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!

Miscellaneous Wenkel Information

Following is some miscellaneous information found when doing a general Wenkel search on Google. I have no connection so far.  If these are YOUR Wenkels, let me know.



Found in the Monroe County Independent, Monroe County Illinois.


Fr. John A. Weissler OMI, 92, of Belleville, formerly of Columbia, died September 29, 2004, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville. He was born September 3, 1912, in Columbia, the son of the late John and Lena Weissler nee Wenkel. He is survived by his sister Sr. Mary Joan Weissler of Ruma; nephews David (Kelcey) Whitman of Carmel, Ind., Robert (Deborah) Whitman of Carmel, Ind., and Mark (Susan) Whitman of Cincinnati, Ohio; and niece Joan (Ed) Hampton of Mehlville, Mo. He was preceded in death by brother George Weissler, sisters Amanda Kofron and Lena Whitman, and nephew Peter Whitman. Fr. John attended Immaculate Conception School in Columbia and St. Henry’s Seminary in Belleville. He joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, beginning his career in Mission, Texas, in 1938. He studied theology at De Mazenod Scholasticate in San Antonio and was ordained a priest by Bishop Althoff on June 5, 1943, in Belleville. His first assignment was in Carthage, Mo., where he opened the minor seminary Our Lady of the Ozark. He established the Oblate Press, by which he published Roses and Gold, and served as pastor of St. Ann’s in Carthage for 30 years, until he retired in 1985. Throughout his life, Fr. John was a strong backer of catholic schools. He said his first mass at Immaculate Conception Church. His visitation, funeral mass and burial were at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Cemetery in Columbia. Memorials may be made to Missionary Oblates Seminary Fund.
http://monroecountynews.net/obituaries/2004-obituaries/


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From Illinois GenWeb page, Monroe County
 http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang_A_L.html

Bolm, Minna nee Kalowsky, second wife of Friedrich Wenkel, Submitted by Judy Lindquist

Jun 25, 1832

Sep 11, 1867

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evangelical/p1010033.jpg

Gundlach, Henrietta nee Wenkel  Submitted by Judy Lindquist

Mar 19, 1843

Jun 19, 1902

photo of Gundlach headstone here - 

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evangelical/P1010016.JPG

Next Page of the Index
http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang_M_Z.html

Miller, Peter, son of Peter and Friederike Wenkel Miller   Submitted by Judy Lindquist View 2  Submitted by Vernon Ritter

Apr 21, 1863

May 1, 1863

Miller, Wilhelm, son of Peter and Friederike Wenkel Miller   Submitted by Judy Lindquist  View 2 Submitted by Vernon Ritter

Jul 30, 1865

Aug 15, 1866

Schaeffer, Dorothea nee Wenkel Submitted by Judy Lindquist   View 2Submitted by Vernon Ritter

Nov 10, 1827

Mar 16, 1868

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang3/Schaeffer_Dorothea.jpg

Seyffardt, Henriette W. nee Wenkel (wife of Louis)  Submitted by Judy Lindquist View 2 and View 3   Submitted by Vernon Ritter

Dec 19, 1862

Jan 21, 1935

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evangelical6/Seyffardt_Henriette_v2.jpg

Wenkel, Alvina    Submitted by Vernon Ritter

1902

1902

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang3/Wenkel_Alvina.jpg

Wenkel, Arthur G.  Submitted by Judy Lindquist   View 2  Submitted by Vernon Ritter

1909

1976

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang3/Wenkel_Arthur_G.jpg

Wenkel, Augusta  nee Zweig   Submitted by Judy Lindquist View 2 Submitted by Vernon Ritter

Sep 21, 1844

Apr 11, 1874

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang3/Wenkel_Augusta_nee_Zweig.jpg

Wenkel, Augusta M. C.,  child of W. and C. Wenkel  Submitted by Judy Lindquist

Jan 3, 1866

Jan 3, 1870

Wenkel, Catharine (nee Stumpf) Submitted by Judy Lindquist

Nov 22, 1835

Mar 30, 1862

Wenkel, Charles C.    Submitted by Vernon Ritter

1872

1957

Wenkel, Charles H.  Submitted by Judy Lindquist

1900

1970

http://monroe.illinoisgenweb.org/cemeteries/stpaul_evang2/Wenkel_Charles_H_1900_1970.JPG

