Tombstone Tuesday - Wilhelmina Benzel

WILHELMINE

WIFE OF

JOHN BENZEL

BORN
MAY 25, 1835

MAR. 7, 1924

 Wilhelmine Lambrecht BENZEL was also more commonly known as "Minnie". Her parentage is unknown to us. We do know she arrived in this country with her husband John BENZEL and three of their children in May of 1864, and both came from Germany.

Minnie and John had eight known children: Amelia, Matilda, Josephine, August, Wilhelmine, Louie, John and William.

John died 18 Jan 1899 in Bedford, Indiana. Wilhelmine lived until 07 March 1924. The couple are buried at Green Hill Cemetery in Bedford. It is said that the family were well reknown stone masons, and that John and Minnie's gravesones were made by their sons.

Toimbstone Tuesday

WILHELMINE
WIFE OF
JOHN BENZEL

BORN
MAY 25, 1835

MAR 7, 1924

Wilehlmona Lambrecht Benzel was born in Prussia. We do not know her parents, or exactly where.

She married John [Johan] Benzel while still in Prussia.

The immigrated to America, arriving in New York on 23 May 1864 with their two oldest children, Amelia [Emilie] and Matilda [Mathilda] who were 3 years and 9 months of age respectively.

The couple went on to have six more children: Josephine, Minnie, Louis, John, August and William.

I do have one photograph of Wilhelmine...

Wilhelmine is seated on the left, daughter Josephine is seated on the right, granddaughter Florence is standing at the rear, holding her daughter, Louise [abt. 1910].

Wilehelmine [also spoken as "Wilhelmina"] died in 1924 and is buried next to John in Green Hill Cemetery, Bedford, Lawrence County, Indiana...

 It is said that the couple's tombstones were crafted by family members. John was a master stone mason and worked with the native limestone of Lawrence County.

Wilhelmine's daughter, Josephine [1865-1932] was my maternal great-grandmother. Her son Henry was my grandfather.