All In the Family

I came across this picture in my great grandmother Mary G. Rumping Schenk Schaffer Riordan‘s photo collection. After a few minutes of studying both the front and back, I realized what a great find it was.

The woman second from the left in this photo is Mary’s mother-in-law – my great great grandmother – Katherine Ziegler Schenk Andries. Also pictured here are three of her daughters (the woman standing on Katherine’s right side and the two women standing on Katherine’s left side).

The photo is actually a postcard addressed to “Mrs. Carl Schenk” of Neihart, Mont.

photo of 5 women including Kate Andries_back

The names on the back are as follows (left to right):

Kate Tripp

Mrs. Andreus

Edith Ledbetter

Emma Eisenbardt & her sister-in-law

 “Kate Tripp” was Katherine T. Andries Tripp (1889-1971), my great grandfather George William Schenk‘s younger half sister.

“Mrs. Andreus” was Katherine Ziegler Schenk Andries (1847-1918), George’s mother.

“Edith Ledbetter” was Johanna Barbara Edith Schenk Ledbetter (1875-1955), a sister of George.

“Emma Eisenbardt” was Emma Rosa Schenk Eisenbart (1870-1955), George’s oldest sister.

I have no information concerning Emma’s sister-in-law.

“Mrs. Carl Schenk”, the woman to whom the postcard was addressed, was Emma C. Johnson Schenk. She was married to George’s brother Carl Schenk.

Copyright (c) 2016, Lark M. Dalin Robart

Update on “Private Melvin J. Schenck”

Since posting about Private Melvin J. Schenck several weeks ago on Veteran’s day, I became curious about whether some Internet searching might produce additional information regarding the circumstances under which Melvin was captured and held as a prisoner of war during the later part of World War II.

US 99th Infantry Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.  (Public Domain)

After just a few minutes searching, I was surprised to locate three reports related to the 394th Infantry Regiment Medical Detachment, 99th Infantry Division, which was the Detachment to which Melvin was assigned. Continue reading

George Schenk: A Brief Sketch of His Life and Road to Montana

George Schenk_vignette
George William Schenk circa 1898

Young George’s life was forever changed when at age 6 his father, Johann “John” Frederick Schenk, died in Iron Mountain Michigan on April 27, 1884 – at the age of 39. George’s mother, Katharina “Katherine” Ziegler Schenk, was left to raise George and his seven siblings on her own – the youngest being 9 months and the oldest being 14.

George William Schenk (pronounced “Shank” and sometimes spelled Schenck) was born September 29, 1877 in Houghton, Michigan.  After his father died, George’s mother found it difficult to support her family and soon made the decision to follow her two oldest sons who had left Michigan to work in the gold and silver mines of Montana.  By age 14, George found himself working in hard rock mines as a water carrier.

Continue reading