San
Joaquin County
Biographies
PAUL WENCEL
A native of Hungary who has profited
greatly by coming to America and adopting this as his land, is Paul Wencel, who
was born in that region now known as Czecho-Slovakia,
in a picturesque town called Ratzesdorf, where he
first saw the light on February 24, 1871 the son of Paul and Susana (Lechner) Wencel. His father was a farmer, and in such
comfortable circumstances that he was considered well-to-do, and he was over
eighty years old when he died, during the first year of the World War. His mother was also over eighty years of age
when she passed away in 1918. Five
children were born to this worthy couple, all of whom, in turn, were given
superior and most attractive home surroundings.
Matt lives at Lyons, Colorado; Mrs. Susana Gschweng
has remained in Hungary; Paul is the subject of our story; Rosina is also in
the old country; and Ludwig is a farmer in Brighton, Colorado.
Owing to local economic conditions,
Paul was able to attend school only in the winter time, for during the summer
he was compelled to work hard on the farm; and he continued to help his father
on his large farm until he was twenty-four years of age, when he married. On February 18, 1895 at the home of the
bride, in Hungary, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Christina Gschweng, a native of the same district in which Mr. Wencel
was born. Her folks were also
agriculturists, and she was one of a family of six children: Michael, Ludwig and Paul are still living in
the Old World; and Mrs. Paulina Praschak of Acampo,
and Susana, now Mrs. Weng, in Lyons, Colorado; and
Christina is Mrs. Wencel. The latter
enjoyed the same limited educational advantages as her husband. On marrying, Mr. and Mrs. Wencel acquired
about twelve acres of land and a spacious homestead; and there they lived from
1895 to 1908. In the meantime, in 1904,
Mr. Wencel crossed the ocean to America, arriving in March, and returning to
Europe in September, availing himself of the opportunity to visit his brother
in Colorado. In the spring of 1908 he
removed with his wife and three children to the Centennial State and also
brought his father and mother; but the latter eventually returned to their
native country, and there ended their days.
In 1910 Mr. Wencel came to California
and settled and bought his present ranch of twenty acres, about two miles to
the northwest of Acampo. The ranch was
set out to Tokay, Zinfandel and Berger grapes, all excellent stock, and Mr.
Wencel was not long in putting in a four-inch pumping plant, with a
ten-horsepower electric motor, by which he has developed an adequate supply of
good water. He has had the satisfaction
of seeing his five children comfortably provided for. Paul, Christina, Fred, Daniel and Esther all
have attended the Houston school; and Fred attends the Lodi high school, while
Paul is assisting his father on the ranch.
Mr. and Mrs. Wencel have prospered greatly in California, and the best
feature of their story is that all who know them are always glad to learn of
their good fortune.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1604. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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