SURNAME LIST
NAME INDEX
EMAIL US
TWELFTH GENERATION
91. Lena May (Mae) KONGABLE
was born on 19 Aug 1884 in near Delmont, Douglas Co, SD. She was buried in
1973 in Summit View Cemetery, Kongable Plot,, Guthrie, Logan Co, OK. She died
on 23 Nov 1973 in Guthrie, Logan Co, OK.
It was here (Guthrie, OK) your grandmother, Lena May Kongable, lived with her
parents and attended Logan County High School and worked in a boarding house
until she was married January 16, 1907, to Voliny Oliny Benson of Guthrie, OK.
Her mother always said she was a "Yankee".
Lena May's father died July 8, 1908 at age of 53 years at farm home near Guthrie,
with Typhoid Fever. Her mother continued to live on the farm until 1919, when
she moved to the City of Guthrie.
My father, William Frederick Kongable, and my mother, Miss Henrietta Crocker,
were married Sept. 1883 at Morning Sun, Iowa, and went to live on a tree claim
near Delmont, So. Dakota, 60 miles from Yankton, SD. There I was born on Aug
19, 1884 and lived until I was three years old when we, Father, Mother, and little
brother George Frederick, moved to a farm near Majors, Nebraska.
[Majors, post office established 1878 in Cedar Township, about 20 miles north
and east of Kearney. Population, 20. ]
[The year 1880 heralded a new decade - one that was to be the greatest settlement
era for the great plains. Weather was almost perfect for crops, the railroads
promised secure futures for many towns, and population boomed in both urban and
rural areas. Cities began improving their environs and rural settlement spread
through the state (of Nebraska), including the previously unsettled portions
in the west and central areas. - Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey of Buffalo
County, 8/1/1993, p. 7-8.]
[The 1880 Federal census indicated that the largest number of foreign born persons
in Buffalo County were German, accounting for just over five percent of the total
population. Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey of Buffalo County, 8/1/1993, p.
25.]
There we attended the United Presbyterian Church in country not far from Majors,
a country Post Office, four miles from our home. [All that remains of Majors,
NE, is a cemetery in the midst of farm fields.]
[The Department of History of the Presbyterian Church (USA) confirms that there
was a United Presbyterian Church of North America in Majors, NE, organized in
1882 and dissolved in 1922. There are no records of this congregation on deposit
with the Dept of History.]
I started to country school when seven years old. The next summer our school
teacher got married and three other girls and I were flower girls at her church
wedding but one of girls did not get there in time so we did not get to strew
the flowers down the aisle, we were so disappointed as we all had new dresses.
I joined the United Presbyterian Church when eleven years old, always had big
Christmas tree with gifts and program at church. At one of these programs I was
to speak a piece but got scared and went crying to my seat, so did not get to
say my piece.
I learned to milk when six years old and always helped with chores, herded the
cows on our favorite white horse named "Bird." This same horse brother
George and I would hitch to a two-wheel cart and drive to Post Office after school
for our mail, sometimes it would be dark before we got back but "Bird"
would go straight home and stop when she came to gate on farm to be opened.
In winter when there was snow Geo. and I would ride "Bird" to school,
a mile away, turn her loose and she would go home.
[The year 1890 may have been a harbinger of things to come. The state (of Nebraska)
averaged only 17 inches of rain for the year, with even lower amounts in 1893
and 1894. The drought was accomanied by general economic decline and a national
panic in 1893. During this period thousands of people - both farm and city dwellers
- left the state. By 1896 normal rainfull returned and economic recovery began.
- Nebraska Historic Buildings Survey of Buffalo County, 8/1/1993, p. 8.]
When I was 13 years old and Geo was 11 we stayed out of school one fall and helped
our father husk corn sometimes in snow.
