Adolph (originally spelled "Adolf") Bensel was born January 27, 1893* in Bętlewo, Poland (south of Lipno). His parents were Christoph & Emilie (Purath) Bensel. Although they lived in Poland, they were part of the large German diaspora living there. Adolph was one of 4 children - Olga, Adolph, Julius (died in infancy), and Hugo. Adolph's father died on August 23, 1898, in some kind of farm accident.
About a year after Christoph's death, on August 08, 1899, mother Emilie Bensel remarried to August Ludwig Harbart, whom had also recently been widowed. Emilie and August went on to have 9 more children, 7 of which lived to adulthood.
Life was difficult in Poland at the turn of the century. Land was becoming scarce and expensive, and traditionally only the eldest son would inherit the family property. That would force the other sons to become laborers, or emigrate. Although Adolph would have been the eldest son, his father had died, and his step-father's farm would pass to one of his younger half-brothers.
Adolph decided it was in his best interests to leave Poland and try to make a fresh start elsewhere. He emigrated to the US - arriving on Ellis Island on April 7, 1910 at the age of 17. Numerous of his uncles - including Gustav and Rudolf Porat (his mother's brothers), as well as Adolf and Gustav Harbart (his step-father's brothers) had already emigrated to the United States. In the beginning he stayed with his uncle Gustav Porat in Brooklyn. Later, Adolf moved out of the city, moving to New Britain, Connecticut - which is where another relative (cousin) Adolf Porat was living.
In the neighboring town of Bristol, Connecticut, Adolf met and married Emma Juchnitzke - also a German émigré from Poland. They married on January 04, 1913. Together they had 2 children:
Arthur - 1913
Dorothy - 1917
At some point after Dorothy was born, the Bensel family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Life was good at first - the Bensels owned a home and a car. Things took a turn for the worst during the Depression when Adolph lost his job. Emma took a job as a cleaning lady in an apartment complex, and the Bensel family was able to live in a modest apartment there.
In the late 1930's the Bensels moved to Detroit to look for work. Daughter Dorothy got married and stayed in Detroit, but son Arthur returned to Cleveland. Adolf became a naturalized US citizen in 1941.
In 1950, Adolf & Emma traveled to Nebraska to see his younger half-brother Rudolf Harbart for the first time in 40 years - after he and his family emigrated to the US following the end of World War II. A similar reunion followed 2 years later when half-sister Lydia Harbart and family emigrated to the US. Adolph never had the opportunity to see the rest of his siblings - all of whom remained in Germany or Poland.
Adolph and Emma ended up staying in Detroit until approximately 1970, when racial unrest in the city and daughter Dorothy's retirement move to northern Michigan spurred them to sell their home and return to the Cleveland area, where son Arthur was still living.
Adolph and Emma celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on January 4, 1978. Adolf died the next year on April 03, 1979 in Westlake, Ohio. Emma lived another 2 years - she died on December 21, 1981, also in Westlake. They are buried together in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland, Ohio.
*Note that Adolph's headstone incorrectly shows 1891 as his birth year, as Jan 27, 1891 is the birth date he used throughout his life, beginning with his marriage. It is also what is shown on his death certificate. However, it is not correct: Upon his immigration in April of 1910, Adolph was shown in the ship records to be only 17 years old - which indicates he was really born in 1893. Adolph's birth/baptism record has since been located in the Lipno (Poland) Evangelical Lutheran church records - it specifies that Adolph was born on January 29, 1893 and baptized on February 28, 1893. It is possible that the birthday was recorded incorrectly by the pastor (January 29 vs January 27), but the year 1893 is definitely accurate.
About a year after Christoph's death, on August 08, 1899, mother Emilie Bensel remarried to August Ludwig Harbart, whom had also recently been widowed. Emilie and August went on to have 9 more children, 7 of which lived to adulthood.
Life was difficult in Poland at the turn of the century. Land was becoming scarce and expensive, and traditionally only the eldest son would inherit the family property. That would force the other sons to become laborers, or emigrate. Although Adolph would have been the eldest son, his father had died, and his step-father's farm would pass to one of his younger half-brothers.
Adolph decided it was in his best interests to leave Poland and try to make a fresh start elsewhere. He emigrated to the US - arriving on Ellis Island on April 7, 1910 at the age of 17. Numerous of his uncles - including Gustav and Rudolf Porat (his mother's brothers), as well as Adolf and Gustav Harbart (his step-father's brothers) had already emigrated to the United States. In the beginning he stayed with his uncle Gustav Porat in Brooklyn. Later, Adolf moved out of the city, moving to New Britain, Connecticut - which is where another relative (cousin) Adolf Porat was living.
