Christian Wenger, the progenitor of the Wenger family of our lineage in America, emigrated from Europe to this country in 1727. According to official records, different
Wengers came across the ocean to America on different occasions, but that the above mentioned Christian Wenger is the progenitor of our lineage is proved beyond a
doubt by the family records copied from his Bible and handed down from one generation to another. This record corresponds with the official records of immigrants arriving
at Philadelphia, Pa., during the years from 1700 to 1800.
The traditions of our grandfathers tell us that when
the above Christian Wenger from Europe arrived at Philadelphia,
then a young man, he made his way up through
the country to Lancaster Co., Pa., into the neighborhood
of Strasburg, where the Herrs and Brennemans and others
settled. Here, it seems, he hired out to a man by the name
of Hans (John) Groff. Said Hans Groff's horses strayed
away on a certain occasion, and were found at what is now
known as Groff's Valley, at the large spring. It seems that
Groff became attached to this place and purchased a large
tract of land, setting the four corner stones, marking the
outlines of the tract he desired. But on surveying he found
that he had more land than money, and also found himself
involved in debt which he was not able to meet. Therefore,
young Wenger, who had some money to invest, in
order to help Groff out of his dilemma purchased 300 acres
of if along the west side, paying forty dollars for it, in the
vicinity now known as Groffenthal, in Earl township,
Lancaster Co., Pa., in the church at which place even at
present (1900) the aged Joseph Wenger, a descendant of
the fifth generation of the same Wenger family, is the
presiding minister. Here then we have the site of the old
homestead where our progenitor, Christian Wenger, took
upon himself the hardships of a pioneer life, and began to
carve out of the dense forest a home for himself and
family, contenting himself with but few requisites.
Having no stoves, they built a fireplace in one end of
the house, upon which an open fire was kept to protect them
from the cold of the winter season. The cooking was done
by means of kettles hung over the fire, and the baking
was done in ovens that were built outside of the house,
and which were simply places arched over with stone
and clay.
Our grandfathers tell us that as the land was cleared
off, the soil was broken up by means of the hoe and the
spade, and after sowing the seeds, a heavy brush was
drawn over it by hand. We may feel inclined to think that
this was a rude way of starting out in life, but by hard
labor and strict economy they prospered, and, I believe,
enjoyed life in their humble new home at that time as well
as if not better than we do in our modern and more commodious
homes.
MARTIN D. WENGER,
Elkhart, Ind. (1903)