John Adam Benkelman

Notes:

The following biographical information about John was excerpted from the MEMOIRS OF JOHN A. BENKELMAN (By Hilda Jane Stickley, 1966)

John said "I went to school in New York State and learned my A B C 's. When we moved to Michigan I was nine years old, the nearest school was too far to walk back and forth each day. I went to the Bird school when I was 12 years old and stayed with a Mrs. Myers who lived near the school and whose husband worked in the lumber woods. Mr Myers did not want his wife (they had no children) to stay alone and so Father said that I could go and stay with her while going to school. I did the chores--brought in the water, cut the wood for cooking and heating. I attended school along with a few other children. During the winter the teacher planned a spelldown with another school near Gagetown. I remember that I was a good speller and got ready for the spelldown by learning to spell all the words in the two books that the teacher let me take home to study after my chores were done." He was spelled down with the name Zachariah, however, taken from a book he had not studied.

Wild game was abundant near John's home. John remembered one time when a swarm of wild passenger pigeons nesting in trees all through the nearby swamps. Nor was it unusual for bears to prowl around their log home at night. John related that his father "had bought an old Civil War army musket from a returned soldier and had loaded it ready for use if a bear appeared. He had warned us boys that the gun was loaded and for us not to dare to touch it. One day soon afterwards, I looked across a small field of wheat on John Striffler's farm and saw two deer grazing in the wheat. Mother and Father were away, so I though 'This is my chance!' I sneaked the musket out and went back through the woods on the windward side. When I was in sight of the deer still feeding, I laid down behind a big log and took good aim, pulled down on the trigger. The gun went off with a loud bang, knocking me backwards behind the log, knocking the wind out of me and giving me a few bruises. When I got up I looked over where the deer had been. There was a big buck kicking his last. His horns were so big I was afraid to go near him, so turned and ran for home fast as I could. Mother had just returned, and I told her what I had done. She said 'Your Father will give you punishment for this!' When Father came home we had our supper, but I did not eat much as I was afraid of what he would say or do to me. After a while, Mother said 'John, you tell your Father what you did.' He looked mighty cross after I told him, but did not say a word, but went and got a latern, lighted it and said, 'Come on John, show me where the deer is.' We dragged it home, dressed it out and cut it up. Father made me carry a quarter to Jake Striffler and one to John Striffler the next day. The other half, father cut up in pieces and mother preserved some in a salt brine and the rest was hung in the cold shed to keep for later use. Father never scolded me, but he never loaded the gun again, unless he was taking it to the woods to hunt himself. And I did not have a desire to shoot that old kicking musket off again."

John helped his father on the farm, and at the age of 15 he was "a chore boy in a typical Michigan lumber camp of those early days. The camp was about 15 miles North and East of Cass City. The forest extended for miles around us containing all sorts of trees, but the lumbermen were just interested in the pines...I took care of the horses, kept the woodboxes full and helped Kitty Kelley, the cook." The work of the lumbermen apparently impressed John greatly. He related that often he would "steal away from my chores, walk along the pine-fragrant trail and join the men and the excitement of cutting down the big pines. By the time spring came and the ice had thawed in the river, the logs were piled sky high along the bank to be floated down with the swift current to the saw mills in Saginaw. The job of floating the logs down the river was a dangerous one and called for experience and team work. A special crew of men handled this job. They had a river raft which floated along behind the workmen and could be tied to trees along the bank at any time they wanted to stop for the night...(it) was about 100 feet long. Several men followed along the river bank on each side and dislodged the logs that got stuck along the bank and jammed up the current. Then the men walked out on the logs with long poles and pryed them loose. This was dangerous work and some men lost their lives. One day I was supposed to help the men and was trying to loosen some logs with a pole. I lost my footing and fell in the river. The men helped me out. While waiting for my clothes to dry, I decided that was too big a job for a 15 year old boy to do. By this time I had enough of that winter work and told the cook that I was going home. The crew was very sorry to see me leave and I walked back to the farm. Father and Mother were glad to have me home again as well as I was to be there."

