Jacob Wenger Home

The Jacob Wenger Home stands at 4200 Linstead Farm Lane in Rockingham. Along with the Wenger-Geil-Beard-Mehegan Home (1819), the Henry Wenger (Farmingreen) Home, and the Isaac Wenger House (1848), the Jacob Wenger Home contributes to the dense Wenger-family footprint on the Anabaptist Trail. Multiple generations of Wengers — Jacob, Joseph, Isaac, John, and others — built homes, farmed land, served congregations, and shaped Valley Mennonite life over the long 19th and 20th centuries.

Stories from the Civil War

Jacob Wenger had been one of the few men in Rockingham County to vote against secession in the spring of 1861. In spite of threats of hanging, he voted his conscience and cast his negative vote. One of his neighbors said that while most were in fear of the enemy approaching, Jacob Wenger said they should “roast turkeys for them.”

Probably the most terrifying day in the history of the Jacob Wenger family was in the fall of 1864 on the day of “the burning.” As different parties came to burn his barn, Jacob showed them an affidavit stating that he voted against secession and thus was loyal to the Union. The soldiers would show their approval and ride away. This routine was repeated several times during the day and the barn was spared from destruction.

The nearby Brennemans Mill was not intentionally spared, however. The mill was built by Abraham Brenneman around 1800 and was owned by George Shaver and his wife Hannah during this period. George was ill and Hannah, age 77, had to face the burning parties alone. She rang an alarm for help which was heard by Jacob Wenger and his hired man who rushed to her aid and helped to extinguish the blaze.

During one visit by a group of Union Soldiers, a cavalryman noticed nine-year old Barbara holding her baby brother Timothy. The soldier dismounted and took the infant from her arms causing great alarm to Barbara and her mother Hannah. He then passed the baby to another soldier who held him for a moment and then passed him to the next one. When they each had taken a turn, the baby was returned safely to his sister by the first man and he explained that they were homesick for their own families.

— Norman Wenger

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