Benjamin Franklin Wertz, born 9 March 1837, married 15 September 1861 in Morrow County, Ohio to Mary Amanda Green (or Grune in the Ancestral File), living in Morrow County, Ohio in 1880 was the topic of our lead article in "Wertz Relations" #45, November 2002, pages 1 and 2.
This week I received an email from Joel Wertz of Marion, Marion County, Ohio. He states: "My great-great-great grandfather was Elias Wertz who was either one of 10 children or had 10 other siblings. He was born March 18, 1824 and came to Ohio from York County, PA in approximately 1850. His first wife (from whom I'm descended) was Phidella Newton. She died approximately 1867, and in 1871 Elias married her sister Sally. Elias came to settle in West Lafayette, Ohio. With him came 2 brothers. One was a Benjamin Franklin Wertz, born 9 March 1837, married to Mary A. Green. He settled in Chesterville, Ohio. The other brother was Samuel Wertz, born 13 January 1827. He settled in Newark, Ohio. His wife died in 1902, but I have no name for her. There was a younger brother who followed later. His name was James Wertz, born 11 July 1840, and he settled in Newark, Ohio as well."
Note: West Lafayette is in Coshocton County; Newark is in Licking County; and Chesterville is in Morrow County, Ohio.
The 1880 Census for Franklin, Morrow County, Ohio; page 279A records: "Benjamin Werts, widower, age 39, born Ohio, farmer, both parents born PA; son Dalas W. Werts, age 17, born Ohio; daughter Lillie J. Werts, age 15, born Ohio; son Ora F. Werts, age 13, born Ohio; son Lewis H. Werts, age 11, born Ohio; and son Willie W. Werts, age 9, born Ohio."
Beverly Mountain of Durango, Colorado is a descendant of William Eugene Wertz, 1871-1946, the 9-year-old son (above) of Benjamin and Mary Amanda Green Wertz. Her records together with those in the AF and IGI are included in our article on this family in Wertz Newsletter #45, pages 1 & 2, November 2002.
Also recorded on the 1880 Census, in Mckeen Twp., Licking County, Ohio; page 172B, is: "James Werts, age 40, born Ohio, both parents born PA; wife Francis, age 39, born Ohio; with three children: son Andrew J. Werts, age 14, born Ohio; son Hugh Werts, age 11, born Ohio; and daughter Rosa Werts, age 6, born Ohio." Is he the younger brother of Elias, Samuel, and Benjamin?
There are three Samuel Wert(s)(z)/Wirts', ages 53 and 54, in the Ohio 1880 Census. They are:
First: in Pleasant twp., Fairfield County, Ohio, page 232C: "Samuel Wertz, age 54, born Ohio, farmer, both parents born Germany; wife Rebecca, age 40, born Ohio, both parents born Switzerland; son Samuel Wertz, age 20, born Ohio; son John A. Wertz, age 11, born Ohio; daughter Lorinda E. Wertz, age 9, born Ohio; and son Daniel Wertz, age 4 months, born Ohio."
Second: in Scott twp., Marion County, Ohio; page 164C: "Samuel Werts, age 53, born PA, both parents born PA; wife Mary Ann Werts, age 46, born Ohio, father born NJ, mother born PA; son James W. Werts, age 21, born Ohio, farmer; son William D. Werts, age 18, born Ohio, farmer; "other" Allas Dailey, age 15, born Ohio, parents both born Ireland."
And third: in Madison twp., Richland County, Ohio; page 100D: "Samuel Wirts, age 53, born PA, farmer, father born 'Wuert.B", mother born PA; wife Sarah Wirts, age 49, born PA, both parents born PA; daughter Melissa Wirts, age 23, born Ohio, dress maker; son William F. Wirts, age 17, born Ohio, helps on farm; son Samuel J. Wirts, age 14, born Ohio, helps on farm."
The IGI contains marriage records for four Samuel Wert(s)(z)/Wirt(s)(z), married in Ohio between 1850 and 1866:
First: "Samuel Wirts, married 2 Dec. 1852, Richland County, Ohio to Sarah Bassler."
Second: "Samuel Wirtz, married 7 August 1856, Fairfield County, Ohio to Rebecca Bombarger."
