James married Mary Lou Bombei on 5 Aug 1954. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Doug Walker
2. Frank Walker
3. Vicky Walker
4. Annette Walker
5. Barbara Walker
6. Mary Walker
7. Brenda Walker

Forrest married Genevieve Benda on 27 Dec 1921 in Texas, USA. Genevieve (daughter of James Joseph Benda and Helen P. Sweetring) was born on 29 Apr 1896 in Marion, Washington County, Iowa, USA; died on 15 Jan 1960 in Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

James married Helen P. Sweetring about 1895. Helen (daughter of Johannes Schwietring Sweetring and Philippina Schell) was born on 25 Mar 1865 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA; died on 31 Aug 1915 in Marion, Washington County, Iowa, USA; was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery, Marion, Washington County, Iowa, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Helen Sweetring, the fourth of eight children born to John and Phebe Swietering, came into this life on March 25, 1865, in Quincy, Illinois. Her dad, John, was an immigrant iron moulder from Prussia who married Phebe, a girl from New York. They settled in Quincy and raised eight children there.


According to the July 28, 1870 Federal census of Quincy, John Swietering, 38, and his wife, Phebe, 35, lived with their children John, 11, Cecilia, 10, Edward, 8, Nellie (Helen), 5, Ida, 3, and Romeo, 8 months. John, Cecilia, and Edward were in school but Helen and Ida had not started school yet.


On the June 5, 1880 Federal census of Quincy, John Sweetering was 48, Phebe 47, John, 19, Cecilia, 18, Edward, 16, Helen, 14, Ida, 12, Rhomulus, 10, George, 8, and Fred, 5. John was a shoe clerk in Quincy, while Helen, Ida, Rhomulus, and George were in school.


While in Quincy, Helen met a Gem City College student by the name of James J. Benda. I do not know if Helen was a student at Gem City, but she was listed in later census records as having attended three years of college. I would guess that James and Helen both attended Gem City Business College and met there. Helen Sweetring and James J. Benda did marry in Quincy, Illinois, probably around 1894 or 1895, and moved to Jefferson County, Iowa. Their first child, Genevieve, was born in 1896, followed by Maurice in 1897, and Helen in 1898.


The June 5, 1900 Federal census of Penn Township, Jefferson County, IA, listed James J., 31, his wife Helen (Sweetring), 32, and their three children, Genevieve, 4, Maurice, 3, and Helen, 1. James lived in the farm adjacent to his sister, Barbara Benda Pacha, and another sister, Mary Benda Pacha, in Penn Township.


Between 1900 and 1910, Helen and James sold the farm in Jefferson County and moved north of Brighton to Marion Township in Washington County. The April 19, 1910 Federal census of Marion Township, Washington County, listed James J., 41, his wife Helen, 41, and their three children Genevieve, 13, Maurice, 12, and Helen, 11. Jim and Helen had been married 16 years. Jim was born in Michigan, Helen in Illinois, and the children in Iowa. Jim was listed as a farmer and owned the farm free and clear. The kids all attended school that year.


The 1915 Iowa census found Helen P. (Sweetring) Benda, 45, in Marion Township, Washington County. She reported having lived in Iowa for 20 years. She achieved three years of college and her church affiliation was Catholic. Helen died later that year, on August 31st, at the age of 50, and was buried in Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. She left behind her husband, James, 47, and children Genevieve, 19, Maurice, 18, and Helen, 17.



JAMES AND HELEN BENDA?S CHILDREN


Name Born Died Children

Genevieve 1896 1960 James (Walker)

Maurice 1897 1986 Three daughters, according to Mary Lou Walker

Helen 1898 1923 None



JAMES AND CLARA DAVISON BENDA?S CHILDREN


Name Born Died Children

Infant 1922 1922 Stillborn

Infant 1925 1925 Stillborn

Johannes married Philippina Schell on 15 Nov 1858 in Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, USA. Philippina (daughter of Johannes Schehl Schell and Barbara Zwick) was born on 25 Nov 1833 in New York, USA; died on 17 Aug 1921 in Clayton, Adams County, Illinois, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]