Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr.

1863 - 1952  (88 years)

• Name	Benjamin Franklin Benkelman  [1, 2, 3]
  Suffix	Sr.
  Birth	24 Sep 1863	Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  Death	7 Sep 1952	Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Burial	Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan
  Notes	Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs writes that "Ben Benkelman accompanied his parents to Denver in 1880, where his oldest brother George Adam Benkelman married Mary Barbara Rommel. Ben did not return to Cass City with his parents, choosing to instead try his hand at the ranching business. He went to work for his uncle and brother as a cowboy. The Benkelman ranching operations were on the border between Nebraska and Kansas, near the Colorado state line. The Benkelmans shipped many cattle out of Collinsville, Nebraska. On one drive to ship cattle in 1882, they were honored with the removal of the Collinsville sign and the installation of the Benkelman sign. It is still known as Benkelman, Nebraska today. Benkelman Township, in Cheyenne County, Kansas is also named for the family. Cheyenne County was surveyed in 1873-1874 following the signing of an Act by Governor Osborne creating a number on new counties. It was opened for enrollment in 1885. The census at March 1, 1885 gave the population at Cheyenne County at 204, with at least 15 of this number associated with the Benkelman Ranch. A year later, the population was 1256. The Benkelman men were industrious and hard working. They were well respected in the community. The biggest challenge they faced were the extremes in weather. In September, 1885, the T Wrench Ranch has 15,000 head of cattle. The winter of 1886 was a complete diaster for the Benkelmans. Only 125 head of the 15,000 survived. But the family continued to stay on their feet. In 1893-1894, there were 18 months of absolutely no moisture. Feed was scare and had to be shipped in. All the inhabitants of Cheyenne County were in trouble, and people moved out of it in droves. After this, the ranch was turned over to Ben Benkelman. The rest of the family removed themselves from the ranching business." Below are excerpts from letters written by Ben, while he was working as a ranch hand, to a cousin in Cass City, Michigan. The original letters are owned by the family of Ben's grandson, Bob Benkelman, and the transcriptions below were done by Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs. 8-xx-1880 Republican River, Wallace, Kansas. Branded 3600 head of cattle and will start tomorrow to brand 2500 more for Tony. 11-5-1880 George went to Denver about three weeks ago for the winter. I'm in the line camp, and it's living like a mole in the ground. Wakened this morning with snow on my bed. Write to me at the new post office in Wano. 3-17-1881 Haven't seen a girl in four months. There was a dance about 50 miles from here and about 20 of us cowboys went. 9-22-1881 Wano. Plenty of work here now. Just got back from shipping beef and then go again the first of October. 1-xx-1882 Wano. Buffalo is getting scarce, but there's still lots of antelope. You come in the fall when we ship beef and then you could go to Chicago with the cattle. More railroads coming through here now. About 30 miles from here is the station called Benkelman. It is the B&M railroad and will go straight from Denver to Chicago. 6-6-1883 Benkelman. Had a dance at Atwood, Kansas just before I cam here from the ranch. Some girls live 25 miles down river. The mail is 22 miles away, so I go see the girls then pick up the mail on my way back. 1-5-1884 Went to school one day and teacher said I could come back, but I'm too busy. 2-3-1884 We're going to a dance on the 22nd, and there will be some girls there. Don't worry because we're not as bad as the Idaho boys. 3-xx-1884 Soon I have to gather 100 head of cattle which are on the range all winter. 4-25-1884 There's a dance tonight--the last before we start work. Going South to the Arkansas River this summer for 2 or 3 months. George was here from Denver a few days ago. The cook is setting dinner. 