Cort Family

Cyrus Cort was born near Greensburg, Westmoreland County, PA. on March 15, 1834. His parents were Joseph and Mary (Skelly) Cort. He graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in 1860 and from the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg in 1862. He was licensed by Westmoreland Classis October 6, 1862, ordained by the same Classis on February 25, 1863. During the Battle of Antietam, Mr. Cort raised a military company in Westmoreland County, took it to Harrisburg and offered its services to the Government. There is no evidence that he at this time or at any time during the Civil War was in military service. Pastorates included: Missionary Pastor of Christ Church, Altoona, PA. (1863-1867); Reformed Church, Altoona, PA. (1863-1867); Mt. Alto and Fayette Congregations, Franklin County, PA. (1867-1868); Blairstown, Iowa congregation (1868-1871); Forreston (Henry Clay) Illinois (1871); Brandon Charge, Vinton, Iowa (1871-1876); Maquoketa Charge, Iowa (1876-1878); Columbus Junction Charge, Iowa (1878-1881); Leighton Congregation and Duth Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa (1881); Greencastle Charge, PA. (1881-1893); St. John's, Wyoming, Delaware (1893-1896); Ridgely Maryland congregation (1893-1896); Sabillasville Charge, Sabillasville, Md. (1896-1900); Pine Run Charge, Paulton, Westmoreland County, PA. (1902-1907). It was while serving the Blairstown, Iowa congregation that he established "The Reformed Missionary," a monthly paper published in the interests of the Reformed Church in the Mid-West which he edited for seven years. He retired in 1907, moved to Overlea, Md. He died on January 22, 1920 at his home in Overlea, Md. On May 1, 1866, he married Susan M. Patterson, who died in April 1888. The couple had six children Ambrose and Sarah Agnes are noteworthy. He married a second time to Lizzie Poorbaugh, October 1893. They had one son, Brigadier General Hugh Cort, U.S. Army. Rev. Cort was the author of "Enoch Brown Memorial" (1866); "Peter Minuit"; "Michael Schlatter"; "Fort McCord"; "Fort McDowell"; and a volume of poems (1902). He received an honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1892 from Franklin and Marshall College. He authored 86 articles published in the Messenger and 9 published in the "Reformed Church Review." Ambrose Cort (1873- ) was born at Vinton, Iowa, on November 8, 1873. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy and from Franklin and Marshall College in 1892. He entered the teaching profession and was a faculty member at both Mercersburg and Franklin and Marshall. He entered the New York public school system and rose to principal of a school district in Brooklyn, which included many schools. His son, David Cort, is an author and magazine editoral writer in New York City. On June 16, 1903, Ambrose married Lydia Painter. Sources: Cyrus: "Fathers of the Reformed Church" vol. 9, pg. 364 and vertical name file Ambrose: Cort family genealogy and vertical file