More About Benjamin John Kumferman

According to the Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997, a Ben J. Kumferman died aged 72 on 27 September 1963 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin (Certificate #027223). The U.S. Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current, a Ben Kumferman (389-03-4507) who died in September 1963 (Wisconsin last residence) was born on 20 December 1890.

In the Federal Census of 1900, Benjiman Kunferman (somewhat has corrected to Benjamin Kunperman) is nine and was born in December 1890. His father is John Kunferman (47) and his mother is Annie Kunferman (50) who were both born in Switzerland and migrated in 1873 and have been married for 27 years (just before they migrated). John is a farmer. Also listed are Lena (17), John (14), Joseph (12) and Harry (5). They live in Washinton, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. From the Wisconsin State Censuses, 1895 and 1905, Benjamin Kumferman (14) is listed with John (52) and Anna Kumerman (54), as well as Harry Kumferman (10). There in the Town of Washington in Eau Claire County.

His World War 1 Registration Card of 5 June 1917 is signed by him as Ben John Kumferman whose height is tall, his build stout, brown eyes, black hair, not bald. He is living in Fall Creek and works for the County of Eau Claire as a laborer on the State road in Washington. He is 26 years old. Interestingly, his birth date is listed as 21 December 1891. He is single.

On 25 April 1942, he registers for World War II. He is fifty years old. He signs his name as Ben John Kumferman. He has hazel eyes, gray hair, is of ruddy complexion, is five feet and eleven inches tall and weighs 205 pounds.

Again, look at the next card which is Harry Jacob Kumferman who was born 13 January 1895. He is five feet and ten inches tall. He has brown hair and eyes and a sallow complexion. He registers in Altoona in Eau Claire. Ben registers in Milwaukee. Joseph Kumferman is next. He is five feet and eleven inches tall weighing 240 pounds. Hazel eyes, gray hair, ruddy complexion. Injured thumb on left hand. Louis Naton Kumferman is next and he is 62 years old. He gives Mrs. Anna Kumferman on RFD #3 on Fall Creek, Ludington, as his contact address. (Our Anna Kunferman, Louis' aunt I believe, lives on RFD #2.)

In the 1930 Census, Ben (39) is living with his wife, Martha (26), and sons, Robert (7) and Lawrence (5) on Tenth Street in Milwaukee. He is working as a laborer for the Gas Company. They are divorced in the 1940 Census. He is renting and was in the same place in 1935. He is a laborer who works on street improvements for the government. His highest grade was the eighth grade. He and Martha has still been listed together in a street directory in West Allis for 1932. (They were listed together in Milwaukee street directory for 1922 as well.)

In the end, he was remembered by his siblings:

Ben Kunferman (1891 - 1963) - Find A Grave Memorial

I suspect that it was primarily Harry J. Kunferman who is also buried in Forest Hill Cemetery and who lived longer than John (a cousin I believe, and a Spanish American War veteran of 3rd Wisconsin Company E with Herbert L. Boleman!) and Joseph (a brother I believe):

Harry J. Kunferman, Sr (1895 - 1972) - Find A Grave Memorial

BJ Kumferman Writes Home At The End of World War I

In this post, I would like to share a letter that my late aunt, Helen Heckman nee Hayes, found among her papers. It had been written to her great-grandmother. It was from Benjamin J. Kumferman. Yes, Lena spelled her name as Kunferman, as did many in her family. But, her brother spelled it with an 'm'. I have found a number of variations: Kunperman, Kunfermann, Cunferman, and so on. I will normally spell this last name the way Lena did. This is the way that it is found on her parents tombstones.

In sharing this four-page letter, I am seeking to establish our family's connection to this family. I also have a transcription of an 1882 Certificate of Baptism for Ursula Kunfermann. But, I leave that for a later post.

Here are the four pages of the letter which was copied and sent to me in 2006. I have digitally enhanced it to make it legible throughout as there is fading.