8-xx-1884 Back from the Arkansas. Have been stopping along the trail where Texas cattle are coming up. I was there to keep them from our range. Aunty is down from Denver, and doing so much talking I can't write. I bought 50 head of yearlings for $15.25 each. 10--18-1884 Steers worth $30 to $40 a head. There's antelope here and plenty of turkeys but buffalo are scarce. Wages are just fair, $25 to $50 a month. We've got all beef steers shipped now. 12-xx-1884 Staying alone now with no work except taking care of a few horses and cooking. It's boring here, but I make up for it when I go for the mail--12 miles from here. 7-8-1884 Building a sod stable 84 x 15. Will have 5,000 head of cattle to brand, and it will take 5 days. On the 4th, I went to Wano and it was no fun so I went on down river 3 miles, but missed the young folks. It was 4 0'clock and I didn't want to miss the fun on the holiday so started for the city of Benkelman which is 20 more miles. Had a big dance, but had to ride 30 miles home the next day. Went to Denver 3 weeks ago. Got there about 8 p.m. and we spent the evening principally on Holiday Street. Guess what they do on Holiday street! [Dick Fischbach informed me that: " Holladay Street (note correct spelling) was the site of early Denver's notorious red light district, replete with crooked gambling dens, cheap saloons, dance halls, cribs and expensive brothels. Anything cowpunchers wanted was available on Holladay Street.] 1-xx-1885 All alone this winter, but only have to cook, eat and sleep. I'm burning coal so there is no wood to chop. I have 2 horses to ride. It's 12 miles to the nearest girl. 4-27-1885 Benkelman. Atwood, Kansas is about 60 miles from here. The area is settling up fast now. Farmers coming every day and taking up land. The cattle will have to leave. The range is getting too small for those large herds. I take care of 120 head of horses. I duck hunt because there's lots of ducks now. 11-25-1885 Wano. Got back yesterday from Sturgis and had a good time there. So many girls! (Note: Ben married Minnie Jesse of Sturgis on the JC Ranch in 1892). 1-7-1886 Snow is a foot deep on the level. I'm cooking for the boys now. It's o.k. until warm weather. Wish I'd stayed in school. 2-9-1886 Two of the boys have started for the Arkansas River to look of cattle that have gone down there. 200 head of horses to feed here every day--about 2 tons a day. That's exercise, and gives me appetite, so I'm at 175 lbs now. 4-18-1886 Went down to Benkelman last week for 2 days and had a good time. We're moving cattle up west to Colorado. Kansas is getting too thick for cattle now. Some nice, fat gals moving in now. 1-7-1887 Wallace. Traveling and staying near Wallace. Riding around town to town watching the farmers to keep them from killing our cattle. I'm working for $40 a month and all expenses. 7-7-1887 We're out on the range with 15-20 men in camp every night. We have a good time singing and playing. Address your next letter to Wallace, Kansas. 9-12-1888 We're shipping cattle to Chicago. Soon we'll be done then head back to the ranch for the winter. Send your next letter to St. Francis. 11-xx-1888 Cousin George took the cattle to Chicago this year. 1-xx-1889 I'm living alone this winter. Burning coal. There's no wood to chop. Went to Wano to help decorate the Christmas tree. 3-xx-1889 Had a job offer of $35 per month. George and I are making a ditch to water our crops. Intend to keep some cattle and horses. Not as good a county for farming as Cass City. Butter is 8 cents, eggs 6 cents a dozen, potatoes $1.00. No girls! They all know me to well! 3-5-1889 I'm tired of cowpunching. We had a fun election for county seat. St. Francis won by a 290 majority. 