John met his first wife, Rosina, while on a visit to New York. They were married in 1879. They can be found in the 1880 census. Living with them is 18 year old Christoph Seeger.

After the death of Rosina, John moved from Cass City to Kansas, and worked on the ranch of his Uncle George, alongside his brothers George and Ben. He lived there almost 4 years, working for $30 a month. He also was homesteading 200 acres of land adjoining his uncles. He returned to Cass City in 1889. He married for a second time to Augusta Krehl in the spring of 1890. They went on honeymoon to Traverse City, and by boat to Milwakee to see Augusta's father (Frederick Krehl), who was in the Old Soldier's home there. Mr. Krehl gave John power of attorney so he could sell some property he owned in Davenport, Iowa. John took Augusta back home, and later traveled to Iowa to sell the property. He gave her the $1200 proceeds.

Bonnie Petee abstracted the following regarding the Evangelical Association from "The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and Illustrations," H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. "A class of this church which is commonly known as the German Methodist, was organized in the town of Elkland about the year 1866, by the Rev. Stephen Henne in connection with the Sebewaing mission. The class numbered about fifteen members. It has had regular services from that time to the present, and a regular succession of pastors. Services being held in the school-house, one mile north and one-half mile east of Cass City. In the latter part of 1882, a formal organization was effected at Cass City, and steps taken for the construction of a house of worship, which is now in course of construction. The earnest zeal of the members and their individual labors and contributions of material have reduced the estimated cost of the building to about $1,500. The pastor of the church at the present time is the Rev. B. F. Wade, who resides on his farm in the town of Elkland. The membership is about fifty. There is a preaching every second Sunday; prayer-meeting and Sunday-school every Sabbath. The trustees of the church are, John Benkelman, Fred Krapf, Oscar Sencner, Levi Muntz and Adam Benkelman."

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
November 20, 1908

Local Items

The quartet of hunters returned from Hubbard Lake Wednesday evening. They report plenty of game and a good time. Wm. Ball brought home two deer and John Ball one, while they and the other two hunters, J. A. Benkelman and J. C. Lauderbach, exhibited a nice bunch of whiskers which greatly improved (?) their appearance. All of them had great luck in shooting birds-the men, not the whiskers.

Cass City Chronicle
February 20, 1931
John A. Benkelman published a notice on the first page of the paper to the Elkland Township voters, seeking their support in his candidacy for supervisor of the Republican caucus.


His obituary follows:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, August 15, 1952
Vol 47, No 16

John Benkelman, 96, Dies in Hospital Friday Afternoon

John Adam Benkelman, 96, well-known Cass City businessman and civic leader, died late Friday afternoon, August 8, after spending six days in the Cass City Hospital.

The pioneer resident of Cass City had been in failing health for nearly a year.

Mr. Benkelman spent eight years as a partner in the Young and Benkelman meat market in Cass City and served over 10 years as a supervisor for Elkland Township. His varied business career also included farming an work in the implement business.

He was regarded as an authority on early Cass City area history and was noted for his memory of incidents that occurred during pioneer days in this community.

Mr. Benkelman was one of the few men in the entire nation who could remember the hour of Abraham Lincoln's death and the funeral that followed.

He was born in Bowmansville, New York, April 26, 1856, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adam Benkelman. Together with his parents, he moved to a farm in this community when nine years old.

Mr. Benkelman married Miss Augusta Krehl in Cass City in the fall of 1890. The couple made their home int he area until Mrs. Benkelman died in 1935.

Survivors are: one daughter, Mrs. Marie BROWN of Pigeon; four sons, Glenn of Lakewood, Ohio, Dorus of Cass City, Alvin of Alexandria, Virginia, and John of Detroit; six granchildren; one great-granchild; and one brother, Ben Benkelman of Cass City. One daughter, three brothers, and one sister died before him.

Burial was in the family lot in Elkland cemetery.