In the neighboring town of Bristol, Connecticut, Adolf met and married Emma Juchnitzke - also a German émigré from Poland. They married on January 04, 1913. Together they had 2 children:
Arthur - 1913
Dorothy - 1917
At some point after Dorothy was born, the Bensel family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Life was good at first - the Bensels owned a home and a car. Things took a turn for the worst during the Depression when Adolph lost his job. Emma took a job as a cleaning lady in an apartment complex, and the Bensel family was able to live in a modest apartment there.
In the late 1930's the Bensels moved to Detroit to look for work. Daughter Dorothy got married and stayed in Detroit, but son Arthur returned to Cleveland. Adolf became a naturalized US citizen in 1941.
In 1950, Adolf & Emma traveled to Nebraska to see his younger half-brother Rudolf Harbart for the first time in 40 years - after he and his family emigrated to the US following the end of World War II. A similar reunion followed 2 years later when half-sister Lydia Harbart and family emigrated to the US. Adolph never had the opportunity to see the rest of his siblings - all of whom remained in Germany or Poland.
Adolph and Emma ended up staying in Detroit until approximately 1970, when racial unrest in the city and daughter Dorothy's retirement move to northern Michigan spurred them to sell their home and return to the Cleveland area, where son Arthur was still living.
Adolph and Emma celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on January 4, 1978. Adolf died the next year on April 03, 1979 in Westlake, Ohio. Emma lived another 2 years - she died on December 21, 1981, also in Westlake. They are buried together in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland, Ohio.
*Note that Adolph's headstone incorrectly shows 1891 as his birth year, as Jan 27, 1891 is the birth date he used throughout his life, beginning with his marriage. It is also what is shown on his death certificate. However, it is not correct: Upon his immigration in April of 1910, Adolph was shown in the ship records to be only 17 years old - which indicates he was really born in 1893. Adolph's birth/baptism record has since been located in the Lipno (Poland) Evangelical Lutheran church records - it specifies that Adolph was born on January 29, 1893 and baptized on February 28, 1893. It is possible that the birthday was recorded incorrectly by the pastor (January 29 vs January 27), but the year 1893 is definitely accurate.
Adolph (originally spelled "Adolf") Bensel was born January 27, 1893* in Bętlewo, Poland (south of Lipno). His parents were Christoph & Emilie (Purath) Bensel. Although they lived in Poland, they were part of the large German diaspora living there. Adolph was one of 4 children - Olga, Adolph, Julius (died in infancy), and Hugo. Adolph's father died on August 23, 1898, in some kind of farm accident.
About a year after Christoph's death, on August 08, 1899, mother Emilie Bensel remarried to August Ludwig Harbart, whom had also recently been widowed. Emilie and August went on to have 9 more children, 7 of which lived to adulthood.
Life was difficult in Poland at the turn of the century. Land was becoming scarce and expensive, and traditionally only the eldest son would inherit the family property. That would force the other sons to become laborers, or emigrate. Although Adolph would have been the eldest son, his father had died, and his step-father's farm would pass to one of his younger half-brothers.
Adolph decided it was in his best interests to leave Poland and try to make a fresh start elsewhere. He emigrated to the US - arriving on Ellis Island on April 7, 1910 at the age of 17. Numerous of his uncles - including Gustav and Rudolf Porat (his mother's brothers), as well as Adolf and Gustav Harbart (his step-father's brothers) had already emigrated to the United States. In the beginning he stayed with his uncle Gustav Porat in Brooklyn. Later, Adolf moved out of the city, moving to New Britain, Connecticut - which is where another relative (cousin) Adolf Porat was living.
In the neighboring town of Bristol, Connecticut, Adolf met and married Emma Juchnitzke - also a German émigré from Poland. They married on January 04, 1913. Together they had 2 children:
Arthur - 1913
Dorothy - 1917
At some point after Dorothy was born, the Bensel family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Life was good at first - the Bensels owned a home and a car. Things took a turn for the worst during the Depression when Adolph lost his job. Emma took a job as a cleaning lady in an apartment complex, and the Bensel family was able to live in a modest apartment there.
In the late 1930's the Bensels moved to Detroit to look for work. Daughter Dorothy got married and stayed in Detroit, but son Arthur returned to Cleveland. Adolf became a naturalized US citizen in 1941.
