Hartzler, Mary Esch Yoder (1877-1950)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1950 May 25 p. 6

Birth date: 1877 Jun 5

text of obituary:

MRS. MARY HARTZLER

The story opens on the fifth day of June 1877 near Wellman, Iowa when a daughter, Mary, was born into the home of David and Fannie Kanagy Esch. She was the eighth of a family of seven brothers and five sisters.

At the age of seven her mother passed away and at the age of fourteen she left her native Iowa with her father, step-mother and younger members of the family to move to Lancaster county, Pennsylvania.

Scarcely a year had passed before the father and step-mother were instantly killed at a railroad crossing, leaving the family orphans who lived together for a short time and began disbanding to care for themselves as best they could.

In 1896 Mary came to Ohio. August 24, 1897, she was united in marriage to Aaron D. Yoder. To this union were born one son and four daughters. They are Joe A., Nora M., Alta M., Bertha A. and Idabel E. Her husband passed away October 4, 1923.

For a few years she and the two younger daughters remained on the home farm in Champaign county and in 1926 they moved into West Liberty in which village she resided the remainder of her life with the exception of one year which she spent on the farm of her second husband, Jonathan T. Hartzler, whom the married December 18, 1928, and a short sojourn in Florida.

January 2, 1929, tragedy again entered her life when the youngest daughter, Idabel E., met death in a train-auto crash. Her second husband passed away April 7, 1943.

Mary gave her heart to her Saviour in early life and had been a member of the Oak Grove Mennonite church for almost fifty- three years. She was a faithful worker, having served as Sunday school teacher for many years. She was also active in sewing circle and charitable work.

She was a true companion, loving mother and kind neighbor. A case of need or distress was her welcome opportunity for service. During the last few years of her life she did not always have good health and after three days of intense suffering from aortic aneurism [sic aneurysm], the earthly part of the story ended in her late residence in West Liberty, on the morning of the second day of May 1950, having a time span of 72 years, 10 months and 27 days, and the part of the story that never ends begins in glory. For she repeatedly told us that she is going home.

She is survived by the son and three daughters, Joe A. and Bertha A. residing at home, Nora M. (Mrs. Ralph Owen, Woodstock, Ohio), Alta M. (Mrs. C. F. Cushman, North Lewisburg, Ohio); eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren: five brothers, Jacob Esch, Ronks, Pa., Joseph Esch, Sarasota, Florida, Benjamin Esch, Lima, Ohio, Menno Each, Mio, Michigan, Samuel Esch, Honey Brook, Pa.; three sisters, Mrs. J. J. Smucker, West Liberty, Ohio, Mrs. A. B. Glick Belleville, Pa., and Mrs. Harvey Miller, Kelliher, Minn., and a host of near relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted at the Oak Grove church at 2:00 p. m., May 5, in charge of Rev. N. E. Troyer assisted by Rev. Nelson Kanagy and Rev. S. E. Allgyer. Interment in Oak Grove cemetery on Ludlow Road.