7-xx-1889 We put up 30 tons of ice. Ice cream every Sunday! Cut 45 acres of alfalfa. I'm thinking of going further west. It's getting too crowded here. 12-xx-1890 Jacqua. I harvested potatoes and got $1.75 a bushel. Corn is 60 cents a bushel. I have 140 head of hogs and 130 head of cattle. Around 1901, Ben relocated back to Cass City, Michigan, where he owned and operated a general store. In was also reported, in the February 18, 1913 issue of the Cass City Chronicle, that he and P.H. Muck had completed arrangements for the purchase of the stock of general merchandise and the leasing of a store building at Colwood from C.D. Andrews. Ben closed his store in Cass City in January, 1924. Ben and Minnie summered in Florida, traveling there each year by train. They also built a cottage in Caseville on the lake. He was active in the affairs of the community of Cass City, with numerous mentions of his activities in the "Local Happenings" column of the Cass City paper. A few of these are shown below: Cass City Chronicle December 4, 1908 Notice to Taxpayers I will be at B. F. Benkelman's store Cass City, to collect the taxes of Elkland township on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. J. A. BENKELMAN, Treas. Cass City Chronicle January 19, 1917 B.F. Benkelman was re-elected as secretary to the Cass City Telephone Company. Cass City Chronicle Local Happenings January 26, 1917 B.F. Benkelman, Edward Pinney and M.B. Auten are among the visitors at the auto show at Detroit. Art Peck wrote, in error, that Ben was a Studebaker dealer until 1928 and that he also he worked for E.B. Schwaderer. It was actually Ben's eldest son, Harold, who was the Studebaker dealer and Schwaderer employee. Cass City Chronicle December 24, 1920 All the members of the B.F. Benkelman family will be home for Christmas. Miss Mae, a teacher at Sebewaing came Wednesday; Benj. a student at Ypsilanti, came Thursday; Miss Ruth a teacher at Berwyn, Ill., Friday; and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Benkelman of Sandusky Friday. Ben Benkelman Senior's obituary appeared in the CASS CITY CHRONICLE on Friday, September 15, 1962: Final Rites Held for B.F. Benkelman, Sr. Benjamin F. Benkelman, Sr. 88, last of the family of Adam and Christine (sic) Benkelman, died Sunday in his home following a long period of failing health, just shortly before his 89th birthday. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Douglas Funeral Home. Rev. S.R. Wurtz of Salem Evangelical U.B. Church officiated and burial was in Elkland Cemetery. Mr. Benkelman was born Sept. 24, 1863, in Bowmansville, N.Y. and came to Michigan at the age of four years with his parents. He was a rancher in Kansas from 1880 to 1901 and operated a general store her from 1901 to 1924. He retired from business after selling his store. Among his hobbies were traveling with his wife and fishing. He was a director of the Cass City State Bank for 30 years. At St. Francis, Kansas, on Dec. 26, 1892, he married Miss Minnie JESSE of Sturgis, Mich., who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. E.T. BALL (Ruth) of Pottersville, New Jersey; Mrs. W.J. CARPENTER (Mae) of Farwell, and Mrs. James PEASE (Lois) of La Grange, Ill.; two sons, Harold and Ben, of Cass City; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. (Research): Census ListingsL 1900 Census Cheyenne County, Kansas Jacqua Township #112-#112 Benkelman, Ben Head W M Sep 1868 M 7 yr Born NY, parents born Germany, R&W, Speaks English, Owns Farm, no mortgage Benkelman, Minnie Wife W F Sept 1875 4 Children all living born MI parents Germany, R&W, Speaks English Benkelman, Ruth D W F July 1894 Kansas Benkelman, May D W F May 1896 Kansas Benkelman, Harold S W M Nov 1897 Kansas Benkelman, Bengman (sic) S W M Nov 1899 Kansas 1910 Census, Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, ED 113, Cass City Village Enumerated 13 Apr 1910 SD 8, ED 113, Sheet No 5 B 139-139 Benkelman, Benjamin Hd M W 46 M1 17 NY Germany Germany Retail Merchant Groceries Benkelman, Mary (sic) Wife F W 44 M1 17 5/5 Kansas Germany Germany Benkelman, Ruth Dtr F W 15 Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Mary Dtr F W 13 Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Harold SOn M W 12 Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Benjamin F Son M W 10 S Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Lois J Dtr F W 5 Mich NY Kansas Benkelman, Birtha Niece F W 22 Mich NY Mich Bookkeeper Implement Store (Medical):Kidney failure, Senility
  Person ID	I31	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	29 Dec 2020

