The first Werts family in this line to come to America was that of William Werts (1703-1782) and Anna Catherina Werts (1706-1791), who came with their children sometime in the early 1750s. (Note: there are several variations in spelling, including Wertz, Wirtz, and Virtz.)

His great grandson, George Peter Werts Jr. (1801-1866) was born in Loudoun County, Virginia and married Margaret Maple (1808-1951) in 1827 after moving to Coshocton County, Ohio. George Peter's loss of one hand at age 18 from the bursting of a gun incapacitated him for heavy work so he became a teacher and was in the same school for 21 years. After observing the Leonid meteor shower in November 1833, he wrote the poem "Falling of the Stars" that is still being passed down among his descendants.

Their third child, John Jackson Werts (1831-1901), married Esther Ann Wymer (1837-1912) in 1854. A decade later, in search of more land, they moved to Lucas County, Iowa with their growing family and John's herd of sheep. They traveled by train, except for the last 40 miles, which the family covered by stage while John marched the sheep over land.

Esther's parents, John Wymer (1808-1887) and Rebecca Gaumer (1813-1854) lived on a farm in Muskingum County, Ohio, where they had seven children. After her death, John married Margaret Wagoner (dates unknown) and within a few years they moved the family to Russell, Iowa.

George Peter Werts Jr. (Click to view Family Card)	John Jackson and Ester Ann Werts Photo taken before her death in 1854. (Click to view Family Card)
John Wymer (Click to view Family Card)	John Wymer Homestead
Famly of John Jackson and Ester Ann Werts Photo taken about 1888 (Click to view Family Card)	Some members of the family Photo taken in the 1890s (Click to view Family Card)
Sons of John Jackson and Ester Ann Werts Photo taken about 1888 (Click to view Family Card)	Daughters of John Jackson and Ester Ann Werts Photo taken in the 1890s (Click to view Family Card)