Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse

1865 - 1961  (95 years)

• Name	Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse  [1, 2]
  Nickname	Minnie
  Birth	27 Sep 1865	Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan   [2, 3]
  Gender	Female
  Death	18 Jun 1961	Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan   [2, 3, 4]
  Burial	Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan
  Notes	An undated clipping (circa 1955) from the BAY CITY TIMES about Minnie reads: WOMAN, 90, PAINTS AS HOBBY Cass City--Although she will celebrate her 90th birthday anniversary next month, Mrs. B.F. Benkelman, of Cass City (above) is deeply engrossed in a new hobby. She has taken up painting as a pastime and finds it a happy way to keep busy. Like the famed Grandma Moses, Mrs. Benkelman waited a long time to begin painting. She started when she was 87 years old. A busy woman all of her life, Mrs. Benkelman says she finds it hard to just sit still. She balked a little over attempting her first painting but her interest quickened with her first picture and now she is at her easel each morning. She rests in the afternoon. Her hobby resulted because of a present from her daughter, Mrs. J.E. Pease of LaGrange, Ill. Mrs. Pease presented her mother with a painting set which included a canvas blocked off in numbered areas and paints numbered for each section. She delayed getting started but once the project was underway she found it enjoyable. That was two years ago. And it was also her last numbered painting. Since then she has been composing her own pictures and has turned out some 25 canvases. She won't sell a painting but she will give them away. Most have been claimed by her family and friends. She has a few hanging at home. Her painting she says is entirely for her own enjoyment. Her easel is set up on a card table in her living room and she paints while sitting down. She says she gets her ideas from photographs and magazine pictures. Using the basic idea, she then develops her own picture. She recalls that as a youngster she tried painting but did not pursue it since her folks thought it a waste of time. She also recalls that she liked to draw pictures when she was a school girl. For her paintings she likes outdoor scenes best. Mrs. Benkelman will celebrate her 90th birthday anniversary on Sept. 27. She was born on a farm near Sturgis and lived in Kansas for 10 years before coming to Cass City in 1902. Her husband's parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Adam Benkelman were among the pioneer settlers of Cass City. Her husband, a retired general store operator, died three years ago. Her two sons and three daughters are all planning to be with her for her approaching birthday celebration. They are Mrs. E.T. Ball of Pottersville, N.J.; Mrs. May Carpenter of Farwell; Mrs. Pease; and H.L. Benkelman and B.F. Benkelman, both of Cass City. Great granddaughter Melinda McLemore Strong has an 8 by 10 oil painting of a lakeside pasture in her home in San Antonio, Texas. (2003). A similar article appeared in the Cass City Chronicle, as follows: Cass City Chronicle Friday, May 7, 1954 Volume 49, Number 2 Page One Judging by the amount of beautiful paintings, afghans and other works she turns out, Mrs. Ben Benkelman, Sr., 88, accomplished more than many persons half her age. For example, in the last year, Mrs. Benkelman has knitted an intricately designed tablecloth, several small items, painted the picture shown above and another larger picture that is framed and hanges on the wall in her home. In addition, she writes regularly each week to her three daughters, Mrs. Ruth Ball, New Jersey, Mrs. Lois Pease, Illinois and Mrs. Mae Carpenter, Michigan. She writes and signs all her own checks and keeps continually busy on her varied projects. Minnie's obituary, also in the Cass City Chronicle, dated Thursday, June 22, 1961: Minnie Benkelman Dies at 95 Cass City lost one of its eldest citizens June 18 with the death of Mrs. Minnie Benkelman, 95, in Stevens Nursing Home. Mrs. Benkelman had been ill for some time. She was a patient in the nursing home for several weeks. She was born Wilhelmina JESSE in Sturgis, Sept. 24, 1865 and married Benjamin F. BENKELMAN in St. Francis, Kansas in 1892. They came to Cass City in 1901, lived at 1454 Maple Street and remained here until their deaths. Mr. Benkelman ran a general store until his retirement in 1924. He died in 1952. Surviving are three daughters and two sons: Mrs. E.T. BALL (Ruth) of Pottersville, N.J.; Mrs. Wilmot CARPENTER (Mae) of Farwell; Mrs. J.E. PEASE (Lois) of LaGrange, Ill,; Harold and Ben of Cass City. Other survivors are four grandchildren and nine-great grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Augusta BUCHOLTZ of Sturgis. Funeral services were held Wed. at 2 p.m. in the Douglas Funeral Home. Rev. S.R. Wurtz of Salem E.U.B. church, of which Mrs. Benkelman was a long time member, officiated and burial was in Elkland cemetery.
  Person ID	I32	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	29 Dec 2020