Wenkel, Christina  Submitted by Judy Lindquist

Jul 16, 1842

Apr 14, 1918

Wenkel, Conrad  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	Jun 2, 1800	Jun 2, 1858
Wenkel, Emma  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	.
Wenkel, F. Hugo  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	Dec 15, 1885	Dec 7, 1934
Wenkel, Friedrich,  child of W. and C. Wenkel  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	1861	Feb 25, 1865
Wenkel, Fried.  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	Mar 4, 1826	Jan 20, 1865
Wenkel, Henriette Bierwirth  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	Aug 14, 1804	May 14, 1881
Wenkel, John   Submitted by Judy Lindquist View 2 Submitted by Vernon Ritter	Jul 19, 1853	Dec 1, 1918
Wenkel, John J.  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	1905	1972
Wenkel, Margareth S. nee Lepp Submitted by Judy Lindquist  View 2 Submitted by Vernon Ritter	Apr 23, 1857	Aug 04, 1949
Wenkel, Mary    Submitted by Vernon Ritter	1877	1938
Wenkel, Rose Marie  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	1928	1998
Wenkel, Teresa  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	1878	1920
Wenkel, William   Submitted by Judy Lindquist
Wenkel, William  Submitted by Judy Lindquist	1869	1950
Wenkel, William H.   Submitted by Judy Lindquist	Jan 1, 1831	Sep 1, 1905

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975 part 7

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975

Part 7, 1960s, age 70-86

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1963 age 73

Alvena's Social security card first issued to her in New Jersey

1969 age 79

Death of brother Fred Felix in Standish MI

1972 age 83

Death of sister Anna Wenkel in Montclair NJ.  Did they live close to each other?

1973 age 84

 death of brother August Paul Wenkel in Wauconda IL -- I never knew of his siblings deaths so close to each other

1982 age 86 

I can usually find the burial site, but I've searched Ancestry.com, FindaGrave, both with the dates of birth and death to no avail.  Even searching for just her name both married and maiden yeilded no results.  Broadening the search to just the last name for this death date, and to just the first and last name with no dates was unsuccessful.  Putting just the last name of Schnetzer gave me three results, none of them any member of this family.

Finally, on BillionGraves.com, after inputting just the last name Schnetzer, I got many results.  I scrolled through three pages worth, with no relevant results.  The search on Ancestry is fruitless.  Nobody has any record of burial.  I've put out a question on the Wenkel Family group on Facebook, and I was told I should contact her son Norman's family.  I'll update when I get new information.  If I don't, then that itself is part of the story.

I've searched Legacy Obituaries with no results.

US Social Security Death Index has a different date of death than what I originally have.  Wonder where I got that information from?  The only information on her death is from the SSDI.

Alvena Schnetzer, SSAN 139-38-5271; last residence Asbury, Warren, New Jersey; born 18 April 1889; died July 1982.  Social Security cared was issued in 1963 in New Jersey

Source Information -- Ancestry.com, US Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database online].  Provo Utah, USA; Ancestry.com Operations Inc. 2011.  Original data -- Social Security Administration.  Social Security Death Index, Master File.  Social Security Administration.

1989

Son Norman John Schnetzer died, listing his parents

Norman John Schnetzer (N.J. Schnetzer) born 17 September 1928 at Glen Ridge East, New Jersey.  Died January 1989.  Parents John J. Schnetzer and Alvena M. Wenkel.  SSAN 142-22-0967.  In October 1944, his name was listed as Norman John Schetzer.  in 7 February 1989 his name was listed as N.J. Schnetzer.

Source Information -- Ancestry.com, US Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database online]. Provo Utah USA. Ancestry.com Operations 2015.  Original Data -- US Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007

2016

Son Arnold lived in Asbury New Jersey and seems to be buried in Washington, New Jersey according to Ancestry's Cemetery and Funeral Home collection

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Photo Detail of four sisters by Christi Adams https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/14582634/person/270992602/media/13520027-2967-4a1e-b47b-bdac29f00104?_phsrc=KGX236&usePUBJs=true

Photo detail of two sisters by Christi Adams https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/14582634/person/270992602/media/98af6fb9-337e-41e2-bb86-8166546b8951?_phsrc=KGX236&usePUBJs=true

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975 part 6

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975

Part 6, 1950s, age 60-69

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1949 age 60

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1949 Directory, Montclair NJ

Alvena M. Schnetzer living with husband John.  Auto Repr(?) at  91 Greenwood Avenue, and living at 182 Wildwood Avenue, Montclair New Jersey

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1822-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

1951 age 62

death of father August Frederich Andreas Wenkel, October, Standish MI

1951 age 62

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1951 Directory Montclair NJ

Alvena M. Schnetzer, husband John's auto repr business address at 91 Greenwood Avenue, but their residence is Inq Do ????, Montclair New Jersey

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1822-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

1953 age 64

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1953 Directory Montclair NJ

Alvena M. Schnetzer with husband John at Asbury Township???, Montclair New Jersey.  I suspect they did not move, rather that the town boundaries moved around them.  Johns auto repr remains at 91 Greenwood Avenue.

