St. Louis-Franklin County MO Archives Biographies.....Wengler, William & Fredrick December 25, 1821 - January 28, 1918 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/mofiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Judy Stevens rbsjudy@aol.com October 2, 2005, 4:30 pm Author: Judy Stevens The Wengler Family The Wengler family came from Prussia, near Verden and on a branch of the Rhine River. They came to the United States in 1834 and settled first in St. Louis. William and his wife came with seven children of which their second child Frederick is our direct line. Frederick was eleven years old when they immigrated. Soon after coming here they moved to a farm near “Fiddle Creek, in Franklin County which adjoins St. Louis Co. Frederick had gotten a primary education in his home country and only had two months of secondary education here in his adopted country but he was ambitions and industrious and had every intention of being successful in his new homeland. In 1836 at the age of 15, Fred left home and went to work for Judge Henry McCullough. The judge was a wealthy businessman and owned a gristmill, tannery and shoe factory. Fred took this opportunity and for the next 2 1/2 years learned the trades of shoemaking and tanning. After working for the judge and becoming a journeyman shoemaker, he came down with typhoid fever and was incapacitated for over six months. When he recovered, probably with depleted finances he went back to his past employer and now his friend the Judge. He agreed to work for the Judge for 3 years at an annual salary of $200 which included his board. He again seized this opportunity to further his financial success and purchased first 160 acres on Boone Creek in Franklin Co. The remainder of that valley was purchased by John Pyatt who’s daughter Agnes became Fred's wife very soon after Fred completed his 3 year contract with the Judge. Fred and Agnes then located in Allenton, Mo with the purchase of another 160 acre tract from the government at a $1.25 an acre. They built a home and Fred went in partnership with one of his brothers with a tannery and shoe shop. Then in 1849, Fred’s father died in the terrible cholera epidemic and Fred found it necessary to take over the estate and its business which included a hotel at Gray’s Summit in Franklin Co. Fred rented out his own farm and ran his parents hotel and business for the next 3 years. After that 3 year period Fred returned to his own farm in Allenton where the Pacific railroad was under construction. He furnished teams for grading work. During this time period he also purchased a lot in Pacific on which he built a store and then sold at a profit. He also build a home in Allenton which was to later become a grocery, dry goods and clothing business. In 1857 he was appointed postmaster at Allenton, a position he would hold for 32 years. When the Civil War broke out, Fred was very much a Union supporter. He was a confidant of General Frank P Blain and he materially supported the Union cause in his area. He and one of his employee’s Robert C. Allen enlisted in the Home Guard. Mr Allen was a captain and Fred a Lieutenant. This company was part of the battalion of Major Wm C. Inks (Inks Cemetery located just east of Allenton within the gated community), an uncle of Fred’s. The primary responsibility of the Home Guard was the protection of the railroad bridges. Their secondary objective of which Wengler was probably very influential was protecting the loyalists and encouraging enlistment for the regular volunteer regiments. Also neutralizing the efforts of the secessionists. Remembering that Missouri was a border state with strong sentiments on both sides of this war. At the completion of service to his adopted country, Fred arranged the appointment of Robert Allen as mail agent on the Missouri Pacific Railroad. Of course there might have been an element of nepotism in that Robert Allen at some point, probably during the. Civil War married Fred’s daughter Emily. Actually Robert left this position to further serve in the military throughout the Civil War and Fred took over the position. In 1864 Fred surrendered the position to return to his our farm and stone quarry. In 1870 Fred was appointed superintendent of the county farm, then located within the city limits of St. Louis and served 4 years until he retired as a result of political change. He was also appointed superintendent of roads in St. Louis . In all a very successful man. My Grandfather William Columbus Wengler is Fred and Agnes’ oldest son. He was born in Meramec Township in St. Louis Co. He acquired a good education in the public schools . After school he clerked in the Wengler store and in 1869 he became a partner under the firm name of Wengler & Son. In 1875 he was appointed a clerk in the Mo internal revenue office in St. Louis and later was clerk in the assessor’s office. 1876 to 1880 he was agent of the Missouri Pacific Railroad there in Allenton. In 1880 he became deputy sheriff under Robert Schnecko and held that position two years. January of 1883 he was appointed deputy county clerk for St. Louis Co., and in 86 was elected county clerk. He was re-elected . In 1895 he was elected justice of the peace for Clayton and served two years. The fall of 96 he was elected treasurer of St. Louis Co., and in 1898 was re-elected for a second term. During the civil war he also was a member of Ink’s battalion of the Reserve Corps assigned to protect the railroad bridges. He was well liked and was involved in several organizations including; Ancient Order of United Workmen, Mt. Olive Saengerbund, and Central Township Farmers’ Club. A director of St. Louis Co. Bank and president of the Clayton school board. William married Lizzie Lamphier in 1869. I have found little information about Lizzie other than she was born in Ireland. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in India. Whether she came to this country with her parents I have no knowledge as yet. Lizzie was the mother to ten children although not all survived to adulthood. My Grandmother Katherine (Mamu) was one of those ten children. Her sister Jessie the missionary another and Mayo Votaw’s mother Cora was a third. The other children were Belle who married John Massey, Jacob, Allen who married Emma, Almira Agnes who married a Mr. Mudd, Emmia Alice, William and Robert who married Edna. Additional Comments: I would love to hear from anyone with interest in this family. Email me at rbsjudy@aol.com or occupant of PO Box 4360, Fayetteville, AR 72702 The information on the Wengler family comes from the Franklin Co. biographies of both Wm and Fredrick and conversations with Mayo and Dorothy Votaw. I also have photos of the family home and business in Allenton. There are photos of both Fredrick, Jr and William C at the Franklin Co. Biographies. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mo/stlouis/photos/bios/wengler40gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/stlouis/bios/wengler40gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mofiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb