Ludwig Friedrick Klink changed his name to Benjamin Jefferson Hinkle. In the 1860 census, he was listed as Christian L. Klink and in the 1870 census as Lewis Klink. In his father's will, he is named as my son Louis Friedrick. In 1966 notes, his nephew E.G. Schafer named him as Ludwig Friederick Klink.
1885 B.J. Hinkle (age 29) and his wife May J. Hinkle (age 22) and their daughter Stella May (age 7/12) lived in Stillwater, Washington County. B.J. was born in Missouri and both his parents were foreign born. May was born in Massachusetts and her mother was foreign born. Stella May was born in Minnesota. [1]
1895 Benjamin J. Hinkle (age 39) and his wife May J. (age 31) and their children Stella May (age 10) and Robert L. F. (age 8) lived in Little Falls, Morrison County, Minnesota. Benjamin J. was born in Missouri. He had lived in Minnesota for 16 years and in Little Falls for 2 years. May was born in Massachusetts. Their children were born in Minnesota. Both of Benjamin's parents and May's mother were foreign born. [2]
1900 Benj. Hinkle (age 44, born Jan 1856) and his wife May (age 37, born Nov 1862) lived on First St S, Little Falls, Minnesota, with their children Stella May (age 15, born Oct 1884) and Robert (age 13, born Sep 1886). May had had 2 children and both were living. Benjamin and May had been married for 17 years. Benjamin was a book keeper and was born in Missouri with both parents born in Germany. May was born in Massachusetts, her father in Massachusetts, and her mother in Ireland. Both children were born in Minnesota. The household also included a servant, Rose Menegebauer (age 18, born in Germany in Aug 1881) who had immigrated to the U.S. in 1895. [3]
1905 May J. Hinkle died on May 30 in Little Falls, Morrison County, Minnesota. An obituary in the Little Falls Daily Transcript states,
Death of Mrs. Hinkle, Well Known Resident of Little Falls Passes Away After a Lingering Illness. May J. Hinkle, wife of B.J. Hinkle, died at her home on Highland avenue Tuesday evening, May 30, [1905], after a lingering illness of many months. Mrs. Hinkle was 42 years and six months old, being born Nov. 30, 1862, at Warren, Mass. She was educated at Springfield, Mass. After finishing the high school course at Springfield, she, in company with her mother, brother and sister, came to Minnesota to join her father who had preceded them. For some time they resided at Hastings. When the Hastings & Dakota railroad was being surveyed she made a trip to Dakota with her father and was the first white woman to visit the Indian village where the city of Milbank, S.D., is now located. She afterwards resided at Stillwater where she became acquainted with B.J. Hinkle, to whom she was married at Minneapolis on April, 1883. She and her husband resided at Stillwater until 1893, where Stella May and Robert L.F., the two older children were born. In 1893 the family moved to Little Falls where they have since resided and where the two younger children, Clarence R., and Victoria Fredel, were born. Mrs. Hinkle was a member of the D. of R., L. O.T. M., R.N.A., and O.E.S. and these orders will probably attend the funeral in a body.
The funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 3. A short family service will be held at the residence on Highland and Hawthorne avenues, and the regular services will be held at the M.E. church. The services at the home and at church will be conducted by Dr. Robert Forbes of Duluth, he being an old friend of the family. The service at the cemetery will probably be under the direction of the D. of R.
The many friends of the family in the city extend their sympathy to them over the loss of a much loved wife and mother.
