BIO:  George W. WORTZ, Hamiltonban Township, Adams County, PA

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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, Pages 451-452

GEORGE W. WORTZ, merchant, Fairfield.  The grandfather of this gentleman came 
from Lebanon County, Penn., and settled in Conowago Township, this county, near 
McSherrystown.  He had seven children:  Jacob, Peter, Marcus, Henry, George, 
Mary, and Adam, all deceased, most at an advanced age.  Marcus, father of George 
W., lived on his father’s farm until after his marriage, and being the only son 
at home, was, during the war of 1812, exempt from military duty on account of 
his father’s advanced age.  He was a farmer, but for several years kept a 
boarding house in McSherrystown, which he afterward sold and bought a farm from 
his sister, Mrs. Stouffer, a widow, where he lived until a few years before his 
death, when, being afflicted with blindness, he sold the farm and bought a house 
in Hanover, York County, where he lived until his death.  His wife, Elizabeth 
Herbst, was born in Carlisle, Penn., March 5, 1800, and died at York Springs, 
this county, May 16, 1882.  She was a daughter of Rev. John Herbst, pastor of 
the Lutheran Church in Carlisle, and later in Maryland and in York and other 
counties in Pennsylvania.  The children of Marcus and Elizabeth Wortz were Eliza 
Ann, born August 3, 1818, who became the wife of John Allabaugh, and after his 
decease married Michael Bushey, of East Berlin, this county, where they live; 
Julia Ann, born November 8, 1819, widow of Jesse D. Keller, of Conowago 
Township, this county, living in Hanover; Jacob M., born June 15, 1827, married 
to Maggie Shaeffer, both died at Glen Rock, York Co., Penn.; Amelia, born August 
20, 1821, was wife of Jacob Musselman, of Hamiltonban Township, this county, 
both deceased; Sarah H., born July 4, 1833, wife of Daniel Musselman, of 
Fairfield, this county; Louisa E., born July 4, 1837, wife of Dr. D. Diller, of 
York Springs, this county; a son, who died at ten years of age; a daughter, who 
died when an infant, and George W., the youngest child.  Our subject was born 
September 1, 1840, in McSherrystown, and lived on the farm (to which his father 
had removed) until he was sixteen years old, when he clerked for two years for 
John Busby in the house in which he was born; two years for his brother in New 
Oxford; then farmed the home place for four years, teaching in winter; farmed a 
year near Fairfield; then started a grocery, to which, in 1866, he added a dry 
goods store.  He has made several business changes since then; was for three 
years running a steam saw-mill, where a board hurled by the saw against his face 
nearly killed him.  He also, at different times, built twenty-eight houses in 
the town, adding largely to its growth and prosperity.  In January, 1886, he 
bought back the business carried on in his own building, and is now engaged in 
merchandising.  December 17, 1863, Mr. Wortz was married to Martha J. Myers, of 
York Springs, this county, born March 24, 1843.  They have four children:  
Minnie F., born January 16, 1865; Harry L., born June 23, 1868; Alice R., born 
January 26, 1873, and Ella Gertrude, born October 2, 1875, all living with their 
parents.  Mr. Wortz has been a school director for nine years, all of which time 
he was secretary of the board; is a member of Valley House Lodge, No. 740, 
I.O.O.F., in which he has filled all the chairs, and of which he was secretary 
for several years; has also been District Deputy Grand Master.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Wortz, their eldest daughter and son are members of the Lutheran Church, in 
which he was a deacon six years.  In politics our subject is a Republican; is at 
present the judge of elections, which office he filled several times.