Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 1027. JOSEPH J. STANGEL who is conducting a real-estate, loan and insurance business in Woodburn, was born in Wisconsin on the 16th of June, 1875, his parents being Joseph and Catherine (Wodcola) Stangel, both natives of Wisconsin, where they resided until 1904, the year of their removal to Oregon. The father's death occurred in 1906 but the mother is still living at Wilsonville at the age of fifty-six years on what is known as the Short donation land claim. Throughout his life the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was prominent in the political circles of his district, being a stanch supporter of the democratic party, and he held many township offices. To him and his wife ten children were born as follows: Joseph J., who is the subject of this sketch; W. F., of Wilsonville, Oregon; F. J., also of Wilsonville; Mrs. Anna Zima, of Wisconsin; Mary, who became the wife of Joseph Chalupsky, who is engaged in the contracting and building business; Emma, at home; George, also at home; Catherine, who died in infancy; Clara, who passed away at the age of two years; and Louis, who died at twelve years of age. At the age of fourteen years, having finished his education in the common schools, Joseph J. Stangel started out to earn his own way. His first position was as clerk during the summer, by which means he earned the money necessary for his expenses during the winter while he was attending college. He was graduated from the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana, and subsequently took a post-graduate course in the same school. After this he again pursued post-graduate work for two years at the University of Wisconsin. For several summers he taught school and was employed by various agencies during the winter. In 1901 he took a contract with the Maplebay Windstacker Company and for three years was engaged in the northwestern states in selling their threshing machine attachments. After his marriage, however, he removed to Oregon and in 1904 settled in Woodburn. The following year he purchased property and engaged in the implement business, which he conducted for five years before selling out and purchasing L. E. Peterson's share of the firm of Peterson & Bitney, who were engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business. He is still an active partner in this concern and because of his superior education, quick mental powers, pleasing personality and energy is meeting with a goodly measure of success. In addition to his business interests in Woodburn he is also the owner of a half-interest in two farms in Marion county and of forty-two acres in Clackamas county. In 1904 Mr. Stangel was married to Miss Caroline Cenefelt, who was born in Wisconsin, and is a daughter of John and Anna Cenefelt, both natives of Austria. The parents came to America when very young and both made their homes in Wisconsin throughout their entire residence in this country. Mrs. Stangel is the youngest of a large family of children. To Mr. and Mrs. Stangel two children have been born: Neil E., whose birth occurred on the 9th of July, 1905; and Luke J., who was born July 13, 1906. Mr. Stangel gives his political support to the democratic party and is at present serving his third term as city recorder of Woodburn. He holds membership in the Knights of Columbus and both he and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic church. He is a man of excellent business ability and has already become well known throughout the community for his honesty and desire to conduct a business enterprise of the most unimpeachable reputation and worthy of the patronage which it receives. He is in every sense of the word a man worthy of the confidence of the people and is one of Woodburn's substantial business men. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in December 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.