Next we moved to Kearny, Nebr. and started to 8th grade in Kearney but took measles
and chicken pox so did not go to school any more that term. It was a very cold
winter. One morning we went to church in town it was 48 degrees below zero. Went
in an open buggy. Put the team of horses in a Livery stable while we were in
church. That winter I learned both questions and answers to Shorter Catechism
and earned a Bible for repeating them to our Pastor, Rev. Niblock.
[The Department of History of the Presbyterian Church (USA) confirms that there
was a United Presbyterian Church of North America in Kearny, NE, organized in
1888 and dissolved in 1905. There are no records of this congregation on deposit
with the Dept of History.]
Next we moved south across the mile wide Platte River near old Fort Kearney on
a farm, where we planted ten acres of potatoes, which we picked up by hand. Edna,
Winnie, Nellie, Howard names of younger sisters and brother and on Decoration
Day sister Monnie Ruth was born. Next year we moved to a ranch farm east along
Platte River, was ten miles to our church in town but we always went. How well
I remember those cold rides in winter when Platte River was frozen over, a mile
wide. Next year we moved to a farm near Olathe, Kansas, and raised cattle. I
did not go to school that year. Brother Willie was born there.
Next year we moved to a ranch farm near Princeton, Kansas. That summer I helped
with farm work, mowed hay, etc. In Sept. I started to school 8th grade, now 18
years old, at Richmond, Kansas, staying with a family a mile from town, working
for my board & room. Because of my age and knowledge I was promoted to Freshman
High School Class. While at Hendersons in country, I had my first date with Joe
Wilson to a church social. He was much older than I. After a month I moved to
town to stay with a Kelsey family. Lived with two other families while there
in school that year. In school my boy friend's name was Harry Gault.
My family moved to Guthrie, Okla, February 1, 1903, but I stayed to finish school
year in May., then came to Guthrie on train.
The next day after arriving home 3 miles north of Guthrie there was a tornado
came down Cimarron River, from southwest. Of course, I wished I was back in Kansas.
This was our first experience with a wind storm.
Our United Presbyterian Church had just been organized here. Rev. J. C. Rankin,
Pastor. There I met the Knox family. Their daughter Eva became my girl chum,
almost twins, as our birthdays were only nine days apart and we had many happy
times together until she married and moved to Kansas. Then we corresponded regularly
until she passed away.
In Sept 1903 I started to Logan Co. High School, held in old Central School and
basement of Christian Church. Walked from home, awhile, then went to Arthur Whitney
home on N. Division to stay and work for board & room. Whitneys lived at
4 N. Division. Miss Etta Hikes, Latin Teacher.
Soon after this my father bought 80 acres 1 mile east and built a new 2 story
house where my brother Harold was born May 25, 1905. (This house is across the
road from H. E. Birch's house and is now occupied by the Whittingtons.) That
year I started working at Jenkins Boarding House, 311 N. Broad. Mr. Wm. Jenkins
was Ex Governor of Oklahoma, their children, Will, Mary, Hugh, Ray & Jessie
were there when not in school. I was there almost two years.
At church at Christmas program 1905 I met Voliny Oliny Benson. After I came to
Okla my friend Harry Gault of Richmond, Kansas, had come down to see me several
times, but since my father did not like him very much, I returned his gifts and
started going with Vol in Spring and were married at home on farm Jan. 16, 1907,
and started our home at 418 S. Pine, next door to his Mother and Grandmother.
Vol was working for Williamson, Halsell, Frazier, Wholesale Grocery as Stenographer
for $55.00 a month. When I worked at Boarding House my wages were $20.00 a month.
We attended our United Presbyterian Church in buggy with his mother, brother
Earl, and Grandma Pinnick.
On May 1, 1908, our first son was born at home, Clyde Voliny Benson, Then Robert
Pinnick in June 18, 1909; Vern Kongable, Feb. 13, 1911; Cecil Oliny, Nov. 27,
1912; Lena Irene, Marl 15, 1915; Monnie Etta, Oct 19, 1920.
