Biography

11/01/1856 - 05/29/1902

John Adam Wentz (D12) Montgomery County 1899-1902

Early Life:

John Adam Wentz, born November 1, 1858, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; son of George and Sarah Ann Wentz; public schools’ education; apprenticed, plumber; bookkeeper; elected, auditor, Springfield Township, Montgomery County, 1882-1890; member, Democratic County Committee; elected, jury commissioner, 1892; appointed, Democratic Montgomery County chair, 1892; elected, borough of Ambler, school director, 1894-1901, president, school board, several years; chair, State School Directors' Association of Pennsylvania; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1899-1902; unmarried; died, May 29, 1919 (aged 62), Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; interment, Union Cemetery, Whitemarsh Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Apprenticed as a plumber; joined the firm of Mulligan & Allen of Philadelphia, as bookkeeper, plumbing supply business. Three years later, became a salesman for A. S. Hills and Company for eight years, left Hills to work as a representative of the largest plumbing supply house in Philadelphia, Fleck Brothers. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, auditor, Springfield Township, Montgomery County, 1882-1890. 

Member, Democratic County Committee; elected, jury commissioner, 1892; appointed, Democratic Montgomery County chair, 1892. 

Elected, borough of Ambler, school director, 1894-1901, president, school board, several years, chair, State School Directors' Association of Pennsylvania.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1899-1902; committee assignments, Education, Federal Relations, Library, Judiciary Apportionment.

Legacy: 

Will of Whitemarsh, dated July 21, 1917, probated June 5, 1919, gave his entire estate to his sisters, Theresa B. and Ella M. Wentz.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members W". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1901) Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Miller, H.P. (Assistant Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 1181, 1187-1190, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 1159.

John Adam Wentz (1856-1919) - Find a Grave Memorial