“MARGARET” [KNAPPENBERGER] BENFER
FAMILY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO
Johan Michael
(1709-1751)
V
Conrad
(1748-1818)
V
J. Philip
(1783-1867)
V
Margaretha “Margaret”
(1811-1881)
V
Sarah Ann (1832-1916) > 4 Children
Elias Ransom (1834-1915) > 6 Children
John Henry (1839-1902) > 10 Children
Mary Catherine (1848-1928) > 2 Children
GENERAL INFORMATION
Margaretha known as “Margaret” was the daughter of J. Philip Knappenberger and Mary Beacom. She was born 2 August 1811 in Westmoreland County, PA and was baptized in Brush Creek Lutheran Church in Westmoreland County, PA. She moved with her family to Tuscarawas County, Ohio about 1815. Margaret died 28 December 1881 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married John “Henry” BENFER, son of Nachborn Heinrich Benfer and Marie Elizabeth Klinker, on 21 April 1831 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Henry was born December 1809 in Warwick Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 11 March 1871 in Wayne Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Dundee Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Henry and Margaret had four children.
Margaret [Knappenberger] Benfer
and Henry Benfer in Dundee Cemetery,
Tuscarawas County, Ohio
[photos graciously provided by Sue Appleton]
CHILDREN
SARAH ANN BENFER (1832-1916)
Sarah Ann was born 23 February 1832 and died 15 May 1916 – both in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Robert PRICE, son of Thomas and Emma Price, on 19 June 1849 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Robert was born in 1828 in Ohio and died 21 April 1887 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Dundee Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They had four children.
1. Margarett A. Price was born February 1850 in Wayne Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 1912 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Beriah JOHNSON, son of Amos Johnson and Matilda Steffee, about 1877. Beriah was born 24 October 1847 in Ohio and died 18 October 1916 in Sugar Creek, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They are buried in Dundee Cemetery in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple had three children.
a. Frank L. Johnson born about 1874 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died after 1940. He married Effie Viola SHIE, daughter of Henry Shie and Catherine Dutz, about 1896 in Ohio. Effie was born 15 April 1876 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 30 December 1942 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They had a son: Floyd B. Johnson (born 7 September 1907 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 9 December 1981 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio). Floyd later married Ada B. [maiden name unknown] who was born 1907 in Ohio and died 26 October 1982 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They had a daughter: Helen Johnson (born about 1928 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio).
b. Infant daughter Johnson born 15 March 1875 and died 22 September 1875 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She is buried in Dundee Cemetery.
c. Elzuma Johnson was born March 1890 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 27 November 1961 in Lake County, Ohio. Elzuma married William BOLTON and had a son named French Henry Bolton (2 March 1908 – 22 February 1986 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio). Elzuma later married Robert D. SMART, son of Isaac N. Smart, on 3 March 1922 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Robert was born about 1881 in Ohio and died sometime in the 1930s in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He had been married previously and was widowed. Elzuma and Robert Smart had two children: Betsy C. Smart (born about 1924 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio) and Robert J. Smart (9 March 1931 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio – 22 September 2004 in Madison, Ohio). He was buried in All Souls Cemetery, Chardon, Ohio.
2. Savilla Jane Price was born 30 September 1852 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 11 April 1939 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Isaac Newton STAUFFER (STOUFFER) about 1870. Isaac was born December 1847 in Ohio and died 21 January 1924 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They had two children.
a. Gertrude Elsie Stauffer was born August 1875 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 2 January 1961 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Gertrude never married. She is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.
b. Arthur Price Stouffer was born 30 August 1884 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died October 1955. He married Florence J. [maiden name unknown]. It seems that they had no children. He is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.
3. Mary Clarissa Price was born 16 November 1855 and died 3 July 1915 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Charles H. SPRINGER, MD, son of Guy Y. Springer and Ann M. Pew. Charles was born March 1861 and died 1901 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Dundee Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. We know of no children born to this couple.
