"Portrait & Biographical Record of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Chapman 
Publishing Company, 1903. p.  797.

WILLIAM A. WENGENROTH

     The standing and importance of the Wengenroth family in Germany is best
understood when one recalls the picturesque little town of that name on the
Rhine, where for several generations members of the house pursued their various
occupations, principally as merchants and manufacturers. At Wengenroth was born
the manager and proprietor of the Valley Manufacturing, Company of Woodburn, May
26, 1845, and there also was born his father, Daniel, a wagon and carriage
manufacturer of his native town. The father amassed quite a fortune by reason of
well applied industry, and the frugality characteristic of his people, and his
name stood for all that was honorable and of good report. He was actively
engaged in business almost up to the time of his death in 1897, at the age of
seventy-eight years. His wife, Margaret (Schuster) Wengenroth, was a native of
the Rhine province, born at Stalhofen, and her death occurred in Germany in
1870, at the age of forty-five.
     The eldest of the six children born to his parents, William A. Wengenroth
received a practical home training, and was educated in the public schools. At
an early age he began to learn his father's business, in time taking, a
responsible position with a large wagon manufacturing concern. He emigrated to
America in 1879, locating at Champoeg, on the .Willamette river, where he
engaged in wagon making for two years. After a short time in Portland he worked
in Buena Vista, Independence and Woodburn, and in April, 1902, started an ax
handle manufactory under the firm name of the Valley Manufacturing Company.
Though comparatively in its infancy, this enterprise bids fair to become one of
the solid upbuilding forces of Woodburn, location, available material, and
market conspiring in favor of this ambitious new arrival. In addition to ax
handles the firm turns out many other kinds of handles, including sledge, adz,
auger, hammer, hatchet, and broom handles, as well as neck-yokes.
     With him from Germany Mr. Wengenroth brought his wife, formerly Emma
Hoefer, a native of the Rhine province, and whose father, Martin, was a
blacksmith in Germany. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs..
Wengenroth, of whom William is with his father in business ; Johanna, deceased,
was the wife of S. H. Brown of Gervais, Ore., and left one daughter, Gertrude;
and Walter is living with his parents.
     Mr. Wengenroth in politics is a Republican, and is a member of the Champoeg
Lodge No. 27, A. F. & A. M. He is a master workman, and his many years of
practical experience here and in Germany have placed him among the most expert
in his chosen occupation.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.