BIO: George WIRT, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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484  COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  

  GEORGE WIRT, who in his lifetime was one of the representative and 
leading citizens of Penn township, Centre county, began his career at 
the foot of the ladder without other resources than his own indomitable 
will and steady, plodding industry, and worked his way upward until he 
became possessed of a handsome competence.
  Mr. Wirt was born in Dauphin county, Penn., in July, 1826, a son of 
Solomon and Mary (Noll) Wirt, who brought their family to Centre 
county, when our subject was seventeen years old. A farmer by 
occupation, the father located upon Penn creek, in Penn township, where 
he operated rented land, but later purchased a tract in Haines 
township, where he spent his remaining years. He died, however, in 
Dauphin county, in 1867, while on a visit, but his body was brought 
back and interred in the cemetery at Aaronsburg, where his wife, who 
died at the age of eighty-four years, was also laid to rest. They were 
consistent members of the Evangelical Church, and held in the highest 
regard by all who knew them. Although the father began life a poor man, 
by dint of hard work he succeeded in becoming well-to-do.
  Our subject was the eldest in a family of eight children, the others 
being as follows: Elias, a resident of Brush Valley, Centre county; 
Josiah, of Aaronsburg; William, of Sugar Valley; Mary A., widow of 
William Guismite, and a resident of Woodward, Centre county; Amanda, 
wife of Frank Weaver, of Aaronsburg; Susan, wife of William Bear, of 
Rebersburg, Centre county; and Caroline, wife of Emanuel Swartz, of 
Brush Valley.
  George Wirt was reared in the usual manner of farmer boys, and in the 
German school near his home received a fair education. In November, 
1848, by Rev. Sebastian Musser, Mr. Wirt was married to Miss Susannah 
Zerley, who was born in Gregg township, Centre county, August 20, 1826, 
a daughter of Philip and Hannah (Suday) Zerley. Her twin sister, Mrs. 
Sarah Auman, is also still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Wirt were born five 
children: Sarah, who married John Breon, of Millheim, and has one 
child; Emma, wife of Al Keen, of Penn township, by who she has nine 
children; Mary, widow of William Grimes, of Penn township, by whom she 
had three children; and Henry and Catharine, who died in childhood.
  Mr. Wirt began his domestic life upon the old Wilson farm in Haines 
township, which he rented for twelve years, and for the long period of 
twenty-one years lived on the farm of Philip Gephart, near Millheim. In 
March, 1882, he purchased from his brother William a farm consisting of 
eighty acres of fine land. In his endeavors to secure a home he was 
ably assisted by his faithful wife, who indeed proved a helpmeet to 
him, and is one of the best house-keepers to be found anywhere. They 
were widely and favorably known throughout this section of the county, 
with whose interests they were identified for so many years. The 
political support of Mr. Wirt was given the principles and candidates 
of the Democratic party, with which his father was also identified. 
That he was a thorough and skillful farmer was evidenced by the long 
period which he operated the two rented farms, where his successors 
have signally failed. In August, 1896, Mr. Wirt laid aside the cares of 
life, and passed to the realms of rest and peace.