4. Francis Henry Price known as “Frank” was born July 1857 and died 26 January 1931 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Frank married Harriet RICE known as “Hattie”, daughter of John W. Rice and Elisabeth Fisher, about 1883 in Ohio. Hattie was born 28 February 1865 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 24 June 1952 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They are buried in Dundee Cemetery. They had one son.
a. Robert E. Price was born December 1887 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 2 April 1940 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Robert married Keturah MESSER, daughter of John Messer and Jessie M. Schrader, known as “Kittie” about 1909. Kittie was born 8 February 1889 in Ohio and died 27 April 1925 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They are buried in Dundee Cemetery. After Kittie’s death in 1925, their three children were living with Robert’s parents in the 1930 census.
- Lester T. Price was born in 1910 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
- Robert “Jack” Price was born in 1912 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 30 November 1957 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Edna L. [maiden name unknown] who was born in 1910. Robert Jack is buried in Dundee Cemetery.
- Harriett J. Price was born about 1923 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
ELIAS RANSOM BENFER (1834-1915)
Reverend Elias Ransom Benfer was born 4 February 1834 in Franklin Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 24 May 1915 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Elias was a Methodist minister. He married Caroline M. BOYD, daughter of Samuel Boyd and Maria Malone, on 22 April 1858 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Caroline was born 13 February 1837 in Wayne Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 22 June 1905 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Elias and Caroline are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Elias and Caroline had six children. After Caroline died in 1905, Elias married Anna M. THOMPSON who was born 1852 in Ohio and died 3 Februry 1937 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. In the 1910 census, Elias and Anna M. are living in Magnolia, Carroll County, Ohio, next door to his son, John Henry Benfer.
1. Joseph Francis Benfer was born 15 July 1859 and died on 16 December 1932 – both in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Cordelia MYERS, daughter of Solomon Myers and Jemima Gable, 10 March 1885 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Cordelia was born 16 February 1866 and died on 31 January 1937 – both in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery in Strasburg, Ohio. Joseph and Cordelia had eight children.
a. Howard Charles Benfer was born June 1886 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 18 April 1967 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Iva M. BOSE who was born 1883 in Ohio and died 14 October 1958 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. They had two children: Oda Benfer (born about 1905 in Ohio) and James A. Benfer (born 1908 and died 1914 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and buried in Grandview Cemetery).
b. Grace Elsie Benfer was born 5 February 1888 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 28 October 1961 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Grace married David Philip SHIVELY on 5 September 1905 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. David was born 5 April 1885 in Ohio and died 10 July 1962 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery. They had two children: Hyanthia Mae Shively (20 January 1906 – 12 January 1985) who married George M. MIZER (7 March 1906 – 28 May 1985) and Joseph D. Shively (8 June 1908 – 21 August 1928).
c. Mayme A. Benfer born 12 April 1889 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 20 July 1932 in Stark County, Ohio. Mayme was never married. She is buried with her parents at Grandview Cemetery.
d. Dwight C. Benfer was born October 1890 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 8 January 1969 in Ohio. Dwight never married. He is buried with his parents at Grandview Cemetery.
e. Florence “Vesta” Benfer was born May 1892 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
f. Josephine “Elzura” Benfer was born April 1897 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
g. John H. Benfer was born 3 February 1899 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 6 April 1988 in Carroll County, Ohio. Ohio death records indicate that John was 89 years of age upon his death and was widowed. At this time we do not have any information about his wife.
h. Glen Arthur Benfer was born 3 June 1900 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 18 March 1938 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He is buried in Grandview Cemetery. Glen married Hazel T. HARTLINE, daughter of Jeremiah Hartline, on 30 July 1925, but this marriage ended in divorce prior to 1930. Hazel was born 19 August 1902 in Tuscarawas County Ohio and died 20 June 1953 in Stark County, Ohio.
2. Cora Lillian Benfer was born 1861 in Franklin Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Cora married Dennis A. PATTERSON who was born 7 April 1858 and died 20 May 1897 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Dennis is buried in Grandview Cemetery, but Cora is not buried with him. She may have remarried after his death. We have no information on any children.
