JUDGE LEVI WENTZ

JUDGE LEVI WENTZ formerly Associate Judge of Carbon Couny, is a leading and well known citizen of Aquashicola.  He is a native of Northampton County, Pa., where his birth occurred on the 12^th of January, 1824, and in a family of six sons and six daughters, he is the only surviving son.

   The parents of the Judge were Jacob and Magdalena (Keefer) Wents, both natives of the Lehigh Valley.  The grandfather of the former, John Y. Wentz was a native of Germany and the founder of the famiy in Northampton County.  Jacob Went learned the trade of coopering, which occupation he followed for a number of years, and later turned his attention to agricultural pursuits.  His death occurred about 1864, and that of his wife in 1852

   The boyhood of our subject was passed in Norothampton County.  After attaining his majority, he was employed by a rother who was conducting a mercantile business at Kuntz's Ford.  In the fall of 1846 he became a resident of Weissport, Carbon County, where he engaged in clerking for several years.  He next entered into partnership with George Horn, and embarked in mercantile business for himself.  They successfully conducted the enterprise until 1856, when Mr. Wentz purchased his partner's interest, thus becoming sole proprietor.  A year later, however, he sold out the business and removed to this place, of which he has since been a resident.  In 1862 he again engaged in merchandising, in which he continued for a number of years in this town.

   Judge Wentz was the second Postmaster in Aquashicola, and served in this capacity until elected to the important position of Associate Judge of Car bon County, when he resigned his place as Postmaster.  The former position to be filled acceptably for a period of six years.  While occupying that responsible place he was noted for his impartial and wise decisions on all matters, and for the integrity with which he discharged his duties.  Politically he is a Republican, and is an active temperance man, inclining toward Prohibition principles.   For several years he was identified with the slate industry, in which he had money invested.

   The Judge was married January 1, 189 to Sarah Bowman, who was born January 19, 1834, in this county, and is the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Weiss) Bowman, both natives of Carbon County.  Mrs. Wentz's  brother is the well known Bishop Thomas Bowman, of Chicago, who is a Bishop in the Evangelical Association.  For many years her father ran a hotel at Lehigh Gap near the Chain Bridge, the place being known as Bowman's Hotel.  Mr. And Mrs. Wentz have four living children:  Rev. Thomas, who is now stationed at Matamoras, Pa.; Annie M., the wife of  Franklin Ash; Jennie E.; Mrs. A. W. Kistler; and Mary A.  Mrs. Wentz's sister, Mrs. Carrie Snyder, resides in Allentwon, and her brother James lives in Wilkes Barre, Pa. Another brother, Wesley W., is a resident of Slatington, Pa., and Mrs. Perry Wannemacher lives at Macungie, this state. 

   The education of our subject was obtained in the public schools of Northampton County, and he also for a time was a student in Professor Vanderveer's Private Academy at Easton.  He is a gentlemen of extended knowledge and wide information, and has always kept up his studies and general reading.  He is Presidetnt of the Towamensing Farmers' Fire Insurance Company, a local organization and has been interested in many industries of the community.  With his wife, he holds membership with the Evangelical Association and is now serving his fiftieth year in the position of Classleader.  He has a wide acquaintance in the Lehigh Valley, and enjoys the esteem and regard of his many friends.