  
  

  Father	Johann Adam Benkelman,   b. 13 Feb 1825, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany d. 30 Dec 1897, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 72 years)
  Mother	Anna Catharina Schaufele,   b. 23 Aug 1823, B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany d. 23 Dec 1906, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	24 Feb 1851	B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany   [5]
  	Catharina and Adam were married in B?rtlingen. On May 16, 2002, Ingolf Vogel noted that "The Kingdom of W?rttemberg was made up of four Kreises - the Neckarkreis, the Schwarzwaldkreis, the Jagstkreis and the Donaukreis. These Kreises were much larger than today's Kreises. Each of them was divided into so-called Ober?mter which are more similar in size to today's Kreises. The Oberamt for B?rtlingen was Kirchheim.. Incidently the Oberamt Kirchheim was the only Oberamt of the Donaukreis west of the Schw?bische Alb (a mountain range). B?rtlingen (today Kreis G?ppingen) has only 745 people listed in it's telephone directory, so it probably doesn't have more than 2000-3000 inhabitants. Adam and Catharina were married in February, 1851, and in June, 1851 they were formally released from the Kingdom of W?rttemberg and would be free to emigrate.
  Documents		B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg Founded 1202 B?rtlingen is a small German village founded in 1202. It is in southwest of Germany in the Schwabish Alps, a few miles outside of G?ppingen. The church on the bottom left of the card is the Evangelische Johanneskirche, the same church in which Catherine and Adam Benkelmann were married before departing for America.
  		B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg, Evangelische Johanneskirche, Summer 2006 Evangelische Johanneskirche in 2006. This is the same church in which Adam Benkelman and Catherine Schaufele were married in in 1851.
  Family ID	F28	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse,   b. 27 Sep 1865, Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan d. 18 Jun 1961, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 95 years)
  Marriage	26 Dec 1892	St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas   [2, 6, 7]
  Children	1. Ruth Benkelman,   b. 26 Jul 1894, St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas d. 31 May 1972, Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida (Age 77 years)   2. Florence Mae Benkelman,   b. 8 May 1896, St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas d. 19 Dec 1989, Stuart, Martin County, Florida (Age 93 years)   3. Harold "Sime" Leroy Benkelman,   b. 27 Nov 1897, St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas d. 8 Apr 1981, Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan (Age 83 years)   4. Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Jr.,   b. 17 Nov 1899, Jaqua, Cheyenne County, Kansas d. 8 Mar 1998, Houston, Harris County, Texas (Age 98 years)   5. Lois Jane Benkelman,   b. 18 Jan 1905, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan d. 9 Mar 1989, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida (Age 84 years)
  Photos » Slide Show		Benkelman General Store (Ben F. Benkelman, Sr. Proprietor), Cass City, Michigan, ca 1901-1924 After retiring from ranching, Ben Benkelman Sr. owned and operated a dry goods store in his hometown of Cass City for approximately twenty years. Ben Sr. is standing in the background of this photo. In the foreground is Mr. Philo S. Rice, who clerked at the Benkelman store for 19 years, and was proprietor of his own grocery store for nearly six years thereafter. He was born on Stuben, NY on 5 Dec 1863, and died in Cass City on 8 Oct 1928, leaving behind his widow, Carrie Fancher Rice and two children, Mrs. A. C. Atwell of Cass City and Roy F. Rice of Los Angeles. (Cass City Chronicle, 12 Oct 1928, page 1).
  		Benkelman General Store (Ben F. Benkelman, Sr. Proprietor), Cass City, Michigan ca 1920's The interior of Ben Benkelman's general store in Cass City, with store clerk Philo S. Rice standing on the left. The lady to the right is unknown. PLEASE EMAIL US IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY HER.
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1913 and Minnie (Jesse) Family of Cass City, Michigan Back, L to R: Ruth, Mae, Harold "Sime" and Ben, Jr. Front, L to R: Ben, Sr., Lois, Minnie
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1917 and Minnie (Jesse) Family of Cass City, Michigan Standing (L To R): Ruth, Mae, Harold, Ben Jr., Lois Seated (L to R): Ben Sr. and his wife, Minnie
  		Benkelman Home (Ben and Minnie Family), Cass City, Michigan, sometime after 1901 The home of Ben and Minnie Benkelman family of at 1454 Maple Street, Cass City, Michigan.
  Documents		Jesse, Minnie 1892 Marriage to Benjamin Benkelman,Sr. Copy of Marriage License as filed in 1892 in Cheyenne County, Kansas in 1892
  Family ID	F16	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Jul 2013

