James Wannkessel, of South Whitehall, was born. Aug. 29, 1826, in Longswamp Township. He attended the old pay schools and paid tuition from two to two and one-half cents per day. At the age of seventeen years he learned the tailors trade, which he followed in Maxatawny township. In 1864, he began farming in Upper Macungie and in that year wheat sold at $2.55 per bushel. For four years he farmed near Catasauqua in Whitehall Township. In 1882 he came from Upper Macungie to South Whitehall Township, where he owns a valuable farm of sixty acres, situated near Cetronia. He was a Lutheran elder, of the Cedarville church for two terms. On December 21, 1851, he married Mary Ann, daughter of Jesse and Lydia (Seigfried) Larash. She died in June 29, 1904, aged 71 years.