Hartzell Family of Swiss Origin
Hartzell Family of Swiss Origin
(pg. 42 and 43, of Laurel Messenger , May 19872)
By Chareles H. Price Jr.
And Lousie D. Marsh
Many Hartzell families of Somerset County may be surprised to learn that their Pennsylvania
"Dutch" Ancestry, which they had assumed to be German, actually proves to be Swiss in its
earliest known origins. Careful research in Swiss and German church records by Charles
H. Price Jr., author of "Hartzell - Price History and Genealogy", places the first
Hartzell in Canton Zurich, in the Swiss Reformed Church.
Jacob d Hirzel, parentage unknown, b. ca. 1580, d. before 1634, m. 2 Aug. 1601, Pfaffikon,
Zurich, Switzerland, Madalen(a) Keller bapt. 14 Feb. 1581 Altorff, dau. Hans and
Madalen (Bosshart) Jacob and Madalen Hirzel d. Balm, near Pfaffikon. Children: Jacob,
Hans Jacob, Anna, Hans, Hans Heinrich, Barbel, Marx, Hans, Felix, Urseli, Hans Heinrich,
Elsbet.
Hans Heinrich d Hirtzel, bapt. 28 Feb. 1619 Balm, d. 23 June 1663 Reihen, Kries Sinsbeim,
Baden, Germany, m. 12 Jan. 1646 Lysslingen near Pfaffikon, Maria Steiner of Batterckingen,
Canton Bern, dau. and Maria Catrina (Frey) Steiner. Hans Heinrich and Maria are buried
in Reihen, recorded by German Reform Church. Children Catharina, Verena, Hans
Heinrich, Anna, Maria Barbara, Clemens.
Clemens d. Hirtzed, b. 20 Feb. 1659 Reihen; d. 25 Mar. 1707 Reihen, m. 23 Nov. 1680
Reihen. Anna Sinter b. 20 Mar. 1664 Reihen. D. 13 Nov. 1738 Reihen. She was dau. Hans
and Margretha (Nayer) Sinter. Children: Hans Heinrich, Hans George, Maria Esther,
Christoph, Hans Jonas, Anna Christine, Maria Margretha, Johann Jacob, Anna Margretha,
Hans Ulrich.
Christoph d Hirtzel, b. Nov. 1690 Reihen, d. there, m. 2 Feb. 1717 Reihen, Maria Magdalena
Duringer, dau. Henry of Obergimpern. Children: Hans Helchior, Nicolaus, John Christoph,
Charlotte.
Hans Melchoir1 Hirtzel, bapt. 10 Apr. 1718 Reihen, a village 24 miles southeast of
Heidelberg. He emigrated via Rotterdam on "Snow Betsey" to Philadelphia, qualifying on
21 Sept. 1742. Tohickon Reformed Church of Bedminster Township, Bucks Co., Pa, records his
marriage ca. 1750 to Esther, with his name now Melchior Hartzel. Their children: Jacob b. 1
Sept. 1751, George b. 18 Apr. 1753, Magdalena b. 28 Sept. 1754, d. 31 July 1758.
The first three children were baptized Lutheran because their mother was of that faith.
She died ca. 1755. Melchior next m. 7 Oct. 1756 (Anna Maria) Barbara Lauder. Their
children: Henry b.. 10 Oct. 1757 and Elizabeth b. 10 June 1760, d. Somerset Co. m. David
Ankeny. Barbara d. ca. 1760 and Melchior next m. 5 Feb. 1761 Margaret Zorlin. They moved
to Turkeyfoot Tp. Somerset Co. where their only child Nicholas was b. 14 May 1766. He
resided in the county and m. Dorcas Melchior and Margaret d. in Somerset Co.
Henry2 Hartzell, b. 10 Oct. 1757 Bedminster Tp., Bucks Co., Pa. d. June or July 1801,
Addison Tp. Somerset Co.; m. ca 1780-81 Ann Elizabeth Sochrous. She d. 1829 Addison Tp.
Their children: (order uncertain)
1. Jonas3 b. 12 Mar. 1782 Turkeyfoot Tp., d. 23 June 1833, PA., m. 27 Nov.
1804 Turkeyfoot Tp. Sarah Ankeny (See below for more details)
2. Elizabeth3
3. Henry Jr.3 b. ca. 1790, settled in Turkeyfoot Tp., m. Huldy , b. 19 May
1792, d. 6 Oct. 1828.
