Barton County, Missouri Biographies-John W. Werts History Of Hickory, Polk, Cedar, Dade And Barton Counties, Missouri, 1889. Published by Goodspeed. Page 961 John W. Werts, a blacksmith of Milford, Mo., was born in New Jersey, February 17, 1842, and is a son of Nicholas and Sophia (Winghardt) Werts, who were born in Germany, the former's birth occurring in 1795, and the latter's in 1805. Nicholas Werts came to America in 1822, and followed the occupation of blacksmithing throughout life. He and wife became the parents of the following children: Joseph, who died in Illinois; Catherine, the deceased wife of George Parks; Anthony, who died in New Jersey; Mary (deceased); Jacob, living in Texas; Maria, the deceased wife of P. Montgomery; William, living in New Jersey; Margaret, wife of William Bower, of Kansas; Mary, wife of William Gilmore, of Kansas; Nicholas, a farmer of Kansas; Christian (deceased); George, also a farmer of Kansas; and J. W. The latter began doing for himself at the age of twenty, and enlisted in August, 1862, in Battery A, Third Illinois, and served three years, participating in the following combats: Little Rock, Saline River, besides numerous minor engagements. He lost his right eye in the fight at Prairie De Hand, and was discharged July 2, at Springfield, Ill. He was unable to do anything the first three years after the war, and the following two years was engaged in building fence. In the fall of 1869 he came to Barton County, and worked at the blacksmith's trade for a number of years, then bought a farm in Dade County, which he was engaged in tilling in connection with his trade. In 1885 he sold out and moved to Newport, where he tilled the soil for two years, after which he rented his land and came to Milford, where he has since been working at his trade. He was married in August, 1870, to Elizabeth Aldred, who was born on the 3d of February, 1853, and to them have been born these children: Alva Oscar (deceased); Laura Louisa, born in March, 1873; De Will C., Le Roy, Clarence, Noara and Pearl. Mr. Werts and his wife are members of the United Brethren Church, and he is a Republican, and takes an active interest in political affairs. He is a patron of education, and contributes liberally of his means to churches, schools, and other enterprises tending to benefit the county, and is now president of Milford Township Sabbath-school Convention. He was licensed to preach the gospel in 1877 by Elder Joslin, but most of his time is devoted to Sabbath-school work. ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Kay Griffin Snow ====================================================================