Notes: Our Family History

Notes

Matches 101 to 150 of 174

#	Notes	Linked to
101	Guy Maxwell "Max" was born in a log cabin on the "Kidd Farm" on County Line Road south of Onaway. The family would spend summers on the farm, and winters in town, where his father was a butcher. As told to Judy, his daughter (2000) "When Max was young the family spent the summer on a farm "Kidd Farm". It was 120 acres, three quarters. To the left of the house was a low area with trees, to the right, fields. Max remembers a farm hand cutting a large pile of seed potatoes. They planted them and the harvest was mounds of potatoes in rows in the fields, machine harvested. The threshing machine was steam operated, with the engine 50 - 70 feet from the pile to be threshed. They checked the wind direction. They threshed 2 farms in a day. The machine went down the road at 2 - 3 miles per hour. A long belt with one twist operated the threshing part (where they put in sheaves of grain). Guy bought a store in town. There was a store in front, living in the back, and rented rooms upstairs. He got into cars very early. Guy tried to get Max into the car business. Max didn't like it. He always had his own agenda, and the Illsley boys input. They shared interests. Guy gave Max several cars to sell to get him started. He didn't do well, not that interested. Chuck was good at it and quit high school to sell". In 1926 the family left Onaway and moved to Muskegon, where other members of the family had moved. The economy in Onaway declined after the American Wood Rim Co. burned in 1926. They only stayed in Muskegon for a couple of months, before leaving for Florida. They only got as far as Georgia, living in Albany and Thomasville, where his father found work. His brother Chuck remembers (2000), " When living in Georgia, Max worked for Woodhall, a sign painter. He earned $10.00 and wanted to buy a sweet roll. His mother made him get a soup bone." In 1929 they returned to Muskegon, mostly because they were homesick for family. He graduated from Muskegon High School in 1933(1935). In 193? he entered Michigan State University in Lansing. He roomed with Walter Illsley, On August 5, 1939 he married Margaret Louise Hoerle. (Email from Margaret, May, 2002. Max and I were married at Marny's home, 20 East Muskegon Avenue. We had his family and my family in attendance. Dr. Sam Oliver was the minister. After the wedding Marny had a caterer serve a luncheon to the people attending the wedding.) In 1946 he was a Project Engineer for Continental Motors. He was promoted to Qualtiy Control to because he was trying to organize the department, and this would stop his organizing activities. Two or three weeks later he quit to go to China, working for UNRRA He died of large cell lymphoma. He entered the hospital on March 11, 2004 after a vacation of 6 weeks in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. He died on April 4, 2004. His body was donated to Michigan State University, Anatomy Department. The family held a memorial service at McGraft Church on July 11, 2004. His ashes were returned and interred in Lakeside Cemetery in the plot with his mother-in-law, Margaret Dennis. A graveside service was held on August 7, 2006, with just his family, including brothers and sister in attendance.	BENHAM, Guy Maxwell (I234)
102	He died as a result of a fever contracted while working on the Burma railway. (Antoon Reintjes email 10 Jan 2003) His military number was 91045. (Jos Reintjes, email December 2002)	REINTJES, Theodorus Jacobus (I668)
103	He married a Mary ?, and had several children: Crystal, Shirley (who married a Claude Mull and lived on a farm in the middle of Michigan), Reva (who married Phil Rhodes), and Phil. Guy and Ethel named their son, Philip, for this relative. Chuck remembers going to a reunion at the Claude Mull farm in 1937. There was also a 1930 reunion in Ionia, MI, with Hody and Mary Thomas. We have a photograph from that reunion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1900 Census Vickeryville, Bloomer Twp., Montcalm Co., MI Sheet 8, Microfilm roll 623, Roll 733 Thomas, Horace b Sept 1854 41 Mary E. b Feb 1865 35 Olive Crystal b Nov 1891 8 Riva S. b Dec 1895 4 Shirley M. b Aug 1899 9/12 They were married eleven years. She had four births and three children living. He is listed as a day laborer. 1910 Census Bushnell Township, Montclam Co., MI Thomas, Hoarce H head m w 51 m 20 born MI Mary E. wife f w 45 m 20 born MI Olive C. dau f w 18 s born MI Sarah R dau f w 14 s born MI Shirley M dau f w 10 s born MI Philip H son m w 8 s born MI She is listed as having five children, four living.	THOMAS, Horace "Hody" (I1037)
104	He was a brother of Norman Russell, who married Maude Perkins.	RUSSELL, Jesse (I74)
105	He was a marble dealer. CFB speculates that he was responsible for the large stone that marks the Benham plot. Robert Benham named Lenna Mattison in his will. He is listed in the 1860 (August) Census. Elkhart Twp., Elphart Co., Indiana. Page 219, line 321. His name is sometimes spelled Madison.	MATTISON, Andrew J. (I412)
106	He was a wheelwright, and lived in the town of Newark Valley, Tioga CO, NY (Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, New York, 1785 - 1888. He had nine children.	TRUESDELL, Jesse (I823)
107	He was admitted to the First Church of Charlestown, MA, with his brother Thomas on December 18, 1637. Bibliograpy: Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown. Vol 23, pg, 279	RICHARDSON, Samuel (I20)
108	Her birth was legitimized at the marriage of her parents. She was unmarried and had no occupation at the time she left St. Oedenrode alone for Bay City, MI, North America, on November 23, 1892. Aunt Ria (Maria Rientjes, daughter of Petrus) said that Anna Maria's married name was Duval.	DER KINDEREN, Anna Maria (I792)
109	Her death certificate lists Tuberculosis as the cause of death. (Presque Isle County. Liber 1, page 197)	GILLETT, Alice Merle (I80)
110	Her last residence was the same as Jacob Reintjes's, 48203 Highland Park, Wayne, MI. She was the daughter of Jacob's second wife.	WILSON, Katherine (I804)
111	Homer had a planeing mill in Onaway. He moved to Balm Cresent, then Alhambra, Alberta, Canada, where he had a saw mill. He had seven children: Will James, 1897 Anna Mae, 1899 Kathleen Alberta, 1903 in Onaway Ethel Genevieve, 1907 Herbert Blair, 1901 Alma Gertrude, 1914 Jennie (Joy) Allan, 1917 Jack Benham corresponded with Anna and Jennie. In 1987 there was a Stockwell reunion in Arian. Chuck, Max, and Maxine went. Anna fell and broke her hip then.	STOCKWELL, Homer (I1028)
112	Howard Wands was in World War I and was gassed. Afterwards, he had violent attacks, and died as a result. Chuck Benham said that Curtis went to San Francisco and was into drugs. Howard is legally blind. Jerry has a family and lives a normal life and is in Oklahoma City.	WANDS, Howard (I683)
113	In 1857 BF Thomas was a witness in Detroit to the marriage of Eliza Woodbeck Benham Willcox and Charles Gould. Charles was from Ypsilanti at the time of his marriage. JLBW visited the Soop Cemetery in August, 1988. It is off Rt. 94 in Belleville. Their plot is in the southwest corner of the cemetery. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1860. Sarah Benham was 18, and BF Thomas 25. They lived in the Ypsilanti - Milan area. 1870 Census. Belleville, Van Buren Twp., Wayne Co., MI. page 35 Thomas, Benjamin Franklin 35 cabinetmaker Ohio Sarah E. 28 hskpr. NY Horace 11 (?) Ella 9 Ettie 8 Rose 6 Oliva "Lydia" 4 1880 Census. Milan, York Twp, Washtenaw Co., MI Thomas, B Frank 48 ? keeps saloon ? Ettie 18 house keeper MI Lydia 14 Helps keep house MI Frank 6 MI (son Franklin, born 1876 (died 1889)	THOMAS, Benjamin Franklin (I38)
114	In 1919 Sam and Buelah moved from Onaway to Muskegon. They took Norman Russell with them. They traveled in a covered wagon, pulled by a mule, and covered 20 miles a day. It took three weeks. At night they camped with other travelers in campgrounds by streams. Norm remembers, and liked, the sound of the chains on the wagon rattling as they traveled. Sam Dubois was a Spiritualist, but the rest of the family thought he was "a faker" with his Spiritualism. In Lakeside in Muskegon, he worked for a lumbermill, on logs in the water, pulling them up into the mill. Sam's father, Peter Dubois was an Orangeman, an Irish Protestant, from New Paltz, NY. He would wear an orang vest. 1910 Census. Onaway, Presque Isle Co., MI Dubois, Samuel head m w 39 m 17 yrs. b. NY Beulah wife f w 37 m 17 yrs b. MI Vinnie dau f w 15 s b. MI Charlie son m w 11 s b. MI Mabel D. dau f w 7 s b. MI (Mabel Del died on June 2, 1910)	DUBOIS, Sam (I69)
115	In an email on 12 January 2003, Antoon Reintjes said this family had six children. His source of information was Grada Koopmans-Reintjes, Den Haag, a descendant of one of those children, Theodorus, born July 21, 1758.	REINTJES, Theodorus (I569)
116	In the 1880 Census they are in Leslie, Ingham Co., MI. (page 50) She is 33 and he is 27.	BURCHARD, John W. (I1025)
