Jonathan Maxwell Wert, Sr. was born 27 June 1909 First Street, Port Royal, Juniata Co., PA; died 30 August 1989 in the Lewistown Hospital, and was buried in Old Church Hill Cemetery, Port Royal, Juniata Co., PA.
He was a carpenter/mechanic who built houses in the Juniata/Mifflin County area with his brothers, Park and Harry (Guss), and his father George L. Wert. He was a mechanic at the American Viscose Corporation in Lewistown for 25 years.
Jonathan was in a bad car wreck on the Lewistown Narrows in 1938, brother Park was driving home from work. Brother Harry Wert was killed. Jonathan was in the Lewistown Hospital unconscious for some time. He married Helen Leona Leonard in 1935 in Hagerstown, MD. Helen was born on 09 August 1917 in Denholm, Juniata County, PA. She was a homemaker, and also worked in a garment factory in Port Royal for several years after her children were in High School. Helen died on 07 October 2003. Both she and Jonathan were buried in Old Church Hill Cemetery, Juniata County, Port Royal, PA.
Jonathan and Helen had a large garden annually, and they spent many hours planting, weeding, harvesting, etc.
They were members of the Port Royal Lutheran Church. In 1935-36, they constructed their home at 42 First Street where all seven of their children were born: Shirley Margaret, Nancy Ann, Jonathan M. Jr., James L., Charles R., David A., and Donald R. Wert.
Helen Leona Leonard Wert was the daughter of Norman Blaine Leonard born 1884; died 1949 in Port Royal, PA and buried in Westminister Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Mifflintown, PA. He was a railroader by occupation. He married to Ida Viola Rapp born 14 June 1886 in Juniata County; died 1934, and buried in the Westminister Presbyterian Church Cemetery with her husband Norman.
George Lawrence Wert was born on 20 May 1872 in Greenwood Township, Perry County, PA., and died on 31 August 1946 at his home in Port Royal, Juniata County, PA. He married Laura Agnes Swartz born 18 June 1874 in Greenwood Township on 19 April 1895 in Newport, Perry County, PA. Laura died 04 August 1942 in Port Royal, PA.
In 1900 George and Laura, parents of Jonathan Maxwell Wert, Sr., moved their family from Greenwood Township, Perry County to First Street, Port Royal. George was a carpenter for most of his life, and with his sons, built and operated the Fish Basket on the Juniata River below the Tuscarora Creek for catching and selling eels. George and Laura were buried in the New Church Hill Cemetery, Port Royal, PA. George was the son of Joseph Henry and Mary Hetrick Wert of Greenwood Township, Perry County, PA.
Joseph Henry Wert born 17 September 1841 in Greenwood Township, Perry County was a farmer, carpenter and shoemaker. He served in the Civil War along with two of his brothers, George Washington Wert, and Benjamin Franklin Wert. Joseph married on 11 February 1869 to Mary Ellen Hetrick born 20 May 1851 in Greenwood Township; died on 05 September 1927. Mary was a homemaker. Joseph died on 13 January 1922 in Millerstown, PA. Joseph and Mary Wert are buried in Wright’s Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Greenwood Township. Joseph Henry Wert was a son of Jonathan and Catharine (Derrick) Wert of Greenwood Township, Perry County.
Jonathan Wert born 23 September 1814 in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, PA; died on 16 January 1909 in Greenwood Township, Perry Co., PA. He was a farmer and shoemaker. He married first on 29 October 1840 to Catharine Ann Derrick. He married again in 1864 in Newport, Perry County, PA to Catharine E. Pines born 31 Dec 1838 in Perry County, and died 29 January 1912 in Perry Co., PA Jonathan and Catharine Ann Wert were buried at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Centerville, Perry County, PA. Jonathan was a son of John and Elizabeth Miller Wert. Jonathan and Catharine were Lutherans.
John Wert was born on 05 February 1786 in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin Co., PA, and he died on 11 February 1860 near Killinger, PA. He was a farmer and school teacher. He married to Elizabeth Miller (b. 04 Oct 1788; d. 19 May 1871. John and Elizabeth Wert are buried in the Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery, Killinger, Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin Co., PA. John was the son of Johannes and Anna Maria Miller, Wirth.
Johannes Wirth was born on 25Jan1758 in Lebanon, PA and he died on 08 February 1805 in Upper Paxton Township, Killinger, Dauphin County, PA. Johannes was a farmer. He died young due to exposure during the Revolutionary War. He married Anna Maria Miller b. 16 February 1759; d. 09 May 1836. They are both buried in Wirth’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Killinger, PA. Johannes was one of nine sons of Johann Adam Wirth b. 1727; d. 1806 in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin Co., PA.
Johann Adam Wirth was born 28 July 1727 in Berod, Westerwald, Palatine, Germany, and he came to America on the Ship Two Brother’s in 1753, first settled in Lancaster County, now Lebanon, PA. He married there on 03 August 1755 to Eva Elizabeth Schnug (Snoke) b. 1730 in Germany, died 1800. Johann Adam Wirth moved from Lebanon, PA to Upper Paxton Township, Killinger, Dauphin Co., PA about 1760…after clearing land while the Indians were still roaming the area, received land grant from the Commonwealth for about 900 acres. He was a farmer. J. Adam and Eva had nine sons and two daughters. He died on 25Aug1806 and was buried in Wirth Evangelical Lutheran Church Cemetery named for him. His wife Eva was also buried in that cemetery.
Johann Jacob Wirth, son of Henrich Wirth, was born 11 February 1697 in Hochstenbach, Westerwald, Germany, married on 17 November 1724 to Maria Eva Sohn born 01 July 1704 in Berod, Westerwald, Germany, died 13 March 1784 in Berod.
Henrich Wirth born about 1670 in Winkelbach, Westerwald, Germany, married on 27 November 1694 to Anna Gertraut Muiller born about 1670 in Germany; died 24 January 1740 in Winkelbach, Westerwald, Germany.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/7/16 - Image Year: 1925
FATHER & SONS - WERT CARPENTERS: (l-r) Jonathan Maxwell, Park Roscoe, George Lawrence (father), William Lawrence, Harry "Guss" Sherman, and Charles Henry.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 1/7/15 - Image Year: 1934
CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS (CCC) GANG PHOTO, PROMISE LAND STATE PARK, PA Jonathan is kneeling in the front row, second from the left. (Submitted by Jonathan Wert, Jr.)
