George Theodore Werts

George Theodore Werts (March 24, 1846ndash January 17, 1910) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 28th Governor of New Jersey from 1893-1896. Werts created the Palisades Interstate Park Commission which saved the New Jersey Palisades from being quarried for their rock.

Biography

Born in 1846, Werts moved in 1863 to Morristown at age 17 and soon became a lawyer. He built a law practice over the next 16 years. In 1872, he married Emma Stelle. Werts, a Democrat, entered politics and in 1886 was elected mayor of Morristown, serving until 1892. He was also elected to the New Jersey Senate, serving from 1887 to 1892. Werts moved from Morristown to Jersey City and lived in a mansion on Crescent Avenue on the present site of Lincoln High School in Jersey City.

Governor Leon Abbett named Werts as a state judge in 1892 to replace Manning M. Knapp. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Justice Knapp's Successor. State Senator George T. Werts Spoken Of For The Place |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9A00E4DD1E39E033A25751C0A9649C94639ED7CF |quote=A well-authenticated rumor that prevails around the State House this evening is that neither Lippincott, Garretson, nor Kirkpatrick will be chosen to succeed the late Justice Manning M. Knapp, but that the choice seat on the Supreme Court Bench will be awarded to Senator George T. Werts of Morris County. This announcement will occasion surprise wherever it becomes known. |publisher=New York Times |date=February 2, 1892, Wednesday |accessdate=2008-06-18 ] Abbett supported him to be his replacement when Abbett ran for the United States Senate. Werts, riding Grover Cleveland's coattails, defeated the Republican candidate John Kean, Jr. As governor, however, Werts was fairly ineffectual. His administration was mired in a racetrack gambling controversy which hurt the entire Democratic Party in the state. His lack of leadership, caused both parties to fight over power.

In 1895, a scandal involving corruption among many Democratic legislative was exposed. Though Werts was not involved, this brought an end of a quarter of a century domination of New Jersey politics by the Democratic Party. He was the last of seven consecutive Democratic governors. Leaving office after one term, Werts returned to his law practice in Jersey City.

He died on January 17, 1910 at age 63. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Ex-Gov. G. T. Werts Dead.; Last Democratic Governor Of New Jersey And Old Politician. |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9F05EFDC1139E333A2575BC1A9679C946196D6CF |quote=George T. Werts of New Jersey, one of the best-known Democratic politicians in that State, died yesterday of pneumonia at his home, 275 Union Street, ... |publisher=New York Times |date=January 18, 1910 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ] He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Morristown, New Jersey.

External links

* [http://www.njstatelib.org/NJ_Information/Digital_Collections/Governors_of_New_Jersey/GWERT.pdf Biography for George Theodore Werts (PDF)] , New Jersey State Library
* [http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.29fab9fb4add37305ddcbeeb501010a0/?vgnextoid=42fe2a7b22e89010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e449a0ca9e3f1010VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD New Jersey Governor George Theodore Werts] , National Governors Association
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/wernsing-wesson.html#RJD0VVGXM George T. Werts] , The Political Graveyard
* [http://members.bellatlantic.net/%7Evze2rdt7/DGovs/deadgovernorsnj.html#werts Dead Governors of New Jersey bio for George T. Werts]

References