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1822-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

1957 age 68

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1957 Directory Montclair NJ

Alvena M. Schnetzer living with John at Asbury Township, Montclair New Jersey, his auto repr business at 91 Greenwood Avenue

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1822-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975 part 5

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975

Part 5, 1940s, age 50-59

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1939 age 50

John Schnetzer has his auto repr (repair? reposession?) address 91 Greenwood Avenue, their home is 35 Grenada Place in Montclair New Jersey.

1939 John and Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer residence
Montclair NJ directory

John Schnetzer Auto Business
91 Greenwood Avenue, Montclair NJ
Google Maps Image 2017

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1922-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011

1940 age 50

L-R 1939-1940 Alvina, Celia, Frieda, Anna, Marilyn, Dora Wenkel
used with permission from Marianne McCarthy

This photo was uploaded to the Wenkel Family facebook group by Marianne McCarthy, with permission to use.  Marianne is Frieda's granddaughter.

1940 age 50

John and Alvina Wenkel Schnetzer 1940 Census
Montclair NJ
from Ancestry.com

In this 1940 census, Alvena Schnetzer looks like it's written as "Albena."  She's 51 years old, living with her 38 year old husband and her two boys, ages 11 and 8.  The live at 35 Grenda Place, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey, she same place she lived in in 1935.  

Source Citation -- Ancestry.com.  1940 United States Federal Census [database online].  Provo, Utah.  Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2012.  Original data USA Bureau of the Census, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, Washington DC.  National Archives and Records Administration 1940, T627, 4,653 rolls.

1941 age 52

John J. Schnetzer apparently has two auto businesses, one at 152 Valley Road and an auto repr (repair?) at 91 Greenwood Avenue.  He and Alvena M. live at 35 Grenada Place, Montclair NJ.

John and Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1941 Directory
Montclair New Jersey

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1922-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1941
182 Wildwood Ave Montclair NJ
Google Maps Image November 2016

I love the way this house looks now.  It must have been a great move for this family

1947 age 58

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1947 Directory, Montclair NJ

Alvena M. Schnetzer living with husband at 182 Wildwood Avenue, Montclair New Jersey.  John has his business still at 91 Greenwood Avenue.  He has an employee, Otto Schnetzer, who may be his brother or nephew?

Source information:  Ancestry.com.  US City Directories, 1822-1995 [database online].  Provo, UT:  Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.

1948 age 59

death of mother Sophia Rohrsen Wenkel in Standish MI

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975 part 4

Alvena Marie Wenkel Schnetzer 1889-1975

Part 4, 1930s, age 40-49

Mini Pedigree from Ancestry.com

1930 age 41

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer, 1930 Montclair NJ Census

Name is Alvena Schnetzer, born about 1890, married white female living in 35 Grenada Place, Montclair, Essex, New Jersey.  She was first married age 33, able to read and write, living with husband, 27 year old John Schnetzer ***I didn't realize the age difference*** and 1 year old son Norman.

Source Citation -- 1930 Montclair, Essex, New Jersey.  Roll 1332, Page 7B, ED 0541, FHL microfilm: 2341067

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

Alvena Wenkel Schnetzer 1930 Residence
Google Maps Image view

1931 age 42

 Alvena's second son is born, Arnold Paul Schnetzer, 22 August 1931 in NJ

1937 age 48

John Jacob Schnetzer Naturalization 1937

Okay, while this isn't Alvena Wenkel's naturalization record (since she is natural born citizen, she and her sons are mentioned in her husband's naturalization petition.  Again, they live at 35 Grenada Place, Montclair NJ.  It looks like John's actual signature.  John was Swiss.  It is possible that, since part of Switzerland spoke a dialect of German, they had something in common.  (Well, of COURSE they had something in common!  They were married for a very long time.)

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.