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Janice Benson Oral History August 29, 2020
This is a transcribed version of the interview. It is meant to be transcribed not with grammar in mind but keeping to the words of the speakers along with the history and stories per the speakers.
• 1:46:15 Interview Length
SPEAKERS
Janice Benson, Katy Benson
Katy Benson
Well, it is what we decide it was August 29. It’s about 11 o’clock in the afternoon, and I’m here with Janice Benson. So can you just state your name for us and where are you from?
Janice Benson
I’m Janice Benson and I live in Liberty center, Ohio. Originally White House, Ohio
Katy Benson
And who are your parents and where were you born?
Janice Benson
My parents are Fred Eugene Hubbell. From Monclova area. My mother is Mildred Hazel Hubbell called “Toots” Burkett. And she was from the Grand Rapids Liberty center area.
Katy Benson
And when is your birthday?
Janice Benson
My birthday? Oh, it’s always July 19 1936.
Katy Benson
Which is easy for me to remember. My mom’s birthdays is the 20th
Janice Benson
Aunt Julie’s is the 24th
Katy Benson
That’s right. Oh yeah. So my my aunt so I’m here with Janice Benson and she my dad’s mother. So she is my grandma Benson. And aunt Julie’s birthday is when the 24th
Janice Benson
the 24th
Katy Benson
I think I knew that but didn’t really know that.
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
And did you have any brothers and sisters?
Janice Benson
I had one brother and he passed away a couple years ago with cancer.
Katy Benson
What was his name
Janice Benson
he was the oldest his name was Leonard Lee Hubbell.
Katy Benson
And where were Where was he from? Where did he live?
Janice Benson
He lived in Florida. He lived in Florida, West Palm Beach.
Katy Benson
Yes, he did. And did he have any kids
Janice Benson
he had four children. Mike Marsha, Dana and DeAnita. And they all live in Baton Rouge Louisiana now.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Because you guys been down there a couple times to visit them?
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
I think my brother Kristofer was one year didn’t he.
Janice Benson
Ah, yes, he did.
Katy Benson
And you were married. When were you married?
Janice Benson
I was married in 55.
Katy Benson
To whom?
Janice Benson
To Wendell Charles Benson.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm. And how many children did you have?
Janice Benson
Well, I have four. I have a boy and two girls and then another boy.
Katy Benson
That’s right. And what are their names?
Janice Benson
Well, I have Jeffery Scott Benson. And then I have Julie Benson VanNest. And then I have Jennifer Sue Benson Clapp. And then I have Joshua Daniel Benson
Katy Benson
and Jeffery Scott My father
Janice Benson
Jeffery Scott. Yeah
Katy Benson
So you grew up in? Like, where did you grow up again?
Janice Benson
I grew up in White House White House.
Katy Benson
Is that where did you always live in white house with your parents?
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
In the same house?
Janice Benson
No. We lived in a house on Route 64. In the village, I’ll say, just on the edge, and we lived there till I was about three and then we moved in more on Texas street north of the elementary school. Fourth house from the elementary.
Katy Benson
and is that where I remember going?
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
Yep. And that’s where they lived.
Janice Benson
Yeah, that’s where they lived until they both passed away. The house is still there. And it was built by I’m not sure what the the name was but it was built by Lillian Shepler’s grandfather for his family. Yeah,
Katy Benson
I remember that house. I remember going and visiting grandma and grandpa Hubbell and we there’s really a playground, a little park playground or equipment or something, just behind the house, always used to play on that. And then we come in and we just visit or whatever,
Janice Benson
right
Katy Benson
They had some collections, like a key chain collection. Yes, she did. Yeah. And so Elizabeth now has that.
Janice Benson
Right.
Katy Benson
And then some other things. And we started collecting pencils when we were younger. And I think that was kind of an offshoot of because of, you know, the key chain so we collected pencils
Janice Benson
and still collect pencils?
Katy Benson
Yeah. Do the places that don’t usually make pencils very often anymore, so I find them.
Janice Benson
I have a lot of pencils that I collected from White House. Oh, yeah. And different areas from the businesses and yard sticks.
Katy Benson
Ah, I remembered your yard sticks.
Janice Benson
I missed in one yard check. Yeah. My friend is trying to help me while he he looked for that and I look for a bit. But we get it together. But we haven’t found it yet.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm. So what was your first job you ever had?
Janice Benson
My first job was working for Clyde Streyer on his truck farm, which was at the south end of White House, which is now just a house development and we would and then I babysat a lot too after I was able to get the that age to do that. And that…
Katy Benson
What is a truck farm?
Janice Benson
A truck farm?
Katy Benson
Yeah,
Janice Benson
is where the gentleman has all kinds of produce. And then he would take it like into Toledo into Detroit, into Columbus, and put it on the market out down there, sell it to vendors. And my brother also worked there, and he would help him when he would go to these different places.
Katy Benson
That’s cool. I never knew was called truck farm.
Janice Benson
Oh, yeah.
Katy Benson
And when when you got your license, is that when you started babysitting more?
Janice Benson
No, no, no, no, I would ride my bike to different places and different things.
Katy Benson
How old were you when you started babysitting?
Janice Benson
Well, my cousin lived two doors from us there on Texas. And also did this or this other couple lives there first, and then I would watch their two boys when they would go to the grocery and do different things like that, you know? And there was other in between us there was other children and I would watch them too. Okay, so why was probably 13
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah, I think I was like, maybe 15 when I started babysitting, so, yeah. When you got you licensed? Were you 16 when you got your license?
Janice Benson
Yep. See that? You have driver’s training in school. Okay, and that’s how I got my license, through from school.
Katy Benson
You didn’t have to go?
Janice Benson
Well, yeah, I had to go take a test. Okay, you know, you’ve got the preliminary there and then they took you to get your testing different things.
Katy Benson
Where did you go to school? Where?
Janice Benson
Well, I went to the White House Elementary. And it was also a high school until they built A.W. Anthony Wayne. And then I went out there for my last year and a half.That way.
Katy Benson
what year did you graduate?
Janice Benson
In 54? Yeah.
Katy Benson
And then what did you do after high school?
Janice Benson
Then I went to Detroit to what they call Carnegie Institute to be a medical assistant, which I did accomplish that and then I would go, and I work for different offices doctors in the area and when their when their assistant would go on vacation or something. But then I also worked at for St. Luke’s for three same hospital when it was on Robinwood and Delaware in Toledo.
Katy Benson
That’s neat, I didn’t know that.
Janice Benson
Yep.
Katy Benson
And then do you were you a medical assistant until you met grandpa? Or were you…
Janice Benson
Yes, yes. And well, I really it turned in to be a lab tech. Oh, I worked in I worked in the lab in the hospital.
Katy Benson
How did you meet grandpa or Wendell?
Janice Benson
Ha! That’s a joke.
Katy Benson
Haha haha
Janice Benson
Well, my, my best friend. We call each other sisters. Audrey Meister was in school together. Her dad worked with my dad at the quarry. At Silica and Holland, Ohio, and so we was always together. And my husband Wendell was always together with her older brothers going to rodeos and different things like that because they was in the horses. And it came time for the Wood County Fair. And we wanted to go to the fair. Well, we didn’t have a way because her brothers was off to the rodeo and we just, you know, we were having a fit, because we didn’t have a car to go anywhere.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
And so Grandma Meister she says, I call him that Benson kid because he just got home from the service and he missed going to the rodeo today, so he’ll be glad to take your girls to the fair. So anyway, she Audrey, she liked him.
Katy Benson
She liked grandpa?
Janice Benson
She liked Wendell.
Katy Benson
Haha that’s funny
Janice Benson
And so when we went, we all three sat in the front seat and she sat next to him. I went by the door. Well, that was, you know, that was the thing. That was all it was. And then this might sound crazy, but then the next thing well come graduation time and I don’t know, I saw him in the drugstore, there in White House. And um I don’t know what he said. But I said, well, you want to come to graduation. So he came to graduation. And then from there on it went, you know, but he told, he told Kenny Bostleman and some other fellows at the Lucas county fair. Before we really got to know each other too much. He said that we were going to get married.
Katy Benson
Really?
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
Whoa
Janice Benson
Kenny told me told me that well, we’ll see about that. But then it worked out.
Katy Benson
Yeah. Yeah. And how, how much older was he than you?
Janice Benson
Um, six years?
Katy Benson
Six years older?
