Hans Wenger, the great-great-grandfather, emigrated to America September 16, 1748, from either Switzerland or Germany, in the ship "Paliena," John Brown, master, which sailed from Rotterdam. He brought with him his family, which consisted of five sons, two of whom are known to have been Stephen and Christian. Hans located in Lebanon county and purchased the property now owned by our subject, which had been bought from the Penns by a man named Shirrock, now spelled Shirk, in 1740. and there he passed the remainder of his life. His son, John, succeeded him, and he in turn was succeeded by Jacob, the grandfather of John L., born in 1778, who lived to the age of seventy-nine years, and was a farmer by occupation, but one of the most progressive men of that locality. He served as county commissioner and took an active part in local affairs. The maiden name of his wife was Barbara Wolf, born in 1775. They had a family as follows: Susannah, married to Mr. Zollenberger, of Franklin county, Pa.: John, a minister in River Brethren Church; Barbara; Jacob, father of our subject; Samuel; Elizabeth, married to George Light, a Mennonite minister: Levi; Christian, who became a minister of the River Brethren Church, but later entered the ministry of the United Zion's Children.

Biographical Annals of Lebanon County - an excerpt from John L. Wenger's biographical entry. p.298