3. Mary Ellen Benfer was born 4 March 1863 in Indiana while her parents lived there for a few years and died 15 July 1946 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married John Edward HURST, son of Frederick and Rosanna Hurst. John was born 1 December 1866 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 14 June 1932 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. In the 1900 and 1920 census, this family was living in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas County, Ohio where John and his family ran the local newspaper. They had three children.
a. Lulu May Hurst born June 1889 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
b. Cora L. Hurst was born May 1899 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio
c. Joseph Hurst was born about 1902 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
4. John Henry Benfer was born 22 January 1866 in Franklin Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 24 March 1949 in Ohio. He married Sylvesta Margaret ZUTAVERN known as “Bessie”. Bessie was the daughter of Conrad G. Zutavern and Anna M. John. Bessie was born 16 July 1874 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 12 November 1968 in Florida. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Ohio. We have no information about any children for them.
5. Elias Ransom Benfer was born 5 February 1873 in Franklin Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 20 November 1894 in Franklin Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He died unmarried at the age of 21. Elias is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Ohio.
6. Robert E. Lee Benfer was born July 1877 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 30 October 1958 in Ohio. He is buried in Grandview Cemetery. Robert married Rita BLACK about 1902. The 1930 census for Canton, Stark County, Ohio lists Robert L. Benfer as married but does not list his wife. They had a son.
a. Marvin B. Benfer was born 24 September 1911 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 1 December 1994 in Pinellas County, Florida. He married Marion JOYCE.
JOHN HENRY BENFER (1839-1902)
John Henry Benfer was born 26 August 1839 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 31 January 1902 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. John Henry fought in the Civil War with the 126th Regiment of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He married Rachel A. JOHNSON, daughter of Amos Johnson and Matilda Steffee, on 6 October 1863 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Rachel was born 27 September 1844 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died there 25 September 1931. Rachel remarried to a Mr. PALMER who died prior to 1920. John and Rachel are buried in Dundee Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. John and Rachel had ten children.
1. Ulysses S. Benfer was born 24 May 1863 and died 28 November 1863 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He is buried in Dundee Cemetery.
2. Thomas J. Benfer was born 4 January 1865 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died there on 16 March 1865. He was buried in Dundee Cemetery.
3. Mary “Clara” Benfer was born January 1866 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 16 November 1923 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Charles C. KLAR, son of John Klar and Catherine Putt, on 26 October 1884 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Charles was born 7 January 1858 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 20 January 1934 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Charles was a blacksmith who lived in Canal Dover, Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Clara and Charles had two sons.
a. Harry Benfer Klar was born 16 September 1885 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died sometime after 1920 when he lived in Akron, Ohio and was single at that time.
b. John “Russell” Klar was born 22 October 1887 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 24 May 1954 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Dorothy JENKINS about 1914; this marriage ended in divorce prior to 1930. He is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery with his parents. Russell and Dorothy had two sons: John “Richard” Klar (18 January 1915-5 June 1989) and Charles R. Klar (21 January 1921-2 November 1993).
4. Odessa Benfer was born about 1868 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died sometime after 1930. She married Frank HILL who died prior to 1910 when Odessa Hill is listed as widowed. They had two children.
a. Ethel Hill who married a Mr. J. SANDERS.
b. Harry Hill who was born about 1891 in Ohio.
We would like to learn more about the Hill Family! Please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.
5. James P. Benfer was born 5 October 1871 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 5 November 1940 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Celia McKEAN, daughter of William and Rachel McKEAN. Celia was born 21 September 1875 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 28 December 1962. This couple is buried in Dundee Cemetery. They had three children.
a. Rachel L. Benfer was born September 1897 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
b. Mary C. Benfer was born 1900 in Washington, DC.
c. James P. Benfer, Jr. was born 9 December 1904 in Washington, DC and died August 1977. He married Grace KESTLER who was born about 1905 in Washington, DC. They had two children: James P. Benfer III and Judith Benfer.
6. Judge A. Benfer was born 22 December 1874 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 30 March 1944 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Clara E. GOULD, daughter of Henry H. and Rebecca GOULD. Clara was born on 15 January 1876 in Indiana and died 13 September 1970 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple had three children.
a. Grandville “Clyde” Benfer was born 14 May 1895 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 26 July 1954. He is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery. He married Florence [maiden name unknown] who was born about 1895 in Ohio. They had two children: John G. Benfer (21 July 1915 – 18 March 1989 in Pinellas County., FL) and Shirley Benfer (born about 1917).
b. Judge Ashley Benfer was born 10 August 1912 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 16 June 1914 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery.
c. Atlee Byron Benfer was born 25 August 1915 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 9 August 1996 in Orange County, Florida.