In 1950, Adolf & Emma traveled to Nebraska to see his younger half-brother Rudolf Harbart for the first time in 40 years - after he and his family emigrated to the US following the end of World War II. A similar reunion followed 2 years later when half-sister Lydia Harbart and family emigrated to the US. Adolph never had the opportunity to see the rest of his siblings - all of whom remained in Germany or Poland.
Adolph and Emma ended up staying in Detroit until approximately 1970, when racial unrest in the city and daughter Dorothy's retirement move to northern Michigan spurred them to sell their home and return to the Cleveland area, where son Arthur was still living.
Adolph and Emma celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on January 4, 1978. Adolf died the next year on April 03, 1979 in Westlake, Ohio. Emma lived another 2 years - she died on December 21, 1981, also in Westlake. They are buried together in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland, Ohio.
*Note that Adolph's headstone incorrectly shows 1891 as his birth year, as Jan 27, 1891 is the birth date he used throughout his life, beginning with his marriage. It is also what is shown on his death certificate. However, it is not correct: Upon his immigration in April of 1910, Adolph was shown in the ship records to be only 17 years old - which indicates he was really born in 1893. Adolph's birth/baptism record has since been located in the Lipno (Poland) Evangelical Lutheran church records - it specifies that Adolph was born on January 29, 1893 and baptized on February 28, 1893. It is possible that the birthday was recorded incorrectly by the pastor (January 29 vs January 27), but the year 1893 is definitely accurate.
About a year after Christoph's death, on August 08, 1899, mother Emilie Bensel remarried to August Ludwig Harbart, whom had also recently been widowed. Emilie and August went on to have 9 more children, 7 of which lived to adulthood.
Life was difficult in Poland at the turn of the century. Land was becoming scarce and expensive, and traditionally only the eldest son would inherit the family property. That would force the other sons to become laborers, or emigrate. Although Adolph would have been the eldest son, his father had died, and his step-father's farm would pass to one of his younger half-brothers.
Adolph decided it was in his best interests to leave Poland and try to make a fresh start elsewhere. He emigrated to the US - arriving on Ellis Island on April 7, 1910 at the age of 17. Numerous of his uncles - including Gustav and Rudolf Porat (his mother's brothers), as well as Adolf and Gustav Harbart (his step-father's brothers) had already emigrated to the United States. In the beginning he stayed with his uncle Gustav Porat in Brooklyn. Later, Adolf moved out of the city, moving to New Britain, Connecticut - which is where another relative (cousin) Adolf Porat was living.
In the neighboring town of Bristol, Connecticut, Adolf met and married Emma Juchnitzke - also a German émigré from Poland. They married on January 04, 1913. Together they had 2 children:
Arthur - 1913
Dorothy - 1917
At some point after Dorothy was born, the Bensel family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Life was good at first - the Bensels owned a home and a car. Things took a turn for the worst during the Depression when Adolph lost his job. Emma took a job as a cleaning lady in an apartment complex, and the Bensel family was able to live in a modest apartment there.
In the late 1930's the Bensels moved to Detroit to look for work. Daughter Dorothy got married and stayed in Detroit, but son Arthur returned to Cleveland. Adolf became a naturalized US citizen in 1941.
In 1950, Adolf & Emma traveled to Nebraska to see his younger half-brother Rudolf Harbart for the first time in 40 years - after he and his family emigrated to the US following the end of World War II. A similar reunion followed 2 years later when half-sister Lydia Harbart and family emigrated to the US. Adolph never had the opportunity to see the rest of his siblings - all of whom remained in Germany or Poland.
Adolph and Emma ended up staying in Detroit until approximately 1970, when racial unrest in the city and daughter Dorothy's retirement move to northern Michigan spurred them to sell their home and return to the Cleveland area, where son Arthur was still living.
Adolph and Emma celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on January 4, 1978. Adolf died the next year on April 03, 1979 in Westlake, Ohio. Emma lived another 2 years - she died on December 21, 1981, also in Westlake. They are buried together in Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chesterland, Ohio.
*Note that Adolph's headstone incorrectly shows 1891 as his birth year, as Jan 27, 1891 is the birth date he used throughout his life, beginning with his marriage. It is also what is shown on his death certificate. However, it is not correct: Upon his immigration in April of 1910, Adolph was shown in the ship records to be only 17 years old - which indicates he was really born in 1893. Adolph's birth/baptism record has since been located in the Lipno (Poland) Evangelical Lutheran church records - it specifies that Adolph was born on January 29, 1893 and baptized on February 28, 1893. It is possible that the birthday was recorded incorrectly by the pastor (January 29 vs January 27), but the year 1893 is definitely accurate.
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