BIOGRAPHY: Martin ORT, Mifflin County, PA

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The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, pages 680-681.

  MARTIN ORT, deceased, was born on the Ort homestead in Granville township, 
Mifflin county, March 4, 1825.  He was a son of John and Elizabeth (Beck) Ort, 
and a grandson of John Ort, Sr.  His grandfather was one of the pioneer settlers 
of the township, and was a man of influence and great force of Character.  For 
many years he was an officer in St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church at 
Lewistown, Pa.  His son, John Ort, Jr., was reared in Granville township, and 
followed farming all his life.  He had nine children, among whom were:  Martin; 
and Mrs. James Barr, of Dawn, O., the latter being the only surviving child.  
Like his father, John Ort, Jr., was active in church affairs, holding office in 
the church continuously.  His wife died in 1868, aged seventy-four.  Mr. Ort 
died a year later, at the age of seventy-nine.
  Martin Ort received a limited education in the district schools.  His 
childhood and early manhood were spent on the home farm, and a short time before 
his father's death he succeeded to the property.  He was a successful farmer and 
a progressive one.  He was a Republican; he was ever alive to the interests of 
the community and of the State, but he never sought political preferment, 
accepting only at the earnest request of neighbors the office of school director 
and supervisor.  He was a consistent member of the Lutheran church.
  Martin Ort was married February 13, 1851, to Nancy E., daughter of David and 
Susan Rothrock.  They had these children:  George R., married Ada Brice, ten 
children; Elizabeth E. (Mrs. W.L. Reigle), six children; John William; Lawrence 
G., married Edith V. Price; Carrie M. (Mrs. Seneca Bennett), two children; 
Albert Grant, married Elizabeth Ganze, one child; Edith E. (Mrs. Andrew J. 
Lucas); and two children that died in infancy.
  John W., third child of Martin and Nancy E. Ort, received a common school 
education.  He grew to manhood on the homestead, which has been under his 
management for the last few years.  He is one of the most enterprising farmers 
in the township.  He is a member of the Democratic party.  John William Ort was 
married, December 24, 1883, to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas and Martha 
(Rothrock) Parsons.  They had seven children:  Jesse A., born September 25, 
1884; Walter M., born May 4, 1886; Lottie J., born November 12, 1887; Laura May, 
born August 7, 1889; Ida Nancy, born July 25, 1891; William Warren, born August 
8, 1892; and Thomas Edwin, born March 7, 1895.  The family attend the Lutheran 
church.