(Research):Census Information:

1880 Census
Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Source:FHL Film 125
4607
National Archives Film T9-0607 Page 95B RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John BENKELMAN Self M M W 24 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG
Rosa BENKELMAN Wife F M W 22 WERTENBURG Occ:Keeping House Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG
Christoph SEEGER Other M S W 18 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG

1920 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland
Enumerated 21 January 1920
SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 6A
FM 123-126
Striffler, William D
Fm 124-127
Jaus, John and Maud
Fm 125-128
John A. Benkelman Hd M W 63 New York Wurtemberg Germany Wurtemberg Germany Farmer
Benkelman, Augusta Wf F W 49 M Iowa Wurtemberg Germany/German Germany/German
Benkelman, Dorus Son M W 27 S Mich New York Iowa Clerk in Bank
Benkelman, John Son M W 12 S Mich New York Iowa

John married Rosina Wahl about 1879 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York. Rosina (daughter of Johann Michael Wahl and Anna Maria Nagel) was born on 5 Nov 1857 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 3 May 1886 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Augusta Catherine Freidrika Krehl on 19 Jun 1890 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Augusta (daughter of Friedrich Krehl and Philippine Blaufuss) was born on 6 Mar 1870 in Franklin Center, Lee County, Iowa; died on 8 Feb 1934 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Glen Frederick Benkelman received his B.S. in Engineering from Purdue University in 1914.

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, December 31, 1976
Page One

Train-car crash fatal for Glen Benkelmans

Glen F. Benkelman, 80, a brother of Dorus Benkelman of Cass City, and his wife, Maud, 80, were fatally injured in a train-car crash and died Saturday, December 26, at Lakewood, Ohio.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 29, at the Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Lakewood where the Benkelmans were members.

Burial will be in Elkland township cemetery, Wednesday, December 30.

Among the survivors are: a daughter, Mrs. Ruth SIMMELINK of Cleveland; a son, William, of Lakewood; a brother of Mrs. Benkelman who lives in Detroit, and of Mr. Benkelman, a sister, Marie BROWN of Pigeon; two brothers, Dorus, of Cass City, and Alvin, of Elk Creek, Virginia.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland City
Enumerated April 14, 1930
ED 18-276 SD 6 Sheet 23A Stamed 233
3813-19-29
Benkelman, Glen Head m W 39 M 30 Mich Mich Iowa Engineer Structural, Carbon Plant
Benkelman, Maud Wf F W 38 M 29 EnglishCanada EnglishCanada EnglishCanada
Benkelman, Glen Son M W 6 S Ohio Mich EnglishCanada
Benkelman, Ruth Dtr F W 4 S Ohio Mich EnglishCanada
McFadden, Sarah Mother-in-law F W 70 Wd CanadaEnglish CanadaEnglish CanadaEnglish

Glen married Maud McFadden on 18 Jun 1921 in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois. Maud was born on 9 Nov 1891 in Brockville, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, Canada; died on 26 Dec 1970 in Lakewood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, August 16, 1957

Re-elect officers at Farm Produce

Annual meeting of the stockholders of Farm Produce was held. The following officers were re-elected for another year: Joe Crawford, President, Audley Rawon, Vice President, D.W. Benkelman, Treasurer, and C.J. Striffler, Secretary.

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, February 22, 1973

Services held for Dorus Benkelman

Dorus Benkelman, 80, of Cass City died Wednesday, February 14, in Hills and Dale General Hospital.

A lifelong area resident, he was born in Cass City December 6, 1893, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Benkelman.

Mr. Benkelman and Miss Jane STICKLEY were married November 2, 1943, in Detroit and the couple made their home in Cass City. She died April 7, 1960.

A retired banker, he was a member of Tyler Lodge No. 317 F&AM, the American Legion Post No. 507 and was a member of Salem United Methodist Church. He served with the Army in World War I.

Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Marie BROWN of Pigeon, and one brother, Alvin BENKELMAN of Elk Creek, Virginia, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Friday evening at Little's Funeral Home under the auspices of Tyler Lodge. Funeral services were held at the funeral home Saturday morning with the Rev. Ira Wood, pastor of Salem church officiating. Burial was in Elkland cemetery.

Dorus married Hilda Jane Stickley on 2 Nov 1943 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Hilda was born on 21 May 1892 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada; died on 7 Apr 1960 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Mich., April 11, 1919
Page Four
Around Our Town
Alvin Benkelman, son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benkelman and a U. of M. student, is enjoying his vacation here at the home of his parents.

His daughter, Anne Scott Benkelman Pritchard wrote, on Veteran's Day 2011, "My dad, Alvin Carlton Benkelman, was born in 1895 and served in WWI; he liked to say "where the bullets were the thickest" - loading munitions on ships in New Jersey.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, August 27, 1954
Vol 49, Number 18
Page 1

Invention Lauded by Experts
New Benkelman Beam Measures Deflection

Alvin C. Benkelman, brother of Dorus Benkelman of Cass City, has been lauded by road engineers in the United States for developing an instrument called the "Benkelman Beam" for the measuring of elastic pavement deflections. Deflection of a pavement is the amount the pavement gives under road pressure. Although many devices have been invented to measure deflection, the "Benkelman Beam" is the first really simple device for the highway work, according to engineer Benkelman.

In the past, the best method was an electronic method which required a great deal of expensive equipment and a considerable amount of time and effort for each installation. Only a limited number of installations were possible in any one area. Another disadvantage of this method was that the road surface had to be disturbed to install the equipment. While on duty as a consultant engineer with the Bureau of Public Roads on the WASHO test road in Idaho in 1953, Mr. Benkelman developed the deflection measuring device which bears his name. Because of the speed with which Mr. Benkelman's device is operated, the WASHO test personnel was able to make approximately 40,00ft individual deflection readings. An example of the increased speed of the "Benkelman Beam" is reported by the California Highway Department. They used the beam to study pavement which had received severe "longitudinal and transverse" cracking. The beam was used to determine its operational characteristics and to supply experience on the best methods of using it. The results were outstanding. A complete survey of the road was completed in one day, excluding traveling time. Over 40 different sections were tested along the road. The California road commission estimates that the same work done by the electronic method would have taken 10 days. Mr. Benkelman and his wife and daughter, Ann Scott, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Dorus Benkelman. They stopped in Cass City on their way home to Alexandria, Val, from Idaho.

The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Vol 22 dated September 7, 1959, reported that Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Benkelman of Ottowa, Illinois and daughter Ann Scott attended the Blaufuss family reunion in Davenport, Iowa.

Volume 27 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, published September 4, 1967 reported that Alvin, a 1917 engineering graduate of the University of Michigan, was honored with the University's Sesquicentennial Award at the annual Asphalt Institute meeting at the University on August 9, 1967.

