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Thurtell and Related Families
Notes for Benjamin THURTELL
The 1963 Thurtell Family History and the History of the Thurtell Family
done by Susan Persia Thurtell about 1968 show Benjaman Thurtell was a
salesman in Traverse City, Michigan. He and his wife, Conchessia Karns
Thurtell, had one child, who died when he was only eight days old.
The 1911 Traverse City directory lists him as "Thurtell, Benjamin,
baggageman, bds 440 6th." He is listed in the 1905 directory as
"Thurtell, Benjamin W, driver, bds 410 5th."
He is listed as Walter B. Thurtell, son of Walter Thurtell, in the 1900
U.S. Census (Volume 23, E.D. 42, Sheet 7, Line 43, Traverse City, Grand
Traverse County, Michigan). This census shows him as a white male born
July 1887, age 12 in June 1900, born in Michigan, and attending school.
As of that time he is living with his parents and sisters at 219 East
Ninth Street, Traverse City, Michigan. He is not listed as living with
his parents and sisters in the 1910 U.S. Census index for Michigan.
His name is shown as Walter B. Thurtell, born in the Township of Empire,
and his wife as Conchissie I. Karns on the death certificate of their
infant son, Walter Thurtell, who died in the Township of Empire, Leelanau
County, Michigan, on June 15, 1914, at the age of eight days.
According to a letter dated February 25, 1998, from Dr. James W. Miller,
W. Ben Thurtell worked in Traverse City as a baggage clerk. He earned
enough for a ticket to the west coast. He went to Chicago, had his
pocket picked, and was penniless. He went to Chicago Copy Company, where
his uncles Alfred and Edward put him to work in Chicago delivering
pictures. After a week or two they sent him out to West Virginia to
replace a sales manager who had died. He then as a youth of about 18-20
years had 65 sales people under him - many of them alcholics, etc. etc.
He continued to do this type of work successfully the rest of his life.
Dr. James Miller added that he worked for him the summer of 1934 in
Michigan and Wisconsin and the summer of 1935 in Portland, Oregon.
An undated family history shows that Benjamin Thurtell was a salesman of
pottery cookware in rural areas. Several of his relatives in 1998
recalled that "Uncle Ben" was an alcoholic for many years. He was
remarried in about the 1950's in Michigan to Minnie, who had not realized
he was an alcoholic before their marriage. They recalled that Minnie had
been at the Traverse City Mental Institution for several years before her
death - there were no nursing homes in the area at that time.
His Social Security number record, 371-34-5645, shows him as W. Benjamin
Thurtell, born July 17, 1887, in Leelanau County, Michigan. He filed for
Social Security benefits in early 1953 in Traverse City, Michigan. The
claim termination item file indicates his death as February 1960. His
only work under Social Security was in 1951 and 1952. His wife, Minnie
O. Thurtell, received widow's benefits on his account from January 1960,
until her death in September 1965.
Records of Oakwood Cemetery, 1225 East Eighth Street, Traverse City,
Michigan 49686, show him as Walter B. Thurtell, who died January 5, 1960,
at age 72 in Traverse City, Michigan. He is buried in Block 3, Lot 2,
North Half, Hannah Avenue, Oakwood Cemetery.
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Additions and corrections are always appreciated!
Please contact
Susan T. Miller
1411 West Childs Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187-4601
U.S.A.
630-682-0108
E-mail GGM81@aol.com
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