Family History - Benjamin Merl Beckwith

1. Benjamin Merl Beckwith,¹ born 17 September 1895 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, the son of Austin Ormond Beckwith and Jeanett Pauline Jones.¹ Benjamin married, first, 1917, Alice Elizabeth Crippin¹ (born 12 February 1899 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, the daughter of Albert Leroy Crippen and Hannah L. Conklin;^{2, 3, 4} Alice died 3 August 1922 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan²). Benjamin married, second, 26 November 1924 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan, Esther Reimer⁵ (born 12 November 1902 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois, the daughter of Fred William Reimer and Ida Pauline Thus;⁵ Esther died 31 October 1991⁵). Alice is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.²

+	2	i.	Laurence Clair Beckwith, born 13 July 1918 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died 1 April 1999 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan. Married Janet Ruth McCulloch.
+	3	ii.	Melvin Merle Beckwith, born 20 October 1919 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died 14 August 1944 in France. Married Betty Jean Goodrode.
	4	iii.	Duane Everett Beckwith, born 18 March 1921 in Michigan;6 died 31 August 1921.6 Duane is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.6
+	5	iv.	Virginia Irene Beckwith, born 31 March 1922 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died 19 December 1996 in Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio. Married (1) Frederick A. Ninke Married (2) Eugene Norman Landeck.

6

i.

Rev. Dean H. Beckwith, born 27 October 1939 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan;7 died 18 October 2021 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan.7 Dean is buried in Columbus Township Cemetery, McMillan, Luce County, Michigan.7

1. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Benjamin Merl Beckwith, born: 17 September 1895 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 3 September 1976 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, two wives, and five children).
2. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Alice Elizabeth Crippen Beckwith, born: 12 February 1899 in Bangor Township, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 3 August 1922 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record which includes a copy of her death certificate; a note detailing her husband, marriage, number of siblings and children, and her death the same year as her sister; and provides the names and links for her parents, three siblings, husband, and four children).
3. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Michigan, Van Buren County, Bangor Township, E.D. 133, Sheet No. 9A, Bert Crippin, 43, Michigan, Mar. 1857, farmer; wife of 17 years Hannah Crippin, 33, New York, May 1867, 7 children, 6 living; son Robert Crippin, 16, Michigan, March 1884; daughter Marguerite Crippin, 14, Michigan, Jan. 1886; son Clair Crippin, 12, Michigan, Dec. 1887; daughter Anna Crippin, 8, Michigan, Jan. 1892; son Ralph Crippin, 6, Michigan, May 1894; daughter Alice Crippin, 1, Michigan, Feb. 1899.
4. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Michigan, Van Buren County, Bangor Township, E.D. 150, Sheet No. 7A, Albert Crippen, 52, Michigan, farmer, general farm; wife of 26 years Hannah Crippen, 43, New York, 12 children, 9 living; daughter Anna Crippen, 18, Michigan; son Ralph Crippen, 16, Michigan; daughter Alice Crippen, 11, Michigan; son Paul Crippen, 7, Michigan; son Edward Crippen, 5, Michigan; daughter Lena Crippen, 2, Michigan.
5. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Esther Reimer Beckwith, born: 12 November 1902 in Aurora, Kane County, Illinois; died: 31 October 1991 (from record, which includes a note detailing her marriage; and provides the names and links for her parents, siblings, husband, and one child).
6. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Duane Everett Beckwith, born: 18 March 1921 in Michigan; died: 31 August 1921 (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, and half-sibling).
7. Find a Grave (website). Columbus Township Cemetery, McMillan, Luce County, Michigan, Rev. Dean H. Beckwith, born: 27 October 1939 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 18 October 2021 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which provides the text from his obituary; and provides the names and links for his parents and half-siblings).

2. Laurence Clair Beckwith² (Benjamin¹), born 13 July 1918 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan;¹ died 1 April 1999 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan.¹ Laurence married, 1944, Janet Ruth McCulloch² (born 16 March 1926 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, the daughter of Stewart McCulloch and Blanch Thompson;² Janet died 2 October 2013 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan²). Laurence and Janet are buried in Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.^{1, 2}

+	7	i.	Kathryn J. Beckwith, born 16 May 1946 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan; died 4 January 2006 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan. Married Sheldon Morris Booth.
	8	ii.	Richard Laurence Beckwith, born 23 October 1948.2
	9	iii.	Michael Alan Beckwith, born 23 June 1950 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan;3 died 10 April 1968 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan.3 Michael is buried in Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.3
+	10	iv.	Cynthia Carol Beckwith, born 27 February 1956 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan; died 23 March 2013 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan. Married Mark D. Scherer.

3. Melvin Merle Beckwith² (Benjamin¹), born 20 October 1919 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan;⁴ died 14 August 1944 in France.⁴ Melvin married, 15 August 1943, Betty Jean Goodrode⁴ (born ca. 1924 in Michigan, the daughter of Max Goodrode and Harriet Kendall⁵). Melvin is buried in Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France.⁴

11

i.

