BIOGRAPHY: Martin ORT, Mifflin County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr Copyright. All rights reserved. http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/ ____________________ The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania. Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 680-681. MARTIN ORT, deceased, was born on the Ort homestead in Granville township, Mifflin county, March 4, 1825. He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Beck) Ort, and a grandson of John Ort, Sr. His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers of the township, and was a man of influence and great force of Character. For many years he was an officer in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church at Lewistown, Pa. His son, John Ort, Jr., was reared in Granville township, and followed farming all his life. He had nine children, among whom were: Martin; and Mrs. James Barr, of Dawn, O., the latter being the only surviving child. Like his father, John Ort, Jr., was active in church affairs, holding office in the church continuously. His wife died in 1868, aged seventy-four. Mr. Ort died a year later, at the age of seventy-nine. Martin Ort received a limited education in the district schools. His childhood and early manhood were spent on the home farm, and a short time before his father's death he succeeded to the property. He was a successful farmer and a progressive one. He was a Republican; he was ever alive to the interests of the community and of the State, but he never sought political preferment, accepting only at the earnest request of neighbors the office of school director and supervisor. He was a consistent member of the Lutheran church. Martin Ort was married February 13, 1851, to Nancy E., daughter of David and Susan Rothrock. They had these children: George R., married Ada Brice, ten children; Elizabeth E. (Mrs. W.L. Reigle), six children; John William; Lawrence G., married Edith V. Price; Carrie M. (Mrs. Seneca Bennett), two children; Albert Grant, married Elizabeth Ganze, one child; Edith E. (Mrs. Andrew J. Lucas); and two children that died in infancy. John W., third child of Martin and Nancy E. Ort, received a common school education. He grew to manhood on the homestead, which has been under his management for the last few years. He is one of the most enterprising farmers in the township. He is a member of the Democratic party. John William Ort was married, December 24, 1883, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Rothrock) Parsons. They had seven children: Jesse A., born September 25, 1884; Walter M., born May 4, 1886; Lottie J., born November 12, 1887; Laura May, born August 7, 1889; Ida Nancy, born July 25, 1891; William Warren, born August 8, 1892; and Thomas Edwin, born March 7, 1895. The family attend the Lutheran church.