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Dr. John Adam Wirt, Lutheran Preacher at the St. John's Lutheran Church, Des Moines, was born in Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin Co., PA on 21May1846; d. on 09May1908 in Des Moines, IA and buried in Gettysburg, PA. He married Martha J. Buehler on 01Jun1875 and they had four known children: Ray F., Guyon B., Simon Edgar, and John Albert Wirt. Can anyone connect with this family??
Some additional information:
The following information has been gleaned from A. R. Wentz, Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary Volume 2, Alumni Record (Harrisburg, PA:The Evangelical Press, 1964, p. 85) and Edward S. Breidenbaugh, The Pennsylvania [Gettysburg] College Book, 1832-1882 (Philadelphia, PA: Lutheran Publication Society, 1882, pp. 217, 306) plus my knowledge of local history:
John Adam Wirt was born on 05/21/1846 (Breidenbaugh indicates 1848) at Millersburg, Dauphin County, PA, a son of Simon W. Wirt. His occupation was that of a farmer when he entered Gettysburg College's Preparatory Department in 1868 at the age of 22 years. Admitted to the college, during his academic career there, he was a member of the Phrenakosmian Society and Sigma Chi fraternity. In 1872 he was both the annual orator and anniversary speaker for that literary society. He was also the speaker on behalf of the students on the opening of the "College Gymnasium Teaching." During his time at Gettysburg College, he met Martha "Mattie" J. Buehler, a daughter of David A. (Gettysburg College 1843) and Frances A. "Fannie" Buehler, a prominent Gettysburg family. Adam and Mattie were married on 06/01/1875, and they were blessed with at least four children: Raymond F.; Simon; Guyon B. (named after a brother of Mattie, her mother's maiden name); and John.
For the next two years, Wirt's wonderings are unclear. He was graduated by Gettysburg College in 1874. The Seminary Alumni Record implies that Wirt entered the Gettysburg Lutheran seminary in 1874, but he decided to teach for a year, moving to Uniontown (Fayette or Indiana co.?) from 1874-1875. He then returned to the Gettysburg seminary and attended for another year (1875-1876). Either finishing his course work at Gettysburg or transferring, he was graduated by the Missionary Institute at Selinsgrove, Snyder Co., PA (now part of Susquehanna University) in 1877. In 1895, Susquehanna University conferred upon Wirt his Doctor of Divinity degree.
Upon completing coursework at the Missionary Institute, he was called by a congregation(s) in the vicinity of Lykens, Dauphin Co., PA and was subsequently ordained by the Susquehanna Synod in 1877. He ministered in the Lykens area until 1883, when he was called to minister in the Hughsville, Lycoming Co., PA area, serving there for 12 years. About the time he was awarded his DD, he received a call to minister in Des Moines, IA where he resided until his death on 05/08/1908. His wife died on 12/15/1910.
As for his son, Raymond F. Wert (Wirt), since Adam and Mattie were married in June 1875, and if Raymond was the first born (assuming he was conceived on their wedding night), that would suggest a birthdate for him of about March 1, 1876. That would also imply that Raymond would have attended either college or seminary about 20 years later, or about 1896. His name, however, is not listed in the seminary's alumni directory (does not indicate non-graduates) or as a graduate or non-graduate of Gettysburg College. I also checked an Alumni record of the Philadelphia Seminary (Mt. Airy) and did not find his name listed. Since by the 1896, the Wirt family was residing in Des Moines, if he attended any institutions of higher learning, he possibly attended some institution out there, such as the Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque.
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