  
  

  Father	George W. Jesse,   b. 26 Feb 1832, Strelitz, Kreis Kolmar, Posen, Prussia d. 13 May 1903, Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan (Age 71 years)
  Mother	Maria Johanna Elisabeth Klevsaat,   b. Bef 6 Jan 1838, Rosenow, Demmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany d. 18 Aug 1890, Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan (Age 52 years)
  Marriage	24 Nov 1859	Byron, Genesee County, New York
  Photos		Jesse Family, UNKNOWNS, ca 1880-1900 Xerox of a family photo from Jo Bossert Peck. It appears that the photo was taken at the studio of Mrs. Chappell in Sturgis, Michigan, as this was embossed on the cardboard frame. Jo indicated that on the back was written "Grandpa (Andrew?) Jesse's sister, daughter and husband." Jo is not sure which of Andrew Jesse's four sisters this refers to. It had originally been assumed that this was a photo of Andrew's parents, George Jesse and his wife, Marie Klesert. However, this does not appear to be the case. PLEASE HELP US POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE IN THIS PHOTO.
  Family ID	F29	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr.,   b. 24 Sep 1863, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York d. 7 Sep 1952, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 88 years)
  Marriage	26 Dec 1892	St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas   [5, 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 - 27 Sep 1865 - Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan Marriage - 26 Dec 1892 - St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas Death - 18 Jun 1961 - 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		Jesse, Anna with her sister Wilhelmina, ca 1878 Carole Jean Benkelman writes that the back of this photo was inscribed "Mother age 13 - and Aunt Anna." It was taken at a photography studio in Sturgis, Michigan in 1878. Anna Sophia and Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Jesse were the two eldest daughters of George and Maria Jesse. Both sisters later moved to the border of Kansas and Colorado after their marriages to men in the employ of the Benkelman Ranch. Anna married John "Bum" Burgwald and Minnie married Ben Benkelman.
  		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.
  		_Jesse, Minnie Wife of Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr. B. 1865 Michigan D. 1961 Michigan She was born to immigrants from the North of Germany. Her husband, whose parents were from Schwabia, teased her about her Prussian upbringing, and her children were fascinated by her long formal name, Wilhelmina Johanna Fredericka Jesse.
  		Jesse Family, Children of George and Marie Jesse, ca 1890 Xerox of a photo from Jo Bossert Peck Back Row, l to r, Anna annd Andrew Jesse Bottom Row, l to r, Augusta, Minnie and Julia Jesse
  		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 Women ca 1910 Appears to have been taken at an early family reunion or other gathering, and was titled Benkelman Women, ca 1910. Lorraine "Smitty" Benkelman writes: "the lady seated in the center, on the sidewalk, just to the right of the three little kids, is "Aunt Lena", Mary Magdelena Benkelman Deverney Schwegler. On the top in the center, is Cora Belle Horne Clark Striffler with the white shirt. Behind her, just in front of the door is Minnie Benkelman." PLEASE HELP US IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS.
  		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 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.
  		Benkelman, Minnie ca 1935, with her grandchildren Minnie Jesse Benkelman with her grandchildren. She is holding the youngest, Bonnie, and Bill is to her left, Bob and Dorothy to her right, with all the grandchildren making funny faces.
  		At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.
  		Benkelman, Minnie (nee Jesse) ca 1940, with friends Minnie Doerr and Chick Schwaderer Eugene "Chick" Schwaderer, Minnie Doerr and Minnie Benkelman of Cass City, Michigan visit in Florida. Minnie's Doerr's grandson, Ed, recalls this may have been the year the went on to visit Cuba as well
  		Benkelman, Benjamin F. Sr. ca 1940's (Mrs.) The former Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse B. 1865 D. 1961 Michigan
  		Jesse, Minnie ca 1954 Cass City Chronicle Friday, May 7, 1954 Volume 49, Number 2 Page One Judging by the amount of beautiful paintings, afghans and other works she turns out, Mrs. Ben Benkelman, Sr., 88, accomplished more than many persons half her age. For example, in the last year, Mrs. Benkelman has knitted an intricately designed tablecloth, several small items, painted the picture shown above and another larger picture that is framed and hanges on the wall in her home. In addition, she writes regularly each week to her three daughters, Mrs. Ruth Ball, New Jersey, Mrs. Lois Pease, Illinois and Mrs. Mae Carpenter, Michigan. She writes and signs all her own checks and keeps continually busy on her varied projects. (Chronicle Photo, copy courtesy of Carole Jean Benkelman)
  		Jesse, Minnie ca 1960, with her children on her 95th birthday L to R: Ben Jr standing behind his sisters Lois and Ruth, Minnie, Mae and Sime The paintings behind the group were all done by Minnie herself, who took up painting as a hobby shortly after her 87th birthday.
  		Jesse, Minnie ca 1960, with her childrens' spouses on her 95th birthday Minnie Jesse Benkelman, celebrating her 95th birthday, posed with the spouses of her children Standing, l to r: Eustace Ball, Avis Benkelman, Bill Carpenter Seated: Isabel Benkelman, Minnie
  		Live Wire Bible Class of the Evangelical United Brethern Church Sunday School, Cass City Michigan, ca 1917 FRONT ROW, l to r, Grant McConnell, class leader; UNKNOWN Clergyman, UNKNOWN class member, William Schwegler, Sam Helwig, George Burg SECOND ROW, l to r, Hattie Helwig McConnell, Janet "Jennie" Gardner Buehrly, Minerva Helwig Sherman, Mary Buehrly Striffler, Mary Mark Buehrly THIRD ROW; l to r, Alma Striffler Schenck holding her baby Ruth, Lena Helwig Jaus, Lillian Striffler Ricker, Minnie Jesse Benkelman, Mary Schwegler Jaus, Jacob Hiller. Note: Alma Striffler Schenck's three year old son, Donald, was said to be asleep in the Model T Ford just to the left of the group at the time this photo was taken FOURTH ROW: l to r, Elsie Buehrly, Mary Striffler Helwig, Cora Helwig Klinkman, Laura McConnell Hiller, Alice Ross Schwegler, Mary McLellan Joos, Ed Helwig FIFTH ROW, l to r, Art Ricker, Erwin Kercher, Ed Buehrly, Harvey Klinkman, UNKNOWN Class Member, Fred Buehrly, Fred Joos TOP ROW, l to r, Sol Striffler, Clayton Schenck, Fred Jaus, William Ackerman, Sam Jaus It appears that at least 33 of the 36 adults in this Sunday School class were directly related, through either blood or marriage, to the Striffler, Benkelman and Helwig families who emigrated together from Erie County, New York to Tuscola County, Michigan beginning in the 1860's. PLEASE HELP US IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS.
  		Benkelman, Minnie Jesse Birthday Celebration, ca 1955 Likely the celebration of her 90th birthday in 1955