4. Malachi3 b. ca. 1795, d. ca. 1837-38 Ligonier Tp., Westmoreland Co., Pa.
(Ancestor of Lawrence W. Jenkins, who supplied these details: In 1820 census of Westmoreland
Co., Malachi was apparently a widower. He m. ca. 1822-3 Mary (Polly) Madgalena Lange b.
3 Dec. 1798. D. 1870-80. Dau. Rev. Friedrich Wilhelm and Mary Catherena (Allbach) Lange.)
5. Mary Magdalena3, settled in Addison Tp., m. Andrew Bird.
6. John3. M. Elizabeth, settled in Somerset Co.
Jonas3 Hartzell, b. 12 Mar. 1782 Turkeyfoot Tp., d. 23 June 1833 either
there or in Buffalo Tp., Washington Co., Pa. m. 27 Nov. 1804 Turkeyfoot Tp., Sarah
Ankeny, b. 9 Jan. 1787 Turkeyfoot Tp. Dau. David and Elsa (Ritter) Ankeny, d. 3 Aug.
1842 Etna, licking Co., OH. Jonas was Co. Commissioner of Somerset Co., elected Oct.
1818, and was elected Justice of the Peace of Turkey Foot and Addison Twps., in 1823. He
owned a grist mill and was a Presbyterian. Their children: (order uncertain)
1. Otho4 probably d. Washington Twp., Washington Co., Pa.
2. William4, prob. D. Holden MO.
3. Charlotte4, b. 17 Jan. 1809 Turkeyfoot Tp., d. 20 May 1892 Etna, Licking
Co., OH; m. 31 Jan, 1828 Turkeyfoot Tp., John Schaff, b. 2 July 1805 Turkeyfoot Tp., son
of David and Magdalena (Altvater) Schaff, d. 19 Oct. 1887 Etna, Licking Co. OH.
Children: David5, Alexander5, Jonas5 Hartzell, Isaac 5,
Milton (grandfather of Louise D. Marsh), John5 Webster5, Morris5, Burdine5, Hilary5
Hanby5, (Benjamin5) Franklin5, Burl5 Benton.
4. Hilary4 Hanna, d. prob. Holden, MO, Two sons Hiram5 b. 1845,
k, Aug. 1863 Richmond, KY Co. A., 95th OH Vol. Inf. Cyrus5 fought
with Co. C. 88th OH.
5. Julia4 m. Long
6. Matilda4 m. (1) Lafayette Nelson of Ohio Co. VA., m. (2) Daniel Snyder.
1. Sarah5 Jane Nelson m. Absalom Houser, res. Etna, OH/
7. Sarah4 m. Hiram C. Wait, res. Etna, OH.
8. Rev. Jonas4 Hazard, b. Buffalo Tp., Washington Co., Pa.,
d. Buffalo NY, m. Achsah.
1. Judge Albert5, Buffalo, NY.
2. Frederick5.
3. daughter5.
9. Elsie4.
Malachi3 Hartzell, b. ca. 1795 Turkeyfoot Tp., d. ca. 1837-38 Ligonier Tp.,
Westmoreland Co. m. (1) wife unknown, may have had 3 sons and 1 dau. (1820 census). M. (2)
ca. 1822-23 Mary (Polly) Magdalena Lange. B. 3 Dec. 1798 Somerset, dau. Rev.
Friedrich Wilhelm and Mary Catherena (Allbach), d. 1870-80 Ligonier. Westmoreland Co. Pa.
Children:
1. Catherine4 b. 1824 d. 15 Mar. 1893, m. John Richards.
2. Jerome4 b. 23 July 1826 d. 26 May 1920, m. 1859 Nancy Nichols.
3. Margaret4 Elizabeth b. 14 Dec. 1829 d. 19 feb. 1914, m. 18 Mar.
1856 William Breckenridge Miller.
4. Mary4 b. 1831, d. 4 May 1909, m. Hartzell.
5. Sarah4 Louise b. 1834 m. Trumbull Loomis.
6. Isabelle4 b. 1836, d. 19-Nov. 1926, m. after 1880 Beistel.
(end of the Hartzell history)
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