117	Information from Fredrick Charles "Chuck" Benham about his grandparents. They moved to Belleville, Wayne Co, MI, soon after they were married, and lived there until 1873, when they moved to Milan, Monroe Co, Mi. In 1883 they moved to Juddville, MI., and 1891 to Onaway. In 1894 they moved to Wildwood (Tuskarora Twp.), to "the Stone place", where their last child, Guy was born, with only Beulah and Charles Henry in attendence. Charles worked at a blacksmith shop, which later became a ball diamond, when they first went to Onaway, until they moved to Wildwood. "Grandma and Grandpa Benham lived where Huron House in summer in aprox. 1901, when they built the log house on the 40 acres by Black River, which Uncle Fred (Fred Richardson) bought and gave to Grandma Alice. But spent the following winter at Maycomber and Bale Lumber Camp. He blacksmithed for them the following summer. Grandma and Grandpa boarded people, resorters from outside for fishing. Lived around Wildwood until 1907 or 8, and then moved to the farm and built the blacksmith shop, but really didn't use it much as they would go to Onaway in winter to work." 9-14-78. Dad told me an odd thing about G'ma B. She would not fry fish with the head on for any of the resorters. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles H. Benham liked to play jokes. He would take a spoon, put it in hot tea, then touch someone with it (when they were at the table). He was alergic to eggs, and probably suffered from asthma. He was a Mason, 32nd degree. It was a family tradition to have Oyster Stew on New Year's Eve. ---------------------- Written by Alice Richardson, after Mabel's death in 1913 Alice Richardson was born in Binghampton, New York State, July 7, 1853, and in '56 came to Michigan with her parents Dr. and Mrs. Richardson, who located at Matheren (?). In 1871 she was united in marriage to Charles H. Benham at Lansing, Ingham Co., Mich. To this union were born ten children, five sons and five daughters. Two sons died in infancy, one in early manhood, and one daughter, Mabel, having been laid away to rest. Others are let no one see me after I die but just my own folks. sons and soninlaws pallbearers. My insurance is good for 6 years and 14 weeks ?????. Put the littlen plain gold ring that Fred gave me on my third (?) finger, my wedding ring on my first finger left hand. they are on my neck. do not comb my hair back smooth. the ???? (note: hard to read rest of the photocopy. JLBW) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information written by Fredrick Charles "Chuck" Benham In 1999 at Dale Porter's funeral I got talking with some Burgess girls who were related to Dale Porter, and mentioned to one of them about F.L. Richardson (Fred) living in Juddville where some of the Benhams were born to C.H. and A.K.R. Benham. And the Burgess girl told me that Juddville was where the Burgess's lived before coming ot Onaway. So that makes another connection to the Benham and Richardson family that dated back in the early 1880's. Plus they were all Seventh Day Adventists, making their ties a little closer. This confirms my suspicitions the F. I. was in and around Onaway before the Benhams got there. Another find was on page 1of the tax ??? on the bottom fo the page, was the name of my Grandfather, Charles H. Benham. What a pleasant surprise. Village of Onaway 1892. Chas Beham. Lot 13, Block 5. Value $100.00 This is where Charles H. Benham had his blacksmith shop and lived upstairs. It is where Maxon Field is now, on Black Lake Road. Also: 1900. Estelle Kidd. 59.59 acres (a "short acre"). Value $150.00 This is where the writer, Charles F. Benham ws born in 1921. The "Kidd Farm". We also found Census Records, 1884 in Harbor Springs, Little Traverse County. Fred Richardson, Florence and Archie. He was listed as a "teacher". So this puts F.I. in the Onaway area in 1883-4 which coincides with Charles H. Benham and family moving to Juddville in 1883. I wonder if they could have moved into F.I.'s home, which he left in 1883 to move north. The "40" was looked up under the following description: The N 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sect. "18". Town 34 No. of Range 2 East. We have a deed made on the 11th of November, 1913 and all of the Benham Children had to sign off on it. This was about the time they built the house, "Hillside Farm". Maybe they borrowed money to build the new house and the bank required this Quit Claim Deed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information from Chuck Benham (CFB) More about the Benham-F.I. Richardson connection and sort of chronology of F.I.'s life. It is a followup on the 40 acres where Charles H. Benham lived in the early 1900's. This information was in the tax records from 1891 to 1902 in Laksing MI, Historical Society. 1889 - Burgess to Benham 29.01 acres Value $25.00 1900 - Mrs Chas. Benham 29.01 acres $120.00 1901 - " " " " " 1902 - " " " " $150.00 The reason this "40" is only 29.01acres is, that it is on the West County Line Road. It is called a "correction line" due to the curvature of the earth. The size of the sections are "adjusted" to make up for this curvature. In this case there was also 5 acres sold off the front facing the road, and it lwft only 29.01 acres ot keep the lines even. This 5 acres is where the Siddle family lived. We never knew why F.I. had the deed to this property put in his sister's (Mrs. Chas. Benham) name, but he did, and in 1906 he gave the farm to her, and in 1913 the Benhams buildt a new house on the back of the farm which was then called "Hillside Farm". They lived there until 1926, when C.H. Benham died (note: he died in 1928, she died in 1922. He lived with his children in his last 2 years and died in Flint, MI) Then through negligence and the Depression, the place was sold for back taxes in 19?? ----------------------------------------------------- In 1906 Charles H. Benham bought 12 plots in the Forest Twp. Cemetary in Tower. He paid 50 cents each for them. People in the graves are as follows: 1 2 3 4 5 6 (1998) Shirley Crowe Ruell - G'ma CH AKR Fred - Forest Township Clerk Gould Benham Benham Benham (Forest Twp. Cemetary records) 9148 S. Black River Rd. 7 8 9 10 11 12 (517) 733-8178 - Philip - - Mabel - Benham Del Dubois ----------------------------------- CFB said that in the 1980's the widow of Charles H. Benham's partner was still living. She had his old blacksmith tools. Max had bought a corn planter from her, a manual one the you walk along with. -------------------------------------------------- 1880 Census. Michigan, Washtenaw Co., York Twp., Milan Soundex- B550 Vol 28, Ed243, Sheet 31, line 21 June 23, 1880 age where born Benham, Charles 32 NY Blacksmith Alice w 26 NY housewife Bulah d 8 Mich Mabel d 5 Mich Daisy d 3 Mich Beacher s 1/12 Mich Charles and Alice, self and parents born in NY 1900 Census. Michigan. Allis Twp, Presque Isle Co. District 10, ED 146, Sheet 18 Done on June 26 or 27, 1900. Visit # 350 B550 Roll 22 T1052 738 d o b age months attended school Benham Charles Sept 1848 51 self and parents born in NY Alice July 1853 46 self and parents born in NY Mary April 1883 17 6 Fred Oct 1885 14 6 Belle Nov 1888 11 6 Clare Feb 1893 7 3 Guy July 1896 3 o Alice is the mother of 10, 8 living. He is a blacksmith who owns his home free of mortgage. They had been married 28 years. All the children, except Guy were in school. 1910 Census Michigan. Allis Twp, Presque Isle Co. B550 T1268 Reel 20 076 0169 0052 age born Father b Mother B Benham Charles 61 NY NY NY Alice 56 NY Penn NY Mary dau 26 Mich Belle dau 21 Mich Clare son 18 Mich Guy son 15 Mich Married 39 years, 10 children born, 7 living. Charles is a blacksmith, working in a shop. He owns his home on a farm free of mortgge. Children listed at home are all single. Alice was born in NY, her father in PA, her mother in NY Charles, his mother and father were all born in NY 1920 Census. City of Onaway, Presque Isle Co., MI Fairview Ave. self Father Mother Benham, Charles H. head house owned free M W 71 Married NY NY NY Alice wife F W 66 Married NY PA NY Mary daughter F W 35 single MI MI MI	BENHAM, Charles Henry (I158)
118	Interview with Alice Redding. August 3, 1986 Clyde and Alice were married in a Baptist church in Onaway. Emma and Roy were living in Onaway at the time. Clyde and Max Benham were helping Roy build a chicken coop. Clyde dropped dead by the chicken coop. Alice and Larry were there at the time.	PERKINS, Alice (I862)
119	Isaac and his wife may have died in Waterbury, CT.	BEECHER, Isaac (I297)
120	Jean Mepham said that John was raised by his grandmother, Jacob's first wife. She did not know why. (email 31 Mar 2002) Email from Jean Mepham 10 Jan 2001 Edna married at the age of 16 (thus about 1912) and moved to California with Gallon. Her parents were divorced by then. Edna's marriage to Gallon was short-lived. She married Charles Mepham, and they divorced when Charles Thomas was 12, thus about 1936. The children were dispersed to different places. Edna took the youngest child, Lois, who was about 2. Charles and his brother Russell had to bunk with his father and other relatives after the divorce. Edna remarried to a Selke. Edna moved out to California about 3 months after Charles Thomas married Jean Irvine, thus about January 1947, for her husband's health. ----------------------------------- 1920 Census. Wayne County, 6-WD Detroit Series T625 Roll: 806 Page 87 (Found on Ancestry.com 9/24/2003) 377 Sixth Street age sex race birthplace f.birthplace m.birthplace work where Reintjes, Elizabeth C. h 39 f w MI millinar hat store Gallon , Edna M. dau 23 f w MI Holland MI Wellington S. son ? 1/20 m w MI Canada MI Email from Jean Mepham29Dec2002 The Gallons moved to California when Edna did in the late 1940's or early 1950's. At least "Duke" and his family did. He died about a year and a half ago, I believe. John, the younger of the two is a widower, no children, and the last I heard of him he lives in Hemet, California. The family hasn't kept in touch with him.	REINTJES, Edna May (I795)
