BIO:  E. D. Bentzel, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Abby Bowman

Copyright 2004.  All rights reserved.
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, historical editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, York Borough, Pg 6

E. D. BENTZEL, attorney at law.  Baltzer and Philip Bentzel, emigrated from 
Germany to America, and arrived at Baltimore in the year 1745.  Soon after their 
arrival, Baltzer came to what is now York County, Penn., and settled near York; 
he was a shoemaker by trade, reared a family of two sons and four daughters:  
Henry, David, Catharine Ellman, Anna Maria, Lizzie and Barbara Kump.  The father 
was a captain in the Revolutionary war; he died when David, who was born in 
August, 1777, was a young man.  When David was twenty-four years of age, he 
married Miss Elizabeth Meisenhelter, rand settled upon a farm, on the Little 
Conewago Creek, near what is now Weigelstown.  He was a successful farmer, and 
in 1811 erected a large distillery, manufacturing whisky which he conveyed by 
his teams to Baltimore, there being no railroads at the time where it was 
marketed.  He reared a family of five sons and five daughters:  Henry, Felix, 
David, Samuel and Daniel M., Barbara, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy, and Sarah (who 
died young), all of whom were married except Felix, who died young.  David was 
born May 3, 1815.  He learned the trade of milling from his uncle, George 
Meisenhelter, at his father's mill, on the Little Conewago, which he bought at 
his father's death, and where he is still living.  He married Sarah, daughter of 
John Eisenhart, who was a carpenter and cabinet-maker; she died December 25, 
1880.  One of her brothers, Samuel M. Eisenhart, is now a resident of York.  Six 
children were born to this union:  Henry M., born in 1844, located in 
California, where he died in 1877, leaving to survive a son, Frederick; Edward 
D. And David E., born in 1857; Nancy, wife of Henry W. Jacobs; Kate E., wife of 
Peter Binder, and Leah, who died in her infancy.  Our subject was born February 
22, 1846, and learned the milling trade of his father, which he was forced to 
abandon on account of a violent illness, which crippled him in his lower limbs 
to such an extent that he was compelled to use crutches.  He then secured an 
excellent education, having the advantage of the York County Normal and the 
Academy.  Subsequently he became a teacher, which he continued for six terms in 
York Borough and the county.  He then entered the political field, and in 1872 
was elected clerk of the courts, the duties of which position he honorable 
discharged for three years.  Deciding upon the profession of law, he entered the 
office of James B. Ziegler, Esq., and in 1878 was admitted to practice, at which 
he has been actively engaged up to the present time.  Mr. Bentzel is an 
uncompromising Democrat, a valued leader in politics, and a citizen of worth and 
progressive ideas.  He was married to Ida Kate Wehrly, daughter of George 
Wehrly, proprietor of the Pennsylvania House, York, February 24, 1881.  They 
have three children:  Edith May, Earnie, and Edward Wehrly.