If your browser will not load the images or you are having trouble with the script, here is the text of the letter (I have added full-stops where there are are missing in the letter by looking for initial capital or by the sense of the sentence--America and States are not capitalised by Benjamin):

Page 1

Engers Germany

[About 60 kilometers south-south-east of Bonn on the Rhine] 

Feb-17-19 

[Three months after the Armistice] 

Dear Mother 

The last letter I rec'd from you was sent on the sixth of Jan that was the one from Susie. I am well and hope you are the same. We are having good weather here just now. It was trying to rain the other day, But dident rain much. We are all hoping for the day when we will all sail for america where we are  

Page 2 

all more at home but that is hard to tell how long that will be. The people here are somewhat dissatisfied. The Russians are making a little trouble once in a while but that will all blow over I think in time. The people here had a vote on having a ruler and they go a president his name is Ebert. I think that is the way it is spelt. The people here where I am quartered eat horse meat and when they are cooking it I can  

Page 3 

smell it for a block it sure is strong. I saw places on the front where the German Soldiers cut some steakes out from a horses flank. Those were horses that was killed by shell fire. It sure was high time for the war to quit I think. Many things that you ask me in letters that I received from you I caoulnt answer because the censor would not allowe it passed. I wish I cold come home to start in on the springs work.  

Page 4 

Some of the boys that have famleys in the states are getting discharged. 

From your Son 

Pvt B J Kumferman 

2nd Engrs Co-E-AEF 

APO-710 

[Censor: OK H L Hock 1st Lt. E USA]

Private; Engineers; Company; American Expeditionary Force; Army Post Office (Navy: Fleet Post Office)

How did Mandana Phoebe Benner Survive Her Losses?

I wonder how she survived the death of her father in 1864/5 and her mother shortly thereafter? Then, there was the loss of her husband of twenty-four years. Here is the story that I can construct so far.

I can find a reference to Nathaniel Benner in Marion, Washington, Maine in the 1840 census. He (male 20-29) and another person (female 15-19), presumably Phoebe E., his wife, are in agriculture. It may be that he had married previous to his marriage to Phoebe. However, the 1850 census lists them in the enumeration district of Marshfield, Washington, Maine. Nathaniel H. is 29, Phoebe E. is 23 and Susan S. is 9 which means that Phoebe married very early in her life, or Susan is a relative. Nathaniel is a laborer.

In 1860, the family is in town of Rock Creek, Dunn County, Wisconsin with the Post Office as Pepin. N. H. Bremer [sic] is a carpenter from Maine and he is 39. P.E. Bremer is 32 and from Maine. Mandana is nine and was born in Maine. Amanda J. is eight and was born in New York as was N.H. who is four. Emma H. (Hellena it turns out) was born in Wisconsin and is one.

It is a little difficult finding information about the couple. A P.E. Benner is listed in the mortality schedule of the 1870 census with the right information to fit our Phoebe:

Female, White, Widowed, born about 1829 in Maine, aged 40, keeping house, who died July 1869 of consumption (read the actual image as the data retrieval incorrectly posts "old age caught cold", Pleasant Valley, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Her tombstone can be found in the Hadleyville Cemetery, Pleasant Valley, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin and it reads:

Birth 1829; Death Jul. 18, 1869; Phebe E. Benner, Wife of N.H. Benner, Aged 40 Ys 4 Mo 1 Dy

Very interesting photos of the headstone can be found here (Phebe E Benner (1829 - 1869) - Find A Grave Memorial)

(I am mindful that this is the same year that is on Patrick Bulman's gravestone.)

In the 1870 Census for Pleasant Valley, Emma Benner (11) is with George (40), Hester (37) and Albert (21) Dickerson which explains why a George Dickerson applied on behalf of a minor for the pention of Nathaniel Benner in 1 March 1870. Phoebe E. Benner is dead.

Martha Benner (9) is with David (60) and Sarah (57) Cleasby who were farmers.

A Henry Bemer/Benner (15, born in New York, N.H. of 1860) is listed as a hired help to the Kelly family. (Probably Nathaniel Henry Benner, Mandana's brother).

A Jennie Benner (17, born in New York, Amanda J. of 1860) is listed as the domestic helper of the Jones family.

