Benjamin H. Wenkel part 4 of 4 #NotMyWenkel

Part 4 of 4, 1930s

1930 age 41

Residence West Plains Avenue, Salem, Dent MO, married to Grace Wenkel (Laura Grace Smith Wenkel).  The Census notes that Benjamin is born in Prussia, which was what Germany was called sometimes.  Eugenia is age 5, Keith is age 4.  Benjamin is listed as a teacher at the public school, and is a veteran of the World War.  Remember, at this time there was only ONE world war, and was commonly referred to as the Great War.

1931 

The Houston Herald, Houston MO.  Thursday 7 May 1931, page 4

Downloaded 21 March 2017 from Newspapers.com

A meeting was held at Raymondville church all day Monday and at night, the general purpose being to discuss the problems confronting the young people and their organizations and the problems of consolidated parish.  The prominent speakers were … Prof. B.H. Wenkel, of Salem …. Also Miss Lucy Foreman of Memphis, a famous orator who attracted much comment from the largest congregation it has been our pleasure to see in our little church.  A large number of visitors were present from various parts of Texas county and other counties.

1932 age 42

death of wife Laura Grace Smith Wenkel, 10 March 1932, Salem, Dent MO.  She was only 41 years old.  Wonder what she died of?

between 1932 and 1939 age 42 to 50

marries Myrtle Mamie Hopkins.  She was born 1905, died 1982 in Franklin County MO.  She is buried next to her husband with a double gravestone.  See below.  

1939 age 50

Benjamin Harrison Wenkel dies 11 November 1939, Franklin County MO, buried in Champion City MO

1939

Champion City MO, photo courtesy of Larry Miller at FindAGrave

Champion City MO, photo courtesy of Larry Miller at FindAGrave

1956 Headstone application for Veteran

Veteran Headstone application front

Veteran Headstone application back

Benjamin H. Wenkel, enlisted 5 September 1917, honorably discharged 8 October 1919.  His serial number was 2178565.  At this time (1956) it is unknown if he had a pension.  He was a Corporal for Company C of the 354th Missouri Infantry, 89th Division.  No religious emblem on his flat marble marker.  His birth is 5 October 1889, and he died 11 November 1939.  He is buried in M.E. Church at Champion City, Missouri.  Consignee is Mrs Grace Wenkel Lottman, his sister.
On the back, it notes that he served as private of Company K, 38th Infantry, 3rd Division.  He also was authorized the Purple Heart.  The whole process looks like it took three months, by looking at the stamp marks on the back.

Some Relatives mentioned in the News

Ruby U. Bullock Obituary

Ruby Una Bullock, nee Michel, 88, Silver Spring, Md., passed away Friday, March 14, 2003, at her home.  She was preceded in death by her husband; four brothers, Dr. Russell J. Michel and wife Elnora, Homer C. Michel and wife Hazel, Leland A. Michel and wife Eleanor and Wesley Michel; two sisters, Clarissa A. Wenkel and husband Martin and Dorothy Maggie.
http://www.emissourian.com/obituaries/obits/ruby-u-bullock/article_05785595-ac4f-5fd3-886b-c0de3053b30e.html


Holtmeyer-Thompson Vows Read
Vocalist was Marian Wenkel, Owensville.  She has to be related to this family, don't you think? http://www.emissourian.com/features_people/announcements/holtmeyer-thompson-vows-read/article_d82eba4a-f821-5ceb-b8d3-8b8e01d9911e.html

Franklin County Veterans Hall of Honor: World War I

After trying to remain neutral, the United States entered the war on April 6, 1917, because of submarine attacks on our commercial shipping vessels. The war unofficially ended November 11, 1918, but a state of war existed until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919.http://www.emissourian.com/features_people/franklin-county-veterans-hall-of-honor-world-war-i/article_8b4c3dd0-a591-566d-9559-4d9a2c8fd92a.html
The Veterans Hall of Honor was created to honor those veterans associated with Franklin County. To be included in the hall, a veteran must have an honorable discharge, been born or raised in Franklin County, buried in Franklin County or lived in Franklin County for at least 10 years.
Veterans that we have been able to document their service in World War I are:
Wenkel, Benjamin Harrison
 
