Isaac Wenger Home
across road from Wenger's Mill

Though this house too is a bit newer than most we tour on this map, the history of owners and tight interconnectedness of the neighborhood is apparent in reviewing patterns of ownership.

This was a fine old place built about 1848 when Isaac Wenger was expanding his ownership of land and local mills in the area. Built on a slight bluff overlooking Linville Creek, this is a large brick home, and seen as a find example of pre-Civil War architecture. It has 12 rooms with six chimneys. Wenger owned the mill immediately across what is now Route 42. The house was burned in 1864 by Union troops, and rebuilt after the war. The mill was torn down to make room for a highway expansion.

Isaac Wenger was a Mennonite who was active in the Underground Railroad. He kept, hid, and helped refugees connect with those who would lead them at night over the mountains to the South Branch where they could find their way to railroads going north. His loyalty was recognized by General Sheridan who gave him protection papers.

Isaac Wenger's ancestors had settled near Edom soon after the American Revolution and were Mennonites buried at Lindale. Joseph Wengler and Barbara Huber had 13 children, three of which became Brethren and Mennonite ministers. Joseph married a second time after Barbara's death and had a son Joseph who married the Barbara Beery who was the mother of Isaac Coffin who married Lydia Brenneman.