Benjamin H. Wenkel 1 of 4 #NotMyWenkel

So, this man is not my Wenkel relative, but as I was mining the newspapers for Wenkel stories, I kept coming up against his name.  Over. and Over. and Over. Forty newspaper articles over the span of 14 years, from the start of World War I to the start of the Great Depression.  I have a feeling he was a very likable fellow.  Now, to be sure, half of these forty articles are about missing and wounded lists from several newspapers all across the area.  We will check into these soon enough.

It's A Boy vintage card
source unknown

He is the third son of Squire Frederick E. Wenkel, who immigrated from Germany when he was about 6 years old, 1847.  Many Germans immigrated about this time, became farmers with financial backing from their families back home in the old country.  His mother died a few years later, when he was 11 years old.  His father, the Squire, had authority to marry couples, and apparently he performed quite a few ceremonies.  Frederick was drafted into the Missouri Civil War 30 June 1863, aged 25.  This means he'd managed to avoid the war until the very last year.  He started as Private of Company B, ending as Sergeant of Company E.

1889

birth, 5 October 1889, Champion, Douglas MO

1892 age 2

birth of brother Martin L. Wenkel, June 1892, who died in 1961.  His wife was Clarissa, of whom we find a record later on.  He is buried in Owensville MO.   He was in World War I and in World War II.

1898 age 8

birth of sister Grace M. Wenkel, May 1898, MO.  She married Walter Lottman, and they both lived with Frederick in one of the censuses.  She died 1984, and is buried in Franklin County MO.  

1900 age 11

Residence Boone, Franklin MO per Census

McGuffey's Eclectic Primer Page 4
photographed by Dayspringacres

He lives with parents Frederick and Veronica, who were married for 21 years by then.  He is a farmer and owns his own farm.  We know he was born in Germany, Veronica was born in Ohio but her parents were also born in Germany.  William age 20  and 19 year old Charles H. were born in Missouri.  Benjamin is age 10, Martin L. is age 7, and Gracie is age 2.  According to the census, every child was born in Missouri.

1905 age 16

death of brother Charles H. Wenkel, 26 April 1905, Champion
Row 3, plot 17, born 11 June 1881, died 26 April 1905, aged about 14 years.  This would have been a traumatic time for Benjamin at this young age.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/franklin/cemeteries/champin2.txt