My Genealogy Hound

JACOB WAHL, of Upper Pottsgrove township, was born in Wittenburg, Germany, January 14, 1863. He is the son of John and Barbara (Schnell) Wahl.

John Wahl (father) was born and died in Wittenburg, Germany. He died in 1881 at the age of fifty-six years, and is buried in Wittenburg, Germany. He and his wife spent their lives on a farm. In religious faith they were Lutherans. Barbara (Schnell) Wahl emigrated to America in 1882 and is now living with her son, John Wahl, in Pottstown. Mr. and Mrs. John Wahl had eleven children, five of whom are now living: 1. Mary, married John Long. They reside in Philadelphia, where he is engaged in the iron industries. They have four children 2. John, married Alice Reaber. They live in Pottstown, and he is engaged in the bakery business. They have no children. 3. Christina (deceased), married Julius Spellman. They had six children, who are now living. 4. Christian, married Anna Mauger, and he is a baker in Pottstown. They have one child. 5. George, married Emma Sands. They reside in Pottstown, where he is an insurance agent. They have one child. 6. Jacob. The rest of the children remained in Germany, and are deceased. Michael Wahl (grandfather) was also born, lived and died in Wittenburg, Germany, and was a farmer.

Jacob Wahl spent seven years in attending school in Germany, and then learned the cooper trade, which he followed for nearly four years. Being impressed with the idea that his industry and thrift would count for more in America, he crossed the ocean and landed in America, at Castle Garden, May 2, 1880. For some time he was employed as a puddler in Pottstown, and then worked on a farm. After four years spent in the vicinity of Pottstown, Mr. Wahl went to Minneapolis and St. Paul, where he was employed by a railroad company. He soon returned, however, and bought his farm in Upper Pottsgrove township. June 2, 1890, Jacob Wahl married Rose, daughter of John and Barbara (Prager) Gutohrle. John Gutohrle and his wife lived in Wittenburg, Germany, where he was a railroad employee. He died several years ago, at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife survives him. He is buried in Germany, at Beltersroth. He was a soldier in the war of 1848, and his wife receives a pension from the government. They were members of the Lutheran church. Jacob and Rose (Gutohrle) Wahl have had four children, as follows: Jacob, born in 1893; Barbara Rose, born in 1895; Otto, born in 1897; Frederick, born in 1899. In politics Mr. Wahl is a Democrat, and was a member of the Knights of Labor for some years. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. He has improved the property where he lives to a great extent, his ambition being to surround himself and family with all the comforts of life.