Benjamin Habeger (1868 - 1927)

Born 2 Nov 1868 in Clayton County, Iowa, United States

Ancestors

Son of Peter (Habegger) Habeger and Magdalena (Pfarrer) Habeger

Husband of Minnie Maria Sophia (Stricker) Habeger — married 27 Oct 1894 in Algona, Kossuth, Iowa, United States

Descendants

Died 16 Aug 1927 at age 58 in Hampton, Franklin, Iowa, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Deb Johnston [send private message]

Biography

Benjamin Habeger, son of Peter Habeger and Magdelena Pfarrer, was born November 2,1868 in Clayton County, Iowa, United States near .^[1] His siblings were:

• Sarah Habeger (1865–1947)
• Joseph Alexander Habeger (1867–1952)
• Daniel J Habeger (1870–1968)
• Louisa Habeger (1871–1914)
• Lena Habeger (1874–1877)
• Samuel Habeger (1876–~1876)
• Anna Laura Habeger (1877–1956)
• Lena Habeger (1879–1946)
• William Arnold Habeger (1880–1957)
• John Edward Habeger (1882–1951)
• Emma Habeger (1883–1936)
• Mary Rose Habeger (1885–1956)
• Ida Cecelia Habeger (1887–1952)

Peter, Magdalena, and Family moved to Kossuth County in the early 1884 when Ben was a teenager. Ben and his brother Joseph moved loads of hay across the frozen rivers and landscape to travel approximately 150 miles west between their residence in Clayton County and their new residence near West Bend.

Ben married Minnie Stricker on October 27, 1894 in Algona, Iowa, USA.^[2] They had 12 children:

• Anna Goldie (Habeger) Gingerich (1895-1936)
• Bertha Louisa (Habeger) Wehrspann (1897-1986)
• Henry B Habeger (1898-1899)
• Mariam M Habeger (1900-1945)
• Abraham Habeger (1901-1990)
• Fred Albert Habeger (1903-1965)
• Dorothy (Habeger) Engebritson (1905-1960s)
• Edward Habeger (1900s-1990s)
• Lilly (1900s-2000s)
• Herman Peter Habeger (1911-1937)
• Ernie Habeger (1910s-1990s)
• Esther

He was raised in the Apostolic Church. He and his family converted to the Lutheran Church after the death of his son Henry, who had to be buried outside the churchyard, which infuriated Benjamin. (The Apostolic Church does not practice infant baptism, and would not bury an unbaptised person in the churchyard.)^[3]

He passed away in 1927 following complications of an operation.^[4][1]

Residence

United States

• 1870: Iowa, Clayton County, Boardman Township^[5]
• 1880: Iowa, Clayton County, Boardman Township^[6]
• 1885: Iowa, Kossuth County, Cresco Township^[7].
• 1895: Iowa, Kossuth County^[8]
• 1900: Iowa, Kossouth County, Garfield Township^[9]
• 1905: Iowa, Kossuth County^[10]
• 1910: Iowa, Kossuth County, Garfield Township^[11]
• 1915: Iowa, Kossuth County, Garfield Township, West Bend^[12]
• 1920: Iowa, Kossuth County, Garfield Township^[13]
• 1925: Iowa, Kossuthv County, Garfield Township^[14]