121	Jean Mepham said: Eliza, also known as Elizabeth died in the Stevens Nursing Home in Cass City. She was the widow of George Holeshoe of Cass City. Holeshoe is buried in Elkland Cemetery in Cass City. Her name previous to her marriage to Holeshoe was Manual. Jean has no record of her previous marriage to that person. 1920 Census. Wayne County, 6-WD Detroit Series T625 Roll: 806 Page 87 (Found on Ancestry.com 9/24/2003) 377 Sixth Street age sex race birthplace f.birthplace m.birthplace work where Reintjes, Elizabeth C. head 39 f w MI millinar hat store Gallon, Edna M. dau 23 f w MI Holland MI Wellington S. son ? 1/20 m w MI Canada MI	GILBERT, "Lizzi" Eliza (I794)
122	John Clare, known in the family as "Clare", was a sergent in WW I. He was in charge of a CCC camp at Hartwick Pines, MI. In 1925 he and Millie drove to Oregon with Mily's sister and her husband in two Model T cars.	BENHAM, John Clare (I268)
123	John had no children.	DEMICK, John R. (I84)
124	Joseph and Mary were married on December 1 (or 3), 1897, in Bay City Michigan. The Archives in Lansing could find no naturalization papers for Joseph and Mary Duval. Before 19?? the wife became a citizen when the husband did. 9/2003JLBW. 1920 Census. CT, New Haven Co., Waterbury. Supervisors district 2, Enumeration Dist. 471, Sheet 1 Fifth Ward, 632 East Mann (Main?)St. rent mar date alien date own age sing immig natural natural. Duval, Joseph head r m w 44 m Un Na 1900 Mary wife f w 44 m 1893 Na 1900 Alma dau f w 17 s Joseph, Jr son m w 20 s Everyone is able to read and write, and speaks English. Joseph was born in Canada and his mother tongue was French. Mary was born in Holland and her mother tongue was Dutch. His parents were born in Canada, and hers in Holland. Joseph works as a better in a brass factory, Mary does not work, Alma is a helper in a factory, and Joseph Jr. is a lathe hand in a factory. They all work for a wage. 1930 Census. CT, New Haven Co., Waterbury. Enumeration 5-269, Supervisors District 1, Sheet 8 Cheshire Rd. Fifth Ward. rent age 1st date own age married immig. Duval, Joseph head 1/2o m w 57 m 25 1880 Mary wife f w 56 m 24 1894 Joseph was born in Canada, and French is his native language. Mary was born in Holland and Dutch is her native language. He works as a better in a brass factory, and she has no occupation. (From his death certificate) Joseph died of acute myocardial failure and was found dead at 6 am in the morning. He was living at 2864 East Main St., Waterbury at the time of his death. His occupation was "factory worker - S? N?.P.A. He had lived in Waterbury for 40 years and in the US for 59 years. Thus he came to the US when he was about 7 years old. Marie was still living, age 65.	DUVAL, Joseph (I1146)
125	Josua Reintjes said that Andries stayed in Herwen, but Henricus was a soldier in Brabant and Belgium, and married a woman from Tilburg.	REINTJES, Andries (I665)
126	Josua Reintjes said that Jan (1789) was married three times. Johanna van Hal was his second wife. Jan 6, 2003.	REINTJES, Johannes (Jan) (I567)
127	At least one living or private individual is linked to this note - Details withheld.	Living (I831)
128	Lived only one year. Email from Antoon Reintjes 12 January 2003.	VAN DIJK, Aldeke (I1129)
129	Mabel Del died of diptheria. She died during the night, and her body was immediately taken to the cemetary for burial. The family was quarentined until it was sure no one else was sick. One of the family memories was of her body transported in a wagon for burial.	DUBOIS, Mabel Dell (I73)
130	Married Frank Springer and had 7 or 8 children.	THOMAS, Lydia May (I1042)
131	Married George Segar, and had one child who died.	THOMAS, Etty Newton "Hattie" (I1039)
132	Married William Welch, but had no children.	THOMAS, Rose (I1040)
133	Maxine thinks her name may have come from Maxine Elliot, a stage star at the time she was born. JLBW 8/2004 For many years the family reunion was held at Maxine and Rich's farm. Ashes placed in Hilton Township Cemetery, Casnovia, Muskegon County and at Tower Cemetery in Onaway, Michigan at the grave of Philip Benham, her brother.	BENHAM, Maxine Ethel (I83)
134	Mike was a state certified civil engineer, electrician and precision inspector. He was disabled in an industrial accident at the age of 32 ( about 1970), and on disability for many years. He died of heart failure.	BENHAM, Michael Frances (I910)
135	Mildred and her husband went to Montana. Chuck Benham saw her in 1960 at a family reunion.	GILLETT, Mildred (I79)
136	N.S. Hoerle was born at his parent's home, 507 Napoleon St., Johnstown, PA Newton attended Penn State University for one year, leaving when he was married. He was an engineer. When young he worked for Betley Steel. He told me (JLBW) that when he was ten he had a sledding accident and broke his nose, coming down a hill from Westmont and running into a car. ---------------------------------------------- Interview with Margaret Hoerle Benham (MHB), his daughter, by JLBW, MHB's daughter. Newton and Margaret (MRH), his wife, were in Detroit in 1913, when she was born. He was working for Continental Motors. He is listed in the Detroit City Directory in 1914, Newton S. eng., h 582 Drake Ave.; in 1915, Newton S. clk., h 96 1/2 Coplin Ave.; and in 1916, Newotn S. clk., h 574 Reddigar. Then they moved to Elgin, Illinois, where he worked for the Elgin Street Sweeper Company. When Margaret was four, they moved to North Muskegon, MI, and he worked for Continental Motor Company again. North Muskegon was, and is, a very desirable place to live. They first lived in a rented house on _____________________, and later bought a house on __________________. Newton was very particular about who is daughter played with. His son Frank had problems in learning, which MHB attributes to a very difficult birth. When he and his wife were getting a divorce, around 1929, Newton moved to Detroit, where he still worked for Continental Motors. He is in the Detroit City Directory 1930 - 31, N.S. h 9373 E. Jeff Ave, Apt. 102; 1932-33 Newton S. (Lucille) slsmn, h 4197 Haverhill Ave.; 1934, Newton S. (Lucial) auto eng. r 1598 Montclair. No one in the family knows who Lucille or Lucial is. Newton spent five years in Russia in the early 1930's. Amhorst was a company that hired people to work in Russia. MHB said that he came back at least once during that time. He told JLBW that he worked at the tractor factory in Stalingrad some of that time and that he met Stalin. He also was in Siberia and talked about trying to make engines run in the cold there. He said that he sent money to MRH via his brother, but MHB said that she and her mother and brother never received all of it. MRH worked in an office to support the children. When he returned from Russia, he wrote to MRH in Muskegon, saying that he would come to see her in a week. Within that week she married Sigmund Dennis. They were married on August 10, 1936, in Fort Wayne, Indianna. This was not a particularly happy marriage and they were divorced in __________. ---------------------------------------------------------- Notes by JLBW. In about 1970 or 71 I visited Newton in Patton, PA, with mother (MHB). After he had drunk a large tumbler of "Old Grandad", he and mother talked about the divorce. She represented her mother's point ot view. There were still accusations, specific events were brought up and emotional discussions about whose fault the divorce was. It had been bitter and the bitterness was still there. MHB believed that her birthday was April 12, 1914 until she applied for a passport to go to India. Her birth was not recorded in Detroit for that date. When she asked her mother if the birth had been recorded, she told her to ask for it on November 9, 1913. After they were married Newton and Margaret moved to Detroit. They concealed from their families that their daughter had been born in the fall after their marriage. After returning from Russia, Newton worked for Easy Washers in Elgin. Illinois, and as chief engineer for Lennox Furnaces in Lima, Ohio. He retired from Lennox Furnaces and moved with his wife June Rhodi to a home he built just outside Patton, PA. In retirement he served on the board of Miner's Hospital. After June died in 19__, he married Edna Butler, a widow from Johnstown, PA. He was operated on for an aneurysm on his aorta in 19__. Despite years of smoking and in later years more than an average alcohol intake, he was relatively healthy until his last few years. