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Ralph Henry WENGER (b 1897)

Ralph Henry Wenger was born to Edward and Susan Stauffacher Wenger on 11 Jul 1897 in Green County, Wisconsin, the fourth and last of his parent’s four children. Ralph’s mother, Susan Stauffacher (b 1869), was also the daughter of a Swiss immigrant and farmer. Ralph's father, Edward C Wenger (b 1869), the son of a Swiss immigrant and farmer, had become a cheese merchant in Monroe (Green) Wisconsin by the time of Ralph’s birth. Ralph, unlike most of his forebears, was consequently born to life in town and not life on a farm.

In June of 1900, Ralph appeared with his parents and three elder siblings in a household on East Street in Monroe. His age was correctly recorded as age 2. He would only turn three in July of that year.

Ralph’s father Edward died, presumably unexpectedly, at the age of 37 in 1906. His mother was recorded as head of household when the census was taken in 1910. She was unemployed and living on her own income that year. Ralph’s eldest sister, Nelle, then age 18, was working as a bookkeeper in a cheese office. Ralph and his two older siblings William and Maude were in school.

On 21 August 1918, Ralph registered for the World War I draft in Monroe. The record shows that he was age 21, lived at East Street, Monroe, WI, and was born in Monroe on 11 Jul 1898. He also reported that he was employed by Reid Murdoch & Company in Chicago, IL. The draft registration also provides a description: Ralph was 6 feet tall, of medium build, and had blue eyes and dark brown hair. Reid Murdoch & Company was one of the countries largest wholesale grocers. The company was housed in a building at 325 N LaSalle on the riverfront in Chicago. A U.S. Veterans Administration Master Index shows that Ralph entered the military only a few months later, on 18 Dec 1918. By the date of his enlistment, the war had ended, so his service is unlikely to have lasted long.

Two years later, on 23 Jan 1920, the US Census found Ralph, age 22 and single, in his mother’s home at 712 East Street in Monroe. His occupation was recorded as clerk in a cheese office. His elder sister Maude, a newspaper reporter, was also in the household, age 24 and single. Ralph’s elder sister Nelle was married by 1920 and was living with her husband George Stuart in the household of her father-in-law Richard Stuart at 419 N Lybrand Street in Monroe. Ralph’s older brother Will, then age 26 and married, lived just a short distance away in a rented house at 523 East Street. Will was working for the Badger Cheese Company.

On 25 Aug 1926, Ralph married Edith Marie Fritsch. Ralph was age 29; Edith was age 26. I know nothing of how the couple met. By 07 Apr 1930, when the census found the couple living at 803 18th Avenue in Monroe, they had two daughters. Ellen was age two years and 8 months. Ruth was age one year and one month. Ralph owned his home and provided his occupation as manager in a cheese company. He reported that he was a veteran of the World War.

When the census was taken in 1940, the family was at the same address, 803 18th Avenue in Monroe. Twin daughters, Sally and Sue, had been born to the couple in 1938. All four daughters were living at home and the two eldest were in grade school. Ralph reported his occupation as manager of a wholesale cheese company.

Ralph's daughters Ellyn and Ruth, were no longer at home when the 1950 US Census was enumerated in April of that year, but Ralph and Edith were still in the same house at 803 18th Avenue with their two younger daughters, Sallie and Sue..

At some point in the years after 1940, Ralph’s cheese business, Badger-Brodhead, was subsumed by the National Dairy Products Corporation (established 1923) which had acquired J. L. Kraft Bros. & Company in 1930 and would ultimately become Kraft, Inc. in 1976. Ralph became the president of a Monroe bank before his death in 1966.

Ralph died on 27 Mar 1966 in Monroe, Wisconsin. He was buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Sources:

1897 Wisconsin Birth Registration For Ralph H Wenger: Citation: Wisconsin Historical Society. Content: The record shows that Ralph H Wenber was born on 11 July 1897 in Green County, Wisconsin.

1906 Wisconsin Death Record for Edward C Wenger (b c1869): Citation: FamilySearch: Wisconsin, Death Records, 1867-1907, Reference ID 02006, GS Film Number 1310186, Digital Folder Number4207435, Image Number 887. citing Death, Monroe, Green, Wisconsin, Wisconsin State Historical Society. Content: A Wisconsin death record shows that Edward C Wenger, born 03 Jan 1869 in Wisconsin died in 1906 at age 37. He was married and a cheese dealer. His father was Christ Wenger, born Switzerland. His mother was Katherine Wenger, born Switzerland. His spouse was Susana Wenger.

