Jacob Hennes and Elizabeth Willmeng's Family

Jacob Hennes, son of Peter, was born on May 15, 1855 at Nusbaum, Germany. Jacob died at the age of sixty years, three months and thirteen days on August 29, 1915 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was buried on September 1, 1915 in Calvary Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan. According to his application for a marriage certificate, Jacob was a farmer by profession. As reported in the 1910 United States census return, Jacob arrived in America in 1856.

Jacob married on February 26, 1878 at Lemont, Illinois to Elizabeth Willmeng, daughter of Bernard Willmeng and Elizabeth Feller nee Sieber. Jacob was twenty-two years of age at the time of his marriage. Elizabeth was just twenty years of age. Witnesses to the subscribing of the marriage certificate were Joseph Willmeng and Peter Smith. Witnesses to the marriage ceremony were B. Willmeng and L. Schmitt.

Elizabeth was born on March 17, 1858 at Lemont, Illinois. She died at the age of eighty-five years, five months and seventeen days on September 3, 1943 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. She was buried on September 6, 1943 in Calvary Cemetery at Benton Harbor, Michigan.

In 1880, Jacob and Elizabeth were living in Lemont, Illinois where Jacob was a small farmer. In 1900, the family was still living in Lemont. However, Jacob's occupation is reported as being a day laborer. By 1910, Jacob had moved his family to Benton Township in Berrien County, Michigan.

On October 12, 1911, Jacob and Elizabeth obtained a warrenty deed for their home at 656 Terriatorial Avenue in Benton Harbor, Michigan. It is described as:

"Lot No. Five (5) of Block Eight (8) of Benton Harbor Improvement's Association third addition to the City of Benton Harbor, Michigan."

Jacob and Elizabeth were Roman Catholic. Elizabeth was a member of the Women's Catholic Order of Foresters and the St. John's Altar Society.

Jacob and Elizabeth had eleven children, all of whom were born at Lemont, Illinois.

1. Mary Margaret Hennes, aka Minnie, was born on June 11, 1879. She died on January 9, 1930 at Bainbridge, Michigan.
2. Peter Joseph Hennes was born on July 20, 1881. He was baptized in Saint Alphonsus's Catholic Church in Lemont, Illinois on July 31, 1881. It appears that Peter died on August 28, 1884 at Lemont, Illinois.
3. William Seraphine Hennes was born on March 17, 1882. William died on November 27, 1972 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
4. Andrew S. Hennes was born on December 6, 1884. Andrew died on February 17, 1958 at Benton Harbor, Michigan from an apparent heart attack while shoveling snow.
5. Joseph Ignatius Hennes was born on July 26, 1886. He was baptized in Saint. Alphonsus' Catholic Church at Lemont, Illinois on August 14, 1886. He died on July 18, 1887 at Lemont, Illinois
6. Henry Jacob Hennes was born on February 23, 1888. Henry died as a result of a stoke on September 16, 1946 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.
7. Michael A. Hennes was born on March 13, 1890. Michael died on June 21, 1962 at Watervliet, Michigan.
8. George Charles Hennes was born on March 25, 1892. George was employed in the construction business. .
9. Margaret V. Hennes was born on February 6, 1895. She was baptized on May 3, 1895 in St. Alphonsus Catholic Church at Lemont, Illinois. Margaret died on March 16, 1972 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. Margaret was a member of the Catholic Order of Forresters, the Daughters of Isabelle and St. John's Senior Citizens group.

   She married on September 18, 1954 at Benton Harbor, Michigan to John Joseph Kenny, son of Patrick Kenny and Mary Gavin. John was born on March 25, 1882 in Chicago, Illinois. He died on July 3, 1958 at Benton Harbor, Michigan.