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marriage announcement. Johnstown, PA, Daily Tribune, July 16, 1913. page 15 PRETTY WEDDING ON HILLTOP BOROUGH Miss Margaret Holmes Rush Becomes the Bride of Newton Swank Hoerle The Rev. Dr. Jo. W. G. Fast, minister of the Franklin street, Methodist Episcopal Church, at 6:30 o'clock last evening united in marriage Miss Margaret Holmes Rush, of Westmont, and Newton Swank Hoerle, of the South Side, at the home of the bride's parents, Burgess and Mrs. Charles M. Rush, on Tioga street. The wedding march was played by Richard Kuntz, of Pittsburgh, a cousin of the bride, and only the immediate relatives of the young pair witnessed the ceremony, including Messrs. Richard and Ambrose Kuntz, both of Pittsburgh. The bridesmaid was Miss Sabina Rush, a sister of the bride, while Newton D. Swank, a student at the Gettysburg Theological Seminary, a cousin of the bridegroom, was best man. The bride and bridesmaid were attired in white, the bride carrying white roses and lillies of the valley, while the bridesmaid carried pink roses. The home decorations were in white and green. A sumptuous wedding dinner was served following the tying of the nuptial knot. Mr. and Mrs. Hoerle left the city last evening on train No. 1 for Niagrqa Falls, Buffalo, and other points in New York State before going to Detroit, where the groom is employed by the Cadillac Auto Company. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hoerle, of the Fifth Ward, and is a grandson of the venerable Robert Parsons, sr., the retired merchant tailor. --------------------------------------------------------------- Margaret's parents home was at 110 Tioga Street, Johnstown, PA. MLHB said that she did not have a picture of her parents together. (for family weddings album) JLBW _________________________________________________- Conversation with Jim Hoerle (son of Joe Hoerle, brother of Newton) In 1928 or 1928 Newton went to Russia on a ten year contract. He was working at Continental when he got the job offer, and he stayed about 9 years, coming home once after five years. Most to the time he worked in Magnatorgosk. He recieved his pay in half gold and half rubles. He sent money for his children via a relative, however Margaret claimed she did not get the money. He came home to try to straighten this out. The Russians lifted his visa while he was in the US, but he got it back. The foreign workers were given their rubles just before they left. They artifically lowered the exchange rate at this time to cheat them. Newt stayed a few more days to get the higher rate when it went up again. Upon leaving Russia, he took the train to Germany and worked for about 6 months in the Kurpp Works before coming home. In 1940 Newt moved to Lima. He was married to June by then. He took is brother Joe's children, Joe and Jim (aged 6) to stay with them that summer. Joe had an alcohol problem and thought the military would help him. Joe returned to his mother, but Jim ended up staying with Newt and June for 3 1/2 years. He was with his mother when his father was discharged. His father came to their house, but went to a hotel, and only stayed a few days. That is the last Jim ever saw of his father. His ashes were returned to the family from New Jersey. ______________________________ Conversation with Margaret Hoerle Benham by JLBW Newt and June were married when Max and Margaret got married. Newt and June were living in Syracuse, and he worked at either Carrier Corp. or Easy Washer. He asked if she wanted to be married in Syracuse. Margaret said no, because her mother wouldn't have gone. Margaret thinks he was without a job and "floated around" for a few years after getting back from Russia. The divorce was finalized in 1930 or 31. In 1930 - 31 she, her brother and mother lived in Johnstown, PA. She went to PA when in the sixth grade for 1/2 a year in Westmont. They lived with her grandmother. They returned to Muskegon and her mother went to the Howell School of Business (later Muskegon Business College, the Baker College). They lived in the Clock Apartments, and mother went to junior high. Later they moved ot a house on Peck Street. Her mother got a job at Grossman's in the office. After a fire at the store, she went to work for Sigmund Dennis, whom she later married. Margaret knows his daughter from another marriage. She says he spoke Polish, but claimed to be from Germany. He had a sister in Italy.	HOERLE, Newton Swank (I644)
137	Name also spelled Beshia or Betheah. (Vestal Cemetary Records)	PADDOCK, Bethiah (I809)
138	Obituary. Bay City Tribune. Tuesday, September 14, 1909. Missing; Body Found in Slip. Henry Reintjes, 11 years old, Drowned Unnoticed by His Companions. Clothing Lay on the Dock. Police Begin Seach with Grappling Irons and Body Found on Bottom near Boat House. Henry Reintjes, 11 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reintjes, 1734 Mc Kinley avenue, was drowned late yesterday afternoon in the slip at the foot of Tenth street. The boy, with several companions, had gone in swimming . For some time the youngsters paddled about in the slip, disporting themselves and paying little attention to who was and who was not in the water. When the boys climbed out and began dressing, it was noticed that one pile of clothing lay undisturbed. A quick count to see who was missing developed the fact that young Reintjes had not been seen for several moments. The boys searched for a few minutes and then concluded that their companion had been drowned. They told employees of the Bay City Power & Electric Co., at the plant near by, and the latter notified the police. Patrolmen Catlin, Markel, and Bartlett went to the slip with grappling irons and began a search that lasted until 9 o'clock. The patrolmen and coroner were discussing quitting the work until this morning, when the grappling irons caught. The boy's father had been notified and he assisted in the search, leaving only a few moments before the body was found. The boy's body was brought to the surface an removed to Undertaker George N. Ewell's undertaking parlors, Center avenue.	REINTJES, Jacob Henry (I796)
139	On July 31, 1874 Perthina wrote a letter to Belle and Alice (Richardson), telling them that they had a legacy from their Grandfather Samuel Truesdale. Evidently she sent the money ($100) from the sale of property, to Fred and Oro. She asked them to give $20.00 to each of Cordelia's children. In the letter she says she is 72 and living with Teressa and James.	WILSON, Perthina (I506)
140	On the 1920 Census he was 20, and listed as a lathe hand in a factory. (Information from Social Security Application) He was living at 195 Atwood Ave, Waterbury. He worked of R. F. Worden, Sons, 152 Cherry St. His father's middle name was Tiphele. Application date, December 3, 1936. (Information from his death Certificate) He was a retired Custodian for the Town of Cheshire, Board of Education. He died of a myocardial infarction. He was living at 121 East Mtichell Ave., Cheshire, CT. 06410.	ERNEST, Duval Joseph Jr. (I597)
141	Only lived one or two months.	DEMICK, Archie Earl (I633)
142	Oro was the "bad boy" of the family, a gambler. He left decendants in Montana and Wisconsin (?). He married Minnie ? and had Flora, Hody, Lula, and 2 more children. Hody died of cancer of the liver in Alpena, MI, at the age of 20. He founded the American Co-operative Employment Union, Alpena, MI. The family has a copy of a pamphlet he wrote for them. 1880 Census Michigan 4 Baidy St Richardson, Oro w m 28 cigar manufacturer b. NY, father NY, mother PA Minnie w f 24 keeping house b.Mich, father not known, mother MI Flora w f 4 at home b. MI Horace w m 1 at home b. MI This is a two family house, and they share it with another cigar maker and his wife.	RICHARDSON, Oro Ira (I488)
143	Riva married Phil Rhodes	THOMAS, Riva Sarah (I618)
144	Roy never married. Emma Perkins bought the house in Hart and Roy lived there with her. Chuck... (2000) Guy Benham told the story that Roy was going steady with a girl in Onaway. She broke her date one Saturday night, and when he saw her next, she was married. Max Benham heard that he had a girlfriend in Muskegon. Roy was stubborn, and very neat and clean. He worked at Shaw Walker and at Gerber's in Fremont. He did carpenter work for his relatives. On his death certificate, he is listed as a fruit farmer.	MCGILLIS, Roy John (I867)
145	Sarah was not with her mother and brother in the 1850 census, when they were living with the Fileston family. Sarah would have been eight years old then. She married at age 15. She named her first son, Horace. Beecher had a brother, Horace, so could she have been living with that family? ------------------------- 1850 Census Charleston, Kalamazoo County, MI Sept 16, 1850 Orra Bush 57 m Mass Sophia " 54 f NY Henry W. " 33 m NY Obediah " 16 m MI Helen M Bush 18 f MI Sarah E. Benham 6 f MI Also nearby Harvey Bush 24 NY Laura " 21 NY Henry " 2 MI Ellen " 1 MI Could this be our Sarah E. Benham? In the 1850 Census for Hopewell, Ontario Co., NY there is a: Henry C. Bush 24 NY Ellen " 22 NY Mary Ann " 3 NY Andrew M. " 1 NY This family is in the census next to Jonathan Benham, aged 47, who could be the brother of Beecher Sr.	BENHAM, Sarah (I368)
146	Served in the Navy submarine service in WW II with his brother Scott. His grandson James Hansen wrote a biography of him that was printed in the Oceana (MI) Connection, Hearld-Journal, December 5, 1991. __________________________________-	RUSSELL, Benjamin Earl (I884)
147	She is buried in Lot 6, Section 97, grave 12, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, MI	WILSON, Margaret (I667)
148	She lived to be 102 years old and was alert to nearly her death.	MULLIGAN, Millie (I99)
149	She moved to Braintree, VT as a child. She had four children by her first husband, Samuel Vinton.	FLINT, Patty (I523)
150	She was called "Boo".	DUBOIS, Behlah (I876)