Anyone willing to donate pictures, military histories, military uniforms or insignias that you would like to have included and displayed in the Hall of Honor or if any one has service information on the above names or veterans that were inadvertently not on the list please contact us.
The County's Internet site is www.Franklinmo.org. Go to Veterans Hall of Honor and complete the information sheet found there. Other contact information is towilson@franklinmo.net
The mailing address is: Terry O. Wilson, 400 East Main Street, Room 206, Union, MO 63084.

156,000 soldiers served in World War I from Missouri. Most veterans from this area served in the Army representing the 89th Infantry Division or the 35th Infantry Division as well as other Army Naval and Marine units.

Phone numbers to call are 636-583-6360 (office) or 636-239-0317 (home).

Franklin County Veterans Hall of Honor: World War II

Benjamin H. Wenkel and Clifford F. Wenkel have incomplete records and are not yet included in the WWII hall of honor as of 2009http://www.emissourian.com/features_people/franklin-county-veterans-hall-of-honor-world-war-ii-/article_120c17e0-4fa8-5a4e-8bf4-cc675f27d963.html

So far, I don't have any record of Benjamin serving in the second world war.  His application for headstone indicates only service in the First world war.  One of his brothers, though, did serve in both wars.  Benjamin may have been exempt from the second involvement because of his injury to his arm.

Spring Bluff Community To Celebrate Heritage

Spring Bluff is located on a ridge about 8 1/2 miles north of Sullivan on Highway 185. The community was originally called Five Points because five roads merged there. Jake’s Prairie went west. Spring Creek Road led to Spring Creek. The road to Champion City was then known as Hecht Road. Another road, later known as Wenkel Ford Road, led to the Bourbeuse River, and the fifth road led to Sullivan.http://www.emissourian.com/spring-bluff-community-to-celebrate-heritage/article_83b5c370-c91c-5609-81ba-dcb07fb7ffca.html

Which Came First: Champion City or the Champion Mill

When Eberhardt Giebler retired on June 4, 1885, he sold the mill to his son, John E. Giebler. Several years later, John Giebler sold the mill to Henry Keller and his son, William Arthur Keller, who were from Shotwell. George Crawford worked as an engineer at the mill, but in 1904, he was replaced by Fred Wenkel. Keller later owned a mill in Sullivan.http://www.emissourian.com/which-came-first-champion-city-or-the-champion-mill/article_4a933c72-04e3-5c0a-81e3-455cbd23f279.html 

Benjamin H. Wenkel 3 of 4 #NotMyWenkel

Part 3 of 4, 1920s

This is Benjamin's life after the Great War.  He helped form the local American Legion group, became a university faculty.

1920 age 30

The Evening Missourian, Columbia MO.  Saturday 24 April 1920, page 1

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Legion After Members

Two Teams Working To Get 150 In Organization.The American Legion Membership campaign started with a rush.  The members of both teams were working hard and both sides are confident of winning.  Those who have already joined are:  Capt. R.M. Hulen’s team; … B.H. Wenkel ….

