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Benn, Frederica
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| LAST NAME: Benn
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FIRST NAME: Frederica
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MIDDLE NAME:
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NICKNAME:
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| MAIDEN NAME: Hauseman
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AKA 1:
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AKA 2:
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AKA 3:
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| GENDER: F
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TITLE:
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| BORN: 1815
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DIED: 27 Jan 1908
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BURIED: (Spring Valley Cemetery)
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| OCCUPATION:
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| BIRTH PLACE: Germany
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| DEATH PLACE: Polk Co., Oregon
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NOTES:
1900 ND CENSUS - Fredricka Benn, female, widowed, b 1815, Germany, age 85y, immigrated 1882; mother of 3 ch, all living; living with her son Henry Benn, single, b May 1841, Germany, age 59y, immigrated 1871; next door was Henry's widowed sister Mary Ruge and her son Albert.
BIOGRPAHICAL:
Another “oldest person in the state” has been discovered in the person of the mother of Henry Benn, who resides upon a farm in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Polk county. Mrs. Benn was born in Germany in the latter part of 1799, which makes her over 105 years of age. The exact date of her birth she does not remember, but she has records to prove that she first saw the light of day during the year mentioned. She has been in this country only a few years, speaks nothing but German and understands little English. Although she has attained this exceedingly advanced age, she maintains her mental faculties well, is in excellent health and has a good memory for events in her early childhood. She is without question the oldest person in Marion or Polk county, and perhaps in the state.
Polk County Observer, Friday, May 26, 1905, 1:7
DISCREPANCY - Marker and obit give date of death as Jan. 26th, DC as Jan. 27th. 1900 census gives a birthdate of 1815 which suggests the family added 15 years to her age after moving to Oregon
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DEATH CERTIFICATE:
OSBH DC (Polk County 1908) #5754 - Mrs. F. Benn, female, b. Germany, d. 27 Jan 1908 in Polk Co., Oregon, Rt 1, at the age of 108 years, interment Zena Cemetery, informant Albert Ruge, of Rt 1.
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OBITUARY:
OLDEST WHITE WOMAN IN OREGON DIES
Kept Perfectly Well Until She Was One Hundred and Eight years of Age - When She Fell Asleep.
ZENA - At the residence, five miles north of Salem in Polk county, Monday, January 26, 1908, Grandma Benn, aged 108 years.
Very little could be learned of Mrs. Benn's history. She was born in Germany and came to Salem from Mennesota about seven years ago. [????] and a daughter has been living with her on the farm near this city. The son is past eighty years of age while the daughter is said to be 78.
The funeral services will be conducted from the home Wednesday evening. Iterment in the Zena cemetery.
The above simple notice announces the passing of the oldest known white person living in the state. Fredericka Benn enjoyed good health until Saturday night, when she went to bed as usual, but when the family called her Sunday morning she had peacefully fallen asleep. Up to her last she was active - too active, for the family had to watch her. She was somewhat childish and inclined to wander away from the house at times, but remained in the full possession of her faculties until the last day of her life. Her funeral was preached by the German Lutheran pastor of this city, Rev. Engle.
Daily Capital Journal 28 Jan 1908 1:1
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INSCRIPTION:
Benn
Friederica Benn
Died Jan. 26, 1908
Aged 105 Years
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SOURCES:
Janssen Compilation
Saucy Survey & Photographs
OSBH DC (Polk County 1908) #5754
1900 ND Census (Cass co, Amenia twp, ED 20, page 16, line 52)
PCO 26 May 1905, 1:7
DCJ 28 Jan 1908 1:1
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CONTACTS:
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| ROW: II 6 A5
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IMAGES:
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