The Frederick County history book says that Major George had a son Daniel, coach maker at Gettysburg. I found record of his baptism (Solomon Daniel Mertz) on 17 Sep 1818 at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Middletown, MD. That record said he was born 6 Aug 1818 and was the son of George and Catherine Mertz (note the spelling). He is designated H5a2.

George made a faint impression on history. He was listed in only one census that I can find, 1850. And he was named as their father at the baptism of several of his children and on several of their death certificates. He died in 1858.

On his marriage record (he married Elizabeth Heanes (sic) 3 Nov 1842 in Gettysburg), his name was listed as Daniel Solomon Mertz and he was Daniel Sol Martz when he baptized his children.

I believe I have found him in the 1850 Census. Remember the county history says he as a coach maker at Gettysburg. So in 1850, I believe the Daniel S Martz, age 32, blacksmith is him. His age is right, his occupation I guess is sort of in the ball park of coach maker (I wish it would just have said that). And while it says he was born in Pennsylvania while I would assume he was actually born in Maryland, the question in census is not totally reliable.

In 1850, it seems that he shared living quarters with the Jacob Deardorf family. I don’t know if there was any connection but I did happen to find that Anna Deardorff in 1870 was said to also be aka Anna Mary Mertz. I’m not sure who she is but I suspect of the Frederick County Martz family.

A frustrating thing is that after Daniel died in 1858, I cannot find his wife and children in 1860 nor his wife and some children in 1870. I think I have found several of his teenage children in 1870 scattered in random other families — George J age 16 with Peter Cownover (sp?) and Louisa age 17 with Jacob Diehl. In 1880, Elizabeth, his wife, was living with their son George J.

His estate entered administration in 1858, the widow Elizabeth renounced in favor of Sebastian Sptizel. Daniel is not on find-a-grave. Elizabeth is and a brief obituary is given saying she is survived by four children: Geo J Martz, Daniel F Martz, Mrs. Pierce Plank and Mrs Levi Bushman all of whom lived locally except Daniel who was of Galesburg, IL.

In the 1850 Census, there was a Sarah C age 3 who was born 17 Dec 1846 but then is never to be seen again.

Daniel and Elisabeth also baptized daughter Louise Elen born 20 Oct 1853. I think her death certificate may be more accurate — she was Lovina Ellen Bushman, daughter of Daniel Martz and Elizabeth Haner, had been born 22 Oct 1852 and died 9 Aug 1933 in Gettysburg.

And there was a daughter Louisa F Plank whose death certificate says she was born 29 Jun 1857 and whose parents were Daniel Martz and Elizabeth Haner. Louisa died in Gettysburg 6 Dec 1912

Daniel and Elisabeth had two sons in 1850: John A age 7 and Samuel V age 5. I can find no further evidence of either of those sons after that.

They baptized a son Daniel Solomon in 1853 who had been born 28 Sep 1853. I found him in Galesburg, IL in 1920 with wife Cora B and son George D. In 1900, he also had a daughter Madge and a son Cecil.

And they baptized a son George Jacob in 1855 who had been born 22 Nov 1854. He was listed in the 1880 Census with wife Rebecca and his mother in Cumberland Twp, Adams County, PA. (He said both his parents had been born in Maryland). And his death certificate gave his date of birth as 23 Nov 1854 and date of death as 17 Jul 1927. It also said his wife was Rebecca Bushey.

The fact that he named a son George Jacob — the name of his somewhat famous brother — adds credibility that this is the right Daniel.

Neither of these sons is designated as they were born after 1850.

She is linked to her son George Jacob on find-a-grave.