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The Hertzler Story
Many documents are available to research the Hertzler family, census reports, family documents, newspaper records, inventories and more. From the historical documents, Barbara Arnold, the Chairperson of the Hertzler House Advisory Committee has written a book of historical fiction, which chronicles the life of Daniel Hertzler’s wife, Catharine. Written from the woman’s perspective, the story tells of the joys and hardships of life in Ohio during the 19th century. The book, titled Catharine Hertzler’s Journey, is available for sale at the Daniel Hertzler House Museum. Special arrangements can be made for tours
any time by calling 937-882-6000. The Hertzler House is also open every
Thursday from noon to 4:00pm. From June through October, the Hertzler House
offers tours at 1:30pm and 2:30pm every Sunday. Adult admission is $5.00 and
student $1.00. |
The
Daniel Hertzler House Museum is located in George Rogers Clark Park three
miles west of Springfield, Ohio off of State Route 4. Built in 1854 by an
entrepreneur Mennonite from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the house museum now
enjoys a rebuilt bank barn. Using 400-year-old timber from the original barn
and timbers from a similar barn in Miami Township, the Timber Framers Guild
of America spent several weeks in July, 2007 reframing the new/old
Chamberlin-Hertzler Barn. Over the fall and winter the barn has been roofed
and sided and awaits warmer weather for finishing.
Daniel
Hertzler had an interesting life. When he left home in Pennsylvania, he
wanted something new. During his life he owned a gristmill, a sawmill, a
whiskey distillery, a brick distillery, opened a bank and was a
money-lender. He died, under mysterious circumstances, a very rich man,
leaving his wife 
Catharine
and four living daughters.
