Dr. William Harvey Hartzell, youngest child of Philip Gerhart and Elizabeth (Kerr) Hartzell, was born in Rockhill Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Nov. 22, 1853. He was but five weeks old when his father died, and until the age of seven years he was in the care of his mother, and was then placed with strangers until his seventeenth year. During this period he attended the district school from four to five months each year. Later he attended the Washington Collegiate Institute at Trappe, and in 1871 matriculated at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in March, 1873. He at once established himself in practice at Adamstown, Lancaster County, removing to Harleyville, Montgomery County, in 1877, and to Allentown in 1881. He soon attained distinction as an efficient doctor. He was chief physician of Allentown hospital three years, having been identified with it from its organization; was a trustee of the Norristown Insane Asylum, 1894-1901; was chief surgeon of the Lehigh Valley Transit Company and of the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley Transit Company. He has served as a member of the School Board and of the Board of Health. As Democratic nominee for mayor in 1888 Dr. Hartzell was defeated by a small majority. He served as treasurer of the Democratic County Committee. Re was elected president of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, at Scranton, in 1904; was president of the Jefferson Medical Alumni Association in 1901; in 1905 declined to become resident chief of the male department of the State Hospital for. the Insane, at Norristown. He is the author of "A Chart of Nervous Diseases," and has written numerous articles for medical journals. In 1911 he toured the United States, including California and the extreme West, and in 1914 spent some time in the Holy Land, while he was touring Europe, Asia and Africa. His membership in organizations of various kinds is as follows: Lehigh Valley Medical Association; Lehigh County Medical Society; American Medical Association; Mason, past high priest and trustee of Allen Chapter, No. 203, Royal Arch Masons; past thrice illustrious grand master of Allen Council, No. 23, Royal and Select Masters; in 1895 was eminent commander of Mien Commandery, No. 20, Knights Templar; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Jan. 26, 1910, Dr. Hartzell was elected president of the Citizens' Deposit and Trust Company, having been a director since its organization, and vice-president since January, 1907. He is a member of St. John's Reformed church. He resigned as president and director of the trust company Dec. 13, 1923.

Dr. Hartzell married, Nov. 10, 1874, Mary Louisa, daughter of Harry and Rachel Stauffer, of Lancaster City, Pennsylvania.