1900 US Census, Household of Edward C Wenger (b 1869): Citation: Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census; Monroe City (Green) Wisconsin; Roll: 1789; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0125; FHL microfilm: 1241789. Content: The 1900 US Census of Monroe City (Green) Wisconsin on 07 Jun 1900 shows dwelling (141/147) on East Street, owned free of mortgage, with houshold composed of (1) Edward C Wenger, head, male, born Jan 1869, age 31, married (10 years), born WI, parents born Switzerland, cheese merchant, can read/write, (2) Susan Wenger, wife, female, born Nov 1869, age 30, married (10 years), 4 children, 4 living, born WI, father born Switzerland, mother born WI, can read/write, (3) Nellie I Wenger, daughter, female, born May 1891, age 9, single, born WI, (4) William E Wenger, son, male, born Mar 1893, age 7, single, born WI, (5) Maude E Wenger, daughter, female, born July 1895, age 4, single, born WI, (6) Ralph H Wenger, son, male, born Jul 1897, age 2, single, born WI. The three older children were in school for nine months.

1910 US Census, Household of Susan Stauffacher Wenger (b c1869): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Year: 1910; Census Place: Monroe Ward 2, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1704; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 1375717. Content: The 1910 US Census of Monroe City (Green) Wisconsin on 20 Apr 1910 shows home (133/134) on East Street, owned mortgage free, with household composed of (1) Susie Wenger, head, female, age 40, widow, 4 children born, 4 children living, born WI, father born Ger[many]/German, mother born WI, own income, (2) Nellie I Wenger, daughter, female, age 18, single, born WI, father born WI, bookeeper in cheese office, wage earner, (3) Willie E Wenger, son, male, age 16, single, born WI, in school, (4) Maud E Wenger, daughter, female, age 14, single, born WI, in school, (5) Ralph H Wenger, son, male, age 11, single, born WI, in school. All members of the household can read and write.

1918 WWI Registration Card for Ralph H Wenger (b 1898): Citation: Ancestry.com: U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 Registration State: Wisconsin; Registration County: Green; Roll: 1674733. Content: A 1918 WWI registration card record for Ralph H Wenger dated 8/21/1918 shows that he was age 21, lived at East Street, Monroe, WI, was born 11 Jul 1898, and was employed by Reid Murdoch & Company in Chicago, IL. His nearest relative is his mother Mrs Ed C Wenger of East Street, Monroe, WI. He was native born, 6 feet tall, medium build, ?weight 150?, had blue eyes and dark brown hair.

Ralph’s marriage to Edith Marie Fritsch: I have not seen a Wisconsin marriage record and so have relied upon information provided in a 18 May 1993 obituary for his wife Edith in the Monroe Evening Times. The obituary states that the marriage was on 25 Aug 1926. The date, likely to have been provided by one of Edith’s daughters, is almost certainly accurate. Although unstated in the obituary, the location of the marriage was probably Monroe (Green) Wisconsin.

Monroe Evening Times, Obituary for Edith M Wenger: Citation: Monroe Evening Times, 18 May 1993, Obituaries. Content: Edith M. Wenger, [age] 93, 803 18th Ave., died Friday, May 14, 1993 at her home. She was born July 25, 1899 in Clarno, the daughter of John Daniel and Augustina (Krueger) Fritsch. She was a graduate of Monroe High School, Green County Normal and Milwaukee State Teachers College. She married Ralph H. Wenger [on] Aug. 25, 1926. Mrs. Wenger taught at Lavoratory School, Milwaukee State Teachers College, Bethel School in Green County and East School, Monroe. She was a member of the United Methodist Church of Monroe, Eastern Star St. Omar Chapter 90, Lida Ludlow Reading Club, American Legion Auxiliary, Green County Retired Teachers Association, Monroe Country Club and Monroe Womans Club. Survivors include four daughters, Ellyn Sammis, Huntington, Long Island, N.Y., Mrs. Harlan (Ruth) Hansen, Minneapolis, Minn., Sally Calame, Broomfield, Colorado and Sue Wenger, Denver, Colorado; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph, in 1966; seven brothers, John, George, Edward, William, Emil, Albert and Frank; and three sisters, Ella Chesebro, Lydia Miller and Mabel Stelzer. ... Burial is in Greenwood Cemetery, Monroe.

