My Genealogy Hound

REV. MARTIN LUTHER WORTMAN, retired, Allegheny, was born near St. John, New Brunswick, in 1827, son of Martin and Nancy (Kane) Wortman, who were born in the same place in 1792 and 1791, and died at the age of seventy-four and seventy-seven, respectively. His father was a farmer, and on coming to the United States settled in Carroll county, Ohio, in 1832, where he died. His grandparents were Jacob and (Clinton) Wortman, who came to the United States in 1827, settling in Scio, then called New Market. Martin Luther attended the common school in Carroll county, Ohio, then the New Hagerstown Academy one term, and then Richmond College, in Jefferson county, Ohio, for three years. He spent two years at Jefferson College, Washington county, Pa., graduating from there in 1853, then took a three years’ course at the Western Theological Seminary of Allegheny. He was licensed to preach during his second year here, and during his senior year preached at the Hiland Presbyterian Church at Perrysville. After graduating, in 1857, he was one year at Crawfordsville, Washington county, Iowa.

Returning to this county in 1858, he supplied the Hiland Church and the Long Island Church on Neville island for eight years, at the same time starting a mission at Emsworth, Pa., and three years later, after its organization as a church, he supplied this with his other two, residing at Perrysville. At the end of eight years he gave up the Long Island and the Emsworth churches, and continued at Hiland until 1869. In the spring of that year, owing to the death of his wife, he moved to Rochester, and took charge of the church of Industry, Beaver county, and the Emsworth church for three years. Giving up Emsworth, he moved to Freedom until 1874, when he returned to Neville, but continued to supply the former church for seven years. In the fall of 1880 he accepted a call to the Hiland Church, where he remained until the spring of 1886, when he returned for the third time to Neville. In the spring of 1888 he sold his home on the island, and owing to failing health, retired from the regular pastorship, moving to Allegheny, where he built himself a home. Mr. Wortman was married, Oct. 9, 1860, to Amanda J. Woods, of Rochester, Pa., daughter of Henry and Sarah J. (Jones) Woods, and a niece of B. F. Jones, of Pittsburgh. Two children, Henry Martin and Amanda Emma, were born to them. The mother died in August, 1868, and Mr. Wortman was afterward married, in December, 1877, to Mrs. Lucinda M. Young, of Beaver. She has two children, Emma and Jennie Young. Mr. Wortman is a Knight Templar, Allegheny Commandery, No. 35; politically he is a republican.