__________________________
|
_Calvin Aaron BENNER ______|
| (1864 - 1936) m 1890 |
| |__________________________
|
|
|--James Levi BENNER
| (1891 - 1934)
| _Levi WOLFE ______________+
| | (1836 - 1901) m 1857
|_Margaret Elizabeth WOLFE _|
(1867 - 1935) m 1890 |
|_Christina Matilda LANTZ _+
(1836 - 1917) m 1857
[1445]
Sold out farming interest in Kansas and moved farming equipment and livestock by rail to Eads prior to being drafted into service.
Jim was in the service as a mechanic at an air plane base in San Antonio, Texas during WWI. After service, built county roads in Kiowa County. Old family photos show steam driven tractors and graders. Also these steam engines drove large thrashing machines for the wheat farmers of Eastern Colorado. James was killed in a trucking accident near Walsenburg, Colorado.
= = = = = =
Manhattan, Kansas - August 4, 1918 (letter to Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Benner from Jim)
Dear Folks
Your letter and camels with great pleasure. There is no law in Kans. for a soldier. They bring camels up here by the truck load, but by the time we get to them they are all gone and we have to take other kinds or go without.
Thought I was going to get away last night for a while, the report came in that we were going to get 4 days, and after it was on the bulletin board said weekend passes to be issued from Sat night till Sunday night 10:00. Starting Aug 10, and 65 men every sat. Now will get mine Sat as I am in the first 65, but cannot get home and get back in time. They say we will be given 3 or 4 days at the end of the term. But cannot plan to strong the way they been doing. Although will sure come if they give me a chance. But if I cannot, sure want you to come here before the first of Sept anyway. And bring Margaret along. Sure getting anxious to see someone I know.
About the money, it will be best to take what is left and put it in the Eads bank and then I can write you for it, but don't forget the five in you letters as we don't get our pay until the next month and don't forget the $18. and some cents that I had in there, look on my check book and you can tell. My last check was for $15 to Jack Stowell of Kinsley. And if you get a chance to sell old Charlie or trade him for a young cow, do it for me. And don't forget and write once a week or oftener if you can. Will close.
With best regard to all - Jim
Tell Bill and Gay to write.
= = = = = =
Kelly Field #2 - November 1, 1918 (letter to Mr. And Mrs. C. A. Benner from Jim while in military)
Dear Father, Mother and Kids
Am very sorry to say that the furlough was rejected because of lack of men in this department. If I had not been transferred and not in the hospital, I believe it would of went through. It was turned down within an hour after it went in.
Was very disappointed but one conciliation, this war will soon be over. And don't believe they will keep us long after peace is declared.
So keep the home fire burning and do the best you can till then. Will send you the check, don't think I will need it. Although I did not get to sign the payroll this month as I was still in the hospital. So won't get paid until next month. I have about $14 from last month and will make that do me. I will have to start to saving some pretty soon but it seems as though it takes money every time you turn around. But will send this month's pay home next month. Am only drawing $23 something now. As they take out $1 a month now for laundry.
Am still marked quarters and taking pills, mostly salts. They would give salts if a man broke his leg or had a tooth ache. But think they will mark me duty tomorrow. I have laid around so long that I am awful weak and nervous. But have not lost much flesh. Still weigh 170 and am wearing some Charley Chaplin mustache. grown since being in hospital. Wouldn't get shaved till they let me go. Will have my picture taken as soon as they lift this quarantine and send you one.
Was assigned to this squadron on the 12th and it sure is fixed up swell. Have a large heater in our room and curtains on the windows. Shelves at head of our beds and they form a regular cloths press with hangers to hang our cloths on and electric light at head of each bed and it is sure more home like than over in those lines. I know I will like it only one more thing and that is that I get in the chops instead of doing K.P. all the time.
Have not rec'd the Graphic nor papers yet. Hope you will send (? ? ?) and press often. And some more of those Laxatives tablets. Wouldn't had to went to the hospital if I'd had some but was just out. And anything else you can think of that would be of use.
Oh. Say would like to have a sweater with sleeves and collar 1 1/2 inches wide and buttoned from neck part way down , enough to leave one's head through and suit of union underwear as these mornings are awful cool.
And do hope that you won't lose any more horses and you can get someone to help get in the corn.
Will close hoping to hear from you real soon. Tell Bill and Gayetta to write and Agnes Hello and to write also.
Remain as ever for duration of war, Jim
Squadron H.
Kelly Field #2
So San Antonio
Texas
= = = = = =
Have been unable to locate James Levi and Margaret (Spielman) Benner and their son, James R Benner in the 1930 Census.
_____________________
|
_William CLAYTON ____|
| (1806 - 1881) |
| |_Mary HACKENBURY ____+
| (1773 - 1858) m 1792
|
|--Rachel E. CLAYTON
| (1850 - ....)
| _____________________
| |
|_Rachel BRATTON _____|
(1806 - 1878) |
|_____________________
________________________
|
_Elijah (Key) KEE ___|
| (1863 - 1951) m 1891|
| |________________________
|
|
|--Effie Anis KEE
| (1894 - 1980)
| _Isaac TETER ___________+
| | (1844 - 1928) m 1866
|_Cora Alice TETER ___|
(1872 - 1902) m 1891|
|_Sarah Elizabeth TETER _+
(1850 - ....) m 1866
[704]
!Immigration: Philadelphia 4 Sep 1728 on the "Albany" in Rupp, 30,000 names
!Naturalization: 19 May 1739 Statutes at large of PA, Vol.IV, p.326
!Death: Philadelphia Will; Book Q, P. 87
!Land: Philadelphia Deed 1 Oct 1751, Book A.M. 62, p.374
!Biography: Donated land for Pennsylvania Hospital, the first Hospital in the
Americas.
[631]
!Death: Pension Records
!Burial: Nossville M.E. Church Cemetery
_____________________
|
_Noah WARNER ________|
| (1843 - 1929) m 1866|
| |_____________________
|
|
|--Etta B WARNER
| (1881 - 1963)
| _Philip TETER _______+
| | (1801 - 1871) m 1826
|_Rebecca TETER ______|
(1843 - 1937) m 1866|
|_Sidney BLAND _______
(1809 - 1861) m 1826