[p. 722] a gardener and florist of Shenango Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, is engaged in supplying the wholesale trade of the cities and boroughs within a radius of 100 miles of his home. His business is one of great magnitude and the prestige he enjoys is by no means confined to Lawrence County. He is especially well known as a grower of lettuce and cucumbers, his annual output in the past being about 150,000 pounds of lettuce and 2,000 dozen cucumbers. With the completion of the plans now under way, the output will be greatly increased. In addition, he raises all other vegetables, and has large celery and asparagus beds. During the summer months Mr. Weinschenk gives employment to some eighteen men. The history of this business, begun in a small way, is one of uninterrupted success and constant growth, At first the entire output was disposed of in the home market, but as his reputation grew from time to time it became necessary for him to enlarge his plant in order to meet the demand which came from distant points. His start in business was made in 1894, when he rented of his father the old McCandless homestead of ninety acres, of which he subsequently purchased sixty acres. He engaged in truck gardening, and about 1897 built his first greenhouse, the dimensions being 180x56 feet. The following year he erected another, 76x30 feet, and later still another, 200x81 feet. He has now under construction what will be, with one, exception, the largest greenhouse under one roof, in the United States, its dimensions being 600x120 feet. When this is completed he will have 108,500 square feet under glass, with all the modern devices and methods necessary for the successful prosecution of the business on an extensive scale. This plant has done much toward adding to the material welfare and prosperity of the community, and is one in which the people take a commendable pride.
William H. Weinschenk was born in that part of Taylor Township now included in the Seventh Ward of New Castle, May 28, 1866, and is a son of George G. and Margaret (Mack) Weinschenk, and grandson of John G. and Katherine (Retter) Weinschenk. George G. Weinschenk was born in Gerardstetten, Wurtemburg, Germany, April 10, 1835, and was reared to maturity in that country. He began making his own way in the world at the early age of fifteen years, and at twenty-two left his native land for America. He sailed from Havre in May, 1857, and after an eventful voyage of thirty-five days landed in New York City. He immediately thereafter wended his way westward to New Castle, Pennsylvania, where he arrived June 22, 1857. In his native land he had received thorough training in the art of gardening and floriculture, and upon his arrival here he secured employment with Mr. Butz, then the leading gardener of New Castle. He continued with that gentleman a period of two years, was then for a time in the employ of Mr. Peebles, after which he went south, spending five or six years in and about the city of Louisville, Ky. He was there in charge of private gardens of rich planters until the ravages of war made his occupation a useless one in that vicinity. He again returned to New Castle, and after one year spent in the service of Mr. Butz, purchased a tract of land in Taylor Township, where he engaged in gardening some eight years. At the end of that time he sold out there and purchased his present home place in Shenango Township, consisting of twenty-four acres of valuable land. He engaged in gardening here with great success and had about a half acre under glass. He is a man of frugal habits, and possessed of great energy, and as time passed he added to his realty holdings until he owned numerous tracts in various parts of the county. He was united in marriage with Margaret Mack, and they became parents of the following children: William Henry; Annie M., wife of Charles F. Alborn; Alice, and Margaret, deceased.
William H. Weinschenk was about six years of age when his parents moved to Shenango Township, where he attended the district schools and later attended the public schools of New Castle until he was sixteen years of age, and supplemented this with a course in Duff's Business College in Pittsburg, from which institution he was graduated March 7, 1884. He then assisted his father in gardening, and during the ten years which followed mastered the details of the business with such thoroughness that at the end of that time he was qualified to go forth in the world and do for himself. This he did in March, 1894, and with what success we have already recounted. In 1896 he erected a magnificent residence on his farm, one which is not excelled in this part of the county. He is a man of stability, is progressive and enterprising, and has always been among the foremost to advance the best interests of the community.
March 22, 1894, Mr. Weinschenk was joined in marriage with Miss Levinah Reed, who was born and reared in Shenango Township, and comes of a prominent old family of that section. She is a daughter of John C. and Phoebe Ann (Iddings) Reed, and on the paternal side traces her ancestry back to one John Reed, who was the first of the family to locate on american soil. John Reed was born in Ireland, and was a son of Michael, who lived in the North of Ireland all his life. Upon coming to America, John Reed located at Zanesville, Ohio, and followed his trade as a weaver until 1806, when he moved to Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Lutton, daughter of Ralph Lutton, and among their children was one, William Reed.
William Reed, paternal grandfather of Mrs. Weinschenk, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, in 1803, and was three years of age when his parents located in Lawrence County. For some years he followed the trade of a wheelwright in New Castle, and in 1825 moved to Shenango Township, where he worked at his trade and farmed. He died at the early age of forty years. He married Anna Cannon, who was born in Mahoningtown, February 10, 1805, and was a daughter of James and Betsy (Hendrickson) Cannon, the latter being a daughter of Dr. Hendrickson, who came to the county from Pennsville, N. J., as early as 1797, being the first physician in the county. James Cannon was born at Shirleysburg, Pa., and was a son of James Cannon, Sr., who had come to Mahoningtown to look over the prospects; returning to Shirleysburg, he sold out his farm, and with the proceeds of the sale started for Lawrence County. As he was never heard from again an inquiry was made along the route, with the result that his horse and saddle were found, but his body never recovered. It was supposed he was murdered and robbed of his money. He was a Revolutionary soldier. Among the children born to William and Anna (Cannon) Reed was John C. Reed.
John C. Reed was born in Shenango Township, May 3, 1826, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits throughout his entire life, dying January 28, 1895. He was eminently successful as a business man, acquiring a large property in the township. His word was as good as his bond, and he was everywhere held in highest esteem. He married Phoebe Ann (Iddings), who was born in Shenango Township, and was a daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Hoopes) Iddings, her father being the first school teacher in the county. He and his wife were natives of Chester County, Pennsylvania, she being of Quaker stock and descended from a sister of Sir Anthony Wayne. Her father was Ezra Hoopes of Chester County. John C. and Phoebe Ann Reed became parents of the following children: William E., of Shenango Township; Joseph, a practicing physician of Sharon; Charles A., a well-known physician and surgeon of New Castle; Hannah, deceased; Anna and Mary, both deceased; Sarah J., wife of Richard Wright of Taylor Township; Levinah (Weinschenk); John W., deceased, and Luther M.
Mr. and Mrs. Weinschenk are parents of five children, as follows: Margaret, Joseph, Virginia, Sarah and George G. Mr. Weinschenk is independent in his political views, and has served his township as a member of the School Board and as auditor. He was one of the organizers of the South New Castle Telephone Company, which he serves as treasurer. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Savannah, of which he is trustee, and is superintendent of the Sabbath-school.
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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