10. Elizabeth A. Hennes, aka Elsie, was born on March 7, 1897. She was baptized on March 28, 1897. Elizabeth died on September 24, 1963 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. Elizabeth worked for Remington Rand Co. Elsie was a member of the Women's Catholic Order of Forresters, Daughters of Isabella and St. John's Altar Society.
11. Allen J. Hennes was born on April 9, 1900. At baptism he was given the name Aloysius Joannes. Allen died on January 24, 1959 at Watervliet, Michigan. Allen was part owner of Quality Polishing and Plating Works and also ran Bernard Drug Company.

    Allen married on May 26, 1938 to Margaret Russell, daughter of Captain William J. Russell and Lena Jacobson. Margaret was born on October 14, 1905 at Benton Harbor, Michigan. She died on January 8, 1965 at Watervliet, Michigan.

Sources

1. "Genealogical Notes on the Willmeng Family" by Earle E. Mays.
2. Research by Marjorie S. Clemens of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
3. Obituaries of:
   • Jacob Hennes, which appeared in the August 30, 1915 edition of The News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
   • Elizabeth Hennes, nee Willmeng, which appeared in the September 3, 1943 edition of The News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
   • Allen J. Hennes, which appeared in the January 24, 1959 edition of The News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
   • Margaret Kenny, nee Hennes, which appeared in the March 17, 1972 edition of The News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
   • John J. Kenny, which appeared in the July 5, 1958 edition of The News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michign.
   • Elizabeth Hennes, which appeared in the September 25, 1963 edition of The News-Palladium of Benton Harbor, Michigan.
   • Margaret Hennes, nee Russell.
4. Michigan Deaths, 1971 - 1996 as found at http://www.ancestry.com.
5. Social Security Death Index.
6. Warranty Deeds of Berrien County, Michigan (Li ber 184).
7. Letters from Agnes Graff of Lemont, Illinois dated April 16, 1983 and July 19, 1983.
8. Death certificates for Jacob Hennes and Elizabeth Hennes, nee Willmeng.
9. Marriage certificate (church) for Jacob Hennes and Elizabeth Willmeng.
10. Copy of official marriage certificate from the State of Illinois of Jacob Hennes and Elizabeth Willmeng.
11. United States Federal census returns for:
    • 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Lisle, DuPage, Illinois, Page 91, Dwelling 646, Family 687.
    • 1860 U.S. Federal Census for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Page 369, Dwelling 283, Family 526.
    • 1870 U.S. Federal Census for Homer, Will, Illinois, Page 11, Dwelling 88, Family 88.
    • 1880 U.S. Federal Census for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 55C, Dwelling 494, Family 508.
    • 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Lemont, Cook, Illinois, Sheet 8a, Dwelling 146, Family 152.
    • 1900 U.S. Federal Census for Ward 4 of Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 24 B, SD 4, ED 56, Dwelling 544, Family 619 [202 Reford Street].
    • 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Benton Township, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 10B, Dwelling 237, Family 238. 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Ward 4 of Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 7A, SD 4, ED 65, Dwelling 167, Family 169 [363 Morton Avenue].
    • 1920 U.S. Federal Census for Ward 4 of Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 12B, Lines 69 through 72.
    • 1920 U. S. Federal Census for Ward 4 of Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 1 A, SD 4, ED 75, Dwelling 2, Family 3 [363 Morton Avenue].
    • 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Ward 4 of Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 3B, SB 12, ED 11-14, Dwelling 71, Family 77 [656 Territorial Road].
    • 1930 U.S. Federal Census for Ward 4 of Benton Harbor, Berrien, Michigan, Sheet 12 A, SB 12, ED 11-19, Dwelling 297, Family 315 [363 Morton Avenue].
12. Benton Harbor city directories for the years 1915-16, 1918 and 1934.
13. Land Records for Berrien County, Michigan at St. Joseph, Michigan (Warranty Deeds Liber 184).
14. Copies of baptismal registrations for Mary Margaret Hennes, Peter Joseph Hennes and Joseph Ignatius Hennes. These were found in the Mormon FHC microfilm (#1571873) of the records of Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church in Lemont, Illinois.
15. Information provided by Margaret Jeanne Van Horn, nee Kenny.

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