Individual Details

Jacob Ray WURTSBAUGH:
Paper unknown, date unknown:
"Jacob W. WERTSBAUGH, son of David WERTSBAUGH who left here four years ago to join the navy is at home. The young man had a most interesting experience having gone nearly twice around the world and visited nearly all of the great seaport cities of the world. He says that he liked the service and that he would advise any young man who wants to see the world to join the navy. He expresses the highest regard for his officers who treated him with uniform courtesy and kindness. Mr. WERTSBAUGH is justly proud of his son who has grown into a young man of fine appearance and excellent address." (He was actually in the Marines)

Paper unknown, date unknown:
"David WERTSBAUGH went to South Bend last Sunday morning to take part in the festivities incident to the return of his son, Jacob R. WERTSBAUGH who had just retired from a four year enlistment in the U. S. Navy. The sister of the young man Mrs. Emanuel FISHER gave a fine dinner in honor of his return and among those who enjoyed the elaborate spread were Mr. and Mrs. Elmer BOULBY of Larwill, Mr. and Mrs. James BENTON and Mr. and Mrs. F. C. SMITH of Elkhart, Henry POLLACK and wife, Eli POLLOCK and wife, Mrs. A. HILL, George HILL and Will FISHER and family, all of South Bend. It was a most pleasant affair that all enjoyed."


Janet Ribbens:
My Grandpa Wurtsbaugh was born prematurely and only weighed 1 1/2 pounds. To keep him warm they kept him in a shoe box by the oven. There were no incubators in those days. He sure must have been tough. Just think, had he not survived, we would either not be here or not be what we are. Even though some newspaper articles say he was in the Army or Navy, he was actually in the Marines when young and "circled the world".
His mother died when he was a child. His wife died when he had four small children. When she was dying, she made him promise to keep the children together, and he always did. I respect him for that.
He became a member of Midway Gospel Tabernacle after Florena's death and was a very committed, believing man. "Since Jesus Came Into My Heart" was a favorite song. He always sat at the very front of the church. He never wavered in his faith. I remember that, after I was married, he told me he believed he would never taste of death, that Jesus would return first.
Grandpa's main weakness was his temper. Perhaps he never was taught how to control it since his mother died when he was young. He and his sister were very close.
Grandpa had a stroke when he was young (probably about 45), which left part of his face paralyzed temporarily. He also had a glass eye because he had his eye burned out by an ash that flew out of a train engine. Other than that, he was very healthy most of his life. He had all his teeth when he died even though he would brush them with "Ajax".
My grandfather was married 4 times. After his first wife, and the mother of all his children, died, he remained single for 13 years. Then he thought he should marry so his daughter would have a mother (at 16?!). Anyway, my dad paid for that divorce. The woman was lazy and would not cook or clean. Then he married Annie DILTZ in 1945. (I remember the wedding day vaguely.) She was heavy when he married her and obese later. There are some interesting stories about them. She never washed her hair in the winter because she may catch a cold. Oh well, only say good things. Then after Annie died, he married Gertrude. She was a good woman. He married her when he was 77! He also outlived her but after she died, it seems he just decided he didn't want to live any more. His memory was going. He didn't even recognize Aunt Esther the last time he saw her. He must have had Alzheimer. He died in his sleep in the nursing home.
He worked most of his life as a local truck driver. When younger, he delivered coal to people's homes for their furnaces. Later he delivered merchandise to many of the area department stores.
Grandpa raised the three boys alone. Aunt Esther stayed with her Aunt Lindie and other people much of her growing up years. Grandpa was not much of a money manager but he always worked. However, the children moved around a lot and even slept in the car at night while playing in the park during the day while grandpa worked. It was not an easy life for any of them.

Obituary: JACOB R. WURTSBAUGH - Jacob R WURTSBAUGH, 84, formerly of Mishawaka, died in the Golden Age Manor in Mishawaka Wednesday night following an extended illness.
He was born December 28, 1885 in Ligonier. He was a verteran of World War I, serving in the Army. Surviving are a brother, Chester of LaGrange; three sons, Donald of Denver, Co., Wilbur of Mishawaka and LeRoy of Los Angeles, Calif.; 18 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs Linde BRUBAKER of Mishawaka. Funeral services were held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Apostolic Temple with the Rev. Worthy G. ROWE officiating. Burial was in the Rice Cemetery in Elkhart. The Hollis Funeral Home of Mishawaka was in charge of the arrangements.

Occupation: Truck driver
Religion: Pentecost Baptized Midway Gospel Tabernacle (now known as Apostolic Temple)
Military Service: Marines, First World War

Birth	28 DEC 1887	Ligonier, Noble Co., IN
Marriage		Florena Samantha AUTEN
Marriage		Inez BEAN
Divorce		Inez BEAN
Marriage	1945	Annie DILTZ
Marriage	ABT 1962	Living
Death	14 JAN 1970	South Bend, St. Joseph Co., IN
Burial		Grace Lawn Cem., Elkhart, Elkhart Co., IN

Spouse	Florena Samantha AUTEN ( - )
Child	Donald David WURTSBAUGH ( - )
Child	Wilbur Wallace WURTSBAUGH ( - )
Child	LeRoy Auten WURTSBAUGH ( - )
Child	Esther Mae WURTSBAUGH ( - )

Spouse

Inez BEAN ( - )

Spouse

Annie DILTZ ( - )

Spouse

Living

Father	Jacob David WURTSBAUGH (1856 - 1920)
Mother	Dora Jane BOWLBY (1860 - 1893)
Sibling	Bertha Viola WURTSBAUGH (1887 - 1892)
Sibling	Melinda Jane WURTSBAUGH (1890 - 1976)