Paul Gary Ignelzi (born Paul Beckwith), born 9 April 1944.4, 5, 6

5. Virginia Irene Beckwith² (Benjamin¹), born 31 March 1922 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan;^{7, 8} died 19 December 1996 in Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio.⁷ Virginia married, first, 1944, Frederick A. Ninke⁹ (born 1921 in Michigan, parents not determined;^{8, 9} Frederick died 1971⁹). Virginia married, second, 1980, Eugene Norman Landeck¹¹ (born 16 October 1921, parents not determined;¹⁰ Eugene died 27 July 1993¹⁰). Virginia is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.⁷ Frederick is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.⁹ Eugene is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.¹⁰

	12	i.	Barbara Ann Ninke, born ca. 1946 in Michigan.8
	13	ii.	James A. ‘Jimmy’ Ninke, born July 1953;12 died October 1954 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan.12 Jimmy is buried in Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.12

1. Find a Grave (website). Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Laurence Clair Beckwith, born: 13 July 1918 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 1 April 1999 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, half-sibling, wife, and three children).
2. Find a Grave (website). Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Janet Ruth McCulloch Beckwith, born: 16 March 1926 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 2 October 2013 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which includes the text from her obituary; and provides the names and links for her husband and three children).
3. Find a Grave (website). Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Michael Alan Beckwith, born: 23 June 1950 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 10 April 1968 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents and two siblings).
4. Find a Grave (website). Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-James, Departement de la Manche, Basse-Normandie, France, PFC Melvin Merle Beckwith, born: 20 October 1919 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 14 August 1944 in France (from record, which includes a note naming his parents, siblings, wife and marriage, son, that he died on the beaches of Normandy, France during the World War II invasion, and his military service and awards; and provides the names and links for his parents, siblings, and half-sibling).
5. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Van Buren County, South Haven, E.D. 80-65, Sheet No. 20, Emil J. Ignelzi, 29, Michigan, electrician, retail appliance store; wife Betty J. Ignelzi, 26, Michigan; son Paul G. Ignelzi, 6, Michigan; son Timothy J. Ignelzi, 2, Michigan.
6. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
7. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Virginia Irene Beckwith Ninke, born: 31 March 1922 in Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 19 December 1996 in Maumee, Lucas County, Ohio (from record, which includes a note: Name at time of death was Virginia Landeck; and provides the names and links for her parents, siblings, half-sibling, husband, and one child).
8. U.S. Federal Census, 1950, Michigan, Van Buren County, Geneva Township, E.D. 80-38, Sheet No. 12, Frederick A. Ninke, 29, Michigan, cuts wood & grinds feed, saw & grist mill; wife Virginia B. Ninke, 28, Michigan; daughter Barbara A. Ninke, 4, Michigan.
9. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Frederick A. Ninke, born: 1921; died: 1971 (from record, which provides the names and links for his wife and son).
10. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Eugene Normal Landeck, born: 16 October 1921; died: 27 July 1993 (from record).
11. U.S., Newspapers.com, Marriage Index, 1800s-current (available at ancestry.com), Eugene Normal Landeck and Virginia Irene Ninke, married in 1980.
12. Find a Grave (website). Arlington Hill Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, James A. “Jimmy” Ninke, born: 1953; died: October 1954 in Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan (from record, which includes a copy of his obituary giving his age as 15 months and naming a surviving sister; and provides the names and links for his parents).

7. Kathryn J. Beckwith³ (Laurence,² Benjamin¹), born 16 May 1946 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan;¹ died 4 January 2006 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan.¹ Kathryn married, 12 October 1968, Sheldon Morris Booth¹ (born 7 September 1946 in Cook County, Illinois, the son of Sheldon Morris Booth and Margie Imogene Self;² Sheldon died 21 November 2021 in Portage, Kalamazoo County, Michigan²). Kathryn and Sheldon are buried in Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.^{1, 2}

	14	i.	Michelle Renee Booth, born 21 August 1971.3
	15	ii.	Christina Marie Booth, born 15 June 1973.3

10. Cynthia Carol Beckwith³ (Laurence,² Benjamin¹), born 27 February 1956 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan;⁴ died 23 March 2013 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan.⁴ Cynthia married, 1981, Mark D. Scherer⁴ (born 21 August 1956, parents not determined³). Cynthia is buried in Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan.⁴

	16	i.	Jason Charles Scherer, born 15 June 1980.3
	17	ii.	Brian Anthony Scherer, born 2 November 1981.3
	18	iii.	David M. Scherer, born 1 February 1985.3

1. Find a Grave (website). Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Kathryn J. Beckwith Booth, born: 16 May 1946 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 4 January 2006 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which includes the text from her obituary; and provides the names and links for her parents, husband, and siblings).
2. Find a Grave (website). Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Sheldon Morris Booth, Jr., born: 7 September 1946 in Cook County, Illinois; died: 21 November 2021 in Portage, Kalamazoo County, Michigan (from record, which provides the names and links for his parents, half-sibling, and two wives).
3. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.
4. Find a Grave (website). Monks Cemetery, Bangor, Van Buren County, Michigan, Cynthia Carol Beckwith Scherer, born: 27 February 1956 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan; died: 23 March 2013 in South Haven, Van Buren County, Michigan (from record, which includes the text from her obituary; and provides the names and links for her parents and two siblings).