Janice Benson
Yeah. So, but he had been in the service in Germany, you know,
Katy Benson
in what? In what
Janice Benson
army
Katy Benson
in the army? Was he serving in a war or?
Janice Benson
No, no
Katy Benson
just the general services
Janice Benson
that was in. He got out in 53.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
Yeah. So it was after the war, but they were still maintaining, you know, the barracks over there and things like that.
Katy Benson
And which, which war was that?
Janice Benson
The second world war?
Katy Benson
Did he ever serve in any war?
Janice Benson
No, no, he was just in the service. Yeah, it was all he was.
Katy Benson
I couldn’t remember. Did he retire from the service?
Janice Benson
No,
Katy Benson
He never retired from the service?
Janice Benson
no. He came home the farm that his dad Yeah.
Katy Benson
Where’s it would have there been any time since he didn’t retire from the service or anything like that a point where he could have been called back to active duty?
Janice Benson
I’m not sure about that whether they were calling back at that time because it was no action going against another country at that time. He could have been called to re up again. You know.
Katy Benson
Did he have to go to training ever occasionally then or no,
Janice Benson
no,
Katy Benson
no they did not. So then you how long were you dating before we got married?
Janice Benson
Well, let’s see. We got married in 55. So maybe 10 months, something like that. Yeah.
Katy Benson
And you were married. How long?
Janice Benson
Oh goodness sakes. Hahaha I don’t know when he, we weren’t married when we’re very quite 49 years when he passed away.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
Yeah, I think it was. I just saw the date somewhere. Oh, yeah. When I was helping grandpa Arnold do some genealogy and he was showing me the dates and then grandma Miller passed away the same year, ahhmmm exuse me, grandpa did I think roughly within a few months of each other or something like that,
Janice Benson
yeah. Grandpa
Katy Benson
I can’t remember. I think it was like 2004 for
Janice Benson
Yeah, I think it was
Katy Benson
that would make sense for Yeah, because it would that would have been my sophomore, junior year. That makes sense. Yep of high school. Yep. Then what year was dad born?
Janice Benson
Your dad is born in 56
Katy Benson
You were married in 55 and he was born 46
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
Yeah. And then were you working at that time? Yes. And I was working, and I sort of fainted. And the doctor that came, I was at the hospital at that time. And the doctor came and he said, Well, he said, you’re doing okay, since you just overworked today and it was hot. And he says, Well, I’m telling you what, you got to have six boys. Because all I got six girls. I remember him saying that.Yeah, but he didn’t know you’re pregnant at that time.
Janice Benson
Yes, he did.
Katy Benson
Oh, how far along were you?
Janice Benson
Oh golly sakes, It was was real close.
Katy Benson
Okay, yeah.
Janice Benson
Yeah,
Katy Benson
Well you didn’t end up having six boys.
Janice Benson
No, no. Hahaha
Katy Benson
Just two.
Janice Benson
Yes the two. Mm hmm.
Katy Benson
Where were you living at that time?
Janice Benson
We were living on the corner of Jeffers road and the Waterville Neapolis road up on a little hill on the north west corner there, which was in my mother in law’s family, that property, but they had bought it. And so it really belonged to my father in law.
Katy Benson
Okay. And when did you move to the farm?
Janice Benson
we move there And in 58 like, November we bought that farm with my in laws and bought that with my in laws.
Katy Benson
And how many acres was that when you bought it?
Janice Benson
There are 157 acres there 110 are tillable
Katy Benson
Mm hmm. And it had a barn.
Janice Benson
It had a barn and it had a corn crib. And it had a little grainery on it and it didn’t have a garage till we bought a garage and put there. Yeah,
Katy Benson
the house wasn’t that big. When, because you added on to it. Right?
Janice Benson
We we put that on We I don’t know the house was it had three bedrooms. Two attics, a big attic, and then a dining room, living room, kitchen and a little back room.
Katy Benson
So the two attics are only the big attic. Because sometimes when grandpa would come home from work, he’d go sleep up there.
Janice Benson
Yeah, we made that into like a bedroom. Yeah.
Katy Benson
Yeah. And then and then, like if you go up the stairs right now, and you turn to the left, that was a big attic. Right?
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
And then if you would go up one step into that little bedroom now, was that the small attic?
Janice Benson
No. Then instead of going into that little bedroom, I mean, the door was not very high, you had to stoop to get into them. Yeah. But right next to that little door, there was steps that went up to the upper ending above the second storey in the house.
Katy Benson
And that’s still there, right?
Janice Benson
That’s still there. And there is a gentleman that used to live there with another family because his parents were gone. And he had big feet long, big feet. And the steps in that stairway, we’re wide and even going up into the attic were wide. And if he would come and visit, he would ask him to walk up the steps because the house they lived in he had to go sideways on the steps.
Katy Benson
Oh no! haha
Janice Benson
But he also said there was a chimney went from the basement on up and you can see where it was charred in the wall and up in there? Yeah,
Katy Benson
there’s still stuff in the attic today.
Janice Benson
Well, no one cleaned it out. But there is something in that attic, but not that much.
Katy Benson
Yeah, next time I go over there, I want to ask Uncle Josh if I can go up there.
Janice Benson
I’m looking for a box of grandpa, my husband’s stuff from school, his school books and stuff. Yeah, I’m looking for that. I think that’s still up there.
Katy Benson
Yeah, I will have to remember that. So how long did you live in that on that farm?
Janice Benson
Well, we live it’s still in my name.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm. But you don’t live there now cuz now You live here in town.
Janice Benson
right. Yeah.
Katy Benson
What’s your address here?
Janice Benson
My address here is 31314 West Maple Street (Liberty Center, OH)
Katy Benson
and This house belong to Josh
Janice Benson
this house belongs to my son Joshua. And as he was hurt in road construction, he was he was gonna have this house when he got married in three months. And he
Katy Benson
That’s right. He was healing. He was not a happy camper. And I tried to explain to him, you know, how things are going to be for him? They were everything was working out wonderful. He’s, uh, I don’t give a grunt about that stuff. He says, I can’t stand it in town mom, because he grew up on a farm. So he said, Let’s trade houses. So we just traded furniture all in one day. So he’s there. I’m here and so everybody’s happy with it. Yeah, and so His wife is Pam and they live they live now live in that house. It’s sometimes it’s still hard to really go and go to grandma’s house and we can think of just because you live there so long,
Janice Benson
right.
Katy Benson
But yeah, but it is now technically their house,
Janice Benson
but we will get it someday after things get settled and he settles with the rest of them, you know,
Katy Benson
because everything’s in an estate, right? Yeah, right. It just stays like it was. So I remember you remodeling. Why did you remodel? What was the main reason was remodeling?
Janice Benson
Well, the kitchen was a little
Katy Benson
Yeah I remember that
Janice Benson
yeah the kitchen was little and the bathroom was really tiny Well, we remodeled the bathroom in 1983. Okay, because you used to come in right off the kitchen. And the kitchen was real little. But, um, and the cupboards and everything and so I always wanted to upgrade and so we we did that. And in order to make the bed that big attic bigger into a back, big bedroom, we had to go up more and go out. And so we put 32 foot across the back of the house from the east of the West. And I don’t know how wide it is, 18 feet, we put the porch on.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm. And you’re just telling me a little bit ago when we’re going through some pictures and stuff. The porch came from like the wood and stuff came from where?
Janice Benson
No, no
Katy Benson
that wasn’t it.
Janice Benson
No the porch was modeled,
Katy Benson
oh modeled after
Janice Benson
After my grandmother Bessie and Clarence Burkett down on the Farm on Route 64. And just before Waterville for because we would play on that porch and there was room enough for them to sit on the porch and us still have room in front of them to play. And so I called the people who I knew that bought the house and I said, and they filled the porch in with the bedroom for their son. So I asked her how wide that was. So the porch is 10 foot wide. And then it’s 18 feet 22 feet. It makes a circle around the front of the house now down on farm.
Katy Benson
Um, so, I remember the kitchen being tiny and then I remember being I don’t know what it’s called, but there’s like a window. The peekaboo window. You can see into the other room. The kitchen like in the corner. used to sit there and you could by it was by the refrigerator I believe I was on the other side. There’s a little window look through window.
Janice Benson
Oh yes. yes, yes. Before we remodeled the kitchen on the east end of the kitchen. There was a wall between the kitchen and the dining room or what we call the living room because it was the biggest room. There was a wall there. And at the East and there was a cut out.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
And I had a shelf there and that’s where the phone sat. And there was a window right there too. Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
Katy Benson
Um, so when I was little while younger, I don’t know how old I was because I don’t know what year it was. So, Wendell, grandpa had a stroke.