1920 US Census, Household of Susan Stauffacher Wenger (b 1869): Citation: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Year: 1920; Census Place: Monroe Ward 2, Green, Wisconsin; Roll T625_1986; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 140; Image: 358. Content: The 1920 US Census of Monroe (Green) WI enumerated on 23 Jan 1920 shows home(148/152) at 712 East Street, owned free of mortgage, with household composed of (1) Susan Wenger, head, male (sic), age 50, widow, can read/write, born in WI, both parents born in Switzerland, no occupation,(2) Maude Wenger, daughter, female, age 24, single, can read/write, born in WI, a newpaper reporter, (3) Ralph Wenger, son, male, age 22, single, born in WI, clerk in a cheese office.

1930 US Census, Household of Ralph H Wenger (b 1897): Citation: Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Monroe, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: 2575; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0014; Image: 12.0; FHL microfilm: 2342309. Content: The 1930 US Census of Monroe Twnship, Green County, Wisconsin on 07 Jul 1930 shows dwelling (161/162) at 803 18th Avenue, owned and valued at $9000 with radio, with a household composed of (1) Ralph H Wenger, head, male, age 32, married, age 29 at first marriage, born Wisconsin, parents born Wisconsin, citizen, manager of a cheese company, wage earner, veteran of WW[I], (2)Edith M Wenger, wife, famale, age 29, married, 26 at first marriage, born Wisconsin, father born Wisconsin, mother born Germany, (3) Ellen J Wenger, daughter, female, age 2 years 8 months, single, born Wisconsin, (4) Ruth M Wenger, daughter, female, age 1 year 1 month, single, born Wisconsin, (5) Frances Unger, servant, female, age 20, single, born Wisconsin, father born Germany, mother born Wisconsin, servant for private family, wage earner.

1940 US Census, Household of Ralph H Wenger (b 1897): Citation: Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census; Census Place: Monroe, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: T627_4482; Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 23-14. Content: The 1940 US Census of Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin on 30 Apr 1940 shows home 270 at 803 18th Avenue, owned and valued at $6000, with a household composed of (1) Ralph H Wenger, head, male, age 42, married, 4 yrs of high school, born Wisconsin, same home 5 yrs ago, manager of a wholesale cheese company, paid work, worked 52 wks last year, income of $5000+, has other sources of income as well, (2) Edith M Wenger, wife, female, age 39, married, 2 years of college, born Wisconsin, same home 5 yrs ago, housework, no income, no other sources of income, (3) Ellen J Wenger, daughter, female, age 12, single, 6th grade, born Wisconsin, (4) Ruth M Wenger, daughter, female, age 11, single, 5th grade, born Wisconsin, (5) Sally A Wenger, daughter, female, age 2, single, born Wisconsin, (6) Sue A Wenger, daughter, female, age 2, single, born Wisconsin.

1950 US Census, Household of Ralph H Wenger (b 1897): Citation: United States of America, Bureau of the Census; Washington, D.C.; Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Monroe, Green, Wisconsin; Roll: 893; Sheet Number: 23; Enumeration District: 23-17 Content: The 1950 US Census of Monroe (Green) Wisconsin on 19 Apr 1950 lists dwelling 263 at 803 18th Avenue with a household composed of (1) Ralph H Wenger, head, white, male, age 52, married, born Wisconsin, worked 40 hrs last week as a wholesale cheese buyer, own business, (2) Edith Wenger, wife, white, female, age 49, married, born Wisconsin, housework, (3) Sally Ann Wenger, daughter, white, female, age 12, never married, born Wisconsin, (4) Sue Ann Wenger, daughter, white, female, age 12, never married, born Wisconsin, attended seventh grade in school.

Wisconsin Death Index record for Ralph H Wenger: Citation: Ancestry.com. Wisconsin Death Index, 1959-1997 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007. Content: A Wisconsin death index record shows that Ralph H Wenger, age 68, died on 27 Mar 1966 in Monroe [Green County, Wisconsin]

Find a Grave Memorial 159160322 for Ralph H Wenber (b 1897).