Obituary

Last week we mentioned that Benjamin Habeger had passed away in the hospital at Hampton, Iowa, and gave some of the particulars of his death, but we will give them again in this issue with the obituary of this well known and respected man.
Mr. Habeger had a severe sick spell on Friday, August 5, but this passed away until Sunday evening when a second attack came, whereupon he was taken to the Hampton Hospital at 12 o’clock p.m. He was operated on Monday, August 8, at 2 p.m. It at first seemed as though the operation had proven a success, but it was evident to the hospital doctors that his case was precarious. On Tuesday, August 16, it became necessary to take the patient to the operating room once more. It developed the case was very grave. The home folks were therefore notified and part of the family arrived in time to see their beloved father breathe his last. He died at 5:30 Tuesday afternoon, the cause of his death being peritonitis following an operation for obstruction of the bowels due to adhesions.
The remains arrived in West Bend Wednesday afternoon and were taken to his home just southeast of town. Funeral services were held from the Peace Lutheran Church Friday afternoon and were very largely attended. The pastor, Rev. I.G. Kitzman, officiated, preaching a sermon on the text: “The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sins” The main of the sermon was repeated in German for the benefit of the older folks. A girl’s choir of eight voices sweetly rendered the funeral hymn “Let Me Go”. Six young ladies served as flower girls. The pall bearers were Fred Harms, Fred Hanselman, Wm. Bell, R.B. Beringhaus, W.D. Kucker and Elling Martinson. Internment took place in the West Bend Cemetery.
Benjamin Habeger was born six miles from Elkader, Iowa on November 2, 1868 and was 58 years, 9 months and 14 days old at the time of his death. He lived near Elkader until the winter of 1883 when he came with his father to the part of the country. The next spring the balance of the family followed and settled on the farm then owned by Ben’s father.
Mr. Habeger was married to Miss Minnie Stricker of this place on October 27, 1894. For a year he rented his father’s farm. During this time he improved his own place four and one-half miles southeast of town and the next year he and his bride moved to that place. In 1913 Ben and his father traded farms and in the same year took his family to their new home where they have lived since that time.
Twelve children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Habeger, one of whom, Henry, preceded his father in death. Besides his wife mourning his death are: Miriam, Abraham, Fred, Dorothy, Edward, Lillian, Herman, Ernst and Esther of West Bend; Mrs. Anna Gingerich of Worthington, Minnesota; Mrs. Bertha Wehrspann of Ottosen. There are also seven grandchildren, six sisters, four brothers and his stepmother, Mrs. Emilie Habeger of Morton, Ill., who mourn his departure. The sisters are: Mrs. Sarah Imhoff and Miss Mary Habeger of West Bend; Mrs. Anna Carstedt of Worthington, Minn.; Mrs. Lena Fraedrick of Springfield, Oregon; Mrs. Emma Brode of Myrtle Point, Oregon; and Mrs. Ida Faustman of Tucson, Arizona. The brothers are Joseph Habeger of Elgin, Iowa; Daniel Habeger of Algona; William Habeger of Chicago and John Habeger of Ramona, S.D. His parents, two sisters – Miss Louisa Habeger and Miss Lena Habeger – preceded him in death.
John Habeger, Mrs. Faustman, Mrs. Brode and Mrs. Fraedrick were unable to attend the funeral of their brother on account of distance. Among the relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Gingerich and family of Worthington, Minn; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Wehrspann and family of Ottosen; Mr. and Mrs. Dan Habeger of Algona; Wm. Habeger of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. C.W. Carstedt of Worthington, Minn; T.J. Habeger of Lamar, Mo.; Godfred Pfarrer of Rock Valley, Ia; and the following from Elgin, Iowa; Joe Habeger, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Schneider and som, Emil, Mrs. Rachel Frieden, Mrs. Louis Marti and daughter, Lydia; Mrs. Alex Baumgarden, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Frederick and children, Mr. Mrs. J.V. Schneider, John Butikoffer, Mrs. Abraham Habeger and family and John Frederick.
In the death of Benjamin Habeger this community loses one of its most substantial and influential farmers. He was one of the early settlers of this territory and did much to mold this part of the country to the high standard it is today. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and was most highly respected in this community and his church. He was a long time treasurer of the Lutheran Church and during the time of the building served on the building committee. He was seldom sick and was always busy about the affairs of his life. At different times he held offices in various business organizations and trust. He was a director of the West Bend Elevator Co., of the West Bend Co-operative creamery Asso., and has served as director of the West Bend centralized School Board and as a member of the Township Board of Trustees. He was interested not so much in advancing his own personal affairs but in the welfare of those about him. He was a good husband, a good father, a good friend, a good Christian. He believed in giving his children a good education that they might the better fit themselves for the duties of mature life and they have much to be thankful for. May they continue to trod in the paths of life their father had set out for them.
To Mrs. Habeger, who has suddenly had so much grief and care thrust upon her, and to the children and other relatives the Journal extends sincere sympathy.

