"Old Farmhouse"

In lush Boettler Park, there are directions to the old farmhouse. Following paths through arching trees, winding around lily-pad-studded ponds, up and over slight hills, you round the final bend and come down a drive at the end of which is a large and very beautiful barn with German-style detail around the slatted vents. The barn is dramatic enough, and at first you cannot see the house. When you get closer, it's hard not to gasp at the finale. A graceful old home, an elegant lady resting in the afternoon shade of ancient trees. Wow!The historic literature we had read called it the Belden Home, the name of the most recent owners of the property, but from a tip, we knew it to be the former Hartong farm. Samuel Hartong married Margaret Humbert, the sister of my great great grandfather, Jacob Humbert. Margaret died young and Samuel later married her younger sister, Catherine. Our new cousin, Sandy, who came from New Jersey to meet us in Ohio, is a direct descendant of Samuel and Margaret. We were a bit disappointed that the Hartong name was nowhere to be found until we glanced up and saw that it is etched into the stone of the barn. We have yet to identify exactly which Hartong the initials L. J. stand for. Always a new mystery for the genealogist to solve.