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
What year was that?
Janice Benson
95
Katy Benson
Okay.Well, I remember, I don’t know if it was from a stroke or whatever, but I remember him. We’re eating lunch and we’re eating some sort of pasta. I remember pasta. And he was sitting next to me. And I don’t know who was all there. I think mom was there or something. And he just fell out of his chair in the kitchen, and I remember that, and then after that, I remember him
Janice Benson
you mean when he had his stroke or after the stroke.
Katy Benson
I don’t know which one it was, but I remember
Janice Benson
it had them in after because when he had his stroke, it was in the morning on a Tuesday morning.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm. So yeah, there would have been after lunchtime dinnertime whenever we’re having having
Janice Benson
whenever he was home then after the stroke.
Katy Benson
Yeah, he just fell out of his chair. And then after that, I just remember him, you know, not being mobile or anything like that.
Janice Benson
Right Yeah. Yeah.
Katy Benson
Um, so from then on you were kind of his caretaker.
Janice Benson
Right.
Katy Benson
Until, what a year or two before he died was,
Janice Benson
I think about three years. Then we, he got to where he needed more medical care than what I could give him, you know. So we made arrangements to put him in the care center, Whitehouse, Ohio.
Katy Benson
Was that hard for you to make that decision?
Janice Benson
Yes, it was, but I knew he was going to get you know, there’d be somebody there with him all the time, and I wouldn’t have to. Well, a caregiver is 24 seven, at home. And that means you don’t get much sleep and you don’t You’re always on guard. And and different things like that. And so it it was sort of a relief, but then it was sort of sad to see him leaving the house.
Katy Benson
Yeah. Um,
Janice Benson
and that was after we remodeled
Katy Benson
yes it was after you remodeled. Did you, were you remodeling when like after he had a stroke?
Janice Benson
we had the process going um you know, we talked and had it going. And then so we It was after he had the stroke that we went into production. I’ll say that had it. had it done. Yeah, yeah.
Katy Benson
Well does. He’s here not he’s not here to defend himself. We’re going to talk about him some more.
Janice Benson
Hahaha
Katy Benson
So when I was younger, like growing up and stuff. I remember him being, you know, always had to house and stuff and we’d go in and talk to him and stuff. But I don’t remember him being very happy. He’s always, you know, I don’t think I mean, who would really want to be immobile? You know what I mean? Not many people, but
Janice Benson
you mean after the stroke after stroke,
Katy Benson
after stroke? Yeah. Cuz before I remember him, you know, playing with us a little bit like outside and stuff like that after he would come home from work, but I was still pretty young at that time. And then, and then he had a stroke and then, you know, yeah, growing up and stuff, but but then when he moved into a nursing home, I remember he was before he died. You could tell he was happier. And I’ll never forget what he told Me, you know what he told me.
Janice Benson
What? What do you tell you?
Katy Benson
So he told me and that how do you put it? That, you know, he knew that Jesus loved me, and that I was, you know, saved or whatever. And he told me, he’s like, no matter what happens, nobody can take that away from you. I’ll never forget that.
Janice Benson
Ha, cuz it’s true
Katy Benson
I mean, it’s true. Until you know, to this day I have, you know, yeah, remember that and don’t forget. And then I think that was the last time I saw him. But he was like, he was, I think he kind of knew.
Janice Benson
But, you know, they say people do know.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
And, and things so they have an inkling or something that time is short.
Katy Benson
And I think I could tell a difference. I think he wouldn’t, because he knew I think he accepted was accepting the fact that he knew.
Janice Benson
Yeah,
Katy Benson
and then I think he knew he was can be happier. So he was happy.
Janice Benson
Well right.
Katy Benson
It always gave me hope. But that just, you know, not not really knowing him or like, you know, growing up, and having that is really neat for me. But yeah, I remember that. I also remember, you had a Volkswagen Beetle. And it sat at the end of the sidewalk. And we used to play in that thing. If we could drive it, and then we had the yellow one. Yeah.
Janice Benson
we had the yellow one. And that was the same thing. And yeah,
Katy Benson
where did grandpa work before his stroke.
Janice Benson
He’s, um, well, he farmed and he worked at glass fibers and all that kind of good stuff. And so on. And his dad also worked and helped do the farming. until he retired, but then he worked at glass fibers until my daughter Jennifer was born. And he was there at that point. And I remember I was holding her he called and said that he got called the gold to the Dana Corporation at work, which everybody was so thrilled. cuz everybody wanted to get out of glass fibers at that time. And so then he went down there to the Dana Corporation. And he, at one time, in his life, he had these terrific headaches.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
And he wound up in the Cleveland Clinic. After she was born, he wound up in the Cleveland Clinic with these headaches and so on. And they just said that it was all pressure affected his blood vessels, which they would constrict. And so he gave up farming at that time. But as he was in the hospital before he got into Cleveland Clinic, he was at Bowling Green hospital at Wood County. And um they came and he was working at Dana. And they may come up and said, How are you a pay for all this? And he said, Well, I got insurance. And he said, No, you don’t. Well, it made him so angry. He got on the telephone and he called Dana Corporation. Well, we did have insurance because the girl that signed him in when he went to work, or apply for the job, didn’t realize that the four days before he went to work counted toward the days that he was there. So then we found out that we were covered by insurance, which was a blessing right there.
Katy Benson
Yeah.
Janice Benson
Yeah. It was then he wound up in Cleveland Clinic and then
Katy Benson
when she needed it even more, because,
Janice Benson
yeah. Huh. But,
Katy Benson
but that was how they ever say what they were from besides pressure?
Janice Benson
Just that, well, yeah. He will just work on you know, the two jobs and how I saw that pressure and different things like that.
Katy Benson
Do you think that led to his stroke. Why did he have a stroke? What did they say?
Janice Benson
Ah, well No, they didn’t say he just had a stroke which comes natural lot of times for people that because he wasn’t doing he was retired.
Katy Benson
Oh, he was retired at that time.
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
What was he doing when he was retired?
Janice Benson
Well,
Katy Benson
like I mean, some people
Janice Benson
yeah.
Katy Benson
Still do things.
Janice Benson
Well he he was done. We were threatened the farm out so he would, you know, help on that a little bit. And he was helping another farmer maybe drive trucks some and so on and that kind of thing, too.
Katy Benson
How old was he when he had the stroke?
Janice Benson
Oh, goodness. I can’t tell you. I can’t remember.
Katy Benson
Okay. Um, so on your farm originally, dad had mentioned that you had some animal What kind of animals were there?
Janice Benson
We had hogs. They had cattle. Yeah.
Katy Benson
Do you have some horses? No, no horses. No horses? Did anybody give you any horses
Janice Benson
Well, we would bought a horse for the kids.
Katy Benson
Yeah.
Janice Benson
It took your dad forever to get that artist home. And old buck and it was a nice horse and everything. And I don’t know, we had that maybe three years or four years. Somebody wanted it. So we sold it and yeah.
Katy Benson
And what is the most head of cattle you ever had?
Janice Benson
Maybe 15
Katy Benson
not too bad.
Janice Benson
about that
Katy Benson
Did you raise it and then sell a beef?
Janice Benson
Yeah, yeah. Well, then the hogs, we just took the market, sold them, that kind of thing.
Katy Benson
So was farming something that Wendell always wanted to do, grandpa?
Janice Benson
I believe so because his dad did. And, you know, and his uncle’s dead and so on, and he was always there with them.
Katy Benson
I mean, this area that we live in is a very rural community.
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
You know, farming is pretty much in everybody’s background. Right at some point. Yeah,
Janice Benson
yeah.
Katy Benson
So, talking about grandpa some more, who were his parents?
Janice Benson
His parents. Was Elmer J. The letter J. Benson.
Katy Benson
no actual middle name.
Janice Benson
No, because he had a twin brother, who passed away when he was about two or three months. And his name was Eddie K. Just letter K. Benson. And then grandpa’s wife was well, grandpa’s dad’s name a grandpa Benson’s dad’s name was Henry Benson.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah, that’s right. Yeah, you have him on your wall and which I think they look. There’s one out there that I always thought was Grandpa, but what’s not grandpa? because he looks so similar.
Janice Benson
And then his, his mother was Barbara Lehman. Barbara. I’m not Barbara May Benson. I believe her middle name was May. Ah, and her dad’s name was Charles. Lehman. their mother’s name was Mary Benson, Lehmann I keep wanting to say Benson but its not. Yeah.
