John Douglass

DOUGLASS, WERTENBERGER, HOCHSTETLER, ARMOUR, FOURT, MILLS, FAY, SORENSON, DEBORD, GAMBLE

Posted By: Deborah Gilbert (email)
Date: 9/11/2016 at 17:12:24

Maxwell Book: 1883-1983

John Douglass, Scotch Irish, was born in Ohio in 1842. Mary Elizabeth Wertenberger, of German descent, was born in Ohio in 1839. They were married in November 1864 and moved to Michigan where their oldest children were born, Mary Ellen, the oldest, and Isaac W. When Isaac was two years old they moved back to Ohio and this little son remembered crossing Lake Michigan on their journey back to Ohio.

After several years in Ohio they came by covered wagon to Iowa in 1872 where they settled on a farm in Lucas County and Arvilla, their second daughter and third child, was born, In a couple more years they came to Polk County and purchased 80 acres. There they built a small home located about six miles from Maxwell. Here another son was born, John E., and they continued there until 1893 when they moved to Maxwell where they built a good home in 1894. This house was later occupied by the Isaac W. Douglass family.

John and Mary Elizabeth Wertenberger Douglass and their family were a sturdy, honest and thrifty. The father, John, was active in his community and church, held township offices, school director and was Justice of the Peace for a long time. The mother, Mary Elizabeth, was the 'woman' in the neighborhood. In time of sickness it was she who was called on night or day, whether it was a baby case or a case of measles. She could be depended upon to do what she could. She was a good neighbor and made many friends. In the country they were dependable members of the original Mt. Zion Church, but after moving to Maxwell they affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

John Douglass died in 1901 at age 58 years-old and Mary Elizabeth in 1906 at age 66 years-old.

Their daughter Mary Ellen 'Ella' married M. Frank Hochstetler and their children are Viola (married Harve Armour and had two daughters Jane & Martha), Lois (married Shannon Fourt) and Virgil (married Agnes and had children Eugene, Nadine, Vivien and Elaine).

Their son Isaac W. married Addie Gamble and their children are Lucile, Dudley (married Grace DeBord) and Emlin.

Their daughter Arvilla married Frank Fay and their children were Florence, Amy (married Carl Sorenson).

Their son John married Rose Mills.