I have yet to find Mandana and am going through all of the census data for Eau Claire county enumeration district by enumeration district. She may not be listed. At twenty, she may be working for a family.

Mandana married Nathaniel Bulman 14 September 1872 in Eau Claire county. (Unfortunately, the Wisconsin Genealogy Index lists her as Mandana Bennez who married Nathaniei Bulman which makes it hard to find them without persistence.) Nathaniel is forty years old and Mandana is twenty-two.

In the 1880 Census, the family is listed as Bowman in Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. There is Nathaniel, Mandan, Herbert (7) and Pearl (5). Nathaniel is a carpenter and Mandan is keeping house. There are two helpers living with them as well. One is also a carpenter. The Bulman family were part-time farmers and carpenter/joiners.

On 17 October 1881, Nathaniel Bulman makes a land claim in Dunn County, Wisconsin. Township 31-N, Range 14-W and Section 18 for 123.84 acres.

Nathaniel Bullman is listed on the 1888 town plat for New Haven (Connersville PO), Dunn County, Wisconsin on the western border towards the middle. This is the same as the land claim above expect that it looks like he has sold 40 acres as the map lists him as having 43.85 + 40 acres.

In the 1900 Census for 12 June, Mandana (misspelt Maudelin) Boleman and Viola B. [sic] Boleman, 22 years old, are together in Menominee, Dunn County, Wisconsin. Viola is a school teacher who had worked nine months in the previous year. Mandana has had two children; both are still living.

On 1 June, Mandana is listed as a widow in the 1905 Wisconsin census and she is living with her daughter Viola P. and her son-in-law, George Schlough in Sheridan, Dunn County, Wisconsin. George and Viola had married on 28 October 1903 in Dunn County. Herbert W. Bulman had married Bertie Terry on 15 May 1898 in Dunn.

I have yet to find her for 1910 and 1920.

Here is Mandana's gravestone:

Mandana Phoebe Benner Bulman (1850 - 1926) - Find A Grave Memorial

Here is Nathaniel P. Bulman's gravestone:

Natianiel P Bulman (1832 - 1896) - Find A Grave Memorial

The answer to the question about surviving the loss of father and mother so close seems to be the response of a community and the particular age of the children. A number were of a mature age for that period and could work for their living. It is interesting that the family settles back in Dunn County and I wonder if there were some family connections that remained there.

Mandana Phoebe Boleman nee Benner

Was Mandana the Mrs. M. Bulman of the 1874 letter announced in the Waukesha Freeman? I do not think so. We have quite a bit of information given us in her obituary that would seem to suggest otherwise. I found this information listed for the Scrapbooks of Newspaper Clippings Concerning Eau Claire & the Chippewa Valley Vol. 2, pages 157-158.

The item is dated for 27 October 1926:

MRS. M.P. BOLEMAN 

Died on October 25, at the home of her son at Connersville, Wis., Mrs. M. P. Boleman. 

Mrs. Boleman was born at Machias, Maine, November 12, 1850. Her parents, Phoebe E. Benner, and N. H. Benner, moved from Maine to Eau Claire during the early days. Her father joined the Union army and died at Cold Harbour. Mrs. Benner soon followed him. Mrs. Boleman was educated in Eau Claire and taught school for a few years; was married to N. Boleman in 1872. He died in 1896. 

She leaves two children, Mrs. George Schlough, of Wheeler, Wis.;  Herbert W., of Connersville; also two great grandchildren, three sisters, four grandchildren and other relatives. 

The funeral was held at the Methodist church of which church Mr. and Mrs. Boleman were members. Interment was at Connersville Cemetery.

So, it is likely that Nathaniel and Mandana were in Eau Claire in 1874.

The following information can be gleaned about Nathaniel H. Benner from the Civil War records:

He joined the 36th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. He was a private in Company K and was a musician.

National Park Service. U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

Original data: National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/>, acquired 2007.

His residence at his enlistment was Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin. He enlisted on 29 February 1864 as a musician in Company K, 36th Regiment Wisconsin and died of disease on 10 June 1865 at White House, VA.

Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.

Interestingly, in the pension data for 1861-1934, a Nathaniel H. Benner of K Company, 36th Wisconsin Infantry left a widow, Phebe E. Benner who filed a claim on 5 December 1864! There is also a minor by the last name of Dickerson, G. (?) who made a claim on 1 March 1870.

(U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934)

Grisel Bullman, the cousin of Nathaniel Bullman, was in a near company of 36th Wisconsin.

Important Documentation for Lena (Ursula) Kunferman and Her Family

My father often mentioned that "Uncle John" Kunferman migrated to Canada. He was a logger and may have sought the solace of the backwoods to escape some of the tensions of family life in Eau Claire. I have found consular documents that provide us with a great deal of information about John and his sojourn in Canada.

These documents also confirm the origins of John's father, and by extension, mother in Switzerland. In fact, the documentation for John is supported by an affidavit on file with the US Consulate in Vancouver, B.C. from John Kunferman senior as to his date of birth and origins. So, we have signed and witnessed documentation as to the background of our ancestors in Switzerland.

[Due to copyright restrictions, I will not post the images obtained from Ancestry. Instead, I will transcribe the document in a later post. However, it would be good to get some other information out in this post that is now partially confirmed by this information.]

The documentation was lodged with the US Consulate in Vancouver, B.C. in 1918 after his marriage to Susie Louise Robertson (born Toronto) in St. Andrews in Vancouver on 17 September 1817. There were affidavits submitted including one from John senior that he had been born on 25 November 1852 in Graubun [sic], Grison, Switzerland. He arrived in the US in March of 1873. John J. junior was born 15 August 1885. He was not the first John in the family. Johann and Annie had a son, Johann, shortly after their arrival. He like many of the other children of the various Kunferman cousins seem to have perished in infancy.

From LDS data (various sources) obtained in 2006, we have the following information about John senior [treat as starting points for further investigations until established with documents]:

A John, Johann, Kunferman or Kumferman was born either 18 or 25 November (perhaps born one date and baptised the other) 1852 in Almens (Almen, Romansch) or Schied, Graubunden or Grandeour, Vaud, Switzerland. His father was Josua, Joshua or Johann Kunferman or Kumferman. (He could have been Josua Johann or Johann Josua.) His mother was Barbara Crestfall, Christophel, Christofel or Christoffel. 

He married Annie or Anna Kunferman or Kumferman on 7 April 1872 Schied, Graubunden, Switzerland.

Annie was born on 25 December 1849 in Bergen or Bergun, Graubunden, Switzerland. She was the daughter of Louis (perhaps Lutzi) Kunferman and Octavia Kunferman.

Something to bear in mind: the families seem to have been quite thick and their naming patterns does make it difficult to sort through. My great grandmother's baptismal certificate lists her as Ursula Kunfermann, Child of John Kunfermann and his wife Anna nee Kunfermann. Born at Eau Claire, Wis., July 1, 1882. Was baptized on the 23 of July In the year of our Lord 1882 in the Name of the Father, and the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Witnesses Josua & Ursula Kunfermann, Katherina Knoessfel. Pastor, George Recknagel, Evangelical Lutheran Church (St. John's). [BTW, the doubled-n is probably a Germanic influence of the congregation and pastor.]  

Here are the children of John and Annie Kunferman as I am aware:

Johann (m) 6 May 1873-20 August 1878(?)

Ottilie (f) 18 July 1875-?

Anna (f) 25 June 1877-19 April 1967 [m. Bruno Frederick Bleichrodt] 

Lutzi (Louis/Lewis) (m) 27 September 1879-?

Ursula (Lena) (f) 1 July 1882-22 June 1938

Johann (John) Jacob 15 August 1885-16 September 1950 

Joseph C. 29 March 1888-18 March 1962

Benjamin John 21 December 1891-27 September 1963 who often went by Kumferman 

Harry Jacob 13 January 1895-3 June 1972

How Did Fred and Lena Meet?