Memorial Service for A. C. Benkelman Sep. 13, 1987

There was a man, born in 1774, who journeyed westward planting or selling seedlings from Pennsylvania to Ohio and beyond. He was a natural man, cheerful, generous in nature, and had an affinity for the wilderness. He supplied frontiersman with apple orchard stock throughout the Midwest. His name, John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. There was another man who retired in the Elk Creek community in 1967 with a strange sounding name. He was born in Michigan in 1895, and was a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Chemical Engineering. From 1919 to 1928 he worked for the Illinois Highway Department where he was soil engineer on the Bates Road Test. From 1928 to 1934 he worked for the Michigan Highway Department as research engineer on soils, fast actions, and pavement. From 1934 to 1954 he worked for the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads in charge of structural design of flexible pavement. In 1956 he was on the staff of Highway Research Board. He is well known throughout the highway construction trade for his invention of a economical portable device to measure deflections of pavement under heavy loads which to this day carries his name. His name, Alvin C. Benkelman, better known as "Benk". The device that he invented is called the Benkelman Beam. I compare Benk with Johnny Appleseed because they both left their mark. Benk, too, was outgoing, was young at heart, loved people and the out-of-doors. He established a flourishing pine tree farm, and was a member of the American Tree Farmers Association. He couldn't do enough for others. Most think that Benk was lured to the area by his wife, Olive, a native of Elk Creek, but there must have been a yearning or spark that had been smoldering since the days of his youth when, as a young man in a glee club, he learned "In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia", which became one of his favorite pieces. His first trip to this area was at the time of the First World War when he accompanied the body of a dead soldier to Galax, Virginia. He liked it then and vowed to return. Benk had two children, a son and daughter. It is rare when a son gets to choose his step-mother, but Alvin Jr., whose mother had died, introduced his vivacious teacher, Miss Scott, to his widowed father. Matrimony ensued and it was a joyous occasion when "Scotty" was born. Benk and Olive had been making plans for their retirement for many years. They had already negotiated the purchase of the property that is referred to as "The Falls" which at the time was a dump. Where others may have seen trash, Benk saw jewels. One of his first projects was to clean up that unsightly piece of property, build a cabin, and landscape the grounds to show off the falls. It was since become a show place and a haven for many a guest. He attacked the homeplace, "Flag Pond" with the same vigor and vitality, restoring an already existing house and out buildings, into their permanent dwelling. I remember my first visit to their home and how cordial they were and willing to show off their home. Benk was especially proud of the spring that had been walled up and flowed through the end of their entrance way. I was impressed by how low the ceilings seemed, but for someone five feet two, they were high enough. Because I was taller was my fault, not his. The lawns were always neatly mowed and trimmed, Benk doing the work or supervising. One of the log houses in the rear was converted into a wood working showroom which became his hobby. It was not unusual to find him working in his shop in the dead of winter by the warmth of a wood stove. Because of his love of trees, it was only natural that he developed his hobby for working with wood. Every kind of wood was a new challenge. Some he liked better than others, but I've never seen anyone able to make a piece of wood shine without any finish as Benk could. There is hardly a kitchen in the community that doesn't have the little recipe holder that he fashioned with a clothes pin. He made letter holders, lamps, music boxes, jewelry boxes, key boards, cribbage boards cut out in the shape of a state, boot jacks, and even a grandfather clock, to list but a few, and do you know, he gave these away freely to his friends, often accompanied by an original verse by his wife. You could never come away from his house empty handed. If it wasn't something that he had made, it was something that he had grown out of his bountiful garden. He flourished on generosity.

( The above are excerpts from Dr. Palmer Fant's memorial address, courtesy of Alvin C. Benkelman, Jr.)

His obituary was published in the October 7, 1987 Cass City Chronicle.

Alvin Benkelman

Funeral services were held last month for former Cass City resident, Alvin C. Benkelman, who died Sept. 9 in Elk Creek, VA. Born May 8, 1895 in Cass City, Benkelman was a well known civil engineer in the design of flexible pavement. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1919 with a B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering and began his professional careert as a pavement and soils engineer with the Illinois Division of Highways, serving on the Bates Road Test. He then became associated with the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads and did research at Purdue University and on the Virginia Demonstration Road in 1926-28. Benkelman continued to work in research and design of flexible pavement with the Michigan State Highway Department in 1928. Returning to the bureau in 1934, Benkelman was in charge of research for the Hybla Valley Test Track and on the WASHO Road Test in Idaho. His work as Research Engineer on the AASHO Road Test in Illinois brought him in contact with engineers from all over the world who gathered to learn of road construction and durability. Benkelman is well known for his invention of the "Benkelman Beam: which is widely used in highway construction to measure pavement deflections. After retirement from the Bureau of Public Roads, he traveled extensively as a consultant for the Asphalt Institute. Benkelman was awarded the Highway Research Board's Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service award in recognition of his work in the field of highway research. In 1967 he retired to the Elk Creek Valley where he became a member of the American Tree Farmer's Association. For the past 20 years, he has enjoyed living in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife, Olive S. BENKELMAN; one son, A.C. Benkelman, Jr. of Warrenton, VA; one daughter, Mrs. Ann Scott (Benkelman) PRICHARD Jr. of Sacramento, Ca.; one sister, Marie BROWN of Saginaw; 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)



(Research):He was one the family members BonnieMargaret Jacobs personally interviewed when preparing her history of the Benkelman family.

