WENZEL, Charles

WENZEL, HOEPPNER, SCHWARTZ

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/18/2003 at 20:57:37

SOURCE: "Biographical history of Crawford, Ida and Sac Counties, Iowa" Lewis Pub. Co., Chicago, 1893

CHARLES WENZEL, a member of the Board of County Supervisors of Crawford county,
Iowa, and a prominent and highly respected citizen, resided in the southeastern part of the
county, having been identified with the farming interests here since 1878. He is of
German birth and is a fair type of that thrifty class of people who have come over to our
country and established comfortable homes in this land of the free. Following is a brief
resume of his life.

Charles Wenzel was born in Germany, March 1, 1849, son of Phillip and Christena
(Hoeppner) Wenzel, also of German birth. He attended school until he was fourteen,
receiving a good education in his native language. He then worked for three years in a
gristmill, in the city of Jarmen, in the province of Pommern. In 1869 he sailed from
Hamburg for America, landing in New York August 20, after a voyage of fifteen days.
Continuing his way westward to Iowa, he located at Lyons, where he worked on a farm
four years. In 1878 he came to his present location in Nishnabotany township, Crawford
county. Here he first purchased 160 acres. Later he bought eighty acres more, and now
has 240 acres, one of the best farms in this part of the county. Eighty acres are in section
25, and 160 in section 24. His residence is 18x28 feet, an L, 16x24 feet, and kitchen,
10x24 feet, all being a story and a half, except the kitchen. It is nicely located and has an
attractive lawn, grove and orchard. His barn is 24x28 feet. His farm is well fenced and
well watered, and conveniently arranged for successfully carrying on farming and stock-
raising.

Mr. Wenzel was married May 24, 1873, in Clinton county, Iowa, to Wilhelmine
Schwartz, who was born in Germany, and reared and educated in Clinton county. Her
parents, Frederick and Maria Schwartz, are both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Wenzel have
four sons: Siegrfried, Reinhard, Hellmuth and Bernhard; and six daughters: Maria,
Mthilde, Martha, Emma, Rosa and Amalia: Amalia and Bernard are twins.

Mr. Wenzel is a Democrat and an active worker in the ranks of his party. He was
elected to his present position as a member of the County Board of Supervisors, which
position he still holds, and has made an excellent officer. He is well posted on the general
topics of the day, is broad and progressive in his views, and is frank and genial in his
intercourse with all his fellow-men. His religious associations are with the Lutheran
Church.

Of Mr. Wenzel's parents, it should be stated that they also came to America. His
father died in Iowa township, this county, in 1884. His mother is now a resident of
Manilla, and is seventy years of age. Four of their six children are now living, namely:
Agusta Bahles and Fred, both of Iowa township, this county; Bertha Schwieso, Manilla,
Iowa; and the subject of our sketch. Those deceased are William and Ludwig.