The Benninghoff Family of Bradford, Pennsylvania

The Benninghoffs of Bradford, Pennsylvania, descend through four generations in the United States from an old and honored family of Germany, seated there for centuries. The American ancestor, whose Christian name is unknown, was born in Wittemburg, Germany, died in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, removing thence from Lehigh county, same state. He married, and among his children were Frederick, of whom further, and George, who, tradition says, went west. There is a family of the name in Tiffin, Ohio, and another in St. Louis, Missouri, who are probably descendants of George Benninghoff.

(II) Frederick Benninghoff

Frederick Benninghoff was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, in 1760, died in Venango county, Pennsylvania, in August, 1856. Between the years 1810 and 1812 he removed to Union county, Pennsylvania, about 1828 removed to Clearfield county, and between the years 1830 and 1832 removed to Venango county, where he spent the remainder of his days. For several years prior to his death he resided with his son John. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and a man of strict integrity and upright character. He married and among his children was John, see forward.

(III) John Benninghoff

John, son of Frederick Benninghoff, was born in Lehigh county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1801, died in Greenville, Mercer county, Pennsylvania, March 20, 1882, and is buried in the family lot in Shenango Valley cemetery. He accompanied his father to Union, Clearfield and Venango counties, Pennsylvania. In the latter-named county he rented a farm known as the Henry farm, a mile or two west of Cherrytree, where he resided for several years, and then purchased what is known as the Benninghoff Oil Farm, which he sold in 1868 and removed to Greenville, where the remainder of his life was spent. He was a man of wealth and became the victim of the “Great Benninghoff Robbery,” which is recorded among the great crimes of Pennsylvania. His farm of three hundred acres was located on the famous Oil Creek. An oil well was drilled on his farm which, starting off with three hundred barrels daily, produced great excitement, and he was besieged by operators to whom he leased one and two acre lots, receiving a bonus and one-fourth royalty. He soon became one of the richest men in the oil region, and having no faith in banks in this neighborhood had transferred his funds to New York and Pittsburgh banks; the amount in his private bank was there only waiting such time as it could be transferred to the other banks. He and his son Joseph had each purchased an iron safe in which they placed their money prior to removal to banks. Mr. Benninghoff was warned of the danger of this, but would not pay heed, although he did place a night watchman on the premises with orders to admit no one to the house after dark except members of the family. Notwithstanding this precaution the house was entered on the night of January 16, 1868, the old man bound, the safe broken open and robbed of a large sum, which was carried away in two pillow cases. The amount stolen has been variously stated at from two to five hundred thousand dollars, the former amount being correct. Three of the criminals were found, tried and convicted. Saeger, the chief of the gang, however, never suffered the penalty of his crime. Although badly beaten in his fight with the thieves, Mr. Benninghoff was not seriously injured, and the following year removed to Greenville, as stated.

Mr. Benninghoff married, in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1823-24, Elizabeth Heise, of Hartleton, Union county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Martin and Mary (Wagoner) Heise, who were married in 1799, and whose children were:

1. George, born February 12, 1800.
2. Joseph, February 22, 1802.
3. Elizabeth, mentioned above, November 5, 1804.
4. Patience, March 27, 1806.
5. Martin, May 31, 1808.
6. Polly, May 5, 1810, died in infancy.
7. Christina, August 3, 1812.
8. John, June 26, 1815, died in infancy.
9. Catherine, August 10, 1817.
10. Sarah, February 1, 1819.
11. Solomon, July 7, 1821.
12. Mary, April 5, 1823.
13. John, May 4, 1825.

Martin Heise, father of these children, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, 1760, died in the fall of 1867, in his one hundred and seventh year; he was a cooper by trade and worked in Philadelphia during the revolutionary war; his first vote was cast for George Washington, and his last for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, and it is said the only time he rode in a buggy was when he went to the polls to vote for Mr. Lincoln when he was one hundred and four years old. He had two brothers, George and Solomon, the former of whom lived in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, and the latter was a well-to-do farmer in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His wife was a native of England.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Benninghoff

1. George, of whom further.
2. Charles, married Sarah Yates; died March 10, 1890.
3. Martin, married Mary Gehring; died March 3, 1898.
4. Amelia, married Jacob Gehring; died March 28, 1882.
5. Elizabeth, married Sproul Howe, now deceased.
6. John E., married Julia Gehring; died March 11, 1888.
7. Catherine, married Horace Duke; died April 9, 1883.
8. Frederick, married Julia Holmes; he died March 15, 1907; his widow survives him, a resident of Greenville, Pennsylvania.
9. Mary Jane, married Eli J. Keep, who resides at Fairview, Pennsylvania; she died January 18, 1898.
10. Jeremy, died April 3, 1903; his widow resides in Leon, Kansas.
11. Joseph, an attorney-at-law, residing in Greenville, Pennsylvania.
12. Milton, died February 11, 1909; his widow resides near Rochester, New York.