Alvin married Katherine Lynn Ayres on 5 Nov 1927 in Sudley, Prince William County, Virginia. Katherine was born on 14 Jan 1901 in Sudley, Prince William County, Virginia; died on 27 Oct 1940 in Alexandria, Fairfax County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Alvin married Olive Porter Scott on 1 Jun 1944 in Rockville, Montgomery County, Maryland. Olive (daughter of Dr. William Worley Scott and Alice May Delp) was born on 18 Dec 1907 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia; died on 23 Oct 1996 in Elk Creek, Grayson County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She lived with her daughter Doris Ruth (sic), at the time of her death.

Marie married James Brown in Apr 1926 in Bad Axe, Huron County, Michigan. James was born on 4 Jul 1900 in Pigeon, Huron County, Michigan; died on 6 Aug 1952 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; was buried in Pigeon, Huron County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, July 2, 1915
Local Items
Page Four

Miss Ida Benkelman, eleven year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benkelman, who has been ill with blood poisoning was taken to the hospital Sunday. She underwent an operation Monday and although still very seriously ill her condition is slightly more hopeful. Glen Benkelman of Wilkinsburg, Pa. and Dorus Benkelman of Mackinac Island, were called home by the illness of their sister.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday July 9, 1915
Local Items
Page Four

Miss Ida Benkelman is still very seriously ill at the hospital.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday July 16, 1915

Ida Benkelman
Young Girl, Suffering from Blood Poisoning, Died Sunday Evening

Ida Catherine, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Benkelman, died in a local hospital Sunday evening after several weeks of patient suffering from blood poisoning.

No one can explain why a young girl such as Ida was called from this life at twelve. She was the light of a good company of relatives and friends, and bright, happy and cheerful, she carried sunshine wherever she went. Not only in her home, but in the public and the Sabbath schools, where she was a regular and faithful attendant, will she be greatly missed.

Death is a hard master. He would take the brightest and best, but he cannot even mar memory. It will serve as a balm to wounded hearts.

Funeral services were held at the residence on Seeger Street Wednesday afternoon, Rev. D. J. Feather officiating. Interment was made in Elkland cemetery. Besides the parents, there are left to mourn four brothers, Glen of Wilkinsburg, Pa., Dorus of Mackinac Island and Alvin and John, and one sister, Marie.

John married Jean Elizabeth Grant on 11 Jul 1938. Jean was born on 5 Apr 1910 in Chatham, Ontario, Canada; died on 12 Apr 2006 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Died in a private plane crash.

His obituary is indexed on Cleveland Public Library's index as having been published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, November 2, 1999, Page 6, Section B. The full obituary was not available online, however..

William married Sylva B. Carter on 27 Jun 1953 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Sylva was born on 27 Mar 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada; died on 13 Jul 1996 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Hilda Stickley Benkelman instead shows her birthday as 31 March 1926.

The September 6, 1948 issue of the STRIFFLER BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Volume 11, reported that Ruth Benkelman, the daughter of Glen Benkelman, graduated from Ohio State University in March and was working as receptionist at the Cleveland Auto Club.

Ruth married Carl Simmelink on 5 May 1951 in Lakewood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Carl was born on 24 Jun 1919 in Lakewood, Cuyahoga County, Ohio; died on 26 Feb 1994 in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, noted that Alvin C. Benkelman, Jr graduated from Alexandria High School and joined the U.S. Army, serving with the Medical Corp in Korea. As of Volume 11, it was noted that he was discharged from the Army of Occupation, Korea, and was to enter the University of Virginia in the fall.

