| Notes |
- The Chariton Democrat, October 31, 1901
John Jackson Werts was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1831. Died at his home in Russell Sunday, Oct. 27, 1901, at 10:45 p.m. of typhoid pneumonia, aged 70 years, 7 months and 21 days. He united with the Lutheran church May 13, 1850. When 22 years of age he removed to Coshocton county, Ohio, where he lived one year, returning to Muskingum county, where he remained three years.
August 29, 1854, he was married to Esther A. Wymer, who survives him. To them were born thirteen children, ten of whom are still living. He removed with his family to Lucas county, Iowa in 1864, to his farm southwest of Russell where he lived until August, 1891, when he moved to Russell where he has lived ever since.
February 9, 1872, he united with the Presbyterian church in Russell; was elected elder the fourth Sunday in November, 1875, which office he has filled ever since until his death. His was certainly a true, consistent christian life; always willing to take any part of the church duties which were assigned to him.
He leaves a wife, ten children and twenty-six grandchildren to mourn his death.
Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian church Tuesday, at 2 p.m., Rev J. Q. Hall of Garden Grove, a former pastor and dear friend of the deceased, conducting the services, after which the remains were peacefully laid to rest in the Russell cemetery.
Mr. Werts will be greatly missed, not only by his home circle, but by the church and county in general.
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From the book: The John Jackson and Esther Ann Werts Family History, compiled by Philip W. Allen, 1994
Red-haired and bearded. John was 14 when his mother died. He lived at home until 21 and he got a job as a farmhand for $13 a month. He saved his money and the next year he rented a 50-acre farm in adjacent Coshocton County, OH. After a year he returned to Muskinghum County and married Esther. They rented a farm for three years. They eventually purchased an 80 acre farm in Coshocton County in 1869. Later that year Alfred was born. Lutheran faith. When they moved to the new area, there was no church, so they organized one. By 1864 with six children, the necessity of more land was apparent. John made a trip to the new state of Iowa where his uncle William Maple had homesteaded a farm on the prairie, paying $1.25 an acre. He was the first Werts to settle in Benton Township, Lucas County. He purchased 160 acres of prairie three miles southwest of Russell in Section 12, including 20 acres under cultivation and a newly-built house. He also bought 40 acres of timber for fuel, fence post and lumber and the entire package cost him $2,100, $1400 for 200 acres and a newly completed, 1 1/2 story house for $700. The farm was a half a mile north of Ragtown, a village having a store, sawmill and a few houses and later Ragtown School. After the purchase, Mr. Werts returned to Ohio, sold his Ohio farm and prepared to move to the West in the fall of 1864. The family was to ride on a train while the household goods went in one wagon. Esthers sister, Lydia was married to Alex McCurdy and they moved also. The railroad system was in its early stages and there was no Union Depot in Chicago. To make the train change there, it was necessary to find a man with a large, spring wagon. The wagon's driver "piled" 11 children, 2 women, the luggage and himself in the wagon and drove the passengers one mile to the train departing for Eddyville, Iowa, the end of the railroad at that time. At this point, they boarded a stage and drove to LaGrange, Lucas County, Iowa. Mr. Werts drove the sheep from Eddyville to Russell. The native sod was hard to cultivate with the early tools but by the second year it produced good crops. Russells first store opened in 1865. As Russell grew Ragtown disappeared. In 1869 a Presbyterian Church opened and the Werts were among the first members. By 1870, they purchased a total of 575 acres and built a bigger house, barn and several buildings. The railroad helped to develop the area and things went well until the Panice of 1873 and the price of land went down one-half in one year. During the winters of 1873-74-75, the roads were lined with covered wagons carrying people who had starved in the East and were going west to homestead. Amoung those for whom he purchased land was A. T. Beals and D. W. Rowland. Elder in the Presbyterian Church in Russell for 27 years. In 1891, they built a fine house in the west end of Russell and retired. Leaving the farm to the children. He died of pneumonia. Democrat.
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1831 - 1901
