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

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

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

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

Wenkel Family Research

Pages

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Benjamin H. Wenkel part 4 of 4 #NotMyWenkel