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Henry Phillip Benjamin Minger
b.22 Feb 1865 Millville Township, Clayton, Iowa, USA
d.7 May 1948 Millville, Clayton, Iowa, USA
Family tree▼ (edit)
m. 27 Apr 1854
Facts and Events
BIOGRAPHY: Compiled by Mae Brown Siemers Rand HENRY PHILLIP BENJAMIN MINGER, 1865-1948 and AUGUSTA (KORDS) (DENT) MINGER 1863-1920 Henry Phillip Benjamin Minger, was born on Tuesday, the 22nd of February 1865, the seventh child of Johann and Elisabeth (Hassig) Minger. His baptism record in St. John's Lutheran Church, Guttenberg, Iowa reads: Henry Philipp Benjamin Minger, son of Johann Minger and Elisab. geb Hassig, born 22 February 1865, Millville, baptized 13 August 1865. Sponsors - Rudolf Minger, Benjamin Minger and Elisa Minger (Rudolf and Benjamin being brothers of Johann). Henry lived his childhood years with his parents. We can believe he received his education by staying a portion of the winter months with his grandparents, Johann and Anna Maria (Hofer) Minger, in Jefferson Township and attending the Jolly Ridge School. Henry remained single until almost 37 years old when he was married on 19 February 1902 to Augusta (Kords) Dent, widow with four children. They were married near Millville by Rev. A. E. Hursh of Colesburg; the affidavit was signed by George Minger (brother of Henry) and the witnesses were Susie Minger and Charlie Minger (sister and brother of Henry). Henry and Augusta made their home on Augusta's farm, located near the top of Mathey Hill between Turkey River and North Buena Vista. In 1903 Henry and Augusta had a son named Veryl; following his birth both the baby and Augusta were very ill and Henry's sister Elisabeth (Minger) Brown stayed with the family for nearly two months, caring for them. Milk did not seem to agree with the baby and at the suggestion of his grandmother, Elisabeth (Hassig) Minger, sugar water was given to him on which he survived. Tragedy struck the family when Augusta's son, Charlie, was killed at age 16 while rabbit hunting near the farmhome. It is believed that while Charlie was jumping up and down on a pile of brush to scare out the rabbits, the gun discharged. The story is told that Charlie's dog went home after the accident and when asked, "Where's Charlie?" he led the family back to the site of the accident. Following Charlie's death, Augusta no longer wanted to remain on the farm and she and Henry traded their farm with John Moore, Sr. for his general merchandise store in Turkey River, Iowa. (This store had been owned by Mr. Boyce prior to Mr. Moore.) The store was quite large, carrying a big stock of merchandise, such as clothing, dry goods, food supplies and hardware. When the store burned down, Henry built another store building which still stands today and which is one of the few remaining buildings in Turkey River. In later years this store building was sold to Norman and Jose Truesdal who also ran a post office in it. After leaving the store, Henry lived on an acreage on Section 12 (bought in 1915), south of Millville, where he did a little farming and was Shipping Commissioner for the Branch Line railroad at Millville Crossing. About 100 railroad cars of cattle, hogs and cordwood were shipped out of there a year. Henry was left a widower when his wife Augusta died at age 56; the cause of her death is listed as chronic intestinal nephritis, cerebral arterio sclorosis and constipation. Henry and his son Veryl, who was a trucker, continued to live on the farm. Tragedy again struck when Veryl was drowned at the age of 41 in the Mississippi River, along with his two companions Garrison Becker and John Kolker who had been in the boat with him. It is said that after the tragedy Henry stood on the banks of the river, unable to believe or accept that his only child had died. Veryl was buried June 19 1945; his tombstone reads, PVT 1771, Reception Center, World War II. Henry was 80 years old when he lost his son. He lived for nearly three more years and when he became ill, his brother Charles and his wife Elsie took care of him. Henry died on May 7, 1948 at his farm home in Millville. |