Saint Joseph County MI Archives Biographies.....Gentzler, Adam July 12, 1827 - 
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Jan Cortez http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00020.html#0004939 March 18, 2007, 9:08 pm

Author: Chapman Brothers 

ADAM GENTZLER.  In reviewing the career of this gentleman, we must admit that 
the lines have apparantly fallen to him in pleasant places.  Of a temperament 
genial, pleasant and companionable, he is a man who at once secures the 
confidence and esteem of all whose good fortune it is to make his 
acquaintance.  He is a universal favorite in the social and business circles 
of Constantine, and occupies a well-appointed home on section 11.  He has a 
comfortable dwelling, a particularily good barn, and the other out-buildings 
necessary for the modern agriculturist, and has gathered around him all of the 
comforts and many of the luxuries of life.  Generous and public-spirited, he 
has not thought alone on his own interests, but as he has had opportunity has 
uniformly labored for the best interests of his community.  The example of 
such a man is everywhere felt, and is untold in its results.

The Gentzler family came originally from Wurtemberg, Germany.  The first 
emigrant came here with his wife prior to the Revlution.  He was, we believe, 
named Conrad, and was the great-grandfather of our subject.  He enlisted in 
the Continental Army, and served seven years, or during the entire struggle 
for independence.  On receiving his discharge, and being about to set out for 
his home, he was shot and instantly kiled, by mistake of a sentinel.  He left 
a wife and three sons at his home in York County, Pa.  His widow again 
married, and lived to an extreme old age, being past ninety at the time of her 
death.  Of the sons, Philip lived and died in York County, Pa.; he lived to be 
ninty-four years old, and was father of fourteen children.  Conrad removed to 
McConnellsville, Pa., where he owned a hotel.  He is supposed to have taken 
part in shay's rebellion, as about that time he disappeared, and his property 
was never claimed.

George Gentzler, grandfather of Adam, was the youngest son.  He was born 
shortly after his father entered the patriot army, probably in the latter part 
of 1775 or 1777, in York County, Pa.  He worked at shoemaking but after his 
marriage became a farmer, settling in Washington Township, in his native 
county.  He was successful in his chosen voaction, and accumulated 
considerable property.  He died of cancer, in his sixty-fifth year.  His wife 
was Margaret Law, also a native of York County.  She survived her husband many 
years, emigrating to Michigan with her son Jacob, and dying at White Pigeon in 
1857, aged eighty-four.  Jacob was the only child of George and Margaret 
Gentzler, and was born in Washington Township, York County, Pa., Dec. 16, 
1798.  He was married to Elizabeth Speck, Oct 14, 1819.  She was born in 
Lancaster County, Pa., Jan. 14, 1800.  After a few years sojourn in their 
native state, they gathered together their personal effects and made their way 
to the young and growing State of Michigan.  Coming to this county in 1849, 
the father first settled on a tract of land in White Pigeon Township, but 
later they removed to Florence Township, where they spent the remainder of 
their lives.  Jacob Gentzler looked his last upon the scenes of earth at the 
old homestead, May 16, 1871.  The mother survived her husband twelve years, 
dying June 20, 1883.

To the parents of our subject there were born eleven children, as follows:  
Margaret was twice married, first to Peter Stickle, of York County, Pa., and 
after his death to John Alvey, of Florence Township, this county; George died 
at his farm in Park Township; Martin was accidently scalded to death in 
childhood; John was killed at the age of sixteen, by kick of a colt; Elizabeth 
died in Kansas, where she had removed with her husband, Richard Stokes.  The 
survivors of the family are:  Catherine, widow of Leonard Kapp, of Fabius 
Township; Adam was next; William, unmarried is a resident of Nottawa Township; 
Mary Ann is the wife of Solomon Chronister, of Florence Township; of Jacob a 
sketch is given elsewhere; Sarah A. lives in Nottawa Township, and is the wife 
of Henry Limbach, formerely treasurer of St. Joseph County.  Adam Gentzler, 
our subject, was born in Washington Township, York County, Pa., July 12, 
1827.  His childhood and youth were spent amid the quiet pursuits of farm 
life, but when approaching manhood, like many of that age, desirous of a 
change, engaged in a woolen-mill for a period of four years.  Aside from this 
he has been engaged in farming all his life.  He remained a resident of his 
native county until coming to Michigan in April, 1853, joining his parents 
after they had resided here a period of four years.  He had then been married, 
and now took up a tract of land in Park Township, upon which he operated 
twelve years, then removed to Constantine Township, of which he has since been 
a resident.

Mr. Gentzler was married in Caroll Township, York Co., Pa., July 12, 1849 to 
Miss Lydia A. Lehmer, who was born there Feb. 19, 1828.  Mrs. Gentzler is the 
daughter of John and Susannah (Fickes) Lehmer, who were natives of York 
County, Pa., and spent their last days in this county, both dying in 
Constantine.  This lady became the mother of five children, and departed this 
life at the homestead in Constantine Township, Aug. 18, 1885.  Their eldest 
son, Jacob L., is farming on his own land not far from the homestead; Susan 
died in infancy; John R. is a resident of Florence Township; Elizabeth N. 
married George W. Hamilton, of Constantine; Mary E. became the wife of B. H. 
Sevison, and died at her home in Florence Township in August 1880.

Our subject has been a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church a period of 
forty-five years, his parents and grandparents having also long been members 
of the same church.  Of this church his estimable wife was also an adherent 
for many years before her death.  She was a good woman in the broadest sense 
of the term, benevolent and charitable, and was connected with the Ladies' Aid 
Society.  Mr. Gentzler attained his majority in his native State, and cast his 
first Presidential vote for Lewis Cass.  He has ever since been a staunch 
supporter of the Democratic party.  While a resident of Park Township he was a 
member of the School Board, and held the offices of Justice of the Peace and 
Highway Commissioner.  He is of a retiring disposition, however, in nowise 
anxious for the responsibilities of public life, preferring to give his 
attention to his farm and his fireside.  Of late years he has turned his 
attention largely to stock-raising, also buying and shipping.  His farm 
embraces 193 acres of good land, which has been brought to a thorough  state 
of cultivation, and is valued at a good round sum.

Additional Comments:
Transcribed from the Portrait & Biographical Album of St. Joseph Co. Chapman 
Brothers 1889

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