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 24 Sep 1863 - Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York Marriage - 26 Dec 1892 - St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas Death - 7 Sep 1952 - Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan Burial - - Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1870's (Thought to be) This was in a group of tintypes originally belonging to Louisa Benkelman Schwegler. These tintypes appear to be of Louisa and her brothers, all children of Adam and Catherine Benkelman of Cass City. Alvin Benkelman, Jr., a great grandson of of Adam and Catherine, believes this to be a photo of their son Benjamin Franklin Benkelman Sr. This is based on his comparison to other family and group photos owned and labeled by his late father, Alvin Benkelman Sr. However, based on Marjory Schwegler Battel's identificaton of the various Benkelman sons from a group photo taken around the same time period, it is possible that this might instead be Ben's older brother, William. PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THIS ASSUMPTION
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) ca 1878, Family Portrait TOP ROW: Identified by Marjory Schwegler Battel, granddaughter of Lousia, to be l to r, standing, Sam (age 19), Ben Sr. (age 15), John (age 22), and George (age 27) BOTTOM ROW: from left to right, seated, Will (age 17), Louisa (age 25), Catharine (55) and Adam (53). This is likely correct, however several descendants of Ben Sr instead believe he is seated next to his sister, Louisa, and elder brother Will is standing, second on the left. It was probably taken near the families farm in Tuscola County, Michigan.
  		Benkelman, George Adam ca 1870's This appears to be a picture of George Adam Benkelman, top left, with possibly his younger brother, Ben Benkelman Sr. standing to his right...and other ranch hands seated beneath them. If this is a photo of George and Ben, it appears to have been taken in the late 1870's, when they both were working at their Uncle's Ranch near the borders of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas, or in his hometown of Denver, Colorado.
  		Benkelman Ranch Cowboys ca 1879 Photo taken at the Benkelman Ranch in Kansas ca 1879
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr ca 1880's Ben, seated, poses with other ranch hands employed at the JC Ranch, near the Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado border
  		_Benkelman, Benjamin Sr Husband of Minnie Jesse B, 1863 New York D. 1952 Michigan
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1892, and wife Minnie Jesse, JC Ranch, St. Francis, Kansas Ben Benkelman, Senior and Wilhelmina Jesse were married the day after Christmas in 1892, on the ranch in Kansas for which Ben was foreman. Ben and Minnie were both the children of immigrants from Germany.
  		Benkelman Family Sod Hut (Ben and Minnie Family), Cheyenne County, Kansas ca 1902 (L to R): Harold "Sime" on horseback, Ben Benkelman holding the hand of his son Ben Jr., Minnie Benkelman nee Jesse, and daughters Ruth and Mae. This picture was taken in Kansas shortly before the family moved to Ben's home town of Cass City, Michigan where he opened a general store. After spending twenty years as a cowboy and rancher at the Kansas/Nebraska/Colorado border, Ben was again ready for the comforts of civilization.
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) Children, after 1910 Top Row, L to R: Louisa Schwegler, John Benkelman, George Benkelman of Denver Bottom Row, L to R: Will Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Sr., Sam Benkelman Marjory Schwegler Battel indicated that she thought we had the order correct, with the possible exception of Ben Sr and John. However, descendants of both men are sure they are labeled correctly as is.
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catherine (Schaufele) Descendants ca 1912 Family Reunion Back, Standing, l to r: Mae Benkelman, Kate Schwegler, John Benkelman Sr., Ester Ackerman Benkelman, Minnie Jesse Benkelman, Joe Benkelman, Augusta Krehl Benkelman, Dorus Benkelman, Will Schwegler, Ward Benkelman, Ben Schwegler, Sam Benkelman Middle Row, kneeling, l to r: Alvin Benkelman, Harold Benkelman, Ruth Benkelman, Marie Benkelman (standing), Lena Benkelman Schwegler, Barbara Rommel Benkelman, Louisa Benkelman Schwegler Bottom Row, seated, l to r: Bertha Benkelman, Glen Benkelman, Ida Benkelman, Lottie Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Sr. behind his nephew John Donald Benkelman, Lois Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Jr., Alice Ross Schwegler with her baby Edward William Schwegler, and ,facing left, Mary Striffler Benkelman (Mrs. Sam) (Legend Courtesy of Bonnie-Margaret Benkelman Jacobs)
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1920's with his children and their spouses Back Row, L to R: Wilmot "Bill" Carpenter, Ben Benkelman, Sr., Ben Benkelman, Jr., Jim Pease, Minnie Benkelman, Eustace Ball, Harold Benkelman in the late 1920's. Front Row, L to R: Mae Benkelman Carpenter, Lois Benkelman Pease, Ruth Benkelman Ball, Isabel Fletcher Benkelman, Avis Smith Benkelman
  		Benkelman Brothers ca mid 1920's (Sons of Adam and Catherine Benkelman) Alvin Benkelman, through both memory and photo comparison, believes the brothers are standing in the following order, L to R: George, Ben Sr., John, Samuel and William. All five were sons of Adam and Catherine Benkelman of Cass City. PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THESE ASSUMPTIONS.
  		Benkelman Brothers with their wives, mid 1920's (Sons of Adam and Catherine Benkelman) Front Row, L to R: Possibly Alice McDougall Benkelman, Mary Striffler Benkelman, Augusta Krehl Benkelman, Possibly Barbara Rommel Benkelman, Minnie Jesse Benkelman and Samuel Benkelman Back Row, L To R: Thought to be George, William, John, and Ben Sr. PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THESE ASSUMPTIONS.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Benkelman, Samuel ca 1937, with his wife, Mary (Striffler), and other friends and family Sam and Mary at the annual Striffler-Benkelman Reunion, September 1937 L to R: John A. Benkelman, UNKNOWN, Mary (Striffler) Benkelman, Samuel G. Benkelman, Ben Benkelman, Sr. PLEASE HELP US IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN YOUNGER MAN.
  		Benkelman, Harold ca 1939 with his son Bob and father Ben, Fishing in Florida Ben and Minnie spent the winter in Florida most years after their retirement, escaping from the cold and snow in Michigan
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Sr visits the family of his nephew, Albert Benkelman of Kansas l to r: BonnieMargaret, Ruth, Anna Barbara and George Albert Benkelman, older farmer and boy unknown, Ben Benkelman Sr
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1940's Husband of Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse B. 1863 New York D. 1952 Michigan