The following was written by Al in August 2000, a self titled memoir of his misspent youth

FRANK AND BENK

A hundred years ago when we were both young and full of it, we were double dating with a neighbor's two girls ( for the first time). We wanted to impress them so we took them to a Hungarian restaurant/night club in Washington, D.C., and did it up right - steaks, sparkling burgandy - the whole nine yards. Due to a slight misunderstanding, Frank thought I had money, and I thought he had it. We had to borrow money from our dates to pay the bill. And you know those ungrateful girls would not go out with us again. They didn't know the chance they missed.

Now for the raccoon story. We were camping in the Adirondacks with Frank and our children and dog several years ago. Our camp site was in a rocky hill area that was over run with raccoons. In those days, we knew how to camp - two tents and a screen enclosure/mess tent and dining area. The site was a little cramped for all these tents so Frank elected to sleep in the mess tent. Oh, yes, we had had champagne with our evening meal. We sat around the campfire after the children were down for the night, with Frank smoking and us reminiscing, ringed by eyes of 'coons glowing in the dark. Occasionally a brave one would come close to beg for food. At about l0:00 p.m. we secured the food in cars or tied them up high bedded down for the night. I awoke about l:00 a.m. to a great clatter of pans. From the position of our tent, I could shine a light down in the mess tent and was treated to the sight of Frank in his shorts with the champagne bottle raised on high chasing a very large 'coon around the picnic table. After I stopped laughing, I went down and unzipped the door of the mess tent, and the 'coon ran out. Frank has never seen the humor in this incident. His comment you never looked up at a large raccoon looking down at you.

Of all the rivers Frank and I have canoed, I think Frank will agree that the Cacapon in West Virginia was our favorite. We went down it several times with a dozen stories for each trip; those were the days. There was the time we came up to the community of Capon Bridge and learned that the little stream behind the store had just been stocked with trout. I was fishing with great success (Frank's not a fisherman). I would catch them, take them to Frank who was cleaning them, and putting them in the cooler. I had lost track of the number I had caught, and asked Frank how many there were, and was told nine. The limit was six. We packed up and shoved off! We grilled them for supper, eating eight between us. I think Frank will agree that was the best trout we ever ate.

There is a waterfalls on the bank of the Cacapon feeding into the main stream about l0 feet across called the Bridal Veil Falls, a large rock covered with moss, and the water streaming off of it in a hundred little rivulets - a magnificent sight in its own right. We landed and climbed a porous limestone bank rising 50 feet up from the river to fill our canteens in one of the many springs that fed the falls. In one of these pools surrounded by bright green moss a Scarlet Tanager was taking a bath. This was one of the most brilliant sights either of us had ever seen in nature. We filled our canteens with cold clear water [not the bird bath] and returned, inspired, to the canoe and continued our trip.

One more and I will quit. Then there was the time we ran out of beer. A common occurrence on a 3 or 4 -day trip because of weight constraints. At evening camp Frank was building a fire place and I was fishing from the bank. Now we were miles from anywhere. I snagged my favorite lure out in the river and waded out to retrieve it. you guessed it, it was snagged on a unopened 6-pack of beer. It may have been a little flat but we thanked our good fortune and drank with gusto.

Frank and I have put a lot of water under our keel in more ways than one. We have argued, rejoiced and enjoyed one another's company. In short, best friends. BENK

Alvin married Carol Macomber on 3 Mar 1951 in Alexandria, Fairfax County, Virginia. Carol was born on 31 Mar 1930 in Evanston, Cook County, Illinois; died on 29 Oct 2011 in Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia; was buried on 5 Nov 2011 in St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Catlett, Faquier County, Virginia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, wrote that he graduated from Pigeon High School and planned to be a farmer.

James married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Wm. John Agar does not list her marriage to Robert Wayne Hill. He instead has a marriage to Robert W. MAY, on 20 Jun 1992. He also indicates that they had one son that died in infancy.

Pattie married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]