At the 2023 Reunion, it was decided that the 2024 Reunion would be virtual with perhaps a different format of quarterly or semi-annual meetings via Zoom.
The first Zoom Virtual Reunion was held February 24, 2024. In the first hour James Beidler, one of the top experts in the United States on Germanic origins and author of a number of books, including “The Family Tree Historical Atlas of Germany” and “Trace Your German Roots Online,” focused on methods/information sources for finding the town/village of origin for Germanic ancestors. In the second hour, WFA President Hal Merz, Ancestry Committee Chair and DNA Project Manager Tom Young presented what we currently know about our Germanic origins and the early Wertmans in America.
Past Reunions:
Reunions were held both in Pennsylvania, in locations where descendants settled, where descendants fought in the Civil War.
2023 Reunion - Lancaster Co., PA
The researcher's meeting on September 23 had presentations on Wertman ties to the Underground Railroad, using evidence to solve genealogy problems, the Wertman DNA project, Wertmans in WWII, and First Families of Pennsylvania.
2022 Reunion - Carbon County, PA
The researchers' meeting on August 27 focused on Women, the law and genealogy in PA; Wertmans in crucial WWII battles; Wertman 101; and a DNA update. Saturday night's dinner presentation by Ron Rabenold (Follow this link to his resource page) explored the history of Carbon County and was followed on Sunday by a picnic and a trip to Ben Salem Cemetery.
2020 and 2021 Reunions - Cancelled due to Covid-19.
2019 Reunion - Gettysburg, PA
Daniel Heimbach of Michigan; William G. Moffett; Aaron Moser, Joseph Moser, and Gideon Moser of Pennsylvania; and Jacob Vogel were descendants of George Philip Wertman who fought at Gettysburg. Wertman family members had a Gettysburg Visitor Center Presentation, and full Gettysburg tour in 2019.
Click here for a pdf of Wertman Family Association President Russ Dannecker's presentation on Gettysburg at the 2018 reunion.
Click here for a pdf of Our Gettysburg Heroes, the handout from the 2019 WFA Reunion.
See more 2019 reunion photos here
2018 Reunion - Sugarcreek, Ohio -
Although we talked about all the descendants of George Philip Wertman, this reunion focused on Jacob Wertman (1806-1889) and Sara/Sallie Harris (1807-1880) and their descendants.
2017 Reunion - New Tripoli, Lehigh County, PA
The 2017 reunion was held in Lehigh County, PA with a picnic catered by our own Minerva Arner and family and business meeting on FRIDAY, 18 August at the Ontelaunee Park. The Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society was open in the afternoon for a tour of their resources. On SATURDAY, 19 August, family researchers met to give and hear presentations at Ebenezer Union Church. Presentations included the First Families of Pennsylvania project, Ruprecht Family Update, eBay and Your Family, Who Are You?, The Year in Review, Coming to America, and Women in 18th Century Pennsylvania. Lunch was provided by women of the church. The luncheon speaker was Willard Snyder from the Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society.
The first Zoom Virtual Reunion was held February 24, 2024. In the first hour James Beidler, one of the top experts in the United States on Germanic origins and author of a number of books, including “The Family Tree Historical Atlas of Germany” and “Trace Your German Roots Online,” focused on methods/information sources for finding the town/village of origin for Germanic ancestors. In the second hour, WFA President Hal Merz, Ancestry Committee Chair and DNA Project Manager Tom Young presented what we currently know about our Germanic origins and the early Wertmans in America.
Past Reunions:
Reunions were held both in Pennsylvania, in locations where descendants settled, where descendants fought in the Civil War.
2023 Reunion - Lancaster Co., PA
The researcher's meeting on September 23 had presentations on Wertman ties to the Underground Railroad, using evidence to solve genealogy problems, the Wertman DNA project, Wertmans in WWII, and First Families of Pennsylvania.
2022 Reunion - Carbon County, PA
The researchers' meeting on August 27 focused on Women, the law and genealogy in PA; Wertmans in crucial WWII battles; Wertman 101; and a DNA update. Saturday night's dinner presentation by Ron Rabenold (Follow this link to his resource page) explored the history of Carbon County and was followed on Sunday by a picnic and a trip to Ben Salem Cemetery.
2020 and 2021 Reunions - Cancelled due to Covid-19.
2019 Reunion - Gettysburg, PA
Daniel Heimbach of Michigan; William G. Moffett; Aaron Moser, Joseph Moser, and Gideon Moser of Pennsylvania; and Jacob Vogel were descendants of George Philip Wertman who fought at Gettysburg. Wertman family members had a Gettysburg Visitor Center Presentation, and full Gettysburg tour in 2019.
Click here for a pdf of Wertman Family Association President Russ Dannecker's presentation on Gettysburg at the 2018 reunion.
Click here for a pdf of Our Gettysburg Heroes, the handout from the 2019 WFA Reunion.
See more 2019 reunion photos here
2018 Reunion - Sugarcreek, Ohio -
Although we talked about all the descendants of George Philip Wertman, this reunion focused on Jacob Wertman (1806-1889) and Sara/Sallie Harris (1807-1880) and their descendants.
2017 Reunion - New Tripoli, Lehigh County, PA
The 2017 reunion was held in Lehigh County, PA with a picnic catered by our own Minerva Arner and family and business meeting on FRIDAY, 18 August at the Ontelaunee Park. The Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society was open in the afternoon for a tour of their resources. On SATURDAY, 19 August, family researchers met to give and hear presentations at Ebenezer Union Church. Presentations included the First Families of Pennsylvania project, Ruprecht Family Update, eBay and Your Family, Who Are You?, The Year in Review, Coming to America, and Women in 18th Century Pennsylvania. Lunch was provided by women of the church. The luncheon speaker was Willard Snyder from the Lynn-Heidelberg Historical Society.
The 2016 Reunion - Richmond Virginia
31 members of the extended Wertman family attended the 16th Wertman Family Association Reunion on 12-14 August 2016 in Virginia. Each attendee received an extensive book highlighting the Wertman soldiers who fought to capture the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia. Although it was hot, we walked in their footsteps, and what they saw. From the Petersburg battlefields to Fortress Monroe and the Mariners' Museum, members had a wonderful glimpse of what life was life for many of the descendants of George Philip Wertman I.
31 members of the extended Wertman family attended the 16th Wertman Family Association Reunion on 12-14 August 2016 in Virginia. Each attendee received an extensive book highlighting the Wertman soldiers who fought to capture the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia. Although it was hot, we walked in their footsteps, and what they saw. From the Petersburg battlefields to Fortress Monroe and the Mariners' Museum, members had a wonderful glimpse of what life was life for many of the descendants of George Philip Wertman I.
2011 Wertman Family Reunion Picnic