The Evening Missourian, Columbia Missouri.  Friday 5 March 1920, page 2

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War Veterans Urge Ideals in Politics

Resolution Asks Every Citizen to Study Issues and Candidates“IS IT AMERICAN?”Would Not Lose Standards For Which War Was Fought“We brand as un-American all persons of voting age who refuse to watch vigilantly at all tiems all political actions, and do their utmost to make each and every action of their respective political organizations as honorable as the ideals for which we fought.”  This is part of a resolution passed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars at a meeting in Room A, Y.M.C.A. Building, last night….“…be it further resolved, that Robert Graham Post No. 280, Veterans of Foreign Wars, declares it to be the sacred and patriotic duty of every person of voting age in Boone County to take active part in the coming elections, not only at the polls, but in the preliminary moves, which heretofore have been left in the hands of a few men.”The petitions (for initiation) of … Benjamin H. Wenkel … were accepted

1921 age 31

1920-1921 yearbook Directory University of Missouri, Columbia MO

1920-1921 yearbook Directory University of Missouri, Columbia MO 

Benjamin H. Wenkel, 106 Lathrop Road.  Phone 318-Black

Now, if I were so inclined, I would search out this address, see what it looks like today.

The Evening Missourian, Columbia MO.  Friday, 18 March 1921, page 1

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RED CROSS NURSE TALKS

Mrs D.P. Beyea Entertained at Legion Dinner.Mrs D.P. Beyea, a Red Cross nurse who served four years overseas with the allied armies, was the guest of honor at a dinner given at Harris’ last night by the American Legion.Mrs Beyea told of her experiences during her long service overseas.  Mrs. Beyea saw the atrocities committed by the Germans in the occupation of Antwerp in 1914 and the remnants of the French and British armies after the first battle of the Somme.Those present last night were: … B.H. Wenkel ….

death of father Frederick E. Wenkel, 4 May 1921, Boone, Franklin MO
Row 3, plot 15, born 30 December 1841, died 4 May 1921, buried in Champion MO
http://files.usgwarchives.net/mo/franklin/cemeteries/champin2.txt

1922 age 33

Residence Columbia MO

The Evening Missourian, Columbia MO.  Saturday 24 June 1922, page 1

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The Legionaires who were charter applicants and were initiated last night are … B.H. Wenkel ….  The voiture locale received the transfer of the two active members who are responsible for the formation and organization of the voiture ….

Benjamin Harrison Wenkel 1922 yearbook

He is a treasurer of the Veterans' club at the University.

A detail of the photo above

Just look at that face.  He has classic Germanic features, the very same features I tend to associate with my Wenkel family.  Perhaps this man IS related, perhaps from the old country?  I hope to find out.  If you know of any information, be sure to let me know, too!

1923 another year, another yearbook

Benjamin H. Wenkel

Another portrait

1925 age 35

marriage to Laura Grace Smith Wenkel, MO.  She was born 1891, died 1932 in Missouri.  Her parents may be James and Isadore Smith of Missouri.

birth of daughter Eugenia Wenkel, MO, died 2005

The Republican Tribune, Union MO.  Friday 20 March 1925, page 5

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Ben Wenkel of Columbia MO spent several days of this week here with old friends.  Mr. Wenkel is a former Franklin County boy, having been born in Boone township.  He also attended high school here.  During the war he waas seriiously (sic) injured and since that time he has been attending the Agricultural College at Columbia.  During the past few months he has been employed with the Farm Census Department in this district.

The Republican Tribune, Union MO.  Friday 20 March 1925, page 1

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At a meeting of the Franklin County Republican Central Committee called … for the purpose of recommending a successor to the (deceased) … clerk of the county court, it was unanimously decided to ask that the appointment go to Emil J. Kaufmann….The committee also recommended the appointment of Benj. Wenkel as state feed and seed inspector, under the State Board of Agriculture.  Mr. Wenkel is a son of the well known Squire Wenkel of Boone Township, now deceased.  He is a veteran of the World War, was seriously injured and is a recent graduate of the State College of Agriculture.  The past few months he has been engaged in the U.S. Farm Census.

1926

birth of son Keith Wenkel, MO, born a year after his sister Eugenia, died in 2006, a year after she'd died

1928 age 38

Benjamin and Myrtle Wenkel, with son Keith
about 1928, from Ancestry.com member yral1 submission

Wonder where his daughter is?  She is only a year older than this little boy, who looks to be about 2 or 3 years old.