Notes

Linked to

101

Guy Maxwell "Max" was born in a log cabin on the "Kidd Farm" on County Line Road south of Onaway. The family would spend summers on the farm, and winters in town, where his father was a butcher.

As told to Judy, his daughter (2000)
"When Max was young the family spent the summer on a farm "Kidd Farm". It was 120 acres, three quarters. To the left of the house was a low area with trees, to the right, fields. Max remembers a farm hand cutting a large pile of seed potatoes. They planted them and the harvest was mounds of potatoes in rows in the fields, machine harvested. The threshing machine was steam operated, with the engine 50 - 70 feet from the pile to be threshed. They checked the wind direction. They threshed 2 farms in a day. The machine went down the road at 2 - 3 miles per hour. A long belt with one twist operated the threshing part (where they put in sheaves of grain).
Guy bought a store in town. There was a store in front, living in the back, and rented rooms upstairs. He got into cars very early.
Guy tried to get Max into the car business. Max didn't like it. He always had his own agenda, and the Illsley boys input. They shared interests. Guy gave Max several cars to sell to get him started. He didn't do well, not that interested. Chuck was good at it and quit high school to sell".

In 1926 the family left Onaway and moved to Muskegon, where other members of the family had moved. The economy in Onaway declined after the American Wood Rim Co. burned in 1926. They only stayed in Muskegon for a couple of months, before leaving for Florida. They only got as far as Georgia, living in Albany and Thomasville, where his father found work. His brother Chuck remembers (2000), " When living in Georgia, Max worked for Woodhall, a sign painter. He earned $10.00 and wanted to buy a sweet roll. His mother made him get a soup bone."

In 1929 they returned to Muskegon, mostly because they were homesick for family.

He graduated from Muskegon High School in 1933(1935).

In 193? he entered Michigan State University in Lansing. He roomed with Walter Illsley,

On August 5, 1939 he married Margaret Louise Hoerle.
(Email from Margaret, May, 2002.
Max and I were married at Marny's home, 20 East Muskegon Avenue. We had his family and my family in attendance. Dr. Sam Oliver was the minister. After the wedding Marny had a caterer serve a luncheon to the people attending the wedding.)

In 1946 he was a Project Engineer for Continental Motors. He was promoted to Qualtiy Control to because he was trying to organize the department, and this would stop his organizing activities. Two or three weeks later he quit to go to China, working for UNRRA

He died of large cell lymphoma. He entered the hospital on March 11, 2004 after a vacation of 6 weeks in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. He died on April 4, 2004. His body was donated to Michigan State University, Anatomy Department. The family held a memorial service at McGraft Church on July 11, 2004. His ashes were returned and interred in Lakeside Cemetery in the plot with his mother-in-law, Margaret Dennis. A graveside service was held on August 7, 2006, with just his family, including brothers and sister in attendance.

BENHAM, Guy Maxwell (I234)

102

He died as a result of a fever contracted while working on the Burma railway. (Antoon Reintjes email 10 Jan 2003)

His military number was 91045. (Jos Reintjes, email December 2002)

REINTJES, Theodorus Jacobus (I668)

103

He married a Mary ?, and had several children: Crystal, Shirley (who married a Claude Mull and lived on a farm in the middle of Michigan), Reva (who married Phil Rhodes), and Phil. Guy and Ethel named their son, Philip, for this relative.
Chuck remembers going to a reunion at the Claude Mull farm in 1937.
There was also a 1930 reunion in Ionia, MI, with Hody and Mary Thomas. We have a photograph from that reunion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1900 Census
Vickeryville, Bloomer Twp., Montcalm Co., MI
Sheet 8, Microfilm roll 623, Roll 733

Thomas, Horace b Sept 1854 41
Mary E. b Feb 1865 35
Olive Crystal b Nov 1891 8
Riva S. b Dec 1895 4
Shirley M. b Aug 1899 9/12

They were married eleven years. She had four births and three children living. He is listed as a day laborer.

1910 Census
Bushnell Township, Montclam Co., MI

Thomas, Hoarce H head m w 51 m 20 born MI
Mary E. wife f w 45 m 20 born MI
Olive C. dau f w 18 s born MI
Sarah R dau f w 14 s born MI
Shirley M dau f w 10 s born MI
Philip H son m w 8 s born MI

She is listed as having five children, four living.

THOMAS, Horace "Hody" (I1037)

104

He was a brother of Norman Russell, who married Maude Perkins.

RUSSELL, Jesse (I74)

105

He was a marble dealer. CFB speculates that he was responsible for the large stone that marks the Benham plot. Robert Benham named Lenna Mattison in his will.
He is listed in the 1860 (August) Census. Elkhart Twp., Elphart Co., Indiana. Page 219, line 321.
His name is sometimes spelled Madison.

MATTISON, Andrew J. (I412)

106

He was a wheelwright, and lived in the town of Newark Valley, Tioga CO, NY (Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, New York, 1785 - 1888.
He had nine children.

TRUESDELL, Jesse (I823)

107

He was admitted to the First Church of Charlestown, MA, with his brother Thomas on December 18, 1637.

Bibliograpy:

Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown. Vol 23, pg, 279

RICHARDSON, Samuel (I20)

108

Her birth was legitimized at the marriage of her parents. She was unmarried and had no occupation at the time she left St. Oedenrode alone for Bay City, MI, North America, on November 23, 1892.

Aunt Ria (Maria Rientjes, daughter of Petrus) said that Anna Maria's married name was Duval.

DER KINDEREN, Anna Maria (I792)

109

Her death certificate lists Tuberculosis as the cause of death. (Presque Isle County. Liber 1, page 197)

GILLETT, Alice Merle (I80)

110

Her last residence was the same as Jacob Reintjes's, 48203 Highland Park, Wayne, MI. She was the daughter of Jacob's second wife.

WILSON, Katherine (I804)

111

Homer had a planeing mill in Onaway. He moved to Balm Cresent, then Alhambra, Alberta, Canada, where he had a saw mill. He had seven children:
Will James, 1897
Anna Mae, 1899
Kathleen Alberta, 1903 in Onaway
Ethel Genevieve, 1907
Herbert Blair, 1901
Alma Gertrude, 1914
Jennie (Joy) Allan, 1917

Jack Benham corresponded with Anna and Jennie. In 1987 there was a Stockwell reunion in Arian. Chuck, Max, and Maxine went. Anna fell and broke her hip then.

STOCKWELL, Homer (I1028)

112

Howard Wands was in World War I and was gassed. Afterwards, he had violent attacks, and died as a result.

Chuck Benham said that Curtis went to San Francisco and was into drugs. Howard is legally blind. Jerry has a family and lives a normal life and is in Oklahoma City.

WANDS, Howard (I683)

113

In 1857 BF Thomas was a witness in Detroit to the marriage of Eliza Woodbeck Benham Willcox and Charles Gould. Charles was from Ypsilanti at the time of his marriage.

JLBW visited the Soop Cemetery in August, 1988. It is off Rt. 94 in Belleville. Their plot is in the southwest corner of the cemetery.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1860. Sarah Benham was 18, and BF Thomas 25. They lived in the Ypsilanti - Milan area.

1870 Census.
Belleville, Van Buren Twp., Wayne Co., MI. page 35

Thomas, Benjamin Franklin 35 cabinetmaker Ohio
Sarah E. 28 hskpr. NY
Horace 11 (?)
Ella 9
Ettie 8
Rose 6
Oliva "Lydia" 4

1880 Census.
Milan, York Twp, Washtenaw Co., MI

Thomas, B Frank 48 ? keeps saloon ?
Ettie 18 house keeper MI
Lydia 14 Helps keep house MI
Frank 6 MI

(son Franklin, born 1876 (died 1889)

THOMAS, Benjamin Franklin (I38)

114

In 1919 Sam and Buelah moved from Onaway to Muskegon. They took Norman Russell with them. They traveled in a covered wagon, pulled by a mule, and covered 20 miles a day. It took three weeks. At night they camped with other travelers in campgrounds by streams. Norm remembers, and liked, the sound of the chains on the wagon rattling as they traveled.

Sam Dubois was a Spiritualist, but the rest of the family thought he was "a faker" with his Spiritualism. In Lakeside in Muskegon, he worked for a lumbermill, on logs in the water, pulling them up into the mill.

Sam's father, Peter Dubois was an Orangeman, an Irish Protestant, from New Paltz, NY. He would wear an orang vest.

1910 Census. Onaway, Presque Isle Co., MI

Dubois, Samuel head m w 39 m 17 yrs. b. NY
Beulah wife f w 37 m 17 yrs b. MI
Vinnie dau f w 15 s b. MI
Charlie son m w 11 s b. MI
Mabel D. dau f w 7 s b. MI
(Mabel Del died on June 2, 1910)

DUBOIS, Sam (I69)

115

In an email on 12 January 2003, Antoon Reintjes said this family had six children. His source of information was Grada Koopmans-Reintjes, Den Haag, a descendant of one of those children, Theodorus, born July 21, 1758.

REINTJES, Theodorus (I569)

116

In the 1880 Census they are in Leslie, Ingham Co., MI. (page 50) She is 33 and he is 27.

BURCHARD, John W. (I1025)

117

Information from Fredrick Charles "Chuck" Benham about his grandparents.