  
  

  Documents » Slide Show		Jesse, Minnie, witness at her older sister's wedding Minnie served as a witness to the wedding of her older sister, Anna, to John Burgwald. John was a cowboy at the Benkelman Ranch in Kansas, and five years later, Minnie would married another Ranch Hand, Ben Benkelman Sr.
  		Jesse, Minnie (Mrs. Ben Benkelman Sr.) "Woman, 90, Paints as Hobby"
  		Benkelman, Minnie (Jesse) Oil Painting, done after Minnie took up painting at the age of 87
  		Jesse, Minnie (Mrs. Ben Benkelman Sr.) News article featuring her 95th birthday celebration
  		Jesse, Minnie (Mrs. Ben Benkelman Sr) Funeral Handout
  		Jesse, Wilhelmina "Minnie" (Mrs. B. F. Benekelman, Sr) Certificate of death

  
  

  Headstones

  Benkelman, Benjamin Sr and Minnie (Jesse)

  
  

• Sources

  [S308] 1880 United States Federal Census [Ancestry.com database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2005., (1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ? Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1880. T9, 1,454 rolls. This database is an index to 50 million individuals enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, occupation, relationship to the head of household, race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status, place of birth, parents? place of birth. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1880 Federal Census.). [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). [S338] Douglas Funeral Home, Tuscola County, Michigan. [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.), 1961 Issue, not assigned a volume number (Reliability: 3). [S452] State of Kansas, Cheyenne County, Marriage License. [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, instead shows location of marriage as Wano, Kansas (Reliability: 3).