Wertz, John Brooks Dr. 1865 - 1939

WERTZ, PORTER, BROOKS, RALSTON, HOTCHKISS, WOODS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 8/6/2023 at 14:21:10

Clayton County Register, 22 Feb. 1939.

Strawberry Point: Funeral services of Dr. John B. Wertz of Spencer were held Monday afternoon at the home of his brother-in-law, Alex Porter, conducted by the Rev. Frank V. Getty, pastor of the Methodist church. Burial was made in the Strawberry Point cemetery.

The following was taken from a Spencer paper concerning Dr. Wertz:

"Dr. J. B. Wertz, 73, practicing physician in Spencer for 37 years, died Monday evening at a local hospital, two weeks after an operation. Funeral services are being held this Thursday afternoon at two o'clock at the Methodist church, with the Rev. Lloyd Scherrer officiating. The Jones Funeral Home is in charge. Burial is being made at Strawberry Point.

"Dr. John Brooks Wertz, son of Dr. John and Mary Brooks Wertz, was born Dec. 03, 1865, at Winfield, Iowa. He attended the public school and assisted his father in publishing a weekly paper, "The Transcript." Later he moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he served for several years as deputy county auditor. He graduated from the medical department of the State University of Iowa in 1892 and located in Cedar Rapids to practice his chosen profession.

"March 16, 1895, he was united in marriage to Dr. Minerva Porter of Marion, and they made their home in Marion until Nov. 20, 1902, when they came to Spencer. Here they continued their practice under the firm name of Dr. Porter-Wertz-Wertz, general practitioners.

" A few years ago failing health caused him to give up his work part of each year. They Established a summer home on a lake near Hackensack. A great lover of nature, he reveled in the wild life about him.

"He was past grand president of the Iowa D. of H., a member of the Consistory of Sioux City, and of the Evening Shade Lodge, A.F. & A.M. No. 312 in Spencer, Degree of Honor, and Woodman orders. While actively engaged in practice he was a member of the county and state medical associations.

"He affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church while in Marion and after coming to Spencer transferred his membership to the Grace Methodist church.

"His wife, Dr. Porter-Wertz, and three sisters, Mrs. James Ralston and Mrs. W. A. Hotchkiss, of Keota, and Mrs. A. J. Woods of Platteville, Wis., survive."