William Wendel

WENDEL, ALTER, STRAUSS, HIRTH, ENGLEHORN, LOWE, DEE, SMITH, DALY, SARFF

Posted By: Janet Koozer (email)
Date: 3/6/2009 at 13:09:38

The Casper Wendel and Anna Katherine (Alter)family

Casper Wendel was born 8 Aug 1821 in Ober-Melsungen, Hesse, Germany to George Wendel and Marie Elizabeth (Imming). He married Anna Katherine Alter on 23 Nov 1845 in the Evangelical Lutheran church at Ober-Melsungen. Their first daughter, Marie, was born 6 Jan 1846 and died 22 Jan 1846 in infancy.

In 1853 Casper and Anna came to America bringing with them their four children; Henry, William, Mary and Catherine. They settled at Summerhill, Cambria Co., Penn. Another son, John, was born there in Summerhill.

In the Spring of 1856 Anna died and some time during the summer Casper remarried to Christina Strauss. Christina became pregnant with what was to be twins. Then Casper was killed in the fall by a tree he was cutting to clear the land. Christina remarried to Lewis Rusher, had the twins, and raised them as Rushers. We don't know at what point all the events took place but the other children were farmed out to other families.
Also the twins were named Rachal and John and there was already a John. The twin John was believed to have died young. Rachal eventually married a man named Long Skiles.

Henry was sent to live with George and Catherine Pringle possibly in Armstrong Co., Penn. and we have no other info. on him.

William was sent to live with Issac and Martha Sell and at age 18 years he came to Iowa to find his Uncle John. Will continue his story further on.

Mary went to live with Anthony and Catherine Sloan and they could have been in Armstrong Co. Penn. Mary later married August Martins and they lived in Garner, Iowa and later moved to Oklahoma in the Land Rush.

Katherine went to live with Samuel and Susan Paul and she later married Andrew Whitacre and lived in Penn.

John went to live with Joseph and Teresa Fleck. From his obit. we learned that he came to Lansing, Iowa, where his brother William lived. We don't know how long he stayed here but then went to Chicago, Ill. He was a machinist for the rail-road shops there for many years. His wife died quite young and after his death he was brought back to Lansing for Burial in his brother Williams lot in Oakhill Cemetery.

William Wendel was born 3 feb 1849 in Ober-Melsungen, Hesse, Germany to Casper and Anna Wendel. The Wendel family settled near Johnstown, PA. after coming to America in 1853, where Casper had an brother living since he came to this country in 1846. They made their home in a small community by the name of Summerhill in Cambria Co. PA.

When William Wendel was 18 yrs. old, about 1867, he came to Iowa looking for his Uncle John J. Wendel Sr., a brother of Casper, he had married abt. 1853 and moved to Dubuque, IA. and later to Allamakee Co., IA. in Northeast Iowa. He then moved from near Dorchester in Northwest Allamakee Co. to the East Central part of the county, to the Mays Prairie area in Lansing twp., now we have records that William was baptised in the Methodist church in Dorchester in 1868. From then to when William got married we have very little information on him. He had been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as had been his Uncle John and later lived in Lansing Twp. close to his Uncle John.

William married Barbara Hirth, the daughter of Adam and Margaret Hirth on 5 April 1874 and they farmed just West of Churchtown in Lansing Twp. for many years. This union was blessed with seven sons;

John W. bn 28 Jan 1875 IA. m Bertha Englehorn 12 Dec. 1899. They had seven children.;

Charles Emanuel bn 27 March 1876 IA., m Naomi Lowe 14 July 1902. They had five children.;

Andrew Theodore bn 25 June 1879 IA., m Evelyn E. Dee 14 Sept 1904. They had two daughters. Andrew was my Grandfather.;

Elmer J. bn. 21 March 1883 IA. m Beatrice Smith 3 July 1907. They had one son.;

Frank E. bn 3 June 1887, served WWI, never married.;

Adam B. bn 4 Sept 1888. m Irene Daly. no children, he also was in WWI.;

Henry H. bn 23 Oct. 1889, m Rhoda Sarff 22 Sept 1915, they adopted Wilford Wendel.

William Wendel wrote this History up for my mother many years ago.

William Wendel was born Feb 3, 1849 in Ober- Melsungen, Hesse, Germany, in the year 1852 he came with his parents to America. They settled down at Summerhill near Johnstown, Cambria Co., PA. both parents died before he reached the age of seven years and he was thrown on the care of strangers. But happily under good christian influence. At the age of 18 yrs. he came to Lansing, Iowa on Mays Prairie where he had an Uncle residing in the fall of 1867 he joined the M. E. Church of Dorchester was converted Feb. 24, 1868, at that time he vowed by Gods Grace to serve his Lord and Savior to the end of his days. On March 5th 1874 he was united in marriage to Barbara Hirth, lived on a farm one mile West of Church, IA. 1909 they moved to Lansing. Mrs. Wendel died Jan 9, 1923 breaking up a happy home. Afew years later he made his home with his sons at different places.

I have chosen for my funeral sermon 2nd Timothy 1: 1-12 and Psalm 116:15
The Hymns he chose were "How Blessed the Rightous when Death Brings A Soul To Rest" and "Asleep In Jesus". Minister either Federated or Evangelical Church. Pall Bearers, Grandsons.

William Wendel