Quick Facts
Biography
George Theodore Werts (March 24, 1846 – January 17, 1910) was an American Democratic Party politician, who served as the 28th Governor of New Jersey from 1893 to 1896. Werts created the Palisades Interstate Park Commission which saved the New Jersey Palisades from being quarried for their rock.
Biography
He was born on March 24, 1846 in Hackettstown, New Jersey and he moved in 1863 to Morristown, New Jersey at age 17. He became a lawyer. In 1872 he married Emma Stelle.
He entered politics and in 1886 was elected Mayor of Morristown, New Jersey, serving until 1892. He was also elected to the New Jersey Senate, serving from 1887 to 1892. Werts moved from Morristown to Jersey City, New Jersey 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.
He died on January 17, 1910 at age 63. He was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, in Morristown, New Jersey.