Bortz, Edward H.

EDWARD H. BORTZ.—A native of West Salem township, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, Edward H. Bortz was born July 18, 1853, and is now one of the prosperous agriculturists of Hempfield township. He is the son of Mandus B. Bortz, who was born May 26, 1826, in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, and who came with his parents, when a mere boy, to West Salem township, his father owning what was known as Shenango Hill, which tract of land they cleared up and placed under a good state of cultivation. Mandus B. Bortz attended school until he attained the age of seventeen years, and continued to work on his father's farm until thirty years old, when he bought a farm in West Salem township, which he later sold and bought the seventy acre tract of land in Pymatuning township, where he died. He was in politics a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran church. He married Sarah Mowrey, daughter of John Mowrey. She died in 1900. The children born to them were as follows: George, a contractor of Greenville; Amelia, wife of Will Blumensheir, an engine inspector on the Bessemer Railroad; Jennie, who married Phil. Schneider; Emma, wife of Charles Spoulen, a farmer of Delaware township ; Emanuel, in the Bessemer shops; Martin, manager of the supply room of the Bessemer Railway Company: Lydia, wife of J. Charles, clerk in the employ of the Bessemer Railway Company; Emory, at home; and Edward H., of this biographical review.

Edward H. Bortz attended school until eighteen years of age, when he became a car inspector on the Erie Railroad, continuing for eight years, after which he spent twelve years in the Bessemer Railway shops at Greenville, in various positions. He then bought his present farm and retired. He was united in marriage February, 1875, to Sarah Ann Loch, born February 8, 1855, daughter of Jeremiah Loch, a farmer of Delaware township, who was born in 1827 and died in 1907, and his wife, Caroline Ropp, born in 1840. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bortz were born these children: Ermin A., a stonemason of Delaware township; Clara, a dressmaker at Greenville, Pennsylvania; Mollie, a dressmaker at the same place; Delia, at home. Mr. Bortz is a Republican in politics, and in church choice belongs to the Lutheran church. Mrs. Bortz is of the Reformed church, and the children are all of the Lutheran faith.