John Gerhardt Bekkenhuis Jr. (1886 - 1952)

Born 21 Jun 1886 in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Alice Maud (Peters) Bekkenhuis — married 30 Jun 1912 in St. Vincent, South Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States

Died 23 Aug 1952 at age 66 in Alton, Belknap, New Hampshire, United States

Biography

John Gerhardt Bekkenhuis, 1886-1952, was the son of John G. Bekkenhuis and Margaret V. Doyle (1863-1909), who married in Boston in 1885 and had nine children. John Jr. first married Mary Ann Davenport (1887-1910). They had a son, John Francis, who died at seven months of age in 1908. After his wife died, John married Alice Maud Peters (b. 1889). They had a son (likely adopted), Frank E. (1907-1985). ^[1]

John Gerhardt Bekkenhuis was born 21 June 1886 at 121 Bolton, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, the son of John G. Bekkenhuis (a coppersmith) and Margaret V., both born in and residents of Boston. ^[2]

In 1900, the Bekkenhuis family lived at 52 Willard St., Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts. They owned their house. The eldest four children were in school. The adults could read and write. The household included

John G Bekkenhuis, 37, born Sept. 1863 in Massachusetts (parents b. Germany), a coppersmith, married 14 years

Margarett V Bekkenhuis Wife, 37, b. Dec.m1863, Massachusetts (parents b. Ireland), had had nine children, six of whom were living

John G Bekkenhuis Son, 13, b. Jan. 1887, Massachusetts

William F Bekkenhuis Son, 11, b. Massachusetts

Henry T Bekkenhuis Son, 9, b. Massachusetts

Hellen V Bekkenhuis Daughter, 6, b. Massachusetts

Aloyesus H Bekkenhuis Daughter, 5, b. Massachusetts

Anna A Bekkenhuis Daughter, 2, b. Massachusetts ^[3]

John G. Bekkenhuis, Jr., 21, and Mary G. Davenport, 20, were married on 17 April 1907 in Malden, Massachusetts, where they both resided. It was the first marriage for both. David, G. Shuffle, priest, of Malden, officiated. Mary was the daughter of Frank H. Davenport and Maria Conway. John, a lash maker, was the son of John G. Bekkenhuis and Margaret V. Doyle. M1 1907. "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4DR-VRP : 10 March 2021), John G Bekkenhuis and Mary G Davenport, 17 Apr 1907; citing Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,315,300.

John G. Bekkenhuis, Jr. and Mary G. Davenport are mentioned in the birth record of their son, John Francis Bekkenhuis, born 5 September 1907 in Stoneham, Middlesex, Massachusetts. The father was born in Boston, MA and worked as a conductor. The mother was born in Charlestown, MA. ^[4]

And, they are mentioned in their son’s death record: John Francis Bekkenhuis died of intestinal obstruction and meningitis, aged six months and seven days, on 12 April 1908 in Medford, Massachusetts. The informant was his father, who resided at 34 Almont Street, Medford, MA, where the baby passed away. The child was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, MA. ^[5]

John’s wife, Mary Gertrude Bekkenhuis, 23, died of pulmonary pneumonia on 19 July 1910 in Malden, Massachusetts. She was born 6 March 1887 in Charlestown, MA, the daughter of Frank Davenport and Maria Conway (both b. Ireland). Mary died at her home at 44 Avon, Malden, MA. Her husband was the informant to her death. She was buried at Malden Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, MA. ^[6]

John J. Bekkenhuis, 26, and Alice M. Peters, 23, were married on 30 June 1912 in Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts. Priest, Hugh F. Smith officiated. John, a widower, was married once before. He was the son of John G. Bekkenhuis and Margaret V. Doyle (both b. Boston, MA). He resided in Chelsea, MA. Miss AlicePeters was born in Prince Edward Island, Canada. She resided at 340 Meridian St. East Boston. She was the daughter of John W. Peters and Mary Lavie, both born in Canada. ^[7]

John G. Bekkenhuis, Jr., 30, registered for the WWI Draft on 5 June 1917 in Malden, Massachusetts. He was born 21 June 1886 in Boston, MA. He was self employed, and worked as a last manufacturer, which included government work. His business address was 865 Eastern Ave., Malden. He lived with his wife and child at 30 Columbia, Malden. John previously served as a Private, for three years, with Company L, 5th Regiment, Massachusetts Militia. He was of medium height and build, with brown eyes and dark brown hair. ^[8]

In 1920, the Bekkenhuis family lived in a rented house at 63 Webster Street, Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts. All members of the household could read and write. The household included

John G Bekkenhuis, 33, born in Massachusetts (parents b. MA), occupation: Dast/ Last Factory

