Jeanne Louisa (Leonard) Benson (1885 - 1956)

Born 28 Jan 1885 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USA

Ancestors

Wife of Charles O'Dell Benson — married 11 Jan 1906 (to 10 Nov 1930) in Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, USA

Wife of Wladimir J. (Brdlik) Bredlik — married 25 Nov 1930 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, New York, USA

Died 7 Dec 1956 at age 71 in New Canaan, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Daphne Maddox [send private message]

Biography

Jeanne Louisa Leonard ("Jennie") was born to Thomas W. Leonard, Jr., and Mary Louise Ennis on 28 January 1885 in Brooklyn, New York.^[1]

Jennie, referred to as a "pretty school teacher", eloped with Charles O'Dell Benson, son of Jesse A. and Mary J. (Coard) Benson of Snow Hill, Maryland, on 11 January 1906.^[2] A series of scandalous reports followed -- that they married without her mother's consent, that Charles was accused of embezzling from an estate over which he was an executor, that he had jilted the widow of and co-executor over the estate he was managing (later corrected -- she had in fact refused him), and that he telegraphed a message to Jennie's mother from Buffalo asking the Inn at which he'd been staying to "tell Miss Leonard's mother that it's all right, and we are married."^[3]

The new couple lived in Buffalo for a few years, then Manhattan, then Hackensack, New Jersey, then back in Manhattan.^[4][5][6][7]

In her later years, Jeanne used her proper name in records, forgoing Jennie.

Children of Charles O. and Jeanne L. (Leonard) Benson:^[4][5][6][7]

• Charles Gilbert Sidney Benson, b. 13 December 1906, d.s.p. 19 July 1942
• David Gregg Benson, b. 23 January 1908, m. Martha A. Johnson
• Mary Laura Benson, b. 7 May 1909, m. (1) Llewellyn Gerard Ross, (2) Edgar Lewis Marston II
• Francis Clifford Benson, b. 17 Apr 1912, m. Evelyn H. Abraham
• Richard W. Benson, b. 17 February 1914, m. Violet P. Zwicker

Jeanne sued for and was granted a divorce from Charles in 1930 on grounds of cruel treatment, at which time she was a identified as of Forty Fort, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.^[8][9] Charles died in 1933.^[10]

Jeanne married, second, fellow divorcé Vladimir J. Bredlik,^[11] son of Josef A. Brdlik and Lujza Vincence of Prague, Czechoslovak Republic.

In 1931, Jeanne gave a talk at Wilkes-Barre Business College on the "Value of Ideals."^[12]

In a report of the death of her son Charles in July 1942, it was stated that she was then a resident of Brooklyn.^[13]

Jeanne was widowed of Vladimir in 1949. She died on 7 December 1956 in New Canaan, Connecticut – presumably at her daughter Mary Ross' house – by which time she had reverted to using the name Benson.^[14][15]

Sources

1. ↑ Jennie's age is transcribed as June 1885 in the 1900 census, but this record from January of that year must pertain to her. "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (11 February 2018), Mary Louise Ennis Leonard in entry for Leonard, 28 Jan 1885; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 511 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,324,386.
2. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Mary L. Ennis in entry for Chas O. Benson and Jennie Louisa Leonard, 11 Jan 1906; citing Marriage, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,558,470.
3. ↑ See Charles' profile for citations and more details on the events surround his scandal of 1906-'07.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 4 January 2019), Charles O Benson, Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 704, sheet 14A, family 209, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1025; FHL microfilm 1,375,038.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "New Jersey State Census, 1915," database with images, FamilySearch (15 March 2018), Janet Benson in household of Chas Benson, Hackensack, New Barbadoes Township, 3 ward, Bergen, New Jersey, United States; citing sheet #2B, household 47, line #78, New Jersey State Library, Trenton; FHL microfilm 1,465,505.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 4 January 2019), Charles O Benson, Manhattan Assembly District 22, New York, New York, United States; citing ED 1468, sheet 10A, line 23, family 252, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1225; FHL microfilm 1,821,225.
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 4 January 2019), Charles O Benson, Manhattan (Districts 1001-1249), New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1109, sheet 10A, line 8, family 320, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1580; FHL microfilm 2,341,315.
8. ↑ Subpoena for Charles O. Benson, in Jeanne L. Benson vs. Charles O. Benson, divorce. Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 2 Sep 1930, p. 21.
9. ↑ Divorce granted in Jeanne L. Benson vs. Charles O. Benson, grounds of cruel treatment. Pittston Gazette, Pittston, Pennsylvania, 11 Nov 1930, p. 2.
10. ↑ "New York, New York City Municipal Deaths, 1795-1949," database, FamilySearch (10 February 2018), Charles Benson, 06 May 1933; citing Death, Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 2,070,582.
11. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (accessed 4 January 2019), Vladimir Bredlik, Manhattan Assembly District 7, New York, New York, United States; citing ED 585, sheet 6A, line 47, family 113, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1198; FHL microfilm 1,821,198.
12. ↑ Mrs. Vladimir Bredlik Gives Address on 'The Value of Ideals'. Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, The Evening News, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 27 Feb 1931, p. 28.
13. ↑ Military Honors For Pool Victim. Lieutenant C. G. Benson Drowned in Accident at Raritan Arsenal. The Central New Jersey Home News, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 21 Jul 1942, p. 10.
14. ↑ "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001," database, FamilySearch (9 December 2014), Jeann L Benson, 07 Dec 1956; from "Connecticut Death Index, 1949-2001," database, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2003); citing New Canaan, Fairfield, Connecticut, Connecticut Department of Health, Hartford.
15. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 04 January 2019), memorial page for Jeanne Louise Benson (1885–7 Dec 1956), Find A Grave Memorial no. 173679893, citing Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan, Fairfield County, Connecticut, USA ; Maintained by BKGeni (contributor 46895980).