Donald R. Marx

Notes:

MARX, Donald R. 85, of Seminole, died Thursday, Dec. 28 following a long illness. He was born Aug. 23, 1927, in Madison, WI, the son of Frank and Myrtle Marx. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Judy; his daughter, Gail Hughes of Webster, NY; two stepsons, John Barker of Granville, OH and Bob Barker of Champaign, IL; 8 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Don served in the U.S. Army in Japan, and upon his return he began a 40 year career with the J. C. Penney Company. He retired in 1987 in Houghton, MI. He was a member of Calvary Episcopal Church. Don was preceded in death by his parents and one grandchild. Services will be held on Jan. 15 at Calvary Episcopal Church, Indian Rocks Beach beginning at 10 am. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Episcopal Church.
Published in the Tampa Bay Times on January 9, 2013

Notes:

This listing on the SSDI is assumed to be his, as the year of birth is correct and as Houghton, MI was also the last residence of his wife, Myrtle:

FRANK MARX 04 May 1898 Feb 1984 49931 (Houghton, Houghton, MI ) 49931 (Houghton, Houghton, MI ) 390-09-0814 Wisconsin


(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Wisconsin, Dane County, Madison, 9th Ward
Enumerated 3 Apr 1930
ED 13-89 SD 12 Sheet 2B
614-36-38
Marx, Frank X. O $7000 R M W 31 M 24 Wisc Wisc Wisc Di??? Manager Dry Goods Store
Marx, Myrle A. Wf F W 30 M 23 Wisc Wisc Wisc
Marx, Donald R Son M W 2 6/12 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

Frank married Myrtle Benkelman on 12 Jun 1923 in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. Myrtle (daughter of Leonard Josiah Benkelman and Friedericke "Rieka" Koch) was born on 24 Sep 1899 in Lewiston, Columbia County, Wisconsin; died in Apr 1984 in Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

At the time of the 1920 Federal Census, Myrtle was a roomer in the home of Thomas and Gladys Carey of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin (SD 3, ED 60, Sheet 9B). She wsa listed as age 20, single, and a Telephone Operator.

She and Frank were married and parents of Donald at the time of the 1930 census.

Art Peck shows she died in Madison, Wisconisn, no date listed. The SSDI seems to indicated her last residence was actually Houghton, Michigan.

MYRTLE MARX 24 Sep 1899 Apr 1984 49931 (Houghton, Houghton, MI ) (none specified) 388-26-9543 Wisconsin

Notes:

On his registration card for World War I, he was listed as Leonard Josiah Benkelman, born October 12, 1872 and a resident of Portage, Wisconsin. He was a farmer, tall, slender build, with blue eyes and dark hair. His mother was shown as Sarah Benkelman of Portage.

At the time of the 1930 Federal census, Leonard was a boarder in the home of Charles and Julia Langford in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin (ED 11-24, SD 9, Sheet 6A, Stamped 69). He was listed as age 58, widowed, born in Wisconsin, and a Farm Laborer.

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that he was cared for by the Dreyer family in his later years, Harold Dreyer being the son of a niece of Friedericke's. (Jacobs, p. 112).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 4
Enumerated 5 Jun 1900
SD 1 ED 21 Sheet 4B
88-92
Benkelman, Leonard Hd W M Oct 1870 29 M 6 Wisc Germany Germay Day Laborer
Benkelman, Reaka Wf W F July 1866 33 M 6 2/2 Wisc Germany Germany
Benkelman, John Son W M Oct 1895 4 S Wisc Wisc Wisc
Benkelman, Myrtle Dtr W F Sept 1899 8/12 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

1910 Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 1
Enumerated 18 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 4B
220-37-38
Benkelmann, John Hd M W 74 m1 52 Ger-German Ger-German Ger-German
Benkelmann, Sarah Wf F W 75 m1 52 7/2 Pa Pa Pa
Benkelmann, Frank Son M W 46 S Iowa Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelmann, Lenard Son m W 45 Wd Wisc Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelman, John Jr Grandson M W 14 S Wisc Wisc Wisc
Benkelman, Myrtle Granddtr F W 10 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

Leonard married Friedericke "Rieka" Koch on 12 Jun 1894 in Columbia County, Wisconsin. Friedericke was born in Jul 1866 in Wisconsin; died on 20 Nov 1904 in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that she died of complications from diabetes. (p. 111)

Notes:

Married:
BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that Leonard and Fredericka established their home in Portage after their marriage.

