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- The Russell Union-Tribune, April 23, 1953
John Quincy Werts was born June 2, 1855 at Janesville, Ohio, the oldest of 13 children in the family of John Jackson and Esther Ann Werts and passed from this life April 13, 1953 at the age of 97 years, 10 months and 11 days.
Mr. Werts was married to Melvina Davis on April 2, 1879 and she passed away on April 9, 1906. To this union were born Mrs. Pearly Farber who passed away June 2, 1908, Orval G. Werts of Canton, Wis. and Mrs. Stella Cogill of Altadena, Calif.
On August 24, 1907 he was married to Mary McClelland of Harrisburg, Pa. In 1913 they moved from Russell, Iowa to a farm five miles east of Canton, Wisc. where Mrs. Werts passed away on Jan. 20, 1936
Mr. Werts took much interest in Agricultural and world affairs. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church from his youth, uniting with the Methodist Church after moving to Wisconsin and was always interested in the affairs of the Church to the last.
Beside his two children Mr. Werts is survived by one sister, Mrs. Mable Allen and one brother, Oliver Werts, both of Russell, Iowa and five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Wednesday morning at the Canton Methodist Church with the Rev. B. J. Rohan officiating. The body was then taken to Russell, Iowa where final services and interment were held Thursday afternoon.
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From the book: The John Jackson and Esther Ann Werts Family History, compiled by Philip W. Allen, 1994
At the age of 9 he helped his parents and younger siblings move their belongings, including a rail carload of sheep to their new home in Lucas County, IA. Much later in life he wrote an account of the move that was published in the Russell, IA, Union Tribune Newspaper. His memory of that experience is the basis for much of the story on the lives of his parents. He was reared in Lucas County, attending the public schools and learning farming from his father. He also took courses at Parsons College, Fairfield, Iowa. With this preparation he taught school for a while. Then for many a long year he was a leading farmer in Benton Township, Lucas County, farming large tracts of land and specializing in raising beef and dairy cattle. He was a man of influence and weight and served in many offices in town and school district. John Q. married Melvina Davis at Russell, IA, on April 2, 1879. They raised three children in Lucas County, but Melvina died April 9, 1906 at Russell and is buried there. On July 24, 1907 at Edinboro, PA, he married again, to Mary McCelland of Harrisburg, PA. After winning a good measure of success in Iowa, he determined to try his fortunes in a newer country. John Q. had seen the advantages of opening a new enterprise and moved his family in 1913 to northern Wisconsin, 5 miles east of Canton, where he purchased land and started a dairy farm that came to be called the Moose Ear Ranch, 800 acres in section 23 and 24. This is one of the best farms in the country. Their son Orval and his family joined the operation within a year. The land was forested with only three or four acres cleared around the house and barn. The modern home is equipped with comforts and conveniences, including an electric light plant. In addition to the principle residence, there are also two other dwelling houses on the place. There are also numerous barns and outbuildings, almost a village in themselves. The equipment in the way of machinery, implements and tools is unusual, and includes facilities for cutting and finishing lumber, grinding feed, repairing and sharpening, and general carpenter work. Over the next 20 years or so they acquired almost 1100 acres of land, cleared some 200 acres of it, and operated a dairy of up to 70 or 80 cows. Most of the land was left in timber - hardwoods as well as pines. The cleared land was rocky and rough, not well-suited for tillage, but good for the grasses and hay for the cattle. During the first several years they had to milk the cows by hand, a big job every morning and evening, but in the early 1920s they became among the first in the area to use milking machines. The milk was collected daily by trucks and taken to be bottled, cream separated, or made into cheese. John Q. and Orval used some of the area s stones to build a large attractive house so each family had a place to live. John Q. enjoyed using an axe, so therefore with wood he built the machines needed to clear land. Both men were skilled at woodworking and built both the inside trim for the house and much of the furniture. John Q. inherited his fathers taciturn nature and slow speech, but when he spoke it was with considerable wisdom. He is at the head of the vast activities which the operation of the farm entail. With all his busy life, however, he found the time to take the same interest in Barron County affairs that he took in the affairs of his community in Iowa. Since coming to Wisconsin he has served as a member of the town board, and has a member of various delegations and committees. He favors actively every move which means progress for the county and township, he is always willing to give of his influence and personal aid to every cause which he believes to be for the betterment of the community. He is an excellent type of the modern extensive farmer, versed in agricultural and all phases if its development, a good judge of marketing conditions, a keen businessman, and possessed of a faculty of securing the best results from the men whom he employs. He had a great interest in agriculture and world affairs. They were always active members of the Methodist church. Mary died January 20, 1936 at Canton and is buried there. John Q. continued to live and work on his farm, even though deaf in later years, until his death April 13, 1953 at Canton. He is buried at Russell, IA.
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1855 - 1953
