BIO: Christian Henry ORTH, Dauphin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JAWB

Copyright 2006.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/dauphin/runk/runk-bios.htm
_______________________________________________________________ 

Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 200.
_______________________________________________________________ 

  ORTH, CHRISTIAN HENRY, son of Adam Orth, was born March 24, 1773, in 
Lebanon township, Lancaster, now Lebanon county, Pa.; died 1816 in the 
city of Baltimore, Md.; in life went by the name of Henry, dropping 
Christian.  He received a good English education, and was brought up in 
the iron business.  Upon the death of his father he became the owner of 
New Market forge, but being elected sheriff of the county of Dauphin, 
commissioned October 17, 1797, like the vast majority who have followed 
him in that office, he became financially shipwrecked.  In 1801 he was 
elected State senator, serving until 1804, when he positively declined 
further continuance in office.  Governor Snyder appointed him flour 
inspector of the port of Philadelphia in January, 1809, but he resigned 
this office in April following, when he entered mercantile pursuits in 
Philadelphia.  He remained in that city until about the commencement of 
the last war with England, when he removed to Baltimore, and had there 
established a successful business as a merchant, when he suddenly died, 
at the age of forty-three.  Mr. Orth married, in 1794, Rebecca Rahm, 
born November 22, 1773; died December 31, 1843, at Harrisburg, Pa.; 
daughter of Conrad Rahn and Catharine Weiser.