John Benninghoff and his wife were members of the Lutheran church, and were faithful, consistent Christians. Mrs. Benninghoff died July 26, 1872, buried in the family lot in Shenango Valley cemetery.

(IV) George Benninghoff

George, son of John Benninghoff, was born in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and was accidentally killed at Meadville, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1909. He was but a youth when his parents moved to Venango county, where his after life was spent. He engaged in farming after completing his studies in the Venango county schools, and later in the production of oil. He was successful in his business operations, and became one of the substantial men of his township. He was a director of the Benninghoff Oil Company, and interested in other enterprises in the oil country. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and a Republican in politics. He married Julia, born in Cherrytree township, 1830, died February, 1893, daughter of John and (Stevenson) Baney; John Baney was a farmer of Cherrytree township during the greater part of his life, was a member of the Presbyterian church, as was also his wife, and died in 1886, aged ninety-eight years.

Children of Mr. and Mrs. Benninghoff, born in Cherrytree township, Venango county, Pennsylvania

1. Minnie, born November, 1849; married E. L. Affantranger, of Meadville, deceased.
   1. Nellie, married (first) Joseph Bowes, (second) ——.
2. Lewis Nelson, born 1850, married Mary McClintock.
   1. Harry, now in Japan.
   2. Homer.
   3. Comer.
   4. Three others.
3. Livingston, born 1852, deceased; married Emma Cole.
   1. George.
   2. Norman.
   3. A daughter.
4. George Edward, of whom further.
5. Julia Minerva, born November, 1863, married Charles E. Morgan, of Meadville; one child.

(V) Dr. George Edward Benninghoff

Dr. George Edward Benninghoff, son of George Benninghoff, was born in Cherrytree township, Venango county, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1854. His early education was obtained in the public schools of the township; at the age of thirteen he went to Meadville and attended the schools of that city for two years, and the following year he was a student at Chamberlain Institute, Randolph, New York. He then entered Oberlin College, (Ohio), remaining one year. Deciding upon the profession of medicine, he entered the Western Reserve Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1879. He then located in Bradford, and is now (1912) firmly established in that city in a lucrative practice. He makes a specialty of surgical cases, and is a most skillful and successful practitioner. He is sought for in consultation, having the confidence of his brethren of the profession to a marked degree. He is a member of the state and county medical societies and other professional, social and fraternal organizations. He belongs to Lodge, Chapter, Council, Commandery and Shrine of the Masonic order; the Bradford Club, Merchants’ Club, Lafayette Gun and Fishing Club and the Country Club, all of Bradford. He is a Republican in politics, and since 1883 has been president of the United States pension board excepting four years under President Cleveland’s second administration.

Dr. Benninghoff married, January 1, 1880, Nancy Jane, born September 1, 1858, in Monterey, Pennsylvania, daughter of James McKee and Priscilla (Sheppard) Hogan, and granddaughter of James and Lydia (McKee) Hogan. James Hogan was born in 1774, died in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1846; his wife was born in 1784, died July 31, 1855. James McKee Hogan was born in West Monterey, Clarion county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1818, died March 24, 1905; his wife was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania.

Children of Dr. and Mrs. Benninghoff

1. Walter Garrett, born September 1, 1887, died March 28, 1903.
2. Julia, born in Bradford, September 3, 1893, now a student of the Colonial School, Washington, D. C.

See: Genealogy of the Allegheny Valley Pennsylvania

Source

Jordan, J. W. 1840-1921. (1913). Genealogical and personal history of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania. New York: Lewis Historical Pub. Co.

This genealogy is based upon the source cited above. Only the structure and formatting have been changed for clearer presentation; the genealogical and biographical content