[p. 765] a well known and prosperous market gardener, of Shenango Township, was born in Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1877, son of George G. and Catherine (Sechler) Weinschenk. His father was a native of Germany, and a son of John G. and Katherine (Retter) Weinschenk.
George G. Weinschenk was born in Gerardstetten, Wurtemberg, Germany, April 10, 1835, and was reared to maturity in his native land. He began to be self-supporting at the age of fifteen years. When he was twenty-two he went to Havre, whence, in May, 1857, he sailed for America, landing in New York city after an eventful voyage of thirty-five days. From New York he wended his way westward to New Castle, Pennsylvania, arriving there June 22, 1857. He soon found employment with Mr. Butz, then the leading gardener of New Castle, and continued with him for two years. Afterwards he worked awhile for Mr. Peebles, and then went south, spending some five or six years in and near Louisville, Kentucky. There he had charge of the private gardens of rich planters until conditions were changed by the outbreak of the Civil War, when his services being no longer in demand in that locality, he returned to New Castle and re-entered the employ of Mr. Butz. After remaining thus occupied for a year he bought a tract of land in Taylor Township, where he was engaged in gardening for some eight years. He then sold out and purchased twenty-four acres of land in Shenango Township, where he is now engaged in gardening, having about half an acre under glass. He is a man of energy and frugality and has accumulated a fair amount of property in different parts of the county. He and his first wife, Catherine Sechler, were the parents of the following children: William Henry, a gardener and florist residing in Shenango Township; Annie M., wife of Charles F. Alborn; Alice; Margaret, who is now deceased, and E. P. By his second marriage there were eight children, the six living being: Rosa, Samuel, Catherine, Sarah, and Ruth. Those deceased are George and Frederick.
E. P. Weinschenk was reared and educated in his native township, attending the Lincoln school, and, later, the New Castle Business College. He learned market gardening under his father, for whom he worked until 1905, at which time he inherited his present farm of thirty acres. When he became possessed of the property there were almost three acres more, which were taken by the Allegheny & Western Railroad. All but about half an acre is under cultivation, being devoted to the usual table vegetables, such as lettuce, beets, cabbage, onions, parsnips, rhubarb, asparagus, tomatoes, spinach, and radishes. His early lettuce and cucumbers are raised in a greenhouse, 226x60 feet, which he built in 1905. In 1907 he built an addition 112x26 feet. His business requires about ten hands on an average during the summer. In 1905 he built his present residence, a tasteful structure with eight commodious rooms. He also erected a boiler-house, 30x32 feet in dimensions. Mr. Weinschenk's industry and thorough knowledge of his business have rendered him one of the prosperous and independent citizens of his township. In politics he pays no strict regard to party lines, but votes for the candidate who, in his opinion, is the best qualified to fill the office.
Mr. Weinschenk married Etta M. Booher, daughter of William V. Booher, of Mt. Pleasant, Lawrence County. The family are members of the Savannah Methodist Episcopal Church.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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