Born in Hargerode, Germany. He came to America at age three. His family settled in Curtisville, Massachusetts.He was a pharmacist in Lee, Massachusetts from 1882 to 1901.

In 1887 he married Lizzie Isabel Curtis of the family that named Curtisville. She died in 1918. They had two daughters. He married Helen E. Gillmer August 26, 1919. President of Lee National Bank and the Lee Library Association. Associated with the Western Massachusetts Electric Company for more than 50 years.

He began to attend coin sales in 1885 and attended most of the important ones. With Clapp, Hines and Newcomb he was considered one of the "Big Four" of large cent collectors.

At the 1912 to 1917 ANA conventions he exhibited Washington coins and medals, colonial silver pieces and a complete set of Myddleton tokens in brilliant proof condition. He showed a complete set of U. S. cents. He also exhibited at the ANS in 1914. He was elected to the ANA board of governors in 1914 to complete the term of Ben Green. He served as 12th ANA President August 29, 1917, to October 8, 1919.

Wurtzbach published a monograph on Massachusetts silver coinage. His collection of Massachusetts silver was sold to T. James Clarke. He held several offices for the Masons. He died at home in Lee, Massachusetts.

obit: NUM 60 Nov 1947 page 779