WORTMAN FAMILIES PICNIC LAST THURSDAY
MEET AT MALVERN FAIR GROUNDS FOR SECOND ANNUAL AFFAIR
Malvern Leader
September 1, 1932
The Wortman families, descendants of Jacob and Valeria Wortman, early pioneers of this county, and their children, William, Charles, Joseph, Frank, Maria, Martha, Mary and Marticia, met last Thursday in the Malvern Fair Grounds for their second annual picnic and reunion.
The heavy rain that came up at noon and lasted two or three hours kept away a good many who had intended coming, but at that there was a nice attendance and a good time with lots of dinner for those present. The meeting and picnic dinner were held in the floral hall on the fair grounds which made an ideal place for a rainy day.
At the business meeting, Attorney Clifton S. Wortman of Ashland was elected president for the coming year. Mrs. Ida Wortman Richards of Ashland, secretary, and Mrs. Rachael Dolph Davis of Malvern, historian.
It was voted to hold the next meeting on the old Charles Wortman homestead near Ashland, Nebr. some time near Aug. 15 next year.
As we said before the sudden rain kept away a good many who lived the nearest so the attendance was greatly reduced. Those present were: Mr. and Mrs. Clifton S. Wortman and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Richards of Ashland, Nebr., Mrs. Ethel Wortman Whittaker, Oakland, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gregg and sons, Paul Jr. and Kenneth, of Brookfield, Ill., Dr. and Mrs. Arthur V. Wortman of Omaha, Nebr., Mr. and Mrs. Joe Wearin and Mrs. Otha D. Wearin of Hastings, Charles Wortman of Fort Scott, Kan., and grandson, Charles F. Wheeler, of Kansas City, Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Wortman of Malvern, Helen Zene Wortman of Belton, Texas, Jessie Carol Wortman, Wausau, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. Fred C. Newell and son, Frederick, Hastings, Mrs. Eva Dolph Durbin of Malvern, and Mrs. Orville Durbin and son, Ivan, of Hastings.
Next year it is anticipated that there will be a more general homecoming from distance states and that the gathering will probably have one hundred present.
Among those especially missed from this year’s reunion was Mrs. Louise Shay of Loveland, Colo. whose serious illness prevented her attendance, and a message of greeting is sent her.
WORTMAN FAMILY REUNION HELD AT ASHLAND, NEBR.
DESCENDANTS OF JACOB, VALERIA WORTMAN PICNIC AT OLD C.S. WORTMAN HOME
Malvern Leader
August 31, 1933
The Wortman clans, descendants of Jacob and Valeria Wortman, who settled in Mills county in 1856, met in their third annual picnic last Thursday on the old home farm of Charles S. Wortman near Ashland, Nebr.
The picnic was held in a timbered spot close by the site of the first home of this pioneer, established more than seventy years ago, when he and his bride, Elizabeth Goldsmith, first set up housekeeping.
There were eight children in the original family--- William, Charles, Joseph, and Frank, and Maria, Martha, Mary, and Marticia---all of whom have passed to the beyond.
The picnic was not so well attended this year as last owing to illnesses among many of the descendants but those who did go were well rewarded and a very pleasant day was spent with a big picnic dinner at noon and plenty of ice cream, cake, and watermelons at a later luncheon. The meeting was presided over by Judge Clifton S. Wortman of Ashland who now owns and lives on the farm where it was held, and on which he was born.
Hon. Otha D. Wearin as one of the descendants gave the principal talk of the informal program which was held following the dinner. At the election of officers, Clifton S. Wortman was named president and Mrs. Rachel Dolph Davis of Malvern was named secretary and next year’s meeting will be held in Mills county, probably in Malvern.
Among the Mills county relatives attending the picnic were: Mr. and Mrs. Otha D. Wearin, Mr. and Mrs. W.P. Wortman, Helen Wortman and Allen Wortman, Mr. and Mrs. Reed Wortman and W.S. Wortman.
WORTMAN FAMILIES IN ANNUAL REUNION
FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING HELD IN MALVERN ON AUG. 11
Malvern, Iowa
August 15, 1935
The fifth annual reunion and picnic of the descendants of Jacob and Valeria Wortman, pioneer residents of Mills county, was held Aug.11 in the Malvern Community building where the cool basement room provided a welcome escape from the intense heat of the outdoors.
Not so many in attendance as usual this year owing to the busy time and serious illness among some of the families, but those present enjoyed the day to the utmost---the big picnic dinner and the ensuing program and reminiscences following.
Judge Clifton S. Wortman of Ashland, Nebr., presided in the usual efficient manner and the program, mostly impromptu, was directed by him.
The election of officers for next year included the following:
President, J. Frank Wortman, Medford, Ore.
Vice president, W.P. Wortman, Malvern.
Secretary, Mrs. Orville Durbin, Hastings.
The place of meeting for next year was set for Malvern and the date will be the first Thursday in August, 1936.
The following were present:
Descendants of the Chas. S. Wortman family: Otha J. Wortman, Lincoln, Nebr.; Mary E. Wortman Barnes, Iowa City; Clifton S. Wortman and Marguerite Wortman, Ashland, Nebr,; Earl D, Richards, Mary Richards, Francis L. Richards, Ashland; Radford L. Bennett, Doris W. Bennett, Betty Bennett, Hamburg; Ruth Alice Wortman, Los Angles, Calif.