Third: "Samuel H. Werts, married 27 June 1866, Coshocton County, Ohio to Catherine Powell."
Fourth: "Samuel Wirts, married 29 November 1866, Morrow County, Ohio to Sarah E. Brown."
In addition, Bob Messersmith found another Ohio marriage record, for a "Samuel Werts and Mary Ann Jeaggers, married 17 October 1850 in Morrow County, Ohio."
Most likely the Samuel that belongs in this family is the on in Scott twp., Marion County because his parents are listed as both born in PA. And that means he is most likely the one who married Mary Ann Jeaggers in 1850. Anyone disagree??
Can anyone further identify any of these Samuel Wert(s)(z)/Wirt(s)(z)??? Does anyone have any clues to the identity of the parents and/or siblings of these four brothers?
Also recorded in the IGI, is the marriage record of "Elias Werts, married 1 January 1871, Coshocton County, Ohio to Sally A. Newton".
And Bob Messersmith also located on the 1850 Census of Keene Twp., Coshocton County, Ohio; dwelling #36, family #36: "Francis Newton, age 53, born New York, carpenter; with (wife) Sarah, age 55, born New York; (son) Lafayette, age 16, born Ohio; and (daughter) Sarah, age 14, born Ohio." However, he could not find Elias and Phidella Newton Werts listed on that census record, anywhere in Ohio. And since Phidella is NOT listed in her parents family, we must assume she was already married to Elias Wertz by 1850. Where were they living with whom in 1850?
Today Joel Wertz found some more family records that outline the other siblings. So here is the whole family: (1) Mary Ann Wertz, born 15 April 1817, died 20 April 1842. (2) William Wertz, born 12 May 1819. (more on him below) (3) Henry Wertz, born 15 August 1821. (4) Elias or Eli Wertz, born 18 March 1824, died 24 May 1901, married 1st Phidella Newton; married 2nd in 1871 to Sally Newton; lived at West Lafayette, Coshocton County, Ohio; buried at Keene, Ohio. (5) Samuel Wertz, born 13 Jan. 1827; lived at Newark, Licking County, Ohio; buried at Keene, Ohio (more on him above). (6) Ellen Wertz, born 30 August 1830. (7) Elizabeth Wertz, born 4 Feb. 1833. (more on her below) (8) Sarah Jane Wertz, born 15 Sept. 1835. (9) Benjamin Franklin Wertz, 1837-1915, married 1st in 1861 to Mary Amanda Green, married 2nd in 1882 to Lucy Sloan(?). (more on him above). (10) James Wertz, born 11 July 1840; lived at Newark, Ohio. Joel's family records say that James had a son named Andrew Jackson Wertz, born 2 Dec. 1865, died 14 March 1931." Thus we conclude that he above Licking County 1880 Census record for the "James and Francis Werts" family is this James Wertz.
Also found on the 1880 Census in Perry twp., Morrow County, Ohio; page 327B is the family of "William Koller, age 49, born Ohio, farmer, father born VA, mother born PA, wife Elizabeth, age 47, born PA, both parents born PA; daughter Flora Koller, age 19, born Ohio; nephew, William Wirtz, age 9, born Ohio, both parents born Ohio; nephew John Wirtz, age 24, born Ohio, works on farm, father born PA, mother born Ohio." This looks like the Elizabeth Wertz born 4 Feb. 1833 to me. Anyone disagree?
And also on the 1880 census in Gilead twp., Morrow County, Ohio; page 378A is listed: "William Wertz, age 61, born PA, farmer, both parents born PA; wife Melinda, age 56, born Ohio, both parents born PA; daughter Martha J., Wertz, age 27, born Ohio; son Joshua Wertz, age 23, born Ohio, farmer; daughter Laura Wertz, age 21, born Ohio; daughter Belle Wertz, age 17, born Ohio; and son Wilson Wertz, age 15, born Ohio." This could well be the William Wertz, born 12 May 1819. What think ye?
Yet, with all of this, we are still missing the names, dates, etc. of the parents of these ten children. Any help finding more records on this family will be appreciated. Obituaries, death records, etc. would be VERY helpful!!
Carolyn Cell Choppin at
Choppin.Carolyn@usa.net
