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George M. Wertz

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American politician
George Wertz
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 20th district
In office
March 4, 1923 – March 3, 1925
Preceded byEdward Brooks
Succeeded byAnderson Walters
President pro tempore
of the Pennsylvania Senate
In office
May 25, 1911 – January 7, 1913
Preceded byWilliam Crow
Succeeded byDaniel Gerberich
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 35th district
In office
January 5, 1909 – January 7, 1913
Preceded byJacob C. Stineman
Succeeded byJacob C. Stineman
Personal details
Born(1856-07-19)July 19, 1856
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
DiedNovember 19, 1928(1928-11-19) (aged 72)
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLouisa Glitch

George M. Wertz (July 19, 1856 – November 19, 1928) was a Republican politician, teacher and publisher from Pennsylvania.

Formative years and family

George Munson Wertz was born near Johnstown, Pennsylvania on July 19, 1856. He attended the public schools, Ebensburg Academy and the National Normal School in Lebanon, Ohio.

His father, German-Dunkard Jacob Wertz, an ardent Republican and abolitionist, was the great grandson of a 1735 Palatine immigrant and rose to prominence as a farmer.

His daughter Ada Olive Hager (née Wertz) attended Vassar, graduating in 1908. She was one of the original graveyard suffragettes.

Career

A teacher in his community's public school system from 1876 to 1884, George M. Wertz was elected as a Republican member of the Board of School Directors in 1890. As he progressed in his political career, he became chair of his county's Republican Party committee.

In 1893, Wertz began a three-year term as Cambria County commissioner, and in November 1897, Cambria County sheriff, a position he held until 1901. Through the influence of his iron manufacturer father-in-law, Wertz assumed a post as manager of the Cambria Steel Company, where his accomplishments included securing options for control of the Manufacturer's Water Company, Somerset County.

A member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1909 to 1913, he served as the body's President pro tempore from 1911 to 1913.

Wertz later organized and ran the Johnstown Daily Leader from 1911 to 1917, creating Cambria County's first afternoon newspaper. He was also an ardent farmer and fruit grower.

Wertz was elected to the Sixty-eighth Congress, but was defeated in the 1924 Republican primary.

He belonged to the Evangelical Lutheran Church; the Summit Lodge Masons; the Johnstown School of Instruction – Masons; and was knighted by the Oriental Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar.

Death and interment

Wertz sold real estate until his death in Johnstown on November 19, 1928. He was interred in the Grandview Cemetery, Johnstown.

References

  1. Sharon Trostle, ed. (2009). The Pennsylvania Manual (PDF). Vol. 119. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Department of General Services. ISBN 978-0-8182-0334-3.
  2. "The Suffrage Movement at Vassar - Vassar College Encyclopedia - Vassar College". vcencyclopedia.vassar.edu. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
  3. "George Munson Wertz".
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byEdward Brooks Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district
1923–1925 		Succeeded byAnderson Walters
Political offices
Preceded byWilliam Crow President pro tempore of the Pennsylvania Senate
1911–1913 		Succeeded byDaniel Gerberich
Pennsylvania State Senate
Preceded byJacob C. Stineman Member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the 35th District
1909–1913 		Succeeded byJacob C. Stineman
Pennsylvania's delegation(s) to the 68th United States Congresses (ordered by seniority)
68th Senate: House:
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