Chris Wenger
WENGER, KOHLER, KREPS, REITZ, KREUGER
Posted By: Sharyl Ferrall
Date: 2/10/2005 at 04:46:41
Chris Wenger
Of those who lived in Illyria township, Fayette county, during a past generation, winning the high esteem of their neighbors, laboring successfully for the good of themselves and family and also for the general upbuilding of the community, thereby making the world better because they lived in it and left behind them the example of worthy imitation, was the late Chris Wenger, a kind, whole-souled, generous man who will long be well remembered here.
He was born in Ohio on October 27, 1855, and he was the son of John and Magdalena Wenger, both natives of Bern, Switzerland, where they grew to maturity and married, coming to America and locating in Ohio. In 1859 they came to Clayton county, Iowa, and settled in Marion township and there the parents both spent the remainder of their lives, being now deceased. The father devoted his life to farming and became very comfortably situated in this country.Chris Wenger received a common school education, and on February 19, 1879, he married Caroline Kohler, who was born in Bern, Switzerland, the daughter of Fred and Mary Ann (Kreps) Kohler, both natives of Switzerland. They came to America in 1858 and located in Fayette, Iowa. Mr. Kohler was a butcher by trade and also had a farm; his death occurred on July 26, 1906, and his wife is making her home with Mrs. Chris Wenger, wife of the subject. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kohler, Mrs. Wenger and Rose, the wife of Fred Reitz.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Chris Wenger lived in Clayton county, Iowa, two years, then came to Illyria township, Fayette county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres, also bought ninety acres in Highland township, Clayton county. Mr. Wenger followed the butcher business in connection with general farming and stock raising and was very successful in whatever he undertook. He made all the splendid improvements on his farm and built a fine home. He took a delight in keeping everything up to the standard about his place, and took especial pains in raising good horses and hogs. He was a hard working man and a good manager. He operated an extensive meat market at Elgin, Iowa, for a period of five years, and was also connected with the Elgin creamery.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wenger fifteen children were born, named as follows: Rose H., born May 30, 1880, is a stenographer at Waterloo, Iowa; Alfred, born January 10, 1882, married Lena Kreuger, and is farming in Pleasant Valley township *, Clayton county, Iowa; Louis was born October 1, 1883; John was born May 25, 1885; Fred, born February 3, 1887; Will born November 24, 1888; Ida, born September 7, 1890; Christ, born January 12, 1892; Edward, born August 23, 1893; Lena, born March 5, 1895; Harry, born November 15, 1896; Charles, born September 8, 1898; Mary, born June 29, 1900; Walter, born May 19, 1902; Martin, born December 29, 1903. These children, with the exception of the two oldest, are all at home and they and their mother carry on the farm very successfully.
The death of Christ Wenger occurred on May 10, 1908. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Lodge No. 8376, Highland township. Politically, he was a Democrat and held several minor offices, including that of school director. He was well known in this part of the county and had numerous warm friends who admired him for his stability of character, his honesty, genial nature and because of his success, being a purely self-made man.
[*transcribers note: there is not a Pleasant Valley twp. in Clayton co., I believe it is in Fayette co.]
-source: Past and present of Fayette County, Iowa; Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen &
Co.; 1910; pg. 965-966-transcribed for Clayton co. IAGenWeb by Sharyl Ferrall
Clayton Biographies maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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