When Robert was six years old had started to school when he took Scarlet Fever.
Vol and other children moved in with Grandma Benson while I cared for Robert.
In November Vern took Scarlet Fever, altho we had Fumigated and cleaned house.
Irene was a baby. With a nurse's help I took care of Vern until I took this fever
early in Dec. A nurse took care of Vern & I. The rest of family lived with
Grandma Benson for more than a month. Those days of our illness will never be
forgotten, boys recovered but it was months before I was able to take care of
my family. This disease left me with leakage of valves of my heart. Robert also
had this same trouble. All our children except Ellen Louise were born at 418
S. Pine, in our home.
On Feb 1, 1921, we sold this home and moved to a new home at 811 E. Vilas, where
Ellen Louise was born Jan 1, 1923.
All our seven children attended Capitol Hill School (across the street from 811
E. Vilas) and G. High School where all graduated except Robert.
[The boys lived in a room above the garage at 811 E. Vilas - no heat, no plumbing
- and the girls slept in the second bedroom in the house.
=============
For many years Lena made the bread for the celebration of Holy Communion at the
Guthrie United Presbyterian Church. Her recipe for Unleavened Communion Bread,
in her handwriting, is one of grandson Ned Benson's most precious inheritances:
Unleavened Communion Bread
3 cups flour, ½ cup thick cream
¼ teaspoon salt, ½ cup cold water.
Knead & roll with hands on floured board for 15 minutes.
Roll thin, cut in squares, prick each square with fork.
Bake on floured pan in quick oven.
She was married to Voliny Oliny BENSON (son of John Lewis
BENSON and Malinda Frances PINNICK) on 16 Jan 1907 in Guthrie,
Logan Co, OK, in her parents home. Voliny Oliny BENSON
was born on 9 Nov 1881 in Fowler, Meade Co, KS. He was buried in 1950 in Summit
View Cemetery, Kongable Plot,, Guthrie, Logan Co, OK. He died on 24 Dec 1950
in Guthrie, Logan Co, OK, in the bedroom of his home at 811 E. Vilas.
V.O. Benson was a borderline diabetic. Daughter Monnie Etta remembered her father
always testing his urine for blood sugar. Vol loved sugar, put it on his tomatoes
and drank "Cambric tea" at
breakfast: hot water, cream, lemon, and sugar. But never coffee or tea!
Elder V. O. Benson
Guthrie, Okla.
Mr. V. O. Benson, ruling elder in the Guthrie, Okla., United Presbyterian church
for more than 42 years, died suddenly at his home here on December 24, 1950,
at the age of 69. Services were held in the church on December 27, with a former
pastor, Rev. Klon E. Matthews, of Jetmore, Kan., officiating.
Mr. Benson had been an active member of the congregation for 45 years. For more
than 209 years he taught his Adult Bible class and, with the exception of a two-year
period, had served as congregational treasurer since 1914. He always gave the
church a large and vital place in his life. He was always ready and willing to
serve when and where needed. During the time when the congregation was without
a pastor, he and his wife took over much of the work of visitation, as well as
continuing in numerous other positions of responsibility. His place in the congregation
will be greatly missed, but his influence will remain.
Until his retirement in 1949, he was a salesman for a wholesale grocery company.
He was an Oklahoma pioneer, coming here with his parents from Kansas in 1889,
shortly after this section was opened for settlement. In January 1907, he was
married to Miss Lena May Kongable. He is survived by his wife, seven children,
14 grandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.
The Session
He was United Presbyterian Church 1907 to 1959 in United Presbyterian Church,
Guthrie, Logan Co, OK.
The Logan County History 1889-1977
Volume I - The Families
Published by The History Committee of the Logal County Extension Homemakers Council.
Guthrie, OK: 1978
p. 187
The United Presbyterian Church was formed in Guthrie as a missioin church by
the parent Synod in 1902.
First meeting of interested persons was held Feb. 5, 1902, and the Church Extension
Board purchased the lots at Cleveland and Ash, where the church was built in
May.
