BIOGRAPHY: George M. WERTZ, Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 418-9 ____________________________________________________________ GEORGE M. WERTZ, a farmer of Stony Creek township, and one of the county commissioners of Cambria county, is a son of Jacob and Mary (Hoffman) Wertz, and was born on the old homestead in Cambria county, July 18, 1836. The Wertz family is one of the old families of Pennsylvania, having settled in this State prior to the Revolutionary war. The family is of German origin, and was one of the colonial families of Pennsylvania. Conrad Wertz, the great- grandfather of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, emigrated to America in 1735. He was quite a young man, and located in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where as a miller he carried on business in his own and surrounding vicinity. Here his son, John Wertz, grandfather of our subject, was born; he remained in Franklin county until 1785, when he removed to Stony Creek township, this county, then Shade township, Somerset county. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, and followed this avocation in connection with his farming pursuits. He died in Shade township, Somerset county. Jacob Wertz (father) was born on the old homestead, in Shade township, and attended the district schools of those early days when educational facilities were quite limited. It was his privilege to be enrolled as a pupil in the first school-house built in that part of Somerset county. On leaving school he assisted his father on the farm, which he continued to manage after his father's death. While he was not a politician, yet he took an active and intelligent interest in all local affairs, was identified with the old-line whigs, and in later years was a staunch republican. He married Miss Mary Hoffman, and to this marital union thirteen children were born, six of whom are now living. He died in 1888. George M. Wertz, whose name heads this record, was reared a farmer boy on the old homestead, and received a liberal education; he attended the public schools of his township, and then took advantage of a course in the county normal schools, after which he entered Lebanon institute, at Lebanon, Ohio. On leaving school he returned to his home and assisted his father on the farm. In 1881 he purchased the old home farm, which has been in the family for three generations, and now resides on the original plot purchased by his grandfather. In politics he endorses the principles of the Republican party. In 1890 he was elected school director of his township, and in 1893 was elected one of the commissioners of Cambria county, which position he fills at the present time. He is also chairman of the Republican county committee. In religious opinions he is a member of the Lutheran church at Johnstown, this county. In 1881 he married, and his marriage union has resulted in the birth of six children, of whom five are living. But few men are better known throughout Cambria county than Mr. Wertz. He is a fitting representative of the masses, and a man of broad and liberal convictions. His opinions and counsels are often sought in political matters, and he enjoys the confidence and respect of a large following in both parties.