Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Wendling, George 1831 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 8, 2007, 11:45 pm

Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

GEORGE WENDLING is a good representative of German-American citizenship and 
the thrifty ways which make the Germans so successful in the pursuit of 
agriculture. He owns and occupies an excellent farm in Washington Township, 
the property comprising one hundred and twenty acres on section 10, and being 
well-improved and intelligently managed. Mr. Wendling was born in Reteim, 
Alsace, which at the date of his birth, May 14, 1831, belonged to France, but 
is now included in the territory of the Germanic Confederation. His parents, 
George and Catherine (Wagner) Wendling, were born and reared in the same 
Province, were of German descent and usually spoke that language. The father 
was a linen-weaver. He died in his native country March 14, 1851, at the age 
of sixty-three years. His companion survived and in February, 1852, leaving 
two children in Germany, came with the other six to America. The party set 
sail from Havre, France, and landed in New York City after a voyage of three 
months. They went at once to Buffalo, where the mother died about a year 
later. She was then about sixty years old. She and her husband were lifelong 
members of the Evangelical Church. The subject of this sketch was educated in 
his native Province in both German and French, and grew to maturity in the 
land of his birth. He accompanied his mother to the United States and spent a 
few months in Buffalo, N. Y., whence he came to Illinois in 1853. At 
Montgomery he learned the trade of a cooper and followed the same in Chicago 
for five years. In 1866, he removed from the Garden City to Will County, and 
selecting the location upon which he yet resides, turned his attention to the 
pursuit of agriculture and to improving the farm which he had purchased. He 
has succeeded in his endeavors to make a comfortable home, and the present 
condition of the land which he occupies and its various improvements are due 
to his personal efforts. The marriage of Mr. Wendling and Miss Catherine 
Wagner took place in Aurora and has been blest by the birth of nine children. 
They are all living, and Charles, Laura, Louisa, Ella, Mary and Lena yet 
reside under the parental roof. John, the first born, married Lena Black, and 
they reside upon a farm in Kearney County, Neb. The second child, Ernst, who 
is also farming in Nebraska, married Louisa Reberg. Sophia is the wife of 
Henry Razer, who operates a farm in Monee Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. 
Wendling belong to the Evangelical Church and endeavor to walk consistently 
with their profession. Mr. Wendling is a sound Republican. Mrs. Wendling was 
born in Baden, Germany, August 18, 1836, and with her sister Laura accompanied 
her parents to America some years later. Jacob and Eva (Brown) Wagner had been 
born in Baden and resided there until 1852. They left Antwerp in September on 
the sailing vessel "Patrick" with the intention of making a home in America. 
They did not reach New York City until May, 1853, having been delayed in 
crossing the ocean by storms and three times grounded on sand bars. On each 
occasion several weeks passed before the vessel could be moved and they had to 
lay on the English coast five weeks undergoing repairs. They were not far from 
the castle of Queen Victoria, who furnished the emigrants with food while on 
shore and also gave them supplies for the continuation of their voyage. When 
they finally reached America Mr. Wagner and his family at once came West to 
Illinois, settling in Lombard, DuPage County. After their children were 
married the parents came to Will County and lived with their daughter, Mrs. 
Wendling, until their death. The mother died in 1871 at the age of seventy-two 
years, and the father in 1881, aged eighty-one. Both were members of the 
Evangelical Church.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890

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