I. C. Rankin was sent to be minister, and services were held at his home at 405
East Logan while the church was being built. It was called a memorial church,
as offerings for its construction were taken by the Extension Board in all the
Sabbath Schools of the denomination., Services were first held in it Dec. 21,
1902, and the formal organization of the church came on Dec. 24, with 15 charter
members.
These were: James E. Knox, Mrs. Elcetta Knox, Eva Lena Knox, Leonard Knox, John
Willard Knox, Ross Chester Knox, Henry Brush, Mrs. Nellie Brush, Nettie A. Brush,
Arthur Brush, Launa Rich, Mrs. I. C. Rankin, Kate Rankin.
Henry Brush and James Knox were elected ruling elders, and Mr. Brush was elected
chairman of the congregational meeting. Dedicatory services for the building
were held Feb. 22, 1903, when Elizabeth Rankin, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
I. C. Rankin, was also baptized.
A parsonage was purchased by the church in 1910 and in 1921 the group escavated
under the church building and added a basement for classrooms, and a kitchen.
At the same time, stained glass windows were added to the edifice, replacing
some plain glass in the windows.
Pastors from the roll of the United Presbyterian Church of North America, in
Guthrie: I. C. Rankin, 1902-1907; R. H. Wallace, 1908; A. W. Blackwood, 1908;
W. R. McKnight, 1908; F. G. Wright, 1909-1916; J. W. Birnley, 1916-1920; A. A.
Greer, 1920-1921; A. L. Godfrey, 1022-1928; W. C. McCrory, 1928-1937; R. T. McGill,
1937-1942; Klon E. Matthews, 1942-1949; Ivan B. Clayton, 1951-1953; H. W. Gordon,
1954-1956; Reinhart J. Johnson, 1957-1959.
(Above account based on a history written by Mr. and Mrs. V. O. Benson, long-time
members of the United Presbyterian Church, at the time of the merger with 1st
Presbyterian Church in 1959. Mr. Benson was church treasurer.)
Lena May Kongable Benson wrote:
With his parents, John L. Benson and Malinda Francis Pinnick Benson, Voliny Oliny
Benson came to Guthrie OK in September 1889, where they settled on a farm Southeast
of Guthrie. He received his early education at Prairie Grove School and later
attended Guthrie Business College. In 1903 he went to work in office of Williamson,
Halsell, Frasier, Wholesale Grocery Co. in Guthrie. He worked there in office
and as salesman until they sold out, January 7, 1933, when he went to work for
Scrivner-Stevens Co., in Oklahoma City. He was a salesman for them until he retired
in 1949. He was a member of Congregational Church of Vittim Community until he
joined the United Presbyterian Church in Guthrie in 1905. [Vittum was built around
the church in NW 1/4 Sec. 30, 16N-1W in 1893.] Benson is a Swedish name. [sic.
The name is English.]
He died 24 December 1950 in his bedroom of a coronary infarction, which Dr. Ringrose,
the family doctor, diagnosed as "acid indigestion."
Ned Benson remembers clearly the night he died. The whole family was gathered
in the living room at 811 E. Vilas. Karl and Ned were put to sleep in the other
bedroom. Uncle Cecil Benson smoked a cigar in Grandpa's and Grandma's house,
the only time tobacco was ever used inside that house. Ned sobbed and cried
when his Mother came in and told the boys their Grandpa was dead.
1903 Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory Directory
BENSON Volney, lab, r 401 n Broad Lena May (Mae) KONGABLE and Voliny Oliny BENSON
had the following children:
+135 i.
Clyde Voliny BENSON was born on 1 May 1908 in Guthrie, Logan Co, OK. He
died on 31 Jul 1963 in Tulsa, Tulsa Co, OK. He was educated in Sterling College,
1 year; Ok. A & M, BS.
+136 ii.
