MELANCHTON MENGEL

Biographies from Historical and Biographical Annals by Morton Montgomery

p. 1476

The family to which belongs Melanchton Mengel of Perry township has been represented in that district since a time considerably prior to the Revolution. The progenitor of the Berks county branch is supposed to have been one Adam Mengel, who was a resident of Maiden-creek township and is on record in 1759 as having paid a tax of $7.04. He was a farmer, owning land along the Ontelaunee and tradition has it that he was buried on his farm. He is also said to have had a brother Frederick who served in the Revolution, and there is documentary proof that a certain Frederick Mengel, who fought as a private in Capt. Jacob Baldy's company, was a resident of upper Berks county.

The family line, so far as proved, runs back to Jacob Mengel, great-grandfather of Melanchton, who was born in 1777 and died in his eighty-eighth year. By his wife, who was Elizabeth Reichert, he had children as follows: Anna, Mrs. Schappell; Solomon; Jacob; Jeremiah; Jonas; John; Joseph; Elizabeth; Martin; Susanna, Mrs. John De Turk; Thomas; and one who died in youth. Jacob Mengel worked as a stone-mason for many years, but finally gave that up to engage in farming, and bought a tract of sixty-five acres in Perry township, property now owned by his grandson, David G. Mengel.

Joseph Mengel lived on a farm of over 200 acres in Windsor township. A large tax-payer, he was prominent in that district and wielded considerable influence there. His wife's maiden name was Jacoby and their children were: Jacob; Polly, who lived in Schuylkill county, and died there in 1905, aged eighty-three; Jesse; Daniel; Jeremiah; Mary, who died at the age of fifty-six; Sally Ann; Elizabeth; Samuel; and Joseph.

Samuel Mengel spent his entire life in Windsor township. In early life a stone mason he followed that calling a few years, but after his marriage he gave his whole attention to farming and was very successful in his operations. About ten years before his death he retired. Besides attending to his own business he took an active interest in local affairs, and served as school director with marked efficiency. Like all the Mengels he was a strong Democrat and always supported that party. He married Mary, daughter of Peter Zettlemoyer whose wife was a Seidel, and had eight children, Malinda, Serena, Melanchton, Cornelius, Ida, Clara, Rosa and Samuel. Parents and children alike were Lutherans, and Samuel Mengel was for some years an official in Zion's Church in Perry township.

Melanchton Mengel, oldest son of Samuel, was born on his father's farm, June 12, 1859, and spent his youth there, attending the township schools. He is now engaged as a produce dealer, besides conducting a large country route shipping to New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Norristown, and cities in Schuylkill county. Conscientious and conservative, of upright and honest life, he is a model for the young men of the region and stands high among the good citizens of Perry township.

On Dec. 25, 1883, Melanchton Mengel was united in marriage to Polly, daughter of Alfred K. and Diana (Williams) Rentschler. The former, Windsor township's foremost citizen, served as county treasurer from 1899 to 1902. Only one child has been born to this union, a daughter named Mary May. Miss Mengel has been given a most liberal education, attending several institutions of learning, among which one was the Irving Female College at Mechanicsburg. She has received a thorough musical training and is now a music teacher of note, with a large class of pupils. The family home in Shoemakersville, Perry township, is one of the finest residences in the district, most tasteful in design and handsomely furnished. The Mengels are alike prominent and popular and have many friends.