This is perhaps my favorite picture, of all the pictures we have of
David's ancestors. These are David's maternal great great grandparents, (on his
grandfather's side of the family)
Michael Erb Wenger and
Magdalena Nolt Musselman.
It is difficult to determine when this picture was taken, but Michael and
Magdalena were married
16 April 1863 in Lancaster County, PA. Magdalena was
born 1842 and Michael was born 1839, so my own "guesstimate" is 1870. It
has also been suggested that this was a wedding picture, so if that is the
case, that would put the date closer to 1863. Both Michael and Magdalena
were of the Mennonite faith, but you will notice that they are not wearing the
plain dress associated with the Mennonite people. (For an example of what
is considered plain dress, see article about David's parents,
Sherwood E. Ristenbatt and Mabel W. Wenger.)
It is my understanding, from speaking with one of David's aunts, that the plain
dress did not come into being until about the turn of the century, circa 1900.
Around 1896 there was a devastating accident that involved some Mennonite young
people riding in their buggy. They crossed over a railroad track and were
hit by the train. After this there was a great revival in the Lancaster County,
PA area, and it is during this time that plain dress came into being.
So, in this picture, one will observe contemporary dress of the time period in question. I believe that one of the things that endears this picture so much to me is the look on Michael's face. There is just something about his expression that says he is so proud to have this woman as his wife, be it the gleam in his eye, or that mouth that wants to erupt into a smile. Also, I have numerous pictures of my own ancestors, and I rarely see any of them holding hands, so that also makes this picture seem special to me. Indeed, the "fruit of their love" was 11 children, 9 of whom lived to adulthood. Child number seven, namely Michael Musselman Wenger, was David's great grandfather.
Michael died in 1911, a very sudden death. The story is told that one Sunday
morning he had hitched up the horses to go to church, was sitting on the front porch
while waiting for his wife to be ready, and simply died instantly. No death
record was found for Michael, so the cause of death is uncertain.
Magdalena died only 9 months later. Both are buried at Groffdale
Mennonite Cemetery in West Earl Township, Lancaster County, PA.
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