Andrew Wenkel Part 3 1920-1929

1920, age 20 Census

Gibson, Bay, Michigan

Andrew Wenkel in Gibson MI

He is 19 years old, living and working on the family farm with his parents in Gibson, Bay, Michigan. He and his sister Sophie are the only two children left on the farm.  It seems August owns the farm, rather than renting it.

1920s

Photos used with permission from Christi Adams.  I can see a bit of my grandfather August Wenkel (and his sons, my Uncle Laurence Wenkel, and Uncle Howard Wenkel) in this first photo.  Those are some large hands.

Andrew Wenkel at the Cloverleaf Hohlfelder Dairy
with Ellen, Glencoe Illinois

Andrew Wenkel at the Cloverleaf Hohlfelder Dairy
with children, Glencoe Illinois

These children are listed on Ancestry.com as Edwin H., Bud H., Eleanor, Ellen, Billy and Myrtle Ekelman.  I think that Edwin and Bud are Hohlfelder children, and the other four are the Ekelman's.

1925, age 25 Residence

Auto Mechanic living at 859 Vernon Avenue, Evanston, Illinois

Andrew Wenkel 1925 Directory

I looked at this address, and the house standing here now was built in 1995.  It is now part of Glencoe IL.  When I searched Evanston, I did find Vernon Avenue.  I did a streetview "walk" down the street and found 859 Vernon, it was across from a school (or it was replaced by the school) -- wait a minute -- it keeps sending me back to Glencoe!  I want to find Vernon Avenue in Evanston.   Never mind.

1925 Tri-State Tornado

Historical Insight from Ancestry.com

After the tornadoes dissipated, citizens began cleaning up the wreckage of their homes. It was not uncommon to find a table still in place in the kitchen with walls crumbled around it. March 18, 1925, Princeton, Indiana. Credit: Archive Farms/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

1927, age 27 Residence

Evanston, Illinois

Andrew F. Wenkel
1925 Evanston IL directory

Once again, he is an auto mechanic living at 859 Vernon Avenue, Evanston IL.  Look on the first column of the second page.  He is listed here as Andrew F. Wenkel.  Why?  Typographical error?  If you know, please let me know.  There is a possibility that I have two different Andrew Wenkel men.  I want to make sure.

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

Andrew Wenkel Part 2, 1910-1919

I don't have much information during this time.

November 10, 1913, Chicago, Illinois.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

1913, age 13

Historical Insight -- Great Lakes Storm of 1913.  How did this affect their farm?

The storm is historically known by several names including the “Big Blow”, the “Freshwater Fury,” and the “White Hurricane.”November 10, 1913, Chicago, Illinois. Credit: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain

1914, age 14

Death of brother William Carl Wenkel, 2 February 1914, Gibson, Bay, Michigan.  Did the previous storm cause Willie's death?

April 7, 1917, San Francisco, California.
Credit: San Francisco Chronicle/Newspapers.com

1917, age 17

Historical Insight -- America Enters World War I

from Ancestry.com

President Wilson’s speech to Congress was published across the United States. On April 6, 1917, he asked that “all officers, civil or military, of the United States that they exercise vigilance and zeal in the discharge of the duties incident to such a state of war.”

Historical Insight -- Registering for the Draft in World War I

from Ancestry.com

About 1917, New York.
Credit: FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Each prospective soldier went through two complete medical examinations. The first by local physicians following their induction, the second at the mobilization camp before training. By the end of the war, these examinations included psychiatric evaluations. 

1918, age 18

WWI Draft Registration, residence Standish, Michigan

Andrew Wenkel WWI Draft Registration

No middle name listed here, his address is RR #2, Standish, Arenac, Michigan.  Some people have his birth month as June, but here it is an abbreviated word for January.  He is white, native-born.  He is a Farmer working for his father August at the same address.  I think this is his signature.

On the back side, we see that he is of medium build, medium height with blue eyes and brown hair.  He registered for the draft on September 12, 1918.

If you want to see what was going on in the news in Arenac County, here is a great source -- Arenac County Dateline.

1919 Historical Insight -- Red Scare Palmer Raids

from Ancestry.com

Credit: Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group/UIG via Getty Images

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

Andrew Charles Wenkel Part 1 1900-1910

Andrew Charles Wenkel is my Great Uncle, the brother of my Grandfather.  I never met any of his siblings.  I think I met cousins at the one reunion I attended when I was about 12 or so. 

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1900 Census, birth

Andrew Charles Wenkel was born 22 January 1900 in Gibson, Bay, Michigan.  I don't have primary source for this information.  I do have several Census, including this first one he's enumerated on:

August and Sophia Wenkel family 1900 Census page 1
Gibson, Michigan from Ancestry.com

In this census, which spans two pages, he is called "Charley.  He is only 4 months old, living  on 159 Dochen 40, Gibson, Bay County MI., with his eight older siblings.

I've searched google maps, and it hangs up on the "Dochen" part of the equation.  The only thing I have is Gibson Twp in Bay county MI.  Just a moment, let me look at the census once more ... loading ... aHAH!  The census doesn't say anything about which house number, nor which road they live on.  For some unexplained reason, the index on Ancestry.com has them living at 159 Dochen 40.  When I searched for the meaning of "Dochen 40" I kept coming up with a family name.  Perhaps the word means something in German, other than a last name, but I can't find it.  If you know, let me know, right?  the "Dochen 40" is an enigma.  But it is part of the story, at least.

YSL-O clipart
Catnip Studio Collage

1901 and 1903

Birth of sister Sophia M. Wenkel, 7 June 1901, Michigan; and birth of brother William Carl Wenkel, 3 December 1903, Gibson Township Michigan

Credit: Archive.org/Public Domain

1906, age 6

Historical Insight -- Michigan Central Railway Tunnel (from Ancestry.com)

1910 Census age 10

Andrew Charles aka "Charley" 1900 Census page 2
Gibson, Michigan from Ancestry.com

He was ten years old living in Gibson Michigan, living with his family on the farm.  He had eight older siblings and two younger.  Total of 11 children ages 23 to 6.  I wonder what they raised?  Corn?  Wheat?

Comment below if you know anything about this farm, or if you can place it on a map.  Inquiring minds want to know!

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975 part 3

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975

Part 3, 1920s, age 30-39

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1920s age 31

Alvena Wenkel detail about 1910
about age 20 with sisters
from Christi Adams

1920 age 31

Alvena Wenkel 1920 census

Name listed as Alva Wenkel, age 29, born about 1891????    She lived on 5th street, Bay, Michigan.  She is working as a servant for the Smith family.  The age difference is about 3 years.  She may have fudged the birth date, but more likely, the Smith family guestimated her birth year by her age.

Source Citation -- 1920 Bay Ward 2, Bay, Michigan, Roll T625_755; Page 17A, ED 57

Ancestry.com.  1920 United States Federal Census [database online].  Provo, UT, USA.  Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2010.  Images reproduced by Family Search

1924 age 35

14 September marries John Jacob Schnetzer in Montclair, Essex New Jersey.  Wonder how they met?  Was she a maid at their house?

1928 age 39

The birth of her first son, Norman John Schnetzer on Christmas Eve in Glen Ridge, Essex, NJ.  In today's times, she would have been considered an Elderly mother.