William H Wortman

WORTMAN KNOWLES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 9/16/2010 at 19:43:27

History of Woodbury County, Iowa 1984

Wortman, William H.

William Henry Wortman, born in 1830 in Campbell County, Kentucky. He moved with his wife, Sarah, to Sergeant Bluff in 1855. They purchased land northwest of Sergeant Bluff and started the first pottery shop in this community. They had one daughter, Alice,. Sarah passed away in June 1869. In the same year,1869,William bought more farm land two miles north of Sergeant Bluff.
In 1873 he married Mary Ann Knowles and the built a home on the land. They had two sons.
Charles, born September 1874 and William A. born in July 1877. All spent the earlier years of their
lives in this vicinity. Mary Ann passed away in November 1911. William H. Wortman passed away
in October 1918.
Alice Wortman married H.D. Burlingame and had one son, Gayle. They moved to Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Alice is deceased.
Charles Wortman married Hattie Allen. They had four children, Merle, Frank, Mae, and Vera. All spent
the earlier years of their lives in the community. Charles family later moved to Fort Scott, Kansas
He farmed and was also in the real estate business there. Charles passed away in 1940. His wife,Hattie
is at present residing in Fort Scott, Kansas. Merle now lives in Derby, Kansas, Frank in Phoenix, Arizonia.
Mrs. Mae Wortman-Wheeler in Phoenix, Arizonia, Mrs. Vera Wortman Payne in Eugene, Oregon.

William A. Wortman married Bine Jorgensen in September 1914. They had six children, Mary born October
1915,Helen born March 1917: Fred born July 1920:Viola Born August 1922: Harry and Harold(twins) born
1924.(Harold died at birth) William continued to farm the original home place after his parents death. He
passed. He passed away in December 1950,at the age of 73. Bine Jorgensen-Wortman was born in
Denmark in December 1887. She came to the United States at the age of sixteen and lived in Marysville,
Missouri, for one year. In 1904 Bine came to Sergeant Bluff for two years. After William's she continued to live on the home place for another year and then decided she would like to live in town. She bought a home at 2027 So.
Palmentto in Sioux City, Iowa where she is residing at the present time.
Mary graduated from Sergeant Bluff school in 1933. She married John Thatcher in June 1934. Their home is 2411 So. Lakeport, Sioux City, Iowa. They have one daughter, Marilyn. John is a diesetter for Wincharger Corporation, Sioux City, Iowa.

Helen graduated from Sergeant Bluff school in 1934. She married to Wayne Holder in November 1934.They have three children, Judy, Jim Wincharger Corporation, Sioux City, Iowa.

Fred was graduated from Sergeant Bluff school in 1938 and attended Iowa State College for two years. He enlisted in the Navy in June 1942. In eleven years of service, he saw duty in Alaska, Guam, China, Japan, Korea and was also with the American Embassy in Moscow. He is now employed by the American Security and Trust Company
Washington D.C.
Viola attended Sergeant Bluff school and married in June 1941 to Elton Holder. They own their home in Sergeant Bluff
They have four children William, Carol Ane, Patricia and Linda. Elton is employed at the Cygas Company in Sergeant Bluff.
Harry attended school in Sergeant Bluff and served in the Army in World War II. He married Frances Jennings of Sioux City in December 1947. They have two children, Joyce and Bill. They own a farm near Homer, Nebraska. Harry is also employed at the Iowa Foundry in Sioux City, Iowa
Story 1954: update 1983: Bine Wortman passed away May 1957 at age of 69