born in Holstein, Germany, 06 January 1847. He was the son of Vieth & Metta (Plauschau) Hartz. Raised and educated in his home land, of Germany, as a young man he engaged in farming, coming to California in 1865. He worked as a farmhand at first, in Alameda County. When he first arrived to this country, he was a ¡§stranger, in a strange county,¡¨ not knowing the language or the customs¡K and with a mire ten dollars to his name! He worked hard and often against heavy odds. In 1876 he rented land in Dublin (in Alameda County), which he farmed until 1888. That year he purchased 220 acres from James Stone on the west side of Danville (presently the site of Danville Estates).„ZHe sold part of this land to the railroad company. About 20 acres, he divided into town lots, reserving 200 acres, for his ranch, which was at the end of Prospect Avenue. He erected a handsome two-story house (see picture above) and commodious barns, which added value the ranch. He had his own fresh water stream which flowed out of Las Trampas range onto his property. He had a vast orchard, fine corn and other crops, as well as grains & live stock.On 17 September 1877 John Hartz married Catharine Johnson, who was also from his home land of Holstein, Germany. She was the daughter of Nicholas Johnson. Born of this union, were; Henry (who married Alice Hampton); Hannah (who married Neil Harrison); and Matilda ¡§Tillie¡¨ (who married Hiram Newton Elliott). Hartz was a member and noble grand of 100F and the Rebekahs Lodge. He was treasurer of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Danville for twenty years. His wife and daughters also were members of Rebekahs. Mrs. Hartz was treasurer of the lodge for years, and Tillie was a past noble grand.In his honor, Hartz Avenue in downtown Danville was named after *Jon Hartz. He was seventy-three when he died in 1920. Catharina Hartz died in 1923-4¡K their home (where they moved after they sold their ranch), is still standing in the middle of downtown, at 455 Hartz Avenue.