Phillips County News - One Nation, Under God

Wondering how Zortman got its name?

Zortman, an early mining town in the Little Rockies, was named after Oliver Pete Zortman.

Zortman was born in Pennsylvania in 1865. He spent his early years receiving a school education and helping his father in his farming. In his early 20’s the lure of gold and striking it rich drew him to the Black Hills. Not having any success in that area, he landed in Landusky in 1894, later moving to a mining camp to the north.

Ellen Burrows, a business owner in Zortman, remembers him as a tall, handsome man with grey eyes. His upright, confident, and courageou...