Retired Building Contractor Lived Here Sixty-Five Years.
Philip Benz, 86 years old, retired building contractor, died last night at his home, 1416 Olive street, after a short illness. He was one of the founders and a former president of the American Building and Loan Association.
Mr. Benz retired from business about thirty-five years ago. He was born October 9, 1844, in Alsace, France, and in 1854 he arrived in the United States with his father, going to Illinois. When he was about 12 years old he went down the Illinois River to St. Louis on the first steamboat which made the trip after the opening of navigation in 1865.
After living in St. Louis about two months Mr. Benz came to Kansas City by way of the Missouri River. He had lived here since then. The trip took three days and four nights. Upon his arrival here, there were no railroads.
Mr. Benz began building shortly after his arrival here. He constructed many homes and business blocks in Kansas City, some of which still stand. In 1866 he and Miss Apolonia Loesch of Kansas City were married. Nine children were born, one, however, having died later. Mr. Benz was a member of lodge No. 35, I.O.O.F., Temple lodge No. 299, A.F. & A.M., Kansas City chapter No. 28, R.A.M., and commandery No. 10, K.T. He had been an Odd Fellow since 1866 and is said to have been the oldest in point of membership in Kansas City at the time of his death and next to the oldest in Missouri.
In 1873 Mr. Benz became a Mason and had been an active member until his death. Besides his widow, Mrs. ApoIonia Benz of the home, he leaves four daughters, Mrs. Edna B. Witte, Independence; Miss Esther Benz, also of the home; Mrs. A. T. Kaltwasser, St. Louis, and Mrs. W. C. Joy, also of Independence, and four sons, George A. Benz, Overland Park; Frank O. Benz, Pawhuska, Ok.; Charles F. Benz, 1416 Olive street, and Philip Benz Jr., Independence.
The Kansas City Star, September 17, 1930, Page 21. via Newspapers.com
Retired
Born Alsase
Father; Philip Benz of Switzerland
Informant; Philip Benz Jr. of same address
MO. death cert. # 30-030753
Retired Building Contractor Lived Here Sixty-Five Years.
Philip Benz, 86 years old, retired building contractor, died last night at his home, 1416 Olive street, after a short illness. He was one of the founders and a former president of the American Building and Loan Association.
Mr. Benz retired from business about thirty-five years ago. He was born October 9, 1844, in Alsace, France, and in 1854 he arrived in the United States with his father, going to Illinois. When he was about 12 years old he went down the Illinois River to St. Louis on the first steamboat which made the trip after the opening of navigation in 1865.
After living in St. Louis about two months Mr. Benz came to Kansas City by way of the Missouri River. He had lived here since then. The trip took three days and four nights. Upon his arrival here, there were no railroads.
Mr. Benz began building shortly after his arrival here. He constructed many homes and business blocks in Kansas City, some of which still stand. In 1866 he and Miss Apolonia Loesch of Kansas City were married. Nine children were born, one, however, having died later. Mr. Benz was a member of lodge No. 35, I.O.O.F., Temple lodge No. 299, A.F. & A.M., Kansas City chapter No. 28, R.A.M., and commandery No. 10, K.T. He had been an Odd Fellow since 1866 and is said to have been the oldest in point of membership in Kansas City at the time of his death and next to the oldest in Missouri.
In 1873 Mr. Benz became a Mason and had been an active member until his death. Besides his widow, Mrs. ApoIonia Benz of the home, he leaves four daughters, Mrs. Edna B. Witte, Independence; Miss Esther Benz, also of the home; Mrs. A. T. Kaltwasser, St. Louis, and Mrs. W. C. Joy, also of Independence, and four sons, George A. Benz, Overland Park; Frank O. Benz, Pawhuska, Ok.; Charles F. Benz, 1416 Olive street, and Philip Benz Jr., Independence.
The Kansas City Star, September 17, 1930, Page 21. via Newspapers.com
Retired
Born Alsase
Father; Philip Benz of Switzerland
Informant; Philip Benz Jr. of same address
MO. death cert. # 30-030753
Inscription
Father
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