FRED RENTSCHLER

Fred Rentschler, a farmer of Triadelphia, West Virginia, has by 
careful industry and toil succeeded in developing a fine farm from a 
very modest beginning.  As his name indicates, he is a German by 
birth.  The first twenty years of his life was spent in his native 
country, Germany.

He landed at New York May 18, 1866, and two days later arrived in 
Wheeling, and worked at anything he could do until 1888, saving his 
money.  He then went to Triadelphia and purchased a part of the farm 
on which he now lives.  In 1890 he purchased another small tract, and 
in  1892 bought 21 acres more, adjoining his home farm.  Seven years 
later he again purchased a lot of land, for which he paid $1,000.  He 
has since bought one acre, and now owns 30½ acres.

Mr. Rentschler was united in marriage, in 1871, with Annie O'Donnell, 
a daughter of  Michael O'Donnell, a carpenter by trade who was born 
in Liverpool, England.  In 1869 he came to this country and a year 
later Annie and her mother followed.  Ten children blessed this 
marriage, namely:  Mary, who was born December 30, 1873, married 
Charles Gehringer, and lives at Futon; William, who was born January 
23, 1876, is a teamster, and also lives at Fulton; Annie, who was 
born July 24, 1878, married Fred Folmar, and resides in Elm Grove; 
Susan, born December 7, 1880; John, born August 5, 1883; Lilly, born 
February 4, 1886; Georgie, born October 17, 1888; Fred, born February 
3, 1892; and Margaret and Blanche, twins, born February 27, 1896.  
Mr. Rentschler is a member of the Lutheran church and his wife of the 
Catholic church.

From "History of Wheeling City and Ohio County, West Virginia and 
Representative Citizens," by Hon. Gibson Lamb Cranmer, 1902.

(Janice Davis)