p. 48
Births/Baptisms 1872
No. 21, Freiwalde (West Prussia, Germany)
Johann Jacob Behnke, son of the Evangelisch inhabitant Johann Behnke and ... wife Regine geb. Gräber; born 13 July 1872 at 6 a.m.; baptized 22 July 1872 (sponsors: 1. Julie Neuman 2. [Auguste?] Rosinski)

[LDS film 208165, Evangelische Kirche GUETTLAND (Kozliny), Births/Marriages/Deaths 1863-1936]

Johann Jacob Behnke immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 16 (listed as a farmer) on the ship WERRA from Bremen, Germany and Southhampton, England, arriving in New York City on or about 28 November 1888 under Capt. R. Bussins. Three RESCHKE families from Kriefkohl (near Freiwalde), West Prussia were also on the ship: Johann Reschke, wife Justine (Bukowski), and children; Michael and Helena Reschke and children; and Frederick and Caroline Reschke and children. They all ended up in Syracuse, New York.

John worked as a laborer and lived at 717 North Alvord Street until his mother arrived in Syracuse from Germany in 1890 with his brother Johann Carl (aka Carl and Charles J.) Behnke and his family. Then John Jacob lived with his mother at 130 Steuben Street. Around 1893-94 he married Lena. They lived at 145 Steuben Street and John worked as a day laborer and a blacksmith until he became employed as a fireman at the New Process Gear Company. John and Lena moved to Craig Street and had nine children in all.

John was perhaps robbed and seemingly murdered in September 1919, his body found floating in the Oswego Canal after he had gone missing. The cause of death was drowning. His youngest son, George H. Behnke, was born the following month.


Bodies of Two
Men in Canal
100 Feet Apart

Identification of John J.
Behnke Established;
Gear Works Employe.

The third drowning victim found in the canal yesterday was identified as John Jacob Behnke, 47, of No. 320 Craig street. The body was discovered near Bear street bridge, about 100 yards from the place where the body of Nicola Colapinto, of No. 208 Basin street, was found early in the morning.

According to relatives Mr. Behnke had been missing since Saturday morning. He came home after working all night Friday and told his wife that he was going to a barber shop. He had been for many years employed as fireman at the New Process Gear company.

Mr. Behnke had been a resident of this city for nearly 35 years. Besides his widow, he leaves four sons, Fred, John, Robert and Walter Behnke; four daughters, Susan, Ella, Frances and Bernadine Behnke; one brother, Carl Behnke, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Pokowski [Bukowski?], Mrs. Carl Groath [Groth] and Mrs. John Bach, all of this city.

The funeral of Mr. Behnke will take place at his home, No. 320 Craig street, Friday at 2 P.M. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery. Mr. Behnke was a member of Court Salt City, No. 330, F. O. A.

The body of George Sampson, discovered in the Erie canal, was taken to his former home in Mexico, Oswego county, by J. R. Porter, undertaker.

Superintendent Lozott of the morgue is making all efforts to locate friends or relatives of Nicola Colapinto. Papers in Colapinto's clothing showed that he had been employed in a New Jersey manufacturing plant and that he was a member of Somerville lodge of Elks.

[Syracuse Herald, Wednesday evening, September 17, 1919, page 7]


Funeral.
Funeral services for John Jacob Behnke, 47, who was found floating in the Oswego canal, were held from his late home, 302 Craig, Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial was made in Woodlawn Cemetery. Besides his wife, Mrs. Lena Behnke, he is survived by four sons, four daughters and three sisters.

[Syracuse Journal, Friday, September 19, 1919, page 16]