BIO:  George M. WORTZ, Liberty Township, Adams County, PA

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Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
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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 473

GEORGE M. WORTZ, farmer, P. O. Fairfield, is a member of the well-known Wortz 
family.  His grandfather came from Lebanon to this county with his family, and 
located near McSherrystown, where Henry, the father of George M., was born.  
Henry learned the trade of a miller here, but later went to Graybill’s Mill, 
Frederick County, Md., where he stayed until his marriage, when he bought the 
property on which our subject now lives, where the latter was born, and which 
has always been his home.  The farm was bought in 1811 from Abraham Scott, and, 
including mountain land, was about 224 acres in extent, to which was added, by 
subsequent purchase, five acres of water right.  The deeds show the land to have 
been sold in 1808 by Jeremiah Porter, who sold to Moses Gourlay, and he to 
Scott.  Henry Wortz was married, in 1812, to Elizabeth Smith, of an old Marlyand 
family.  Of their family of ten three died young.  The rest survive, and are 
married.  Lewis has been thrice married (his first wife being Catharine 
Donaldson, who died leaving one daughter; his second was Justina Pickens, who 
had four children, only one surviving – Laura - living with her father; his 
present wife is Susan Bell, who has no issue; they live with George M.).  The 
next born is Margaret, wife of Andrew G. Donaldson, of Liberty Township, this 
county; Eliza, wife of Jacob Hoke, of Cumberland Township, this county; Susan, 
third daughter, married to Jacob Frieze, of Frederick County, Md.; Lucinda, wife 
of William H. Harrison, living on part of the home farm; Harriet, wife of John 
Welty, of Liberty Township, this county; George M., born August 13, 1823.  Our 
subject worked for his father until he was twenty-two years of age, when he 
farmed the place himself, and which, on his father’s death, he bought from the 
estate.  He has been a successful farmer, has always attended closely to his own 
affairs, and has won the respect and esteem of those who know him, for his 
probity and kindness of heart.  He had never married, but enjoys the comforts of 
home, in the place of his birth, with his brother, Lewis, and wife, who keep 
house there.  He is a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.