Katy Benson
So his side of family Do you know where the his ancestry originally comes from?
Janice Benson
They lived along the river at the end of Neowash Road for a long time right there on that property. They grew up there and they went to the Waterville school. Ah, and he had Sara and Mary and I and I don’t know if there was another sister or not, but that he had a brother John and a brother Sterling.
Katy Benson
Who did?
Janice Benson
or the grandpa Benson did. Elmer,
Katy Benson
Okay, okay. Yeah, did, how many brothers and sisters did Wendell have?
Janice Benson
he had one sister, Mary Jane, or her Mary name was Romaker.
Katy Benson
Okay, that’s where they come in.
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
Okay. And your side of the family. It’s the White House area, correct?
Janice Benson
Yeah. Mainly everybody, I’ll say congregated there after they got married and different things, but they come from different areas. The my aunt, Ann Burkett she married a Trap from Monclova. Fred. So there was two Fred’s in the family after my mom married and Fred. Mm hmm. And at different things. So was so grandpa Hubbell’s Fred, was he Frederick was that his full name is Fred? It was just Fred. And his middle name was Eugene. So some people call him Freddie. You know?
Katy Benson
He was he was in the service to correct?
Janice Benson
No.
Katy Benson
no.
Janice Benson
He would not in the service. Okay, because he had been in an accident. It was a railroad track that ran toward Waterville. From Maumee right there where the light is by St. Charles hospital. And they he was hit by a train there with the girl he was going to get married to.
Katy Benson
Yeah. What was her name?
Janice Benson
What’s her name? Her last name was Hannah. I can’t think of what her first name was. But he will he was always taught that you respect the dead.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm
Janice Benson
by his mother and He, they would always put flowers on, you know, like his grandparents and whatever and his and his first dad and they would always put flowers on her grave. And her parents and my mother continued that. And my father finally went into a rest home. And my mother continued that until he passed, and then she no longer did that. That kind of thing, but he said he never was going to get married again. And they could cut his head off.
Katy Benson
Ha
Janice Benson
If he ever was going to get married again and his best friend once he got married, he brought a hatchet over. Hahaha
Katy Benson
That’s funny!
Janice Benson
Frank brought the hatchet.
Katy Benson
That’s funny.
Janice Benson
Stories. stories.
Katy Benson
That’s right. Um, I see. So did you. I remember you worked as a cleaning lady. Correct? Is that the I don’t know proper term maybe. But how long How many years did you do that?
Janice Benson
Well, I did that I really wouldn’t cover it when I was cleaning and then there were two ladies that I would help you know, later on, and watch them and so on and so forth. And I did that up until I did that up till 91. And then the last lady passed away and Then I didn’t do that anymore. But I enjoyed it and I enjoyed it very much. And the one was such a well they were all sweet but the one no i did it afterwards too because he had a stroke and I was still taking watching that lady and Michigan LaVica, would go up there and they Josh on them would stay with him while I in the daytime while I was there something
Katy Benson
Where at in Michigan.
Janice Benson
Temperance.
Katy Benson
I remember you worked at the I don’t know. Was it a nursing home or just a assisted living? Maybe not too far from your house?
Janice Benson
Down at the Masonic?
Katy Benson
Yeah,
Janice Benson
The Brownies. Yes, that was she was the best lady
Katy Benson
Because there was a guy that had the trains to so yeah, train.
Janice Benson
Yes. model trains in the basement.
Katy Benson
What his name I forget.
Janice Benson
I can’t remember his name. I know if I can see his face but
Katy Benson
I remember going to see the lady at the Masonic village too
Janice Benson
Helen Helen Walbowl. Yeah, Helen Walbowl. She was a very intelligent lady. Um, she would read all the time. And I asked her one day, she had two boys and two girls. Ha. Her son called around her birthday. This is the silliest thing. And he says, Mom, do you know what you were doing? 76 years. ago now, remember that date? What were you doing mom 76 years ago? She says yes asked given birth to the biggest hunk there ever was. So you know she was around. She was then about 90 called her and told her that
Katy Benson
That’s funny.
Janice Benson
But yeah, so she had but her family really took good care of her and everything. She always had a pocket everything as a pocket. If a dress came and didn’t have a pocket, they had to take it back, put it pocket at it. So when she died, the three girls that were associated with me taking care of her. We were at the casket laughing and the girl her children might know what we were doing to their mother we sent ya and then put a packet or hanky in our packet. So we are in Yeah, so that was cute. That was Helen.
Katy Benson
Trying to think…one memory I have because was with you all the time it comes at your house. We I have two one we’d always watch. Do you remember what we always used to watch.
Janice Benson
I know we always watch television, but she isn’t on television anymore.
Katy Benson
I know! Haha I’ve tried so hard to find like, no all episodes and stuff is Keeping Up Appearances. And we’d always have what snack?
Janice Benson
I don’t know. popcorn. Yeah, Grandpa like popcorn. But you know after his stroke before his stroke, he would eat popcorn but never eat pancakes. Afterwards, he would eat pancakes in not popcorn. I don’t know was weird.
Katy Benson
Popcorn Yeah.
Janice Benson
That’s crazy. Yeah. Um,
Katy Benson
so I have that memory at your houses Oh, and another one and we’ll still talk about, Kristofer still talks about it too. When we come around and say, you’d get bats in the attic, in a house now,
Janice Benson
OH!
Katy Benson
and you would get bats all the time. And how did you catch your bats?
Janice Benson
Well, we were remodeling. Well, the one time we had a bat and house and I had I don’t know how many it was Jeff and Julie and I don’t know if it was Jennifer had to be Jennifer. And we were down to my parents house and, and my husband was working and we come home when there was a bat in the house and I call my dad oh dear, and I put the kids in the bathroom and shut the door. But then I walked back in the kitchen. And there that bat was right on top of the stove. So I grabbed the towel just and then I threw him out the front door. But the time Kristofer was there,
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
Do you know this one?
Katy Benson
Well, I do because it happened with me once too
Janice Benson
well anyway, we were remodeling and we had it down to the studs. And this bat was flying around. And I had the sweeper there at some place and so we just suck them up in this sweeper. And the two of us put the sweeper on the front porch.
Katy Benson
so funny, and it’s so funny to hear him Tell it. You should hear him sell it. So funny. Yeah.
Janice Benson
But yeah, I don’t know what they all they’ll come in if the house is dark.
Katy Benson
Yeah,
Janice Benson
but they won’t come they won’t stay in if the house is lit. So, if one would get in the house, I would just shut all the doors, turn all the lights on, open the back door and the front door. And they will go out.
Katy Benson
I was house sitting for my Uncle Mike and Kathy in Archbold. I used to do that a lot for him. They had a bat in there once and she couldn’t figure out how to get rid of it. So she told me there was a bat well, I remember I had the door open, and I could feel it was dark, you know, come laying in bed. I could hear it and feel it like fly over you know, oh man, I’m like, it’s kind of freaky because I’m like, I can’t see it. Yeah, so I was told if I got a tennis racket because they can’t, when they do their sonar, they just see something but because they’re it’s checkered crisscross or something they they would think that they could fly through it or something. I don’t cuz there’s so many holes or something nothing could bounce off of it or something I don’t know. Well you know, but so hold it there and get right into it and the floor and I’m like, hit like skirted off the door
Janice Benson
Yeah. huh
Katy Benson
I didn’t have a sweeper or I would have done the sweeper.
Janice Benson
Well, we had one one time and we had company and Aunt Jenny was sitting on the couch. And the old kitchen was there and and she was sitting right there by the door that went to the kitchen. And there was people there and the bat was flying around and somebody held the dustpan up and it hit and flew her lap she just went crazy.
Katy Benson
Hahaha I will have to ask Aunt Jennifer
Janice Benson
she went wild.
Katy Benson
Yeah, the one thing and Jennifer always tells us that she will used to be chased by the geese all the time. Was it the geese? Yeah, the geese all the time. How she said she was just attacked by geese and all that kind of stuff? But she also believed because he used to tell them that you’d get our gizzard. Yeah, she believed that
Janice Benson
she had a gizzards
Katy Benson
all the way into adulthood. She had a gizzard but we don’t have gizzards birds have gizzards. Hahaha
Janice Benson
no the geese. She was in kindergarten.
Katy Benson
Yeah.
Janice Benson
And they went half a day.
Katy Benson
Yeah.
