BIO:  John WERTZ, Straban Township, Adams County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/adams/
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History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania
Chicago:  Warner, Beers & Co., 1886
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Part III, History of Adams County, Page 512

JOHN WERTZ, farmer and stock-raiser, P. O. Gettysburg, was born on the farm 
where he now resides, November 7, 1819, a son of Henry and Susan (Thoman) Wertz, 
natives of York County, Penn.  The paternal and maternal ancestors were natives 
of Switzerland, and early settlers of Straban Township, this county.  The Wertz 
family first settled in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1743, where the grandfather 
of our subject and his three brothers enlisted in the Revolutionary war, in 
which struggle the last three mentioned lost their lives in defense of their 
country.  Henry Wertz, who was a farmer, settled on the place where his son now 
resides, in 1810.  His family consisted of six children.  Our subject was reared 
on the farm and received a common school education.  He chose farming for his 
vocation and is the owner of 128 acres of land.  He is a Democrat; is unmarried; 
served twelve years as school director in this township.  He is a deacon in the 
Reformed Church, a great reader and well posted.