They moved to Belleville, Wayne Co, MI, soon after they were married, and lived there until 1873, when they moved to Milan, Monroe Co, Mi. In 1883 they moved to Juddville, MI., and 1891 to Onaway. In 1894 they moved to Wildwood (Tuskarora Twp.), to "the Stone place", where their last child, Guy was born, with only Beulah and Charles Henry in attendence.
Charles worked at a blacksmith shop, which later became a ball diamond, when they first went to Onaway, until they moved to Wildwood.
"Grandma and Grandpa Benham lived where Huron House in summer in aprox. 1901, when they built the log house on the 40 acres by Black River, which Uncle Fred (Fred Richardson) bought and gave to Grandma Alice. But spent the following winter at Maycomber and Bale Lumber Camp. He blacksmithed for them the following summer. Grandma and Grandpa boarded people, resorters from outside for fishing. Lived around Wildwood until 1907 or 8, and then moved to the farm and built the blacksmith shop, but really didn't use it much as they would go to Onaway in winter to work."
9-14-78. Dad told me an odd thing about G'ma B. She would not fry fish with the head on for any of the resorters.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles H. Benham liked to play jokes. He would take a spoon, put it in hot tea, then touch someone with it (when they were at the table). He was alergic to eggs, and probably suffered from asthma. He was a Mason, 32nd degree.

It was a family tradition to have Oyster Stew on New Year's Eve.

----------------------
Written by Alice Richardson, after Mabel's death in 1913

Alice Richardson was born in Binghampton, New York State, July 7, 1853, and in '56 came to Michigan with her parents Dr. and Mrs. Richardson, who located at Matheren (?). In 1871 she was united in marriage to Charles H. Benham at Lansing, Ingham Co., Mich. To this union were born ten children, five sons and five daughters. Two sons died in infancy, one in early manhood, and one daughter, Mabel, having been laid away to rest. Others are

let no one see me after I die but just my own folks. sons and soninlaws pallbearers. My insurance is good for 6 years and 14 weeks ?????. Put the littlen plain gold ring that Fred gave me on my third (?) finger, my wedding ring on my first finger left hand. they are on my neck. do not comb my hair back smooth. the ????
(note: hard to read rest of the photocopy. JLBW)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information written by Fredrick Charles "Chuck" Benham

In 1999 at Dale Porter's funeral I got talking with some Burgess girls who were related to Dale Porter, and mentioned to one of them about F.L. Richardson (Fred) living in Juddville where some of the Benhams were born to C.H. and A.K.R. Benham. And the Burgess girl told me that Juddville was where the Burgess's lived before coming ot Onaway. So that makes another connection to the Benham and Richardson family that dated back in the early 1880's. Plus they were all Seventh Day Adventists, making their ties a little closer. This confirms my suspicitions the F. I. was in and around Onaway before the Benhams got there. Another find was on page 1of the tax ??? on the bottom fo the page, was the name of my Grandfather, Charles H. Benham. What a pleasant surprise.
Village of Onaway
1892. Chas Beham. Lot 13, Block 5. Value $100.00
This is where Charles H. Benham had his blacksmith shop and lived upstairs. It is where Maxon Field is now, on Black Lake Road.

Also:
1900. Estelle Kidd. 59.59 acres (a "short acre"). Value $150.00
This is where the writer, Charles F. Benham ws born in 1921. The "Kidd Farm".

We also found Census Records, 1884 in Harbor Springs, Little Traverse County. Fred Richardson, Florence and Archie. He was listed as a "teacher". So this puts F.I. in the Onaway area in 1883-4 which coincides with Charles H. Benham and family moving to Juddville in 1883. I wonder if they could have moved into F.I.'s home, which he left in 1883 to move north.

The "40" was looked up under the following description:
The N 1/2 of the SW 1/4 of Sect. "18". Town 34 No. of Range 2 East.
We have a deed made on the 11th of November, 1913 and all of the Benham Children had to sign off on it. This was about the time they built the house, "Hillside Farm". Maybe they borrowed money to build the new house and the bank required this Quit Claim Deed.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information from Chuck Benham (CFB)

More about the Benham-F.I. Richardson connection and sort of chronology of F.I.'s life. It is a followup on the 40 acres where Charles H. Benham lived in the early 1900's.
This information was in the tax records from 1891 to 1902 in Laksing MI, Historical Society.
1889 - Burgess to Benham 29.01 acres Value $25.00
1900 - Mrs Chas. Benham 29.01 acres $120.00
1901 - " " " " "
1902 - " " " " $150.00

The reason this "40" is only 29.01acres is, that it is on the West County Line Road. It is called a "correction line" due to the curvature of the earth. The size of the sections are "adjusted" to make up for this curvature. In this case there was also 5 acres sold off the front facing the road, and it lwft only 29.01 acres ot keep the lines even. This 5 acres is where the Siddle family lived.
We never knew why F.I. had the deed to this property put in his sister's (Mrs. Chas. Benham) name, but he did, and in 1906 he gave the farm to her, and in 1913 the Benhams buildt a new house on the back of the farm which was then called "Hillside Farm". They lived there until 1926, when C.H. Benham died (note: he died in 1928, she died in 1922. He lived with his children in his last 2 years and died in Flint, MI) Then through negligence and the Depression, the place was sold for back taxes in 19??

-----------------------------------------------------

In 1906 Charles H. Benham bought 12 plots in the Forest Twp. Cemetary in Tower. He paid 50 cents each for them.
People in the graves are as follows:

1 2 3 4 5 6 (1998)
Shirley Crowe Ruell
- G'ma CH AKR Fred - Forest Township Clerk
Gould Benham Benham Benham (Forest Twp. Cemetary records)
9148 S. Black River Rd.
7 8 9 10 11 12 (517) 733-8178

- Philip - - Mabel -
Benham Del
Dubois

-----------------------------------
CFB said that in the 1980's the widow of Charles H. Benham's partner was still living. She had his old blacksmith tools. Max had bought a corn planter from her, a manual one the you walk along with.

--------------------------------------------------
1880 Census. Michigan, Washtenaw Co., York Twp., Milan Soundex- B550
Vol 28, Ed243, Sheet 31, line 21
June 23, 1880
age where born
Benham, Charles 32 NY Blacksmith
Alice w 26 NY housewife
Bulah d 8 Mich
Mabel d 5 Mich
Daisy d 3 Mich
Beacher s 1/12 Mich

Charles and Alice, self and parents born in NY

1900 Census. Michigan. Allis Twp, Presque Isle Co. District 10, ED 146, Sheet 18
Done on June 26 or 27, 1900. Visit # 350
B550 Roll 22 T1052 738

d o b age months attended school
Benham
Charles Sept 1848 51 self and parents born in NY
Alice July 1853 46 self and parents born in NY
Mary April 1883 17 6
Fred Oct 1885 14 6
Belle Nov 1888 11 6
Clare Feb 1893 7 3
Guy July 1896 3 o

Alice is the mother of 10, 8 living. He is a blacksmith who owns his home free of mortgage. They had been married 28 years. All the children, except Guy were in school.

1910 Census Michigan. Allis Twp, Presque Isle Co.
B550 T1268 Reel 20 076 0169 0052

age born Father b Mother B
Benham
Charles 61 NY NY NY
Alice 56 NY Penn NY
Mary dau 26 Mich
Belle dau 21 Mich
Clare son 18 Mich
Guy son 15 Mich
Married 39 years, 10 children born, 7 living. Charles is a blacksmith, working in a shop. He owns his home on a farm free of mortgge. Children listed at home are all single.
Alice was born in NY, her father in PA, her mother in NY
Charles, his mother and father were all born in NY

1920 Census. City of Onaway, Presque Isle Co., MI
Fairview Ave.
self Father Mother
Benham, Charles H. head house owned free M W 71 Married NY NY NY
Alice wife F W 66 Married NY PA NY
Mary daughter F W 35 single MI MI MI

BENHAM, Charles Henry (I158)

118

Interview with Alice Redding. August 3, 1986
Clyde and Alice were married in a Baptist church in Onaway. Emma and Roy were living in Onaway at the time.
Clyde and Max Benham were helping Roy build a chicken coop. Clyde dropped dead by the chicken coop. Alice and Larry were there at the time.

PERKINS, Alice (I862)

119

Isaac and his wife may have died in Waterbury, CT.

BEECHER, Isaac (I297)

120

Jean Mepham said that John was raised by his grandmother, Jacob's first wife. She did not know why. (email 31 Mar 2002)

Email from Jean Mepham 10 Jan 2001
Edna married at the age of 16 (thus about 1912) and moved to California with Gallon. Her parents were divorced by then.
Edna's marriage to Gallon was short-lived. She married Charles Mepham, and they divorced when Charles Thomas was 12, thus about 1936. The children were dispersed to different places. Edna took the youngest child, Lois, who was about 2. Charles and his brother Russell had to bunk with his father and other relatives after the divorce. Edna remarried to a Selke. Edna moved out to California about 3 months after Charles Thomas married Jean Irvine, thus about January 1947, for her husband's health.