Janice Benson
to kindergarten and it was my day to pick up the kindergartner kids. So Karen Hartman, our neighbor girl, she was in the kindergarten too there with this. And they she was gonna come down and play in the afternoon and have lunch. And it was like March, and it was muddy outside and the barn was there and everything else and we had the geese out there and I said okay, you guys can play out here outside and I will get your lunch but don’t go near the geese. Sigh, I don’t know who did this but who made them Who decided well, we’re going to do it anyway. But here they come. And oh they were crying and running the geese got us the geese got us. The geese got Jennifer. Now Jennifer had just had her hair cut in a pixie.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
And she was holding her neck and, and he got in the house there. And I had a sweater on. And so I she come up and so I put her head you know, on my chest to look at her neck, and I couldn’t see anything wrong with her neck. Then when I put her head away from right there was a great big ball hair on my sweater. And it was right, right here at the top of her head. Balled to a bean. Oh my Lordy and I thought this hair is never gonna grow back in and we just had a cut. How are we going to do this once you’re going to go to school like, you know? So we had to bring up what we could forward and put it in there with a clip of some kind, but it did grow back.
Katy Benson
Yes, it did. Haha
Janice Benson
Haha Oh dear God.
Katy Benson
So you also I do remember another thing that you had trouble with any animal once the dog with my sister.
Janice Benson
Well, before that, we had pigs.
Katy Benson
Okay. Yeah.
Janice Benson
And, and you know my husband he was he was working at four to 12 down there. I don’t know where he would that at that point. But we have those hogs in the barn and he would turn the water on and do the chores you know and then he’d go to work well they called up and he said have the kids go out there and see if I turn the water off for the hogs, well you had to get over the fence to do the nob for the for the water your dad and Julie went out there the water had been running I don’t know how long but all it was was slopping mud and manure
Katy Benson
so slippery
Janice Benson
here they come just dripping with all that. it was summer. It was summer. And we had a well, with a pump? Yeah And that right there. So I said just strip it down and turn around and I’m just gonna keep dousing them with water. And the water was cold. There they stood bare naked. Get that stuff off of it.
Katy Benson
That’s funny,
Janice Benson
but at least it wasn’t in their hair.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah. That would have been bad.
Janice Benson
Yeah know anyway. Hahaha. Yeah.
Katy Benson
So, yeah, so the dog was uncle Josh’s dog because he was still living at home at that time, right?
Janice Benson
Yeah. Was our dog. Yeah.
Katy Benson
And he was, what kind of dog was it? German…
Janice Benson
No, no, it was given to us by some friends. And it was a mixture. It was a medium sized dog. That wasn’t real big but nothing, nothing like a big German Shepherd or anything. But we were playing with it. We were doing, Like Margaret, Hanging up clothes and Elizabeth, was helping
Katy Benson
Yeah.
Janice Benson
And I don’t know why she was there alone without your parents.
Katy Benson
Was I there?
Janice Benson
I don’t think so.
Katy Benson
I can’t remember if I was there or not I just remember the story so much that I feel like I could have been
Janice Benson
but I don’t believe you were
Katy Benson
No, I don’t think so.
Janice Benson
But then just out of the blue that dog come running from the garage and he attacked her and I and I was trying to keep her, you know, away. And he got me and he got her a little. And different things and your mother and dad were up here someplace doing something. I don’t know where they were. And uncle Joshua was ready to shoot that dog and I said you can’t shoot him because he might have rabies. No, you don’t know.
Katy Benson
You want to make sure before
Janice Benson
Yeah, and So we beat it up to the hospital and I remember was she was on one gurney and I was on the other we were holding and with our butts up in the air haha but we got along okay
Katy Benson
no but yeah um yeah happened when David when he was younger Aunt Deb’s and Uncle Dan’s so my mom’s side he was just playing with the dog too and he got nipped in the eye and then just recently my my niece Margaret, so your great niece (granddaughter) right. got bit by a dog in the eye and that almost kind of scary cuz yeah and stuff. But the same eye is David. I’m going to have an almost an exact scar in the exact place of each other.
Janice Benson
Huh? Well, we just got in the leg area. Liz and I and I you know and stuff like that. So, but yeah, but they wanted to give, you know, give the dog to somebody else. And I said no, don’t give a dog away because you never know what he’s gonna do. or anything like that and also, I guess they took him off and the authorities and killed him and got rid of him you don’t know.
Katy Benson
Yep. So, back up a little bit I never asked you. So you have four kids. How many grandkids do you have?
Janice Benson
Ten!
Katy Benson
Ten.
Janice Benson
don’t I?
Katy Benson
I don’t know, do you? So let’s count. So the Jeff has how many kids?
Janice Benson
He’s got four. Julie’s got two
Katy Benson
got two
Janice Benson
that six.
Katy Benson
And then it Aunt Jennifer has
Janice Benson
three at nine,
Katy Benson
nine and then Uncle Josh has one. So let is 10 and so Riley Joe is Uncle Josh’s daughter and she’s the last one.
Janice Benson
She’s it.
Katy Benson
Yep, She’s the youngest. And then how many great grandkids do you have? And I’m so go ahead, so I was wrong. Margaret would be your great granddaughter. Not Yeah, niece Sorry. She’s a niece to me. But okay, go on. Have a great grandkids.
Janice Benson
So I got two in Michigan.
Katy Benson
Yes.
Janice Benson
And I got to down here.
Katy Benson
Which is Henry and Gracie
Janice Benson
Gracie.
Katy Benson
Yep, Gracie Sue. So I only have four And then you’re going to have
Janice Benson
one and I will have another one as a southerner.
Katy Benson
And that’s right. The southern state. North Carolina. And she will be born in a couple of weeks.
Janice Benson
Yeah.
Katy Benson
That’s exciting for us. I know Lottie was saying how she had her last day of work. Okay, well a couple days ago or something like that, and she was doing as much as she could she was walking. She’s doing so that way, you know? Yeah, staying healthy getting prepared for the day ready to come, because she’s ready for that baby to come out.
Janice Benson
When you get so far along Do you want this to get over with? Yeah.
Katy Benson
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Janice Benson
Now my dad, my dad was there most of the time when Uncle Joshua was born in the hospital. But he would always come after the birth of the other ones, you know, because he was still working. But he come and he, he said you think the worst is to come but now the best I’ll be here later. Something like that. Like that. You He had a he had a lot of wisdom,
Katy Benson
as it’s gonna say you always talk about different things like that. Yeah, there’s no so he’s very, seems to be a very kind wisdomatic person,
Janice Benson
his mother his mother was a very sweet lady and then she had to raise these three boys by herself for a while. And she taught them, you know, just you have to be special and everything that you do. I mean, it makes sure that you’re respected, respectable to everybody, and stuff like that.
Katy Benson
Mm hmm.
Janice Benson
Hey, that’s what she would do. And so on. And then he he would pass that on to us. He did.
Katy Benson
I remember sitting on his lap by the in the corner, next to the table next to telephone and we would
Janice Benson
to Wendell?
Katy Benson
no, sorry, Your dad so grandpa
Janice Benson
Fred.
Katy Benson
Yep. And he had anyway just talk to us. Sometimes he’d answer the phone and then sometimes he’d hand us the phone and say hello. And then he’d go back. But he I remember sitting in his lap, and I don’t remember really anything He really said, because I was pretty young. But um, he had tattoos on his arm.
Janice Benson
He had one. And I wish I would have had a picture of that and I can’t find a picture. Where cuz it was sort of down here. Yep. And I said something mother was the heart was a heart. Yeah. And I don’t know if I would ever find one if they could draw that up.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah. You could see what it was.
Janice Benson
See for sure. Yeah. And so on but yeah, he I remember he, he was having his problems when Jacob was born. And Jacob Clapp Yeah, he, I would go down there. And he, I mean, he was in and out of things a lot, you know, getting worse with his dementia like and, and he would hold him and he’d say, How in the world could anybody hurt somebody like this this little? Just like, you know, it’s a crime that hurt a child. Mm hmm. Yeah, he was say that.
Katy Benson
So what maybe something happened when he was younger. Or he heard about something and yeah, I didn’t know. Do you know?
Janice Benson
I don’t know if any of his relation, you know, or his friend’s friend ever had some but some child hurt that so his dad, did he pass away or Yes.