7. Clifford T. Benfer was born 20 October 1876 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 3 January 1953 in Stark County, Ohio. He married Martha E. KALENBACH about 1899 in Ohio. Martha was born February 1878 in Indiana and died 18 August 1968 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple had four children.
a. Velma J. Benfer was born 16 November 1899 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 10 March 1995 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. She married Donald Parker SMITH, son of William E. and Alice M. Smith. Donald was born 6 January 1899 in Stark County, OH and died 2 February 1961 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. They are buried in Grandview Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
b. Zella “Grace” Benfer was born 6 April 1901 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 16 January 1981 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. She married Smith Evert WILDMAN, son of Rollin J. Wildman and Cora T. Smith, who was born 31 July 1904 in Iowa and died 13 May 1989 in Canton, Stark County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Smith Evert Wildman was a Colonel with the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII.
c. Kathryn H. Benfer was born 28 October 1907 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 26 Janury 1985 in Clay County, Florida. In the 1930 census, Kathryn was 22 years of age and public school teacher. Kathryn married a Mr. WATSON and had a daughter, Joan.
d. William C. Benfer was born about 1924 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. In the 1930 census for Strasburg, William C. is listed as a son of Clifford and Martha Benfer, age 5, born in Ohio. He was not listed as a survivor in 1981 obituary of his sister, Grace.
8. William Francis Benfer was born 27 December 1878 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 6 May 1950 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. He married Mila M. BARR, daughter of Webster Mitchell Barr and Jane Elizabeth Allison, on 29 January 1902 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. Mila was born January 1882 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 8 February 1958 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Ohio. They had two daughters.
a. Helen E. Benfer was born about 1908 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
b. Ruth A. Benfer was born in 1910 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
9. Elsie “Grace” Benfer was born 18 January 1881 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 25 November 1918 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Caleb C. JONES, son of Beriah Jones and Anne Reese. Caleb was born 12 May 1878 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 11 February 1922 in Stark County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Dundee Cemetery. They had two children.
a. Glee Jones was born and died as a newborn in May 1905 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She was buried in Dundee Cemetery.
b. Opal Jones was born about 1908 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
10. Orpha “Hazel” Benfer was born March 1884 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 12 November 1970 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Homer Ray WALTER who was born 8 February 1883 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 9 December 1972 in Harrison County, Ohio. Homer was the proprietor of a grocery store in Dover Township, Tuscarawas County, Ohio in the 1920 census. They had four children.
a. Ruth O. Walter was born about 1904 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
b. Maurice Benfer Walter was born 11 April 1909 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 12 July 1982 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
c. Ethel L. Walter was born about 1915 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
d. Anna L. Walter was born in 1917 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio.
MARY CATHARINE BENFER (1848-1928)
Mary Catherine Benfer was born 30 June 1848 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 15 April 1928 in Stark County, Ohio. She married James Wesley STOUTT, son of Joseph Stoutt, on 8 September 1861 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. James was born 19 October 1835 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 19 Janury 1922 in Portage County, Ohio. They are buried in Dundee Cemetery, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. This couple had two daughters who married brothers.
1. Jesse “Etta” C. Stoutt was born 1862 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 18 June 1954 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio. She married Charles F. KOEHLER, son of Conrad Koehler and Catherine Allman. Charles was born 9 April 1856 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 14 August 1925 in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Ohio.
2. Stella “Alta” E. Stoutt was born June 1870 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died 12 March 1932 in Stark County, Ohio. She married John Franklin KOEHLER, son of Conrad Koehler and Catherine Allman. He was born 13 October 1863 in Tuscarawas County, Ohio and died on 20 August 1936 in Stark County, Ohio. In the 1910 census, this couple is living in Canton, Stark County, Ohio with no children listed. This couple is buried in Grandview Cemetery, Strasburg, Ohio.
If you would like more information on the Benfer family line or would care to share information, please contact us at jsappleton@windstream.net.