My Genealogy Hound

JAMES M. WENTZEL, a well-known farmer of Upper Pottsgrove township, was born September 29, 1862, in Upper Pottsgrove township. He is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Mauger) Wentzel.

Joseph Wentzel (father), born in 1831, was a farmer in Upper Pottsgrove township, and is now leading a retired life on his farm. He and his wife are members of the German Reformed church. Joseph Wentzel built the house where his son James M. now lives, and also built several other houses in the neighborhood. In politics he is a Democrat. Joseph and Sarah (Mauger) Wentzel had ten children: Hannah, Francis, Mary, James, Charles, Jonas, Elizabeth, Jacob, Sarah, Samuel. Four of these children are deceased, three having been drowned at one time as they were crossing a creek near their father’s home in Upper Pottsgrove. They were in a carriage, and they and the horse were drowned.

Samuel Wentzel (grandfather) lived on the farm adjoining that of James M. Wentzel, and spent his life in farming and in following his trade of shoemaker. He married Emma Reigner, and of their children William, Henry, and Joseph are living, and Carolina, Rosanna, Julianna, and Matilda are deceased. Samuel and Emma (Reigner) Wentzel died many years ago, her death preceding that of her husband. He was more than ninety years of age at the time of his death. Both were buried in the Pottstown cemetery.

Jacob Mauger (maternal grandfather) resided in Upper Pottsgrove township for many years, he being a descendant of the Mauger who built the mill near Pottstown about a century ago. He was a miller, farmer and shoemaker, combining these occupations, as was so often done a generation or two ago. His wife was Elizabeth Keiser. Both died many years ago and were buried in Pottstown. Their children: Charles, Catherine, Sarah, and Rachel.

James M. Wentzel attended school in the neighborhood in which he lived until he had reached the age of seventeen years, alternating study with occasional work on the farm during the busy season, and attaining the rudiments of an education in the winter season when there was little to be done in the way of outdoor work. He then devoted himself exclusively to the operations of farming until he was twenty-one years of age, when he sought employment in the iron industries of Pottstown. Even then, however, he worked occasionally at farming in the intervals of employment at the trade of an ironworker. He removed to the farm where he now lives two years ago, and has since devoted himself entirely to the occupation of tilling the soil.

Mr. Wentzel married Sarah, daughter of George and Catherine (Stetler) Denlinger. The wife’s parents resided in Upper Pottsgrove township, where Mr. Denlinger was engaged in farming. He died in 1894. Mrs. Denlinger survives and lives with her daughter, Mrs. Wentzel. She was born in 1819. Her husband died at the age of seventy-six years. He was buried at Swamp. Their children were eight in all, as follows: William, Henry, John, Louisa, Hanna, Sarah, and two who died in infancy.

George Denlinger (grandfather of Mrs. Wentzel) was a farmer and carpenter by occupation and lived in the same locality in which his descendants now reside. Mrs. Wentzel’s maternal grandparents were Henry and Elizabeth (Fillman) Stetler. They also were engaged in farming, and resided in Upper Pottsgrove township. Both died many years ago. Mr. Stetler died January 12, 1881, and both are buried in Pottstown. Mr. and Mrs. James M. Wentzel had eight children, of whom five are living, as follows: Ada May (deceased). Ellen, married James Geiger, they living in Boyertown, where he is engaged in the shoe manufacturing business. They have Joseph, George, Wilson and Hannah, all living with their parents. William and Snowden (both deceased).

Mr. Wentzel is a Democrat in politics, but has never sought or held office. He is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men. The family are members of the congregation of the German Reformed church at Swamp.