Biography

01/18/1856 - 11/19/1928

George Munson Wertz (R35) Cambria County 1909-1912

Early Life:

George Munson Wertz born January 18, 1856, Stonycreek Township, Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania; son of Jacob Wertz and Mary Hoffman; education, Ebensburg Academy, National Normal School, Lebanon, Ohio; married Louise Gitsch, children, Zitella Wertz, Ada Olive Wertz Hager, Jacob Elbert Wertz, George M Wertz; teacher, 1876-1884; farming, fruit growing; school director 1886-1894; Cambria County Commissioner, 1893-1896; sheriff of Cambria County 1897-1901; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate 1908-1912, president pro tempore, 1911-1912; publisher, president, Johnstown Daily Leader, 1911-1917; Comptroller of Cambria County 1914-1916; elected, Republican, Sixty-eighth Congress 1923-1925; engaged, real estate business; died, November 19, 1928 (age 72 years, 123 days); Johnstown, Cambria County, Pennsylvania; interment, Grandview Cemetery, Southmont, Cambria County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Manager, Cambria Steel Company, where his accomplishments included securing options for control of the Manufacturer's Water Company, Somerset County. Publisher and president, Johnstown Daily Leader, 1911-1917, creating Cambria County's first afternoon newspaper.

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, Evangelical Lutheran Church; Summit Lodge Masons; Johnstown School of Instruction – Masons; knighted, Oriental Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar.

Pennsylvania Politics:

School director 1886-1894; county commissioner 1893-1896; sheriff of Cambria County 1897-1901.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 35^th district, 1909-1913, elected, President pro tempore, recess, 1911-1912; defeated, re-election, Fusion Democrat, Jacob Stinemean, 1912; committee assignments, Appropriations, Congressional Apportionment, Corporations (Chairman), Judiciary Special, Municipal Affairs, Public Health and Sanitation Public Roads and Highways.

Appointed, Governor John Kinley Tener, Comptroller of Cambria County, 1914-1916.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Sixty-eighth Congress, United States House of Representatives, Pennsylvania's 20th district, 1923-1925, unsuccessful candidate, Republican primary, renomination, 1924.

Cited:

The Pennsylvania Manual, (1912). Miller, H.P., (Compiler). Baker, W.H., (Assistant Compiler). Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1003, 1010-1013, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 984.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7249488/george-m-wertz