The Wetzels of Metuchen, New Jersey
us flag wetzel family photo after Desert Storm new jersey flag
The Wetzel family pictured here originally hailed from Metuchen, New Jersey, but like most American families, is now scattered across the country.
Bill Wetzel The father, William P. Wetzel, was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, on December 22, 1922, to James P. and Irene A.(Riegel) Wetzel. The oldest of three children (siblings: David H. and Margaret I. (Mayer)), he was raised in Linden, New Jersey, and entered the merchant marine service during the Second World War, serving as an engineering officer aboard several different ships. After the war, he enrolled at Rutgers University and, following graduation in 1951, joined Public Service Electric and Gas Co, with which he remained until his retirement in 1987.
Kathleen Wetzel 1951 was also the year of his marriage to Kathleen Sullivan, who was born and raised in South Amboy, New Jersey They met on the beach down the shore (as we say in New Jersey) at Seaside Park, New Jersey: a town in which both families owned small summer bungalows, or as our mother would say: “shacks“. We, his children, have many fond memories of summers spent there with our grandmothers, aunts and cousins in those same dwellings. Unfortunately, it seemed that father (whom we now respectfully call “Pops”), like most of the men, could only get “down to the shore” long enough to fix the pipes that had frozen and to replace the shingles that had disappeared in the winter storms. As we good-naturedly say today: “He’s a good sport!”
Bill and Kathleen

In YYYY the bungalow was sold with the proceeds purchasing an in-ground pool for our back yard. Many great family and friends parties were held around that pool. In particular Memorial Day, Forth of July, and Labor day were big events. Our great friends, who also lived in Metuchen or near by, the Doyles, Dorais, Lynch mob and Others made these times special.

William P. and Kathleen (Sullivan) are soon to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary at their present home in Vero Beach, Florida, to which they relocated in the late 1980’s - like so many “northerners” do these days. However, they were displaced from their oceanfront condominium due to the damages caused by Hurricane Frances in 2004 and have been anxious ever since to return to their lovely view of the city and the Atlantic Ocean. When not gazing out from that lovely vantage, they enjoy swimming, spending time visiting friends and looking after their large brood (the oldest of whom are now in their fifties!), who never seem to lack the need of parental guidance and help.
The Kids William P. and Kathleen (Sullivan) Wetzel had nine children: William J., b. January 21, 1953; Margaret, b. May 10, 1954; Kathleen, b.September 9, 1955; Anne, b. September 10, 1956; Edward, b. May 13, 1959; Robert (NMN), b. May 20, 1960; James T., b. September 4, 1963; Paul J., b. September 8, 1965; and Sally, b. April 30, 1967. All nine children are presently living and have among them accounted for 18 grandchildren. Of the many stories that could be told, perhaps the most well-known involved the exploits of Robert Wetzel, who, serving as a Navy pilot during the 1st Gulf War, was shot down and captured in Iraq during the first night of fighting. His release from captivity on March 4, 1991, is still commemorated by the Wetzel family every year.
William
Margaret
Kate
Anne
Edward
Robert
James
Paul
Sally
 William : coming soon.
Margaret : coming soon.
Kathleen aka Buffy : coming soon.
Anne : coming soon.
Edward : coming soon.
Robert : coming soon.
James : coming soon.
Paul
Sally : coming soon.
Wetzel Genealogy
For the genealogists among you searching for your family roots or connections to other families, our direct lineage, from the most recent Wetzel to the most distant, looks something like this: William P. Wetzel, b. December 22, 1992 in Jersey City, New Jersey to James P. and Amanda I. (Riegel) Wetzel. Details of his life are outlined above.
James P. Wetzel James P. Wetzel, b. July 9, 1892 in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, to William W. and Jessie (Gibbons) Wetzel. Like his father before him (a little further down the paper!), James P. had two brothers and a sister: Bertram (called: Bing), Mildred (called: Mid), and William (called Paul - go figure?!). James P. was a talented baseball player in his youth and at one time worked as an engineer for the Pennsylvania Railroad. He served in the 314th Infantry during the First World War and fought in the battle of the Meuse-Argonne. He married Irene A. Riegel, who worked as a supervisor in a silk mill in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, in 1919. Shortly thereafter, they moved to New Jersey, where James P. (commonly referred to as “J. P.“) worked as an electrical engineer, spending many years with Consolidated Edison. Following retirement, he and Irene moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where they lived until their deaths. They enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and entertaining friends, of whom they had many. Among his grandchildren, “Pop Pop” will best be known for his affinity for foods none of us would dare touch (e.g. tripe, scrapple and hogshead cheese) much less eat, and always having a pocket knife handy, which he invariably used to carve the kernels off the corn cob when we sat down at the table! James P. Wetzel died on November 13, 1990.
William W. Wetzel William W. Wetzel, it is believed, was born in the countryside around Sunbury, Pennsylvania, sometime between 1865 - 1870. Little is now known about his life, though his grandson (William P.) recalls that he was the chief engineer in the silk mill (mentioned earlier) that was a major industry in Sunbury during the late 1800‘s. Among the few things we do know about him (from a photograph taken in 1889) is the fact that he was a pitcher for the Sunbury Base Ball Club, a team that had exactly 9 players. William W. Wetzel had three siblings: Edward, Nathan and Anne. William W. Wetzel died on April 13, 1938 and is buried in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.
Earliest days Our ancestry beyond the late 1800‘s - to the extent we know of it - originated in Germany, with settlers coming to America in the early 1700’s, but we have no records to confirm any of this. These people first settled in Pennsylvania somewhere between Allentown and Sunbury (also known as Fort Augusta). At some point, a branch of this family migrated to West Virginia and included Lewis Wetzel, the famous American frontiersman. There had also been a story circulated that a Wetzel to whom we are related had been in the boat with George Washington during his famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Eve in 1776, and though we would surely like for this to be true, have discounted this story as “family lore“.

Unfortunately, this is the end of the trail - so far as it exists today. If you read this and have any information about our ancestors, please feel free to pass it along. And - thank you for taking the time to read about our family.

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