Research Notes

• Fact: Burial (19 Aug 1927) West Bend, Palo Alto, Iowa, United States

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 09 June 2020, 01:37), entry for Benjamin Habeger (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LZVJ-2NT ); contributed by various users. -- FamilySearch Person: LZVJ-2NT

DNA

• Parental relationship is confirmed by an AncestryDNA test match between [Ellingson-287|Deb Johnston]] and her second cousin once removed (W.J.H.). Their most-recent common ancestors are her second great grandparents and his great grandparents, Peter (Habegger) Habeger (1840-1917) and Magdelena (Pfarrer) Habeger (1846-1914). Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 2nd Cousins 1x removed, based on sharing 97 cM across 5 segments; Confidence: High.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} "Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24Z-13TH : 8 November 2017), Benjamin Habeger, 16 Aug 1927, Hampton, Franklin, Iowa, United States; citing certificate #35894, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 101784529.
2. ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XJ8R-XMV : 27 September 2017), Benjamin Habager and Minnie Strucker, 27 Oct 1894, Algona, Kossuth, Iowa, United States; citing reference Item 5, P192, county courthouses, Iowa; FHL microfilm 1,436,203.
3. ↑ Information from interview with Benjamin's Grandson R. Ellingson in 2020, as recorded by D. Johnston.
4. ↑ "Iowa, County Death Records, 1880-1992," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVJP-L2WV : 17 March 2018), Benjamin Habeger, 16 Aug 1927; citing Death, Hampton, Franklin, Iowa, United States, page 25, offices of county clerk from various counties; FHL microfilm 1,481,266.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDJP-TWB : 28 May 2021), Benjamin Hashberger in entry for Peter Hashberger, 1870.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD2S-HT3 : 19 February 2021), Benjamin Habager in household of Peter Habager, Boardman, Clayton, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district ED 126, sheet 276C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm 1,254,333.
7. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1885," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:H8N6-LW2 : 2 March 2021), Benjamin Habager in household of Peter Habager, Cresco, Kossuth, Iowa; citing p. 11, 1885, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,021,487
8. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1895," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT3P-C9L : 20 February 2021), Benjimin Habigger, Kossuth, Iowa, United States; citing p. 209, 1895, State Historical Society, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,022,070.
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M92N-QWP : accessed 5 August 2021), Benjamin Habegger, Garfield Township, Kossuth, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 139, sheet 2B, family 32, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,441.
10. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1905," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23B6-PHN : 20 February 2021), Benjamin Habeger, Kossuth, Iowa, United States; citing card #223, State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,430,483.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGMD-XCK : accessed 5 August 2021), Benjamin Habegar, Garfield, Kossuth, Iowa, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 157, sheet 9B, family 103, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 409; FHL microfilm 1,374,422.
    See Habeger Family Censuses for complete household tabulation.
12. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK45-5SSV : 20 February 2021), Ben Habeger, 1915; citing West Bend, Kossuth, Iowa, United States, card no. 491, Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm 1,462,549.
13. ↑ "United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M81D-R95 : 1 February 2021), Ben Habeger, 1920.
14. ↑ "Iowa State Census, 1925," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKQC-XD3V : 1 March 2021), Ben Habeger, Kossuth, Iowa, United States; citing Kossuth, Iowa, United States, Iowa State Historical Department, Des Moines; FHL microfilm .
15. ↑ West Bend Journal, West Bend, IA: 25 Aug 1927, Volume XXXIX, Page 1, Column 1.
    available at Palo Alto Newspaper Preservation - West Bend Journal 25 August 1927 Page 1

• Probate for Benj. Habeger Estate -- "Iowa, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1758-1997", database with images, Ancestry.com (Image : accessed 4 Aug 2021), 2015. citing Iowa, County, District and Probate Courts; Probate Records, 1856-1945; Index, 1893-1947; Author: Iowa. District Court (Kossuth County); Probate Place: Kossuth, Iowa; Notes: Letters/Admin, Vol 3-5, 1911-1930; Admin, Guardians, Referees Deed Record, Vol 1, 1895-1907