-----------------------------------
1920 Census.
Wayne County, 6-WD Detroit Series T625 Roll: 806 Page 87
(Found on Ancestry.com 9/24/2003)

377 Sixth Street
age sex race birthplace f.birthplace m.birthplace work where
Reintjes, Elizabeth C. h 39 f w MI millinar hat store
Gallon , Edna M. dau 23 f w MI Holland MI
Wellington S. son ? 1/20 m w MI Canada MI

Email from Jean Mepham29Dec2002
The Gallons moved to California when Edna did in the late 1940's or early 1950's. At least "Duke" and his family did. He died about a year and a half ago, I believe. John, the younger of the two is a widower, no children, and the last I heard of him he lives in Hemet, California. The family hasn't kept in touch with him.

REINTJES, Edna May (I795)

121

Jean Mepham said:
Eliza, also known as Elizabeth died in the Stevens Nursing Home in Cass City. She was the widow of George Holeshoe of Cass City. Holeshoe is buried in Elkland Cemetery in Cass City. Her name previous to her marriage to Holeshoe was Manual. Jean has no record of her previous marriage to that person.

1920 Census.
Wayne County, 6-WD Detroit Series T625 Roll: 806 Page 87
(Found on Ancestry.com 9/24/2003)

377 Sixth Street
age sex race birthplace f.birthplace m.birthplace work where
Reintjes, Elizabeth C. head 39 f w MI millinar hat store
Gallon, Edna M. dau 23 f w MI Holland MI
Wellington S. son ? 1/20 m w MI Canada MI

GILBERT, "Lizzi" Eliza (I794)

122

John Clare, known in the family as "Clare", was a sergent in WW I.

He was in charge of a CCC camp at Hartwick Pines, MI.

In 1925 he and Millie drove to Oregon with Mily's sister and her husband in two Model T cars.

BENHAM, John Clare (I268)

123

John had no children.

DEMICK, John R. (I84)

124

Joseph and Mary were married on December 1 (or 3), 1897, in Bay City Michigan.

The Archives in Lansing could find no naturalization papers for Joseph and Mary Duval. Before 19?? the wife became a citizen when the husband did. 9/2003JLBW.

1920 Census.
CT, New Haven Co., Waterbury. Supervisors district 2, Enumeration Dist. 471, Sheet 1
Fifth Ward, 632 East Mann (Main?)St.
rent mar date alien date
own age sing immig natural natural.
Duval, Joseph head r m w 44 m Un Na 1900
Mary wife f w 44 m 1893 Na 1900
Alma dau f w 17 s
Joseph, Jr son m w 20 s

Everyone is able to read and write, and speaks English. Joseph was born in Canada and his mother tongue was French. Mary was born in Holland and her mother tongue was Dutch. His parents were born in Canada, and hers in Holland. Joseph works as a better in a brass factory, Mary does not work, Alma is a helper in a factory, and Joseph Jr. is a lathe hand in a factory. They all work for a wage.

1930 Census.
CT, New Haven Co., Waterbury. Enumeration 5-269, Supervisors District 1, Sheet 8
Cheshire Rd. Fifth Ward.
rent age 1st date
own age married immig.
Duval, Joseph head 1/2o m w 57 m 25 1880
Mary wife f w 56 m 24 1894

Joseph was born in Canada, and French is his native language. Mary was born in Holland and Dutch is her native language.
He works as a better in a brass factory, and she has no occupation.

(From his death certificate) Joseph died of acute myocardial failure and was found dead at 6 am in the morning. He was living at 2864 East Main St., Waterbury at the time of his death. His occupation was "factory worker - S? N?.P.A.
He had lived in Waterbury for 40 years and in the US for 59 years. Thus he came to the US when he was about 7 years old.
Marie was still living, age 65.

DUVAL, Joseph (I1146)

125

Josua Reintjes said that Andries stayed in Herwen, but Henricus was a soldier in Brabant and Belgium, and married a woman from Tilburg.

REINTJES, Andries (I665)

126

Josua Reintjes said that Jan (1789) was married three times. Johanna van Hal was his second wife. Jan 6, 2003.

REINTJES, Johannes (Jan) (I567)

127

At least one living or private individual is linked to this note - Details withheld.

Living (I831)

128

Lived only one year. Email from Antoon Reintjes 12 January 2003.

VAN DIJK, Aldeke (I1129)

129

Mabel Del died of diptheria. She died during the night, and her body was immediately taken to the cemetary for burial. The family was quarentined until it was sure no one else was sick. One of the family memories was of her body transported in a wagon for burial.

DUBOIS, Mabel Dell (I73)

130

Married Frank Springer and had 7 or 8 children.

THOMAS, Lydia May (I1042)

131

Married George Segar, and had one child who died.

THOMAS, Etty Newton "Hattie" (I1039)

132

Married William Welch, but had no children.

THOMAS, Rose (I1040)

133

Maxine thinks her name may have come from Maxine Elliot, a stage star at the time she was born. JLBW 8/2004
For many years the family reunion was held at Maxine and Rich's farm.
Ashes placed in Hilton Township Cemetery, Casnovia, Muskegon County and at Tower Cemetery in Onaway, Michigan at the grave of Philip Benham, her brother.

BENHAM, Maxine Ethel (I83)

134

Mike was a state certified civil engineer, electrician and precision inspector. He was disabled in an industrial accident at the age of 32 ( about 1970), and on disability for many years.
He died of heart failure.

BENHAM, Michael Frances (I910)

135

Mildred and her husband went to Montana. Chuck Benham saw her in 1960 at a family reunion.

GILLETT, Mildred (I79)

136

N.S. Hoerle was born at his parent's home, 507 Napoleon St., Johnstown, PA

Newton attended Penn State University for one year, leaving when he was married. He was an engineer. When young he worked for Betley Steel. He told me (JLBW) that when he was ten he had a sledding accident and broke his nose, coming down a hill from Westmont and running into a car.
----------------------------------------------

Interview with Margaret Hoerle Benham (MHB), his daughter, by JLBW, MHB's daughter.

Newton and Margaret (MRH), his wife, were in Detroit in 1913, when she was born. He was working for Continental Motors. He is listed in the Detroit City Directory in 1914, Newton S. eng., h 582 Drake Ave.; in 1915, Newton S. clk., h 96 1/2 Coplin Ave.; and in 1916, Newotn S. clk., h 574 Reddigar. Then they moved to Elgin, Illinois, where he worked for the Elgin Street Sweeper Company. When Margaret was four, they moved to North Muskegon, MI, and he worked for Continental Motor Company again. North Muskegon was, and is, a very desirable place to live. They first lived in a rented house on _____________________, and later bought a house on __________________. Newton was very particular about who is daughter played with.
His son Frank had problems in learning, which MHB attributes to a very difficult birth.
When he and his wife were getting a divorce, around 1929, Newton moved to Detroit, where he still worked for Continental Motors. He is in the Detroit City Directory 1930 - 31, N.S. h 9373 E. Jeff Ave, Apt. 102; 1932-33 Newton S. (Lucille) slsmn, h 4197 Haverhill Ave.; 1934, Newton S. (Lucial) auto eng. r 1598 Montclair. No one in the family knows who Lucille or Lucial is.

Newton spent five years in Russia in the early 1930's. Amhorst was a company that hired people to work in Russia. MHB said that he came back at least once during that time. He told JLBW that he worked at the tractor factory in Stalingrad some of that time and that he met Stalin. He also was in Siberia and talked about trying to make engines run in the cold there. He said that he sent money to MRH via his brother, but MHB said that she and her mother and brother never received all of it. MRH worked in an office to support the children. When he returned from Russia, he wrote to MRH in Muskegon, saying that he would come to see her in a week. Within that week she married Sigmund Dennis. They were married on August 10, 1936, in Fort Wayne, Indianna. This was not a particularly happy marriage and they were divorced in __________.
----------------------------------------------------------

Notes by JLBW.

In about 1970 or 71 I visited Newton in Patton, PA, with mother (MHB). After he had drunk a large tumbler of "Old Grandad", he and mother talked about the divorce. She represented her mother's point ot view. There were still accusations, specific events were brought up and emotional discussions about whose fault the divorce was. It had been bitter and the bitterness was still there.

MHB believed that her birthday was April 12, 1914 until she applied for a passport to go to India. Her birth was not recorded in Detroit for that date. When she asked her mother if the birth had been recorded, she told her to ask for it on November 9, 1913. After they were married Newton and Margaret moved to Detroit. They concealed from their families that their daughter had been born in the fall after their marriage.

After returning from Russia, Newton worked for Easy Washers in Elgin. Illinois, and as chief engineer for Lennox Furnaces in Lima, Ohio. He retired from Lennox Furnaces and moved with his wife June Rhodi to a home he built just outside Patton, PA. In retirement he served on the board of Miner's Hospital. After June died in 19__, he married Edna Butler, a widow from Johnstown, PA.