Katy Benson
So Fred. And his dad’s name was
Janice Benson
Hezekiah Thomas Hubbell. So that would have been my great, great grandpa. Okay. And then you said, then did his mom get remarried? His his mother remarried Charles Lintner? And Charles Lintner had two sons. One had some kind of illness which I never knew what was wrong with him that he developed as years went by, I guess, and what when I would go there, grandma was always taken care of him and he, he was bedridden. I remember his name was Arnold. And the other one was I can’t think very, very nice looking young man. And he he lived in California because he was in the Navy. They lived out there and a what was his name I can’t think of it right now. But I’ve got a picture of him or pictures of him and stuff. So then that those were her step sons.
Katy Benson
Okay. Yeah. How many nieces and nephews do you have?
Janice Benson
How many nieces and nephews do I have?
Katy Benson
I think we talked about this because of Uncle Lenny, so like, right? Yeah, so, remind me how many
Janice Benson
just four
Katy Benson
none on grandpa’s side.
Janice Benson
Yeah well no not on my on grandpas. They wouldn’t be my nieces. They’d be my cousin’s
Katy Benson
no on Wendell’s side it would still be like because of his brothers and sister
Janice Benson
Oh yeah, just two. So well really I had seven and my brother’s daughter died. Cathy died and let’s see she died when did your mother was still in school and she died. But then two other four live you know in Baton Rouge. And then John and Susan live over here enough Neapolis area. Romakers they are
Katy Benson
because we know really Get to know them until later in life. From what I, from what I remember
Janice Benson
Who?
Katy Benson
Romakers
Janice Benson
Yeah,
Katy Benson
yeah. Because we didn’t really have any family reunions or anything like that. So, you know, see on my mom’s side every year, we’d all go see people we never like met and forth to the far away they come, but then we also had, I have lots of cousins because right
Janice Benson
but now see the Romakers, they never want to associate.
Katy Benson
Really, why is that?
Janice Benson
Is that still on
Katy Benson
No. Okay. Well, we don’t have to talk about it. So we’re talking about the Romakers. And I know Justin, was their only child John and Julie’s correct.
Janice Benson
Yes.
Katy Benson
And he is the same age as Kristofer
Janice Benson
I’m not sure.
Katy Benson
I don’t know, but somewhere around there, but they live where they live.
Janice Benson
Well, they lived. They live on Berridge Road. And Barry’s road goes between the Waterville in the Neapolis. And the White House, and Archbold road, and they live halfway through, I’ll say, by where the old railroad track used to go. And that’s where Aunt Jane used to live right there on the east side of the road. And then John lives across the road on property there. He’s he’s got a nice little place there. That’s where John lives and Justin.
Katy Benson
And Justin has been very involved with his church.
Janice Benson
Yes
Katy Benson
which is really nice. And he seems to really enjoy that. So were you involved in church growing up?
Janice Benson
Yes, we I went to the Methodist Church, there in White House and that was where we were married. And that’s where the car wash is now in White House. That kind of thing. And we was always there and did different activities and stuff within that we had a youth group there was I was with the youth group and so on and so forth. And then our Sunday school teacher, we had it so that I remember they had the boys in one with one teacher and really was with the girls was with another teacher. And she would always take us camping and Oak Openings park for a couple nights and they used to have the nicest little stone buildings. And then we’ll just have enough room in there for like three people when each one and then we would always we’d always go out there but when you got married not know when
Katy Benson
you looked at me and I’m like Im not married haha when you got married I got it haha
Janice Benson
when one of the one of the girls in her class got married, you know we would outgrow our class. But we still in the church. You always got a sheet and a pair of pillowcases that was crocheted on the top real fancy. Of the color that you wanted.
Katy Benson
Really?
Janice Benson
Yeah, so I still have my I still have my mine. So yeah, always, you know, always there and then those kinds of things and whatever else
Katy Benson
that’s really nice. So then you and grandpa went to the same church for a long time or?
Janice Benson
I yeah, sorta. Well, that’s when he got out of the army. It was when the time would change. You don’t came in this Summer and we were getting out of church and he was coming in he said oh dear me he I think he had his uniform on yet because he had just got discharged and and those kinds of things and so so we went there and then we when we got married and moved up by Neopolis so we went to the Neopolis Church of Christ and then from there we went to different places til we found out you know, different things and
Katy Benson
and now you attend which church
Janice Benson
Christ Community at Ridgeville Corners that sort of been with this virus thing you know, you don’t go very often.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah. With COVID Yeah, I know. Yeah. We still haven’t been back to our church week because they have Facebook Live and yeah, just because they only allowing so many people in at a time
Janice Benson
right. Now, I don’t know how you do all that kind of stuff when I don’t have a computer. Hmm. And so I do have this gentleman on TV that I listen to every morning and every, you know, all days on all day and and shepherds chapels is called and he’ll learn a lot of stuff that you never learned any place else.
Katy Benson
That’s really neat. Yeah, yeah. Well, speaking of like, having church online and all that kind of stuff, that stuff was never available when you were growing up.
Janice Benson
No, it never was.
Katy Benson
Was there anything like?
Janice Benson
I would go to church camp down. Lakeside, Ohio. Okay, we go there and, and everything. Mm hmm.
Katy Benson
So was there a time when you knew that like a testimony type thing for you?
Janice Benson
Well, there was but it it wasn’t really called that it was just like, you know, talking in a group and then you just share your feelings and, and your progress, you know, in the Lord and, and so on and so forth like that. So, yeah, I was asked to give my testimony by a gentleman one time in a, in a little church that we went to in between the progress of moving from Neapolis to, you know, Christ community. And because he was having different people, scheduled of the give their testimony. And he asked me the one Sunday, as we were leaving, he says, well have you got your outline made of what you want to say and therefore for your testimony? And I looked at him and this is just exactly what I said. I said, if you have to make an outline of how you love Jesus and how he come into your life, I said, you’re in trouble, bud I didn’t give mine I said, hey, it’s crazy. Yeah, there’s no
Katy Benson
yeah, there’s really no outline to that kind of thing.
Janice Benson
No. Yeah. But that is exactly what I said. I I thought that
Katy Benson
that’s true too. I
Janice Benson
we used to go to church in White House there when we were growing up and the man he was leading the Sunday school. He would get up there and sing and lead the singing and his heart was just on fire. You could always tell it and he would have that hymnal and he wouldn’t even open and he would just say we’re gonna sang anyone just go and he was a pillar of the church and, and his family was true, but Oh, and I sang in the choir there when I was a young girl. And different things and
Katy Benson
did your parents go with your church? No, no,
Janice Benson
no. Now my dad was raised a Lutheran that way my his mother, you know, and Grandma, they would go to out there where the cemetery is and and so on and so forth, but they never would really attend. What they would see that we were there. You know that we were there and so on. So and I know that when my dad died um, my cousin she worked at the rest home where he was there in White House and ah I know that he he he was praying when he was found because he was on his knees, with his hands on the bed like this, you know, that’s, really neat. And I do have his baptism paper, which, you know, that kind of thing
Katy Benson
Did your husband was he had background in the church?
Janice Benson
Well, he he would go to church before but I don’t know about his parents ever going to church. They never they will never went to church but we went to church, you know.
Katy Benson
And then obviously, your kids went to church.
Janice Benson
Yep. Yeah. They went to church. Yeah. And was involved in youth group and all that kind of good stuff and whatever.
Katy Benson
Okay, so speaking of church, were you missionaries with Grandpa? Is that why you traveled over to like Russia? or no?
Janice Benson
Well, first of all we went when we went and then Jenny was in the third grade. We and your Dad, Mom was in high school or your, your dad and then Julie was in high school. We was at the Neapolis Church of Christ. And Dan and Cecile Chambers went with a group over to Austria to live. And they were over there as missionaries and running this mission house. So we went over there and helped them get this mission house in order and, and so on, so forth and do programs and whatever. We were there first, and then
Katy Benson
how long were you there? How long were you in Austria?
Janice Benson
Was we there six weeks. I think we were because your mom and dad came home and that’s when the school burnt and a then we were there over Christmas and then when we came home and Jenny and us come home by ourselves
Katy Benson
so in genuine with you to Austria
Janice Benson
Yes. Oh she went to and then we helped him over there I made curtains I did shopping and whatever but anyway and did cooking made so much corn bread the kids never wanna corn bread in the eye again haha but
Katy Benson
so when you say you were in Austria one time with just Wendell grandpa. Yeah. And then you went back over?
Janice Benson
No.
Katy Benson
Oh, you didn’t.
Janice Benson
That was the only time we there
Katy Benson
and Aunt Jenny were any of the kids with you. Just can’t Jennifer.