Descendants of Joseph W. Wortman; Bertha Wortman White, George H. White, Malvern; Reed M. Wortman, Mrs. Reed Wortman, Joan Wortman, Hastings.
Descendants of Martha Wortman Wearin; Joseph A. Wearin, Mary Donner Wearin, Hastings.
Descendants of B.F. Wortman; W.P. Wortman, Gertrude A. Wortman, Allen Wortman, Malvern; and Mrs. Fred Newell, Frederick Newell, Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wadsley, Marvel and Joanne Wadsley Early.
Descendants of Marticia Wortman Dolph; Mrs. Eva Delph Durbin, Malvern; Mr. and Mrs. Orville Durbin, Ivan Durbin, Hastings.
WORTMAN FAMILIES IN REUNION HERE
MEET IN COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR ANNUAL PICNIC SUNDAY
Malvern Leader
August 13, 1936
Hot weather and drought have failed to cut the crop of family reunions which seem to come in late summer. Sunday descendants of Joseph and Valeria Wortman met in the basement of the Malvern Community building for their annual reunion and picnic.
Following the picnic dinner, for which each brought well-filled baskets, a short program was given. This included the reading of an address by C.S. Wortman of Ashland, Nebr., which had been written by J. Frank Wortman of Medford, Ore., the president of the reunion organization.
The address gave interesting bits of family history, stressed the importance and pleasure of maintaining close friendly contact between the various branches of the family and contained many interesting observations by the writer.
The members of the family also prepared a fitting memorial to the late W.P. Wortman who had been influential in starting the annual reunions.
Officers were elected to make arrangements for the reunion next year which will be held at Ashland, Nebr., the second Sunday in August. These included Allen Wortman, president; Dr. Arthur Wortman of Curtis, Nebr., vice president; and Mrs. Rachel M. Davis, secretary and treasurer.
Attending the reunion were Mrs. Mary Wortman Barnes, Iowa City; Miss Ruth Wortman, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. C.S. Water, Mr. and Mrs. Victor Stambaugh, Mrs. Ethel Whitaker and son Dickie, Lincoln, Nebr.; Earl Richards, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Richards and Jean, Barbara, Elizabeth and Joan, Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Wortman, Mrs. Henry Wortman, Ashland, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. Radford Bennett and Betty, Hamburg; Dr. and Mrs. Arthur V. Curtis, Nebr.; Otha D. Wearin, Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. Geo. White, Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Davis and Marticia, Sherman Wortman, Miss Jessie Wortman and Allen Wortman, Malvern.
FAMILY PICNIC AT LOG CABIN
Malvern Leader
August 18, 1938
A reunion of the descendants of Joseph and Valeria Wortman was held Sunday in the log cabin in which they first made their home in Mills county 82 years ago. The cabin had recently been moved from its original location in the South Grove neighborhood to a place on the old Burlington right-of-way east of Malvern.
In the election of reunion officers which took place after the picnic dinner Earl Wortman Richards of Ashland, Neb. was named president; Frederic Newell of Hastings, treasurer and Mrs. C.F. Davis of Malvern, secretary and historian.
Mrs. Davis read a number of family letters and records which gave incidents of interest to the group and others attending told anedotes of the early history of the family.
Attending the affair were Mr. and Mrs. C.S. Wortman and Mr. and Mrs. Richards and four daughters of Ashland, Neb.; Harvey Dolph of Newton; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Newell and Frederic, Mrs. Joe Wearin and Mrs. Otha D. Wearin of Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Davis and Marticia and Jessie and Allen Wortman of Malvern.
FAMILY PICNIC AT REED WORTMAN FARM
Malvern Leader
August 14, 1947
Descendants of Jacob and Valeria Wortman held their annual family picnic Sunday at the Reed Wortman farm home in the South Grove neighborhood south of Hastings. This is the home farm first settled by the Jacob Wortmans when they came to Mills county in pioneer days.
Following their cooperative picnic dinner the group elected new officers for the coming year: Reed Wortman, president; F.A. Wortman, vice president; Otha D. Wearin, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. Rachel Davis, historian.
The date for the 1948 meeting was changed to the second Sunday in June and this will be held in Malvern. Mrs. Davis read a historical and genealogical sketch telling of the family’s first residence in Mills county and of the location of various branches of descendants.
A sketch of the log cabin which had been used as a home by Jacob and Valeria, which now serves as a boy scout cabin, drawn by Felix Summers, was given to the hosts of the day.
Attending the picnic were Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Ray, Des Moines; John Wortman, Iowa City; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wadsley and Joan, Early, Jessie C. Wortman, Council Bluffs; Mr. and Mrs. June Dolph and Ellen; Mr. and Mrs. Reed Wortman, Joan, Merritt, Louise and Beverly, Mrs. Carrie Wortman and Mrs. Otha D. Wearin, Hastings; Mr. and Mrs. S.S. Summers, Strahan; Mr. and Mrs. Fred Newell, Mrs. Rachel Davis, Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Wortman, Bill and Carol, Malvern.
