Biography/Notes

John Lauer Benner was born on November 17, 1829 in Sulgen, Württemberg, Germany
Church square in Sulgen, Württemberg,
Germany.  D to mother Margaret Benner who was not married. John's father's name was Mathaus Makle, who Margaret eventually married in 1833. However, John kept the surname of Benner. He was baptised in Oberndorf, Württemberg, Germany. The baptismal certificate was signed by Father Blank.

He attended the parish school there until he was eighteen years old when he joined a party of eleven who were all very anxious to hasten and investigate the wonderful stories of prosperity coming from America. The party embarked from Havre, France, in the spring of 1848, making the voyage in forty-nine days.

From New York, he took the usual route traveled by westward bound emigrants going up the Hudson River and again taking the boat at Buffalo for Sandusky City, Ohio. Once there, he immediately went to work as a cabinet maker and pursued agricultural pursuits. He learned the cabinet trade in his native country.

John met and married Magdalena Courtad in Sandusky City, Ohio. They were married on 12/16 November 1851/1852. The union was blessed with eleven children, and they are listed in the family bible. The Benner family didn't stay long in Sandusky on account of the cholera epidemic which had gained a strong foot-hold in the city. Deaths from cholera alone reached as many as 160 in a single day. So, they moved to Belleview, Ohio, and after a short residence there, they returned to Sandusky and settled down on a farm, near the city, devoting their time to truck gardening. A ready market for produce was found in the city near at hand.

On October 9, 1856, John was naturalized as a citizen in the city of Sandusky. In the fall of 1877, he moved to Wyandot County with his family and purchased a farm east of Upper Sandusky on the Oceola road. John resided there farming and raising livestock until 1893 when he sold out and bought a home one half mile west of his former home.

During his residence in Erie County, he served two terms as Infirmary Director and contributed $800.00 to the war. He also served as Township Trustee of Crane Township in Wyandot County for four terms (six years). He was a member of the school board for nine years and several times a member of the Church Council. The family were members of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Upper Sandusky and in politics John was a Democrat.

Article taken from The History of Wyandot County:

JOHN BENNER

John Benner was born in Württemberg, Germany, November 19, 1827. He learned the cabinet trade in his native country, and emigrated to America in 1845, locating at Sandusky City until 1877, during which time he engaged at his trade and in agricultural pursuits. He purchased his present farm in 1877, and has since resided in this county, doing a good business in agriculture and stock raising.

He was married at Sandusky City November 16, 1851 to Mary M. Courtad, daughter of John P. and Mary (Fry) Courtad, natives of France, where Mrs. Benner was born June 2, 1828. Her parents emigrated to America in 1832 or 1833, settling in Pennsylvania. In 1834, they removed to Seneca County, where the father died in 1844; the mother died in Sandusky City in 1850. They had twelve children who removed from Pennsylvania with their parents by wagons.

Mr. and Mrs. Benner had eleven children, eight still living: Catharine, born May 13, 1855; Charles J., May 14, 1857; Elizabeth, June 22, 1860; Louis A., June 23, 1863; Rosa V., October 31, 1864; Carolina, December 14, 1865; Mary A., August 18, 1867; and Frank P., March 29, 1869. The deceased are Caroline, Frank, and Louis.

Mr. Benner contributed about $800 to the late war; he served as Infirmary Director of Erie County two years; as Township Trustee six years, and as a member of the School Board nine years. Himself and family are members of the Roman Catholic church, he being a Democrat in political faith. Margaret Benner, our subject's mother, emigrated to the United States in 1854 and resided with her son until her death, which occurred at Sandusky City, November 12, 1877 in her seventy-eighth year.

Obituary taken from the Daily Cheif Union, Upper Sandusky, Ohio, May 29,1913:

JOHN BENNER

John Benner, one of Wyandot County's honored residents, died at his home, one and one-half miles east of Upper Sandusky, Wednesday evening, about 6:40 O'clock. The immediate cause of death was pneumonia, although he had been confined to his bed for the past two weeks as the result of the infirmities of old age. He had been in bad health, however, for the past fourteen years.

Mr. Benner was born in Württemberg, Germany, November 19, 1829, making his age 83 years, 6 months and 9 days, at time of death. At the age of eighteen years, he joined a party of eleven to come to America. They took passage at Havre, France, in the Spring of 1848, making the voyage in forty-nine days. From New York city he went by water to Sandusky, Ohio. He did not stay there, owing to an epidemic of cholera at the time, but went to Bellevue. He followed his trade of cabinet maker, returning to Sandusky after the epidemic was over. He resided on a farm near that city and was a successful truck gardener.

On November 12, 1852, Mr. Benner was married to Madgalena Courtad, who passed away August 21, 1910. This union was blessed with ten children, eight of whom are living. The children surviving are: Rosa, wife of Henry Courtad, at Cleveland; Kate, wife of Henry W. Kromer, of near by Carey; Charles, at Tiffin; Elizabeth, wife of N. J. Seifert, in Pitt Township; Caroline, wife of Joseph Weinandy, east of town; Frank, Louis, and Miss Mary, at home.

In the fall of 1877, the family moved to Wyandot County, settling on a farm Mr. Benner purchaed two miles east of town. They resided there until 1893, when they moved to their present home. Mr. Benner served two terms as Erie County infirmary director and four terms as Crane Township trustee. He was for a number of years a member of St. Peter's Church council, being an adherent to the Catholic faith. He was a Christian father, neighbor, and friend and was held in high regard.

The funeral will occur from St. Peter's Church, in this city, Saturday morning, at 9 O'clock, and will be conducted by Rev. Father John R. Forrer. Burial in St. Peter's Cemetery.

D

The graves of John and Magdalena
Benner, lot 4, St. Peter's Cemetery,
Upper Sandusky, Ohio