James' mother died shortly after he was born. his father remarried   and she died  before he was even two years old. His father married his second wife sister and was raised by her and they   had nine children whom were James half brothers and sisters.

Emma came from a family of three children. She had two brothers. She was the middle child.

James and Emma  Mengel had five known children.

1  .Anna Louisa Mengel  b: Dec 19 1870 . d: bef 1880 not on Census

2   Charles Jacob Mengel b: Sep 13 1873 Hamburg, Tilden Township, Berks County, Pa 
d: Mar 17 1877 3 Died Age 3  See his Obituary

3.  David R Mengel  b. Apr 2 1876 Hamburg, Tilden Township, Berks County, Pa d May 20 1969

4.  Samuel Reinzel Mengel b Jan 1880 Hamburg, Tilden Township, Berks County, Pa d Jun 30 1960 Muhlenberg Township Berks County, Pa

5.  Katie R. Mengel  b. Jan 1883 d. unknown was married to Elmer M Zimmerman

Emma parents were Catholic. James were Lutheran.

It is interesting to note there marriage was a year and half after there first child was born. Perhaps this is a marriage in a Lutheran Church. They may have been two marriages and were married before by the state or another church.

Emma is almost five years older then James.

James is listed  as a Labor on the Census. in 1880 only Emma his wife and David and Samuel are listed at this time. .They are living in Upper Bern, Berks, Pennsylvania   In the 1900 Census they are living in Tilden, Berks, Pennsylvania he is working as a farmer. Samuel is working as a farm help and Katie is still at home.In the 1910 Census James is listed as a carpenter doing odd jobs. His initials on this census is James S. Mengle.

James name is shown as James L. Mengel and James S. Mengel. 

From Mabel Mengel's recollection all her grandparents were very sweet loving grandparents. She remember her stepgrandmom and there family as very sweet and loving also.


They were members of St. Michael's church.
Check out  Baptism Records for three of their children. James middle initial is L. and S. and this.
Anna, Charles, and David are listed. David's child as well is on this list.

Baptism's at St. Michael's Church


Emma E. Mengel is bury at

Saint Michael's Cemetery, Tilden Township
Berks County
Pennsylvania, USA
Plot: new cemetery

Her tombstone reads

Emma E Reintzel Mengel
Birth: Sep. 8, 1845
Death: Jul. 31, 1914

James then remarried a Melinda R Graul in Mar. Application date of Mar 13, 1917. He is living in a rented house in the City at the time. He was 66 years old and she was  58 years old.

He and his wife show up in the 1930 Census living with his wife's daughter and her husband.