My mother's family--Wentzel-Klespis
The first record of my maternal family is Konrad Wentzl. He is listed in the Palanka, Hungary church records as the father of Johann Wentzl, born in 1752, so I assume Konrad was born about 1730, although he may not have been born in Palanka.
Located along the northern side of the Danube River,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba%C4%8Dka_Palanka
During Grandpops time it was in Hungary but has been part of so many countries and principalities over the years, it is hard to keep track it might be part of Croatia right now. (2013)
I am searching for connections prior to 1730, but I think Konrad may have been part of the German migration to that part of Europe during the 1700s. Many of the inhabitants migrated to this area aboard barges that the Austrians called Schwabenplatten; barges of the Swabians.
Between 1722 and 1787, many skilled settlers were recruited from Swabia, a part of southern Germany, hence the term Donauschwaben. Immigration occurred sporadically after that time and was known as the "Schwabenzug" or "Swabian Migration".
The early immigrants were given travel stipends and loans for seeds, implements, tools, and were apportioned houses in master-planned villages by landowners.
One of those landowners offering stipends was Baron Karoli, possibly an ancestor on our maternal grandmother's side. Aunt Gertie (Myrt) told me Great Grandmother Klelspis was a Karoli before she married Klespis. Don't know his first name.)
Fields were allotted to the immigrants in the farmlands surrounding the villages. Freedom from serfdom, initial exemption from taxes, un-crowded land, startup help, and association with the Habsburgs were the lures for immigration to a frontier region, Beset by border wars, marshland, and illness. To put things in perspective, this area was still a frontier region in Europe at the time of the American Revolution.
This is about the time the Wentzl recorded history begins. How long Konrad lived in the region is currently unknown. Perhaps he had been one of the immigrants aboard a ˜Schwabenplatten", perhaps he had been part of a long line of settlers, the first of which is believed to have been in the area since Neolithic times. The earliest historical
the information is about an Illyrian tribe.
From what research I have done and information I received along with the Palanka Church Records, I have my Grandfather's Baptismal Certificate....I also have pictures of the ship he sailed on to the US and his signature on the manifest. This is the Wentzl family history in Hungary. I believe they originally came from Bavaria, My Grandfather Josef had been in Kaiser Wilhelm's Army before coming to the US/
Family Ancestry of Josef Wentzl (spelling changed to Wentzel when he came to the US)
Father of Catherine Wentzel Bradley,
Grandfather of Mary Wentzel Bradley McCauley, from his birth in 1877 back to his great-great-great-great-great-grandfather in 1752. Palanka, Hungary - now part of Serbia.
Paternal
Joseph Wentzl born Jul 7, 1877, married May 10, 1903, Katie Klespis 1885
Josef Wentzl born Dec 17, 1847 married Jun 6, 1870 Magdalena Rehlinger - 1849*
Johann Wentzl born Aug 23, 1823 married Oct 23, 1874 Anna Kranacher - ???
Johann Wentzl born June 11, 1796 married Nov 15, 1818 Susanna Maurer
Johann Wentzl born 1752 married Apr 22, 1793, Eva Weith (Third wife)
Konrad Wentzl only info is birth of son Johann in 1752 so I assume he was the one who came from Germany, probably during the Prussia great immigrant's migration. That story is later in this blog.
Josef Wentzel maternal ancestry from his mother's birth in 1849 to her great-great-great-great-grandfather.
Magdalena Rehlinger mother of Joseph Wentzel
Magdalena born Mar 19, 1849 married Jul 7, 1870 Josef Wentzl
Her father and mother
Anton Rehlinger born May 2, 1826, married Jan 27, 1846, Anna Kranacher 1826
Her grandparents
Michael Rehlinger forn Apr 4, 1796 married Feb 2, 1819 Anna Bikard 3/28/1802
Her great grandparents
Johann Rehlinger Mar 26, 1772, married Maria Anna Heinrich 1794
Johann and Margaretha, no dates except births of 9 children. Johann, above, was #3
I assume they must have been born in the 1750s.
There are records, which I do not have, but are available, of the maternal members of Wentzl/Rehlinger families All information is from Palanka, Hungary (now in Serbia) records sent to me from Myrtle & John Feldenzer, who have been wonderful in finding family information for me.
I have never found anything about my Grandmother, not even sure of the spelling of her name...
My grandparents--Joseph and Katherine Klespis Wentzel. I have the Ancestry tree somewhere in my files.
Konrad Wentzl. He was probably born around 1730.
He is the father of Johann, born in 1752.
In 1774, Johann married Gertrud Kramer. There is no record of what happened to this marriage.
In 1793, he married Eva Weith. They had seven children, one of whom was, Johann, born June 11, 1796.
In 1818, Johann married Susanna Maurer, and in 1843 he married Anna Schlemmer. They had two children, one of whom was Josef, my Great grandfather, who was born in 1847.
Josef married Magdalena Rehlinger (also spelled, Relinger)in 1870 Their children were Josef, my grandfather born August 7, 1877--- , Johann, Anton, Anna, Barbara, and Elisabeth. As far as we know, only Josef, Anton, and Elisabeth came to the US.
Grandpop sailed from Hamburg, Germany in 1902 at the age of 25.
In 1903, he married Katie Klespis, in Lebanon, PA”
On the 1910 PA census, she lists her homeland as Austria.
There are records, which I do not have but are available of the maternal members of Wentzl/Rehlinger families All information is from Palanka, Hungary (now in Serbia or Croatia) records sent to me from Myrtle & John Feldenzer, who have been wonderful in finding family information for me.
Click here for:
Family Photos of Grandparents
Mary Bradley McCauley
