Leonard Josiah Benkelman

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 he enlisted in the US Army on 28 Jun 1917, and served as a corporal in Company F, 128th infantry in Alsace, Meuse-Argonne and from July 1918 to April 1919 in the Army of Occupation. He was honorably discharged on May 18, 1919 to return to Portage and pick up his former occupation, which he had listed as farming and butchering. He died in a Veteran's Administration hospital, in Wood County, Wisconsin of advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Not one attended his burial service, and the flag that draped his casket was sent to his father Leonard in Portage, care of general delivery (pp. 111 and 112, citing WW I service record, serial number 285761, provided courtesy of Harry M. Jackson, Director, Administrative Services of the Veterans Administration)

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

Myrtle married Frank X. Marx on 12 Jun 1923 in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin. Frank was born on 4 May 1898 in Wisconsin; died in Feb 1984 in Houghton, Houghton County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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