Janice Benson
No. Your mom and dad. Were there with us.
Katy Benson
My mom and dad.
Janice Benson
Yeah. Jeff and Sue. Jeff and Julie Benson were there with us and Jenny, and then they were there.
Katy Benson
Oh, so so
Janice Benson
and then they had to come home for school and and grandpa and I and then Jenny stayed and then we came home and whatever and then then we went to the other little church there on Youngberg road and we this man was involved with the Russian people and and so on and he was from he was finished himself. And so then we went a couple times with him over there. And stuff then then we went once while we were I went twice and the last time we went by ourselves. Yeah. Okay. And I believe and, and I know that grandpa was gone. Then he went by himself. And then he was going to go again. And the day before he had his the day that he had his stroke he was up and outside. And he was talking to a gentleman out on the end of the driveway and the phone rang, and it said that his airline tickets were ready to be picked up to go to Russia. And when they named when he came in I don’t know he sat down was having coffee. And that’s when he had his stroke.
Katy Benson
Okay, kind of things did you do over in Russia?
Janice Benson
What did we do? Well, we met with other Christians over there. And we would have meetings, ladies and men, and then we would have a whole congregational meeting and people would come in and talk. And in their language, of course, you know, and different things like that. And we took semi loads of clothes, and your sister Elizabeth, but she helped go through the clothes and pack them. No, yeah, I have a picture of her helping in the garage, in our garage, doing that kind of thing. And then we would go to school. After we would get there to Russia, we would go into the schools and distribute those clothes and so on, so forth like that.
Katy Benson
Yeah. I remember one time When you came back You brought us Russian dolls.
Janice Benson
Yeah, yeah,
Katy Benson
that was that was fun. Yeah. Um so then you’ve always liked to travel and
Janice Benson
oh yeah,
Katy Benson
you take lots of bus trips right well first I was going to ask you I remember Did you know any Russian did you pick up any Russian or Austrian what is Austria’s language?
Janice Benson
Austria they more or less spoke our language okay you know there was a few things when I went shopping by myself for groceries and Cecile Chambers she told me now here’s your here’s your say Costa you say you know whatever and for cheese and there were things like that and and and so on and so I got by I got by okay with that like that, but I learned why the Children in Austria on the streets are so well mannered as their young, young children. Because grandma’s got the children. Grandma has always given them a piece of candy so that they are quiet
Katy Benson
That’s funny.
Janice Benson
Yeah. So
Katy Benson
was grandpa Wendell being over in Germany? For the service? Did he know German?
Janice Benson
Ah, a few words. See words. Yeah. But when we were in Austria then the Chambers and and us when up into the city where grandpa was at Begcoicheck (not sure how to spell that town) and met the family there. Oh, well, Chambers were with us so far. And then we went the rest of the way. So he got to see that family again that he that sort of took grandpa under their wing. And so on
Katy Benson
I bet that was really special
Janice Benson
that was really special and different things like that, you know, on and so on. So we had a great time with them.
Katy Benson
And good. Well, you like to travel and we’ve been on a lot of bus trips. Correct. And what was your favorite place you have gone?
Janice Benson
that I’ve gone on a trip.
Katy Benson
Yeah. Well, I always wanted to come meet. Who are the people that live in Australia that are people of Aborigines
Janice Benson
Yeah. I want to meet the Aboriginal people. Yeah. So when my friend said she was going to go to Austria. That’s why she was working so much. I said, put me on a list. And I went and then we went Australia. That’s where we she was going. We went to Australia. Then we went to New Zealand. Then we went to Fiji. Oh, wow. I would go back to Fiji and a flip of a coin.
Katy Benson
yeah.
Janice Benson
Oh yeah. And it’s so people are so gracious. It’s the light The country is beautiful. And I got to help with the wedding there. I’ve got to go through the whole big kitchen. That’s cool. And but we couldn’t, couldn’t go to the wedding because so we just stood in the balcony of our room and listened to the ceremony and watched it that was but those people are just so you know. Wow, we learn a lot there. What we learn, learn a lot every bus trip that go on. But that was I would go back there. That and New Zealand. Well, Australia too. Yeah,
Katy Benson
that’s really neat. Yeah. So Ana jokingly asked this question, but would you go back to Canada?
Janice Benson
Hahaha
Katy Benson
So, he has a little background so they understand this joke is last when was it last
Janice Benson
two years ago
Katy Benson
It’s been two years already. Two years ago. Yep. You got really sick.
Janice Benson
two years ago, I went to what’s going on this Canadian trip to Toronto and all around and
Katy Benson
can you had you had shingles before? And then you were better.
Janice Benson
Yeah, I had the shingles you know but that that wasn’t part of it. But I had never met this lady before. And yeah, that’s Randy Nofzinger put Rose Brown, and me together as partners, and we talked before, you know, but anyway, she’s a Christian lady and we walked and, walked and walked on Monday, terribly, we walked so hard and so far, and then we went had our supper on the spiral deal. We’re now see the city and I’ll have salmon anytime I can get it. Haha So then when we got back to the room, she said, You know, I’m not gonna go with them tomorrow, cuz they’re gonna be in the same area, but her knees are hurting her. And I said, Well, I’m not going either cuz I think I pulled a muscle in my groin. Walking all this time. So we both laid down and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital with Yeah, posion size of what tennis ball in my kidney. And the man said another half an hour and you bet in the box. Yeah. And so he operated on man. I was there four days and
Katy Benson
came home
Janice Benson
and came home we in the back of a pickup. I mean, it was a good ride. But anyway, this he was a very good doctor. He was there morning and night and explained everything and he sent home. Oodles and oodles of the paperwork in the disk for my doctor here and Wauseon. And even after I was home like two and a half weeks he called to see how I was and different things. So I cannot say I did not get good care whether the hospital was that bad.
Katy Benson
No. Yeah. My mom said it wasn’t.
Janice Benson
Yeah, I think they said what they said he’s come he’s coming running from the building, other building. So I think we were in the older part and there was a newer part, but I never didn’t get to see the out. Haha
Katy Benson
Yeah. Well, yeah, that was that was. Yeah, it was scary for all of us.
Janice Benson
That was a that was a scare. But yeah.
Katy Benson
You are also blessed to know, to know Rose because she had enough to know to call home.
Janice Benson
Right she, after we got home, you know, I talked with her. And we’ve talked about a little things come together. She said that she asked me. She didn’t know how to work my silly phone. And she asked me my kids phone number and I told her I said I didn’t say a thing. She says yeah here she said I got that piece of paper or I wrote it on she showed me the paper. I said, I don’t know.
Katy Benson
So definitely God was working his hand in that.
Janice Benson
Yeah, sure. And I’m told that she’s my angel and our birthdays are on the same day.
Katy Benson
Haha, that’s pretty cool.
Janice Benson
Yeah, her birthday and my birthday. And so we’re connected a lot of ways and we meet every so often now
Katy Benson
like me how you can know you know these things. And we’re like, you’re born on the same day. And you think about Wow, God knew. Yeah, but you know, you’re gonna be connected someday.
Janice Benson
Right. And that right. So anyway. Yeah. So we we just have a real good time. together and, yeah, you know, those kind of things. She goes to the Lutheran Church up there by Northwest College. Okay, that big church?
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah, yeah, on the corner there. That’s where my aunt uncle used to go before they moved to Indiana.
Janice Benson
Oh, Ann goes there. Okay. Yeah, Miller and her husband and dad. She used to be a Miller. But anyway, yeah. So if that was that was truly you know God was in control right then. No right then and there
Katy Benson
well we’re happier doing much better
Janice Benson
yeah I am too
Katy Benson
and because we wouldn’t have been able to really we wouldn’t have been able to go over there. So you know if anything would have happened it would have been really hard for us to get all get up there now. Yeah, yeah, but it all worked out. You know. So, just two things I wanted to ask you here. The first one is I always like to know how did grandpa proposed to you. How did Wendell propose to you?
Janice Benson
Well, we talked about you know, get married. Well, so then he he went and bought the ring. I don’t know where are we had been we went someplace and we come home at night? And he did when we were in the car in the driveway. Yeah.
Katy Benson
of your parents house.