1905 "Bengeman" J. Hinkle (age 49) and his children Stella M. (age 20), Robert L. F. (age 18), Clarence R. (age 3), and Victoria F. (age 2) lived in Little Falls Ward 1, Morrison County, Minnesota on "Hiland" Ave. "Bengeman" was a lumberman. He was born in Missouri and his parents were born in Germany. He had lived in Minnesota for 25 years and in his current ennumeration district for 8 years. His children were all born in Minnesota and their mother in Massachusetts. [4]
1910 Benjamin J. Hinkle (age 52) and his wife Mary P. (age 54) lived at 715 Highland Ave. in Little Falls, Morrison County, Minnesota, with Benjamin's sons Robert L. (age 23) and Clarence R. (age 8) and daughter Victoria F. (age 7). Benjamin was a lumber land agent and Robert was a cruiser, both for Pine Tree Mfg. Co. This marriage was a second marriage for both Benjamin and Mary and they had been married 3 years. Mary had had one child but had no living children. She was born in Canada, her father was born in Germany and her mother in France. Benjamin's parents were born in Germany. His birthplace is listed as Iowa and the birthplace of the mother of the children is listed as unknown. [5]
1920 Harrison B. Hinkle (age 63) and his wife Mary P. (age 66) lived at 715 Highland Ave. in Little Falls, Morrison County, Minnesota, with daughter Victoria F. (age 16). Mary was born in Canada and immigrated in 1873. Mary's father was born in Baden and her mother was born in Alsace-Lorraine. Harrison was born in Missouri and his parents were born in Germany. He was a manager in a lumber office. Victoria was born in Minnesota. Her mother's birthplace is listed as Canada. [6]
1930 Benjamin J. Hinkle (age 74) and his wife Sarah age 70 lived at 715 Highland Ave., Little Falls, Morrison County, Minnesota. Benjamin was first married at age 26 and Sarah at age 63. Benjamin was a real estate salesman. [7]
1931 B. J. Hinkle and his wife Sarah Kern Hinkle died on 20 July in Brainerd, Crow Wing, Minnesota. [8] An obituary in the Little Falls Daily Transcript, July 20, 1931. states,
An automobile collision brought death to Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Hinkle, prominent residents of Little Falls today. The Hinkles were en route home this morning from Crosby where they spent the weekend with the Robert Hinkle family … Mr. Hinkle was one of the early pioneers of this city, being head of the Immigration Land company, a Weyerhaeuser organization. He was with the company at the time of his death. He is survived by two sons, Robert of Crosby and Clarence of Washington state, and two married daughters, Stella and Victoria, both living in the west.
An obituary in the Little Falls Herold, July 24, 1931, states,
Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Hinkle, well known residents of Little Falls, sustained injuries in an automobile accident one mile south of Crow Wing station about 10 o'clock Monday forenoon which caused their deaths in St. Joseph's hospital in Brainerd a short time later …
Mrs. Hinkle was born in Lake Elmo and was 71 years old. … She is survived by a sister, Mrs Hefty, Los Angeles, Calif, and two brothers, Charles and John Kern of Lake Elmo.
Mr. Hinkle was born in Maysville, Missouri, January 11, 1856. He came to Little Falls 38 years ago and became affiliated with the Pine Tree Lumber company, using knowledge he had gained in that line while employed with a lumber company in Stillwater. When the Pine Tree company began actual logging operations Mr. Hinkle took charge of that department and his keen knowledge and ability made him a valuable asset to the company. When the saw mill was closed in 1920 the duties of looking after the cut over land were turned over to Mr. Hinkle and eventually when the Immigration Land company was formed, he became manager, a position he held until the time of his death.
Mr. Hinkle is survived by two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Louis Hibben and Mrs. William Hayden, both of Los Angeles, Calif., Clarence Hinkle of Snoqualmie Falls, Wash., and Robert Hinkle of Crosby.
Funeral services will be held this (Friday) afternoon at one o'clock at the Hinkle home at 715 Highland Avenue, southeast. Rev. Ernst, pastor of the German Lutheran church in Stillwater, an old friend of the family will officiate. The remains of Mr. Hinkle will be laid at rest in Oakland cemetery and those of Mrs. Hinkle will be taken to Stillwater for interment.
Research Notes:
DNA [9]
[1] Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[2] Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[3] United States Federal Census, 1900, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[4] Minnesota, Territorial and State Censuses, 1849-1905, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[5] United States Federal Census, 1910, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[6] United States Federal Census, 1920, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[7] United States Federal Census, 1930, [AncestryImage], [AncestryRecord].
[8] FamilySearch.org, states "J.B." Hinkle's age as 75, [FamilySearchRecord].
[9] The family tree of a person who has a DNA match to Janet suggests a lineage to Benjamin Jefferson Hinkle who is a sibling of Janet's ancestor Maria Louisa Klink, child of Christian Klink and Anna Margaretha Fredel. The DNA match suggests a relationship of 3rd to 4th cousins. Our genealogy research and the tree of the cousin suggest a relationship of 3rd cousins once removed, with descent: Victoria Fredel Hinkle, Barbara Mae Hayden.