Bennie Jordan Beaver
Sex: M
Individual Information
Birth Date: 8 May 1892 - Iuka, Alma, Marion, Illinois, USA
Christening:
Death: 8 Sep 1992 - , , Pennsylvania, USA
Burial: in Grand Lawn Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, United States
Cause of Death:
Find A Grave ID: 179332300
Parents
Father: Benjamin Newton Beaver {FGID: 112936431}
Mother: Malinda Elizabeth Harrison
Spouses and Children
1. *Etta May Evans {FGID: 13974517}
Marriage: 3 Aug 1921 - Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
2. Helene A. Warsaw {FGID: 13974265}
Marriage: 4 Dec 1943 - Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Notes
General:
Per 1900 US Census 6/1/1900 Precinct 8th Jacksonville City, Morgan, IllinoisMarriage Notes (Etta May Evans)
At this time Bennie is living in The Institute for Education of Deaf and Dumb
Benjamin Beaver is an 8 year old white male, born May 1892 in Illinois. He is a student, of 9 months, and can't yet read and write.
Per 1910 US Census: 4/18/1910, Iuka Township, District 142, Marion County, Illinois
Head of household is 46 year old white male Benjamin M. Beaver, a real estate agent who owns his own home, free of mortgage. Born in Illinois, his parents in Ohio, he has been married for 31 years to 50 year old Malinda E. Beaver. Malinda was born in Illinois, her father in Kentucky, her mother in Illinois. She has had 5 children, 3 still living, 2 sons still at home. They are Bennie J., 18 and Ralph, 15. Both boys are still in school. Living in the same neighborhood, and listed on the same census page, is Benjamin and Malinda's son William and his family.
Per WWI Draft Registration 6/5/1917
Benjamin J. Beaver is 25 years old, born May 8, 1892 in Iuka, Illinois. A native born citizen, he lives at 128 Rosedale Ct., Detroit, Michigan. His occupation is machinist for Ford Motor Co. Highland Park, Michigan. In answer to - is someone solely dependent upon you, he answered his mother, a single caucasian. In answer to does Bennie claim exemption, he replies he is a dependent deaf mute. Bennie is described as tall, slender, blue eyes, dark brown hair, and a deaf mute.
Per 1920 US Census 1/12/1920 128 Rosedale, Detroit Ward 1, Wayne, Michigan
Ralph Beaver is the 25 year old white male head of household, born in Illinois, as were his parents. He owns his home, with a mortgage. He works as a machinist in an auto factory. His wife is 22 year old Martha Beaver, born in Michigan, her parents in Germany. They have a 6 month old daughter, Grace Beaver, born in Michigan. Living with them is Ralph's widowed mother, 59 year old Elizabeth Beaver, born in Illinois, her father in Kentucky, her mother in Illinois. Another family member is Ralph's 27 year old brother, Ben. J. Beaver, born in Illinois. Ben is also a machinist in an auto factory. There are also 2 sisters-in-law, 29 year old Helena Warsaw and 29 year old Anna Warsaw, both born in Michigan. Helena is a sewist of various clothes, and Anna is a floor lady in a quilting factory.
There are a number of boarders - Otto Kadu, Ivor Friday, Hazel Friday, Darline Friday, Elizabeth Friday, Nelta Friday, Harry Friday and Mary Friday.
Per 1928 Detroit, Michigan City Directory
Beaver, Benj J (Etta M) mech h14422 Marlowe av
Per 1930 US Census 4/3/1930 14422 Marlowe, Detroit City, Wayne County, Michigan
Benj. Beaver is the 37 year old white male head of household, who owns his home, valued at $8,500, but no radio set. Born in Illinois, as were his parents, he works as an inspector in an auto plant, and is not a veteran. His wife is 37 year old Etta May Beaver, born in Michigan, her parents in English speaking Canada. When first married, Benj and Etta May were both 29. They now have 3 children, born in Michigan: 6 year old daughter, Virginia Beaver, attends school; 5 year old son, Bruce Beaver, atends school; and 4 year 3 month old son, Howard Beaver.
Per 1940 US Census 4/20/1940 14422 Marlowe Avenue, Detroit City, Wayne, Michigan
Benjamin Beaver is the 47 year old white male head of household, who owns his home, valued at $4,500. Born in Illinois, he and his family lived in the same house in 1935. Benjamin was educated through 4 years of high school, and works as a parts inspector in an automobile plant, working 40 hours the last week of March, and in 47 weeks of work earned $1,600 in 1939. His wife is 47 year old Etta May Beaver, born in Michigan, educated through 8th grade. They have 3 children, all born in Michigan and attending school: 16 year old daughter Virginia Beaver; 15 year old son Bruce Beaver, has non-wage income over $50 in 1939; and 14 year old son Howard Beaver.