Janice Benson
My parents house. Yeah. Yep. That way. And his mother was such a she was just an ordinary woman. She worked. She grew up on a farm. And she had chickens. Mother, as and my daughter as she had, you know, those at home and, and everything and she was just the common lovely woman. Always taking care of the grandkids. Every year the kids had to have a new winter coat and it had to be special coat brand. It couldn’t be just let’s go get it go bop bop. And she would always make sure that they and if somebody died, she she was very particular, how we went to view the body. How we went to the funeral, you had to have a hat the women had she take us and buy us a hat. And anyway, the other lady, she wasn’t too happy with that. And then you had to have white gloves. And she
Katy Benson
very proper,
Janice Benson
very, yeah, very proper, very proper. Yeah and a great cook.
Katy Benson
And a great cook.
Janice Benson
Yep Yeah. Nice.
Katy Benson
So, well, that’s me. I kind of always find it interesting. You know, everybody does it different. And its their story just yeah, I think it’s interesting. Um, I remember that when your mom and dad died. We had we get to help kind of go through the house a little bit because no mom and dad were there. You were there and stuff. They lived through the depression. Is that correct? Were you were you did you yourself live through the depression?
Janice Benson
We’ll see. The depression was in the 30s. I was born in 36. My brother was was born in 33. They was married you know, during the Depression.
Katy Benson
Oh, that’s right. Because we looked at that.
Janice Benson
And so, you know, we, my dad, this was my dad’s slogan. If we don’t have anything else, we’re gonna have a roof over our head and food on the table. Yeah, that was one and we had a huge, huge garden. always had a big garden and different things. And so on, so forth. Like That, you know. And then my grandmother of course lived on the farm for every Christmas, we got underwear, socks, oranges and apples. And mom and dad always got a 25 pound bag or a 50 pound bag of flour and so much sugar and money for their license tags for their car. Wow. And when my mother died I found so much money for those license tags that she never spent. Really? Yeah. But that’s what grandma would give us. Well, she had all these grand kids, you know? Yeah, coming on and, and different things, but that’s what they would give us. Yeah,
Katy Benson
yeah, cuz I remember them seeing that and the oddest places you’d find some money because nobody put money in banks at that time. Right?
Janice Benson
Right Yeah. Right. Yeah. So that and and we had to, we had to do the garden and we add help take care of it and, and so on and so forth and then find my mom and dad was born on poor before when they first were married and and my brother was born. They lived on Albion road, in between garden and garden, a road or whatever the other road is. But they live what they call them the quarry houses because the Highland stone quarry was right behind there. That was their property. And my dad worked there at the quarry and my brother was born there, but things was tough. You know, gas was high gas was rationed, like yes, like I showed you some ration coupons for gas. Well, then mom had a car but they’re, these little houses did not have garages. Well, somebody was taken his gas at night.
Katy Benson
siphoning his gas
Janice Benson
siphon his gas and he didn’t know who that was. But he found out because the one night is snowed and there was footprints from this. They lived in the first section. They lived in the first house. There was footprints from the second house, to the car and back He found out who he was. And
Katy Benson
What did he do?
Janice Benson
it was Julie Romaker’s grandmother. Wow. Hahaha Yeah. Well anyway so that you know, so it was tough. It was tough. And when they first got married, they lived in a chicken coop.
Katy Benson
In a chicken coop?
Janice Benson
Well, it was. It was a house that they had a wasn’t really a chicken coop, but it was a house they had for the farm help could live. Oh, sure. So that’s where they started. And then they moved over there. Wow. Yeah. And that place is still there, isn’t it?
Katy Benson
Yeah. If you have ictures that’d be kind of cool.
Janice Benson
Well, I don’t know if that that building is there. Put the farm and still there.
Katy Benson
Oh the farm still there.
Janice Benson
Yeah. Neat. Well, we also look into before we started this interview, at their marriage license, they have three separate marriage licenses, two that were from the same date of right, the 28th of August, September, October, sorry, September’s gonna say but, then they have one for the 24th, the 24th of September.
Katy Benson
And I can’t tell which one because one was only good for 60 days. And that was a court one,
Janice Benson
and that says a 28.
Katy Benson
Yeah. So we’re a little baffled on that. But you can’t we don’t know
Janice Benson
but they always celebrated the 24th Because see, my brother was born on their first anniversary.
Katy Benson
Oh, okay.
Janice Benson
And then his my brother’s first wife was born on the 25th of September, and they got married. On that day, yeah,
Katy Benson
who was?
Janice Benson
Aunt Shannon
Katy Benson
Aunt Shannon? So we have the same birthday. Because my is 25th of september too.
Janice Benson
Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah.
Katy Benson
Well, that’s interesting. We’ll have to take a look into that. See if I can find out anything about that. I see who knows. I’m interested. I can’t wait to look.
Janice Benson
Haha. Yeah, but it is silly. You know how you do these things? Yeah And what you’ll find out? Yeah,
Katy Benson
it’s really neat.
Janice Benson
So so well, that’s kind of one of the things that I can think of it or anything else that you can think of maybe that we can talk about or I always like to ask these real quick random questions just because I find that fun. What’s your favorite color? For what? What’s your favorite color? Well Blue Blue
Katy Benson
That is my favorite color. Blue. What’s your favorite food? or snack?
Janice Benson
or snack? Oh, I don’t know.
Katy Benson
No. Do you have any places like a favorite restaurant? If you could just go, this would be where you’d go.
Janice Benson
Let’s see. Where would I go? Not really. I guess um
Katy Benson
nowhere in particular, but you like salmon? You like salmon? Yeah. You told me you would have salmon anytime.
Janice Benson
Yeah. when I traveled. You know? This is crazy. Anyway, when I travel. I like to go and eat something I hadn’t ate before.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah, me too.
Janice Benson
Like when we was in Australia, yeah, they had kangaroo and Hello, all this other kind of stuff. So some of them women so they would eat chicken.When you’re here, you eat
Katy Benson
you experience the culture.
Janice Benson
Yeah. And when I would go on a cruise and Aunt Jenny would always say to me, now you’re not going in the kitchen. I like to go in the kitchens, you know? Cuz. And so I told her I said, I know I’m not going in the kitchen. I’ll stay out of the kitchen. She said, that’s good. I said, Yeah, because I’ve already been in one. But when I went off to Fiji, and help with that wedding, and I went in the kitchen, they got hot. I would go there and eat again.
Katy Benson
Oh, yeah.
Janice Benson
I would go there and eat again? Yeah, so many different places.
Katy Benson
Yeah. Speaking of kitchens real quick. You used to work for whitewater retreat out here. How many years? Did you actually work there?
Janice Benson
15
Katy Benson
15 Wow, that 15 years
Janice Benson
pretty sure it was 15. Yeah. Yeah. And I met a lot of wonderful people there.
Katy Benson
And you, you were just basically in charge of kitchen and whatever you wanted to do.
Janice Benson
When I went there, I told him, I said, Oh, my friend told me they wanted to want to cook and I said, Well, I went and told him I said, I’ve never cooked for this many people. But I said, I’ve cooked all this lifetime. So I said, All you got to do it. Just make more. Yeah. Which is true. You know, but yeah, I met so many good people. And, and I’m a grandma, I don’t how many kids that really aren’t your grandkids. Everybody calls you grandma. Yeah.
Katy Benson
You know, nothing wrong with that. Yeah. I have a lot of aunts and uncles and grandparents. That really aren’t related to either like oh, you know, like mom’s best friend. We’re gonna call her Auntie. Yeah, Auntie Terri. And then, you know, like, Wayne, Wayne and Rita Feather. Call grandma and grandpa feather because, yeah, you know,
Janice Benson
because they took care of your mother or your dad. And Aunt Julie, when we were still coming home from Austria, you know? And that kind of thing.
Katy Benson
So, yeah, so it’s really neat that a lot of people still call you grandma.
Janice Benson
Yeah, they do. You know, like Modi, like Modi. I mean, that’s a well, I’m Chimchaba’s mother. Yeah. Hahaha I’m his mother. And, and whatever, those kinds of things, you know. So and when I went to work, is that still on?
Katy Benson
Yeah, but we can be done. So well, thank you for taking the time and let me listen and We’ll go through some pictures and stuff some time and
Janice Benson
Yeah, thanks. Maybe I get some of those envelopes. Oh yeah,
Katy Benson
I’ll have to look to see if I can get you some more to. Yeah. So well thank you very much for your time!
Janice Benson
when I went to work bye
“It was a pleasure to do this oral history. I got to learn a lot more about my family history and also reminisce about some memories growing up and also hearing some of the stories told again. Thank you Grandma for all your love through the years and I hope to continue to hear more stories in the days, and years to come. I love you!” -Katy Benson
