in-law, Rev. William Weaver, is a teacher and minister in California.

He has a total of 133 descendants, including seven children, 42 grandchildren and 84 great-grandchildren.

The fact that he has been able to live these one hundred years is evidence that he lived a life faithful to God, living one day at a time and being considerate of other people.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 Dec 7 p. 1

text of obituary:

OHIO CENTENARIAN DIED NOV. 25 __________

Orrville, Ohio. — Jonathan S. Hartzler, retired Mennonite minister who observed his 100th birthday on August 30 of this year, passed away here Saturday, Nov. 25. Funeral services were held at the Crown Hill Mennonite church, where he served as minister for a number of years.

Surviving him are seven children, 42 grandchildren and 84 great grandchildren.