Per WWII Draft Registration 4/27/1942
Benjamin Jordan Beaver is 49 years old, born May 8, 1892 in Iuka, Illinois. His residence is 14422 Marlowe Drive, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, and his phone number is VE-5-4798. The person who will always know his address is M. Crittenden, 12123 Kentucky, Detroit, Michigan. Benjamin works for Ford Motor Co, Rouge, Dearborn, Wayne, Michigan. He is described as 5'9" tall, 145 llbs, white race, gray eyes, black hair, light complexion, with a scar on his right leg.
Per Findagrave
Benjamin Jordan Beaver
BIRTH8 May 1892 Illinois, USA
DEATH8 Sep 1992 (aged 100) Pennsylvania, USA
BURIALGrand Lawn Cemetery Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
MEMORIAL ID179332300
Benjamin hopped into Detroit, Michigan from Iuka, Illinois where he graduated from Illinois School for the Deaf. He was the first Deaf driver to get a drivers license in the State of Michigan with Monsignor Henry Kaufmann's help. His wife, E. Evans Beaver was among the first 4 Deaf women to get a drivers license, too. He also was one of 5 Deaf men who established the Detroit Association of the Deaf, one of the oldest Deaf clubs in America that is still running today. He has been one of the prominent Deaf leaders in Detroit for a long time. There is an interesting tibit about him- still a mystery- that he was in newspapers and magazines between November and December 1915 announcing his vow of transcontinental trip across the America from New York City to San Francisco on a 8 cylinder experimental King Motor 1915 car. The mystery is whether he has accomplished that trip or not. NOTE: Cemetery information will be updated as soon as I find out the accurate gravesite.
Obituary Notice:
Detroit Free Press, September 11, 1992 written by Amber Arellano wrote:
Benjamin J. Beaver wasn't able to hear an umpire's yell, and his deafness made driving and communicating at work an extra challenge. But the longtime Detroiter refused to let his condition block his success in sports and the workplace, and he took it upon himself to ensure that other deaf people had the same opportunities. A lifelong advocate for Michigan's deaf community and one of the founders of the Detroit Assn. of the Deaf (DAD), Mr. Beaver, 100, died Tuesday of heart failure at the Nevil Home for the Deaf in Elwyn, Pa. Mr. Beaver lost his hearing from spinal mengingtis as an infant. Yet the Illinois native became a standout baseball player in the community leagues and was one of Michigan's first licensed deaf drivers. he organized DAD in the 1960's. "He was a fighter," said his son, Howard Beaver of Philadelphia. "He loved playing baseball and he put all the enthusiasm he had for it into the rest of his life to help others." Mr. Beaver came to the Detroit area in 1915 to work for Ford Motor Co. He was employed by Ford for 42 years, rising to engine inspector. In response to state lawmakers periodically considering the restriction of driving privileges for the deaf, he organized the Michigan Deaf Drivers' Defense Fund in the 1960s, which remains today, to help deaf people keep their rights through the courts. He also worked to bring closed captioning and sign language to schools for deaf people, said his daughter, Virginia Stevenson of Fountain. "He didn't just care about the deaf," Stevenson said. "He cared about everybody." Mr. Beaver held various offices in the National Assn. of the Deaf, Tri-County Deaf Senior Citizens, Our Savior Lutheran Church of the Deaf and the Deaf Lions Club. He also is survived by five grand-children and nine great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m.today at Ross. B. Northop and Son Funderal Home, 22401 Grand River, Detroit. Burial will be in Grandlawn Cemetery, Detroit. He joins his 1st wife, Etta May Beaver and 2nd wife Helene A. (Warsaw) Beaver at the cemetery. For more information about Benjamin, find "Detroit's Deaf Heritage" book by Kathleen Brockway.
Parents
Photo
Benjamin Newton Beaver 1854\endash 1915
Melinda Elizabeth Harrison Beaver 1860\endash 1933
Spouses
Etta May Evans Beaver 1892\endash 1942
Helene A. Warsaw Beaver 1889\endash 1983
Siblings
Ralph Beaver 1894\endash 1975
Per Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952Marriage Notes (Helene A. Warsaw)
Name:Benjamin J Beaver
Gender:Male
Race:White
Age:29
Birth Date:abt 1892
Birth Place:Illinois
Marriage Date:3 Aug 1921
Marriage Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA
Residence Place:Detroit, Michigan
Father:Benjamin N Beaver
Mother:Elizabeth Harrison
Spouse:Etta M Evans
Gender:Female
Race:White
Age:29
Birth Date:abt 1892
Birth Place:Michigan
Father:John Evans
Mother:Eugenia Cooper
Record Number:216931
Per Wayne County, Michigan Marriage License found on Ancestry
The groom is 53 year old white male lathe operator Benjamin Jordan Beaver, residing at 14422 Marlowe in Detroit. He was born in Inks [Iuka], Illinois to Benjamin Beaver and Melinda Harrison. This is his second marriage.
The bride is 53 year old white female dressmaker Helene Warsaw, residing at 1305 Putnam in Detroit. She was born in Saint Helen, Michigan to Herman Warsaw and Augusta Malzokn. It is Helene's first marriage
The wedding took place December 4, 1943, joined in marriage by Rev. Norbert E. Borghardt, minister, Lutheran Church.