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr., Arapahoe, Colorado, 1896 Property Tax Receipt Ben spent more than 20 years as a cowboy at the Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska border, working with his Uncle, George Benkelman
  		Benkelman and Neighboring Ranches, Republican River Valley, at the borders of Nebraska, Kansas, and Colorado From the book, "Sutton's Southwest Nebraska," E.S. Sutton, Published by the Author, Benkelman, Nebraska, 1983
  		Benkelman, Nebraska Train Depot A train passing through the Benkelman Nebraska Train Depot, northeast of the Benkelman Ranch Holdings in Cheyenne County, Kansas
  		Sutton, E.S. "Sutton's Southwest Nebraska" (Published by the Author, Benkelman, Nebraska, 1983); page 166-167 Benkelman Ranch History
  		Sutton, E.S. "Sutton's Southwest Nebraska" (Published by the Author, Benkelman, Nebraska, 1983); page 168-169 Benkelman Ranch History
  		Sutton, E.S. "Sutton's Southwest Nebraska" (Published by the Author, Benkelman, Nebraska, 1983); page 170-171 Benkelman Ranch History
  		Benkelman Store Advertisement, January 1903 Announcement of Commencement of his General Store
  		Benkelman Store Liquidation Ad, January 1924 Cass City Chronicle Advertisement regarding the liquidation of the Benkelman Store
  		Benkelman, Benjamin Franklin Sr. Death Certificate Tuscola County, MI Death Certificate. The informant was his eldest son, Harold. The registrar who signed the certificate was a Striffler relative, Wilma Fry.

  
  

  Headstones

  Benkelman, Benjamin Sr and Minnie (Jesse)

  
  

• Sources

  [S29] State of Michigan, Department of State, Division of Vital Records, Death Certificate. [S653] Cass City Chronicle, P.O. Box 115, Cass City, Michigan 48726, Published continously since 1899, archived from 1899 through 2005 at http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/, September 15, 1962 (Reliability: 3). [S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 134 (Reliability: 3). [S595] Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, (Family Publication, published sporadically to record family milestones in connection with the annual Striffler-Benkelman Family Reunions, with Vol. 1, Number 1, published Sept. 7, 1936. Issues on file at the Rawson Memorial Library in Cass City, Michigan include Vol. 5 (1941), Vol. 7 (1944) and Volumes 8 (1945) through Vol. 28 (1968). Issues published from 1961 through 1964 were not assigned volume numbers, and 1963 appears to be missing. Xeroxes of the existing issues were also made by Melinda McLemore Strong in 2007. According to a article published by the Cass City Chronicle on August 6, 1981, commemorating the Fiftieth and Final Striffler-Benkelman Reunion, the final issue of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST appears to have been Volume 28, published in 1968.), Volume 16, September 7, 1953 (Reliability: 3). [S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 95, 128 (Reliability: 3). [S452] State of Kansas, Cheyenne County, Marriage License. [S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 134, instead shows location of marriage as Wano, Kansas (Reliability: 3).