I don't know. But, I have a theory. It is just a theory. However, even if the theory proves less than adequate, it is a convenient way to introduce many people who need to become known on this blog.

One of the very great resources for family history is Ancestry. I do not own stock in the company and I won't run their advertisements on the blog. However, I have found it a very economical and effective resource over the years. The more you use it, the more you learn from it.

One of the most important things that I have learned over the years is to look around. I've said it before and I will probably say it again in the future. Stop and have a look around on the documents that are served up to you as a result of a search query.

A number of years ago, I notice something interesting while looking for the Kunferman family in Eau Claire. I wondered if I had not found one of the 'lost' children of Patrick and Sarah Bulman. There on the 1900 census I found Harrison Bullman as a boarder a couple of doors down from John and Annie Kunferman. The Kunferman children living at home are Lena (17), John (14), Joseph (12) and Benjimen [sic] (9).

Later, I realised that this was probably Patrick's son. Further down the street lived Albert F. Bullman (Head at 29) and Jerry D. (Father) and Margarett (Mother). Albert is listed as a farmer and Jerry as a carpenter. Harrison is listed as a millwright (we will see the importance of this later). He has been married for 46 years. However, the age he gave would put his birth date as 1832 rather than 1829 as is found elsewhere.

There are two questions: (a) is this Jerry's brother and why has he gone back to the Bullman spelling? I'll have to follow these two questions up in the next few posts.There are a few assumptions behind the questions. I'll also recount what I have found out about the Kunferman family; it is very interesting and only made available recently.

My theory? I believe that Fred might have been a regular visitor to his uncle Harrison. He could have meet Lena through those visits.

I think that Fred would have felt some obligation to visit his uncle. Both Fred and Harrison's son, Herbert Lemoine (various spellings) where in the 3rd Wisconsin during the Spanish American War. Fred was in in Company D and his cousin was in Company E according to the official records. There is a web-based site that has Herbert's name listed as Herman L. Bobman (http://www.spanamwar.com/3rdwiscroster.htm). We will soon see why this might be so.

Bookends in the life of Margaret Bulman nee Mayer

On 11 October 1868, the marriage of Jeremiah Bullman (farmer) and Margaret Meyers [sic] was registered. The husband was a resident of Brookfield where the civil marriage was contracted on 8 October 1868. A James Watson of Brookfield pronounced the marriage which was witnessed by Valentine Meyers and Betsey Felton. The parents of neither the husband nor the wife are mentioned.

Valentine is either the uncle or the brother of Margaret. I suspect the latter. Betsey is Jeremiah's eldest sister, the first born of Sarah and Patrick. She will have her own rather interesting story told soon.

But, there is an end to the story of Margaret Bulman. In the Waukesha Freeman of February 7, 1940 her death is announced. She was 93. Born in Germany, she died as the second war with German was beginning. Here is the notice:

MRS. BULMAN IS DEAD AT HOME 

Mrs. Margaret Bulman, 93, died Monday morning at the home of her sister, Mrs. Louise Buchem, 834 Oakland ave. [sic]. Born in Germany, Mrs. Bulman came to Waukesha at the age of six, and lived on a farm east of here until 1874. Then the family moved to Eau Claire. 

In 1908 they moved from there and took up a homestead in Montana. They went to Puyallup, Wash. in 1929 and returned in August, 1939, to Waukesha. 

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Katherine Miller of Wolfford, N. Dak.; two sons Fred A. Bulman of Waukesha and Walter Bulman of Wibaux, Mt.; two sisters, Mrs. Louise Buchem of Waukesha and Miss Elizabeth Mayer of Milwaukee, also 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held Thursday, Feb 8. at 2 p.m. at the Erling Larsen Funeral Home, 419 E. Broadway. Rev. Dwight M. Bahr will officiate, and burial will be in Prairie Home Cemetery. 

Mrs. Bulman was a member of the G.A.R. [Grand Army of the Republic] Custer Circle No. 25 of Puyallup and the Spanish War Veterans' ausilliary. The local Spanish War Veterans will have a part in the funeral service. Friends may call at funeral home after 5 p.m. Tuesday.