Alice M Bekkenhuis Wife 30 b. Canada, immigrated in 1909 with son, both naturalized in 1912

Frank Bekkenhuis Son 12 b. Canada, in school

George E Peters Bro.- in-law 27 b. Canada, immigrated in 1911, naturalized in 1919; a dast maker at dast factory ^[9]

In 1930, the Bekkenhuis family lived at 30 Springdale Ave., Saugus, Essex, Massachusetts. They owned their house, valued at $6500, and they had a radio. The family included John Bekkenhuis, 43, born in Massachusetts, a laster at a shoe factory, who married at age 25; his wife, Alice M., 41, b. Canada, who immigrated in 1908, was naturalized, and who married at age 23; their son, Frank, 21, b. Canada, immigrated in 1911, was naturalized, a truck driver. ^[10]

In 1940, they lived at 30 Springdale Ave., Saugus, Massachusetts. John Bekkenhuis, 53, a last superintendent at a last shoe manufacturer, worked 52 weeks in 1939 and earned $2808, and who had completed the eighth grade. His wife, Alice M., 51, had also completed the eighth grade. ^[11]

The Bekkenhuis home at 30 Springdale Ave., Saugus, Massachusetts was built in 1909. It is a two story, three bedroom, 1392sf frame house that sits on the corner of Martin Street. ^[12]

John Garrett Bekkenhuis registered for the WWII Draft in 1942 in Saugus, Essex, Massachusetts, where he also resided. John was born 21 June 1886. ^[13]

John Garrett Bekkenhuis, 66, died of a coronary thrombosis on 23 August 1952 in Alton, Belknap, New Hampshire. He was a resident of Beverly, Essex, County, Massachusetts, at 11 Pratt Avenue. His wife, Alice M. Bekkenhuis, was the informant to his death. John was born in Boston, MA, on 21 June 1886, the son of John G. Bekkenhuis and Margaret Doyle. He worked as a shoe factory superintendent. John was to be buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, MA. ^[14]

research notes

John is not found on FindAGrave. His first wife, Mary Gertrude (Davenport) is buried with her parents and brother Wilfred at Holy Cross Cemetery and Mausoleum, Malden, MA (FaG 136116418).

His brother, William F. Bekkenhuis, 1889-1962, is buried at Calvary Cemetery, Winchester, MA (FaG 145678887)

There are a total of five Bekkenhuis graves in Massachusetts. The above two are the only ones I can connect definitely with John G. Bekkenhuis.

Death records indicate that John and his son were buried at Holy Cross Cem., Malden, MA.

Sources

1. ↑ familysearch.org Family Tree, with sources (https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/L7CD-XF8)
2. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DZSN-M2ZM : 10 November 2020), John Gerhardt Bekkenhuis, 21 Jun 1886; citing Birth, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston; FHL microfilm 007009350.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1900", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9TH-RQY : 22 January 2022), John G Bekkenhuis in entry for John G Bekkenhuis, 1900.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FXJS-1TX : 27 October 2020), John G. Jr Bekkenhuis in entry for John Francis Bekkenhuis, 1907.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWB7-SRT : 2 March 2021), John Gerrett Bekkenhuis in entry for John Francis Bekkenhuis, 12 Apr 1908; citing Medford,,Massachusetts, 22, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,257,165.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts Deaths, 1841-1915, 1921-1924," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N43C-2W5 : 2 March 2021), John G Bekkenhuis in entry for Mary Gertrude Bekkenhuis, 19 Jul 1910; citing Malden,,Massachusetts, 142, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,314,525.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28J-9Q4Y : 22 July 2021), John J Bekkenhuis and Alice M Peters, 30 Jun 1912; citing Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 826,720.
8. ↑ "United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZNS-TLV : 23 December 2021), John G Bekkenhuis, 1917-1918.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX1Q-S6X : 1 February 2021), John G Bekkenhuis, 1920.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQG9-ZN6 : accessed 3 February 2022), John ? Bekkenhine, Saugus, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 273, sheet 9A, line 22, family 203, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 903; FHL microfilm 2,340,638.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4XG-NWQ : 10 January 2021), John J Bekkenhuis, Saugus, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-382, sheet 8B, line 78, family 164, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1590.
12. ↑ Zillow.com (https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/30-Springdale-Ave-Saugus-MA-01906/56128967_zpid/)
13. ↑ "United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V12P-VCJ : 13 March 2020), John Gerrett Bekkenhuis, 1942; citing NARA microfilm publication M1936, M1937, M1939, M1951, M1962, M1964, M1986, M2090, and M2097 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
14. ↑ New Hampshire Death Certificates (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9S4-VWC1?i=366&cc=1876925&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQV3Q-RHS3)