Notes:

Johannes Benkelmann was referenced as applying to emigrate to North America in 1850 by Schenk, Trudy and Froelke, Ruth The W?rttemberg Emigration Index Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Vol. 5. 1988. 240 p. Source Code 8057.8, p 14. Also indexed with hims were Johann Adam and Catharine Benkelman (1851) and Johan Georg Benkelman (1850). Census records indicate he emigrated in 1852, though German church records show that actually "ist 1851 ausgewandert."

BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Johannes, at the age of 15, made the journey to America with his older brother, Adam, and Adam's new wife, Catharina Schaufele. When the three of them left, they not only had to receive a release from the authorities that they had no outstanding debts, they also were required to have someone remaining in Germany to act as guarantor for any unknown debts that might later be discovered. Eldest brother Friedrich act as guarantor for Adam, whereas Johann Georg Stager, a citizen and farmer in B?rtlingen, was the guarantor of Johannes. Johannes arrived in Hamburg to depart for the United States a few days later than Adam and Catherine, June 23, 1851 versus June 19, but BonnieMargaret assumed they travelled on the same ship, (p. 81).

He is said to have stayed in New York for some period, presumably with Adam and Catherine, before later leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin with another brother, Leonard. Leonard later moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, whereas Johannes remained near Milwaukee, in Rock County. It was here that John was married in 1857, and from census records it is apparent he and Sarah moved to several other states before returning to Wisconsin.

He was a Private in Captain John Hauser's Company D, 48th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry from February 1865 to November 1865. His declaration for pension dated February 22, 1907 describes him as 6 feet an one-half inches tall, light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. His occupation was shown as blacksmith.

BonnieMargaret writes that John and Sarah moved from Rock County sometime after the birth of daughter Minnie, going northwest to Columbia County where they were live out the rest of their lives, settling first in Marsalla and later in Lewiston. After John could not longer farm, due to rheumatism, they retired to the town of Portage. (p. 108).

The following article appeared in the Cass City Chronicle four months before John's death. An obituary was not located, however.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, September 29, 1916

Mrs. M.M. Schwegler left Tuesday for Portage, Wisconsin to visit her brother, John Benkelman, who is in feeble health. Mrs. Schwegler is expected to remain there two weeks.

(Research):

Census Information:

1860 Census
Illinois, Wayne County, DuPage, P.O. Wayne Station
Page 358
2630 2681
John Binkleman 24 M Blacksmith $2000 $300 Wittemberg
Sarah Binkleman 26 F Penn
Emma Binkleman 2 F Ohio
Louisa Binkleman 1 F Ohio
Wm. Keech 24 M Blacksmith Penn

1870 Federal Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Marcellon, P.O. Randolph
Enumerated 1 June 1870
Page 21, Stamped 213
166-172
Benkelman, John 34 M W Farmer $1000 $428 Wertemburg
Benkelman, Sarah 36 F W Keeping House Pennsylvania
Benkelman, Franklin 6 M W At home Iowa
Benkelman, Minnie A 4 At Home Wisconsin
Divina, Mary 25 F W At Home Wertemburg


1880 Federal Census
Census Place:Marcellon, Columbia, Wisconsin Source:FHL Film 1255420 National Archives Film T9-1420
Page 17 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John BENKELMAN Self M M W 44 W?rttemberg Occ: Blacksmith And Farmer Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: W?rttemberg
Sarah J. BENKELMAN Wife F M W 45 PA Occ: Keeping House Fa: PA Mo: PA
Franklin BENKELMAN Son M S W 16 IA Occ: At Home Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA
Minne BENKELMAN Dau F S W 13 WI Occ: At Home Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA
Leonard J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 7 WI Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA
Cora E. BENKELMAN Dau F S W 3 WI Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA

1910 Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 1
Enumerated 18 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 4B
220-37-38
Benkelmann, John Hd M W 74 m1 52 Ger-German Ger-German Ger-German
Benkelmann, Sarah Wf F W 75 m1 52 7/2 Pa Pa Pa
Benkelmann, Frank Son M W 46 S Iowa Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelmann, Lenard Son m W 45 Wd Wisc Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelman, John Jr Grandson M W 14 S Wisc Wisc Wisc
Benkelman, Myrtle Granddtr F W 10 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

Johannes married Sarah Jane Keech on 7 Jun 1857 in Emerald Grove, Rock County, Wisconsin. Sarah was born on 24 Aug 1834 in Pennsylvania; died on 28 Nov 1921 in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that their first three children, Emma, George and Louisa, all died of fever (p. 107), Emma first, who was a few month past her fourth birthday, George died a month later, still just a baby, and then finally Louisa, some five months later, at age 3 and 1/2.

BonnieMargaret also noted that "The Benkelmans of Portage are buried in Silver Lake Cemetery, but the only record of that is with the cemetery sexton. None of the graves bears a marker. (p. 112).