He was operated on for an aneurysm on his aorta in 19__. Despite years of smoking and in later years more than an average alcohol intake, he was relatively healthy until his last few years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Marriage announcement. Johnstown, PA, Daily Tribune, July 16, 1913. page 15

PRETTY WEDDING ON HILLTOP BOROUGH
Miss Margaret Holmes Rush Becomes the Bride of Newton Swank Hoerle

The Rev. Dr. Jo. W. G. Fast, minister of the Franklin street, Methodist Episcopal Church, at 6:30 o'clock last evening united in marriage Miss Margaret Holmes Rush, of Westmont, and Newton Swank Hoerle, of the South Side, at the home of the bride's parents, Burgess and Mrs. Charles M. Rush, on Tioga street. The wedding march was played by Richard Kuntz, of Pittsburgh, a cousin of the bride, and only the immediate relatives of the young pair witnessed the ceremony, including Messrs. Richard and Ambrose Kuntz, both of Pittsburgh. The bridesmaid was Miss Sabina Rush, a sister of the bride, while Newton D. Swank, a student at the Gettysburg Theological Seminary, a cousin of the bridegroom, was best man.
The bride and bridesmaid were attired in white, the bride carrying white roses and lillies of the valley, while the bridesmaid carried pink roses. The home decorations were in white and green. A sumptuous wedding dinner was served following the tying of the nuptial knot.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoerle left the city last evening on train No. 1 for Niagrqa Falls, Buffalo, and other points in New York State before going to Detroit, where the groom is employed by the Cadillac Auto Company. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hoerle, of the Fifth Ward, and is a grandson of the venerable Robert Parsons, sr., the retired merchant tailor.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Margaret's parents home was at 110 Tioga Street, Johnstown, PA. MLHB said that she did not have a picture of her parents together. (for family weddings album) JLBW

_________________________________________________-

Conversation with Jim Hoerle (son of Joe Hoerle, brother of Newton)

In 1928 or 1928 Newton went to Russia on a ten year contract. He was working at Continental when he got the job offer, and he stayed about 9 years, coming home once after five years. Most to the time he worked in Magnatorgosk. He recieved his pay in half gold and half rubles. He sent money for his children via a relative, however Margaret claimed she did not get the money. He came home to try to straighten this out. The Russians lifted his visa while he was in the US, but he got it back. The foreign workers were given their rubles just before they left. They artifically lowered the exchange rate at this time to cheat them. Newt stayed a few more days to get the higher rate when it went up again. Upon leaving Russia, he took the train to Germany and worked for about 6 months in the Kurpp Works before coming home.

In 1940 Newt moved to Lima. He was married to June by then. He took is brother Joe's children, Joe and Jim (aged 6) to stay with them that summer. Joe had an alcohol problem and thought the military would help him. Joe returned to his mother, but Jim ended up staying with Newt and June for 3 1/2 years. He was with his mother when his father was discharged. His father came to their house, but went to a hotel, and only stayed a few days. That is the last Jim ever saw of his father. His ashes were returned to the family from New Jersey.

______________________________

Conversation with Margaret Hoerle Benham by JLBW

Newt and June were married when Max and Margaret got married. Newt and June were living in Syracuse, and he worked at either Carrier Corp. or Easy Washer. He asked if she wanted to be married in Syracuse. Margaret said no, because her mother wouldn't have gone.

Margaret thinks he was without a job and "floated around" for a few years after getting back from Russia.

The divorce was finalized in 1930 or 31. In 1930 - 31 she, her brother and mother lived in Johnstown, PA. She went to PA when in the sixth grade for 1/2 a year in Westmont. They lived with her grandmother. They returned to Muskegon and her mother went to the Howell School of Business (later Muskegon Business College, the Baker College). They lived in the Clock Apartments, and mother went to junior high. Later they moved ot a house on Peck Street. Her mother got a job at Grossman's in the office. After a fire at the store, she went to work for Sigmund Dennis, whom she later married. Margaret knows his daughter from another marriage. She says he spoke Polish, but claimed to be from Germany. He had a sister in Italy.

HOERLE, Newton Swank (I644)

137

Name also spelled Beshia or Betheah. (Vestal Cemetary Records)

PADDOCK, Bethiah (I809)

138

Obituary. Bay City Tribune. Tuesday, September 14, 1909.
Missing; Body Found in Slip. Henry Reintjes, 11 years old, Drowned Unnoticed by His Companions. Clothing Lay on the Dock. Police Begin Seach with Grappling Irons and Body Found on Bottom near Boat House.
Henry Reintjes, 11 years old, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Reintjes, 1734 Mc Kinley avenue, was drowned late yesterday afternoon in the slip at the foot of Tenth street. The boy, with several companions, had gone in swimming . For some time the youngsters paddled about in the slip, disporting themselves and paying little attention to who was and who was not in the water. When the boys climbed out and began dressing, it was noticed that one pile of clothing lay undisturbed. A quick count to see who was missing developed the fact that young Reintjes had not been seen for several moments.
The boys searched for a few minutes and then concluded that their companion had been drowned. They told employees of the Bay City Power & Electric Co., at the plant near by, and the latter notified the police.
Patrolmen Catlin, Markel, and Bartlett went to the slip with grappling irons and began a search that lasted until 9 o'clock. The patrolmen and coroner were discussing quitting the work until this morning, when the grappling irons caught. The boy's father had been notified and he assisted in the search, leaving only a few moments before the body was found.
The boy's body was brought to the surface an removed to Undertaker George N. Ewell's undertaking parlors, Center avenue.

REINTJES, Jacob Henry (I796)

139

On July 31, 1874 Perthina wrote a letter to Belle and Alice (Richardson), telling them that they had a legacy from their Grandfather Samuel Truesdale. Evidently she sent the money ($100) from the sale of property, to Fred and Oro. She asked them to give $20.00 to each of Cordelia's children.
In the letter she says she is 72 and living with Teressa and James.

WILSON, Perthina (I506)

140

On the 1920 Census he was 20, and listed as a lathe hand in a factory.

(Information from Social Security Application) He was living at 195 Atwood Ave, Waterbury. He worked of R. F. Worden, Sons, 152 Cherry St. His father's middle name was Tiphele. Application date, December 3, 1936.

(Information from his death Certificate) He was a retired Custodian for the Town of Cheshire, Board of Education. He died of a myocardial infarction. He was living at 121 East Mtichell Ave., Cheshire, CT. 06410.

ERNEST, Duval Joseph Jr. (I597)

141

Only lived one or two months.

DEMICK, Archie Earl (I633)

142

Oro was the "bad boy" of the family, a gambler. He left decendants in Montana and Wisconsin (?). He married Minnie ? and had Flora, Hody, Lula, and 2 more children. Hody died of cancer of the liver in Alpena, MI, at the age of 20.

He founded the American Co-operative Employment Union, Alpena, MI. The family has a copy of a pamphlet he wrote for them.

1880 Census
Michigan

4 Baidy St
Richardson, Oro w m 28 cigar manufacturer b. NY, father NY, mother PA
Minnie w f 24 keeping house b.Mich, father not known, mother MI
Flora w f 4 at home b. MI
Horace w m 1 at home b. MI

This is a two family house, and they share it with another cigar maker and his wife.

RICHARDSON, Oro Ira (I488)

143

Riva married Phil Rhodes

THOMAS, Riva Sarah (I618)

144

Roy never married.

Emma Perkins bought the house in Hart and Roy lived there with her.

Chuck... (2000) Guy Benham told the story that Roy was going steady with a girl in Onaway. She broke her date one Saturday night, and when he saw her next, she was married.
Max Benham heard that he had a girlfriend in Muskegon.

Roy was stubborn, and very neat and clean. He worked at Shaw Walker and at Gerber's in Fremont. He did carpenter work for his relatives. On his death certificate, he is listed as a fruit farmer.

MCGILLIS, Roy John (I867)

145

Sarah was not with her mother and brother in the 1850 census, when they were living with the Fileston family. Sarah would have been eight years old then. She married at age 15. She named her first son, Horace. Beecher had a brother, Horace, so could she have been living with that family?

-------------------------
1850 Census
Charleston, Kalamazoo County, MI Sept 16, 1850

Orra Bush 57 m Mass
Sophia " 54 f NY
Henry W. " 33 m NY
Obediah " 16 m MI
Helen M Bush 18 f MI
Sarah E. Benham 6 f MI

Also nearby
Harvey Bush 24 NY
Laura " 21 NY
Henry " 2 MI
Ellen " 1 MI

Could this be our Sarah E. Benham? In the 1850 Census for Hopewell, Ontario Co., NY there is a:
Henry C. Bush 24 NY
Ellen " 22 NY
Mary Ann " 3 NY
Andrew M. " 1 NY
This family is in the census next to Jonathan Benham, aged 47, who could be the brother of Beecher Sr.

BENHAM, Sarah (I368)

146

Served in the Navy submarine service in WW II with his brother Scott. His grandson James Hansen wrote a biography of him that was printed in the Oceana (MI) Connection, Hearld-Journal, December 5, 1991.

__________________________________-

RUSSELL, Benjamin Earl (I884)

147

She is buried in Lot 6, Section 97, grave 12, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield, MI

WILSON, Margaret (I667)

148

She lived to be 102 years old and was alert to nearly her death.

MULLIGAN, Millie (I99)

149

She moved to Braintree, VT as a child. She had four children by her first husband, Samuel Vinton.

FLINT, Patty (I523)

150

She was called "Boo".

DUBOIS, Behlah (I876)

Quick Links

Contact Us

Webmaster Message

We make every effort to document our research. If you have something you would like to add, please contact us.