Robert Pinnick BENSON was born on 13 Jun 1909 in Guthrie, Logan Co, OK.
He died on 10 Jul 1987 in Guthrie, Logan Co, OK.
Guthrie Daily Leader
Friday, July 10, 1987 Page 9
Robert Pinnick Benson, age 78 of Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma died 10 July
1987. He was
born 13 June 1909 in Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma and is buried in Summit
View Cemetery .
On 11 November 1929 in Guthrie, Logan County, Oklahoma he married Mildred Jarred.
He was a retired butcher.
His survivors are: his wife, Mildred; a son Robert V, one daughter Delores Stokes;
one brother
Cecil; three sisters: Monnie Etta Downing; Ellen Knox and Irene Moore; 4 grandchildren;
2
great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers.
+137 iii.
Vern Kongable BENSON was born on 13 Feb 1911 in Guthrie, Logan Co, OK.
He was buried in 1981 in Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas Co, TX. He
died on 14 Jul 1981 in Balinger, Runnels Co, TX.
While visiting the Blacks, former manager of the Lintz Dept Store in Ballinger,
Vern died in the Blacks' home after a coronary infarction in the middle of the
night while he was asleep.
He died on 14 Jul 1981 in Balinger, Runnels Co, TX. He was educated in Central
State College, Edmond, OK, BS. He was named after His father.
Vern was to have been named Vern Oliny, so he would have the same initials as
his father. However the minister got confused at the baptism and christened him
"Vern Kongable." His parents decided to heck with it, and left it
that way.
So it was that the next male child was named Cecil Oliny.
At age 27 Vern was elected an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church of Guthrie,
in which Church he had been baptized. He was a commissioner to the General Assembly
at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines, IA.
Vern taught school in Oklahoma. He was principal at Fogarty Junior High School
in Guthrie during WWII. After the War, faced with rearing two sons on a principal's
salary, he accepted the position of controller of Lintz Department Stores, which
originated in Guthrie. He moved to Dallas, Texas, where Lintz's had opened its
corporate headquarters on the acquisition of a number of stores in Texas. The
family settled in the suburb of Highland Park, where Vern and Clara quickly joined
Highland Park Prebyterian Church.
Vern served as Superintendent of the Sunday School during the period of enormous
growth in the program, including constructing a large education building. He
also served 6 years as a Deacon, and then 6 years as an Elder.
After suffering a heart attack in 1961 he ended his work with Lintz's and spent
the remainder of his working career as an auditor for the Stoneleigh Hotel and
the downtown Holiday Inn in Dallas.
At age 27 was elected an Elder in the United Presbyterian Church of
Guthrie, in which Church he had been baptized. Was a commissioner to
the General Assembly at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines,
IA.
Taught school in Oklahoma. Was principal at Fogarty Junior High School
in Guthrie during WWII. After the War, faced with rearing two sons on
a principal's salary, he accepted the position of controller of Lintz
Department Stores, which originated in Guthrie. Moved to Dallas, Texas
where Lintz's had opened its corporate headquarters on the acquisition
of a number of stores in Texas. Settled in the suburb of Highland
Park, where Vern and Clara quickly joined Highland Park Prebyterian
Church.
Served as Superintendent of the Sunday School during the period of
enormous growth in the program, including constructing a large
education building. Served 6 years as a Deacon. Served six years as an
Elder.
After suffering a heart attack in 1961 he ended his work with Lintz's
and spent the remainder of his working career as an auditor for the
Stoneleigh Hotel and the downtown Holiday Inn in Dallas.
While visiting the Blacks, former manager of the Lintz Dept Store in
Ballinger. Died in their home after a coronary infarction in the
middle of the night while he was asleep.
+138 iv.
Cecil Oliny BENSON (Private).
+139 v.
Lena Irene BENSON (Private).
+140 vi.
Monnie Etta BENSON (Private).
+141 vii.
Ellen Louise BENSON (Private).