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Josephine Kolmer-Benitz | Page last modified: |
Josephine was born Josefa Kollmerer)xxxx. She was a three year old child when her parents emigrated from Endingen (in the Grand Duchy of Baden) to North Carolina in the States. Etc...
Parents, Childhood, Wagon Train
Marriage & Kids: FRoss, Oakland, Arg.
Life after William
Camisa vieja
Years | Ages | Event |
1830 | - | Born Josefa Kollmerer, 6 January, Endingen, Baden; parents: Michael Kolmer & Josefa Wagner. |
’33 | 3 | Family emigrates to U.S. |
’36 | 6 | Brother John Kolmer is born in North Carolina. |
’38 | 8 | Sister Caroline Kolmer is born in North Carolina. |
ca.’40 | 7 | Family moves to St. Louis, Missouri. |
’45 | 15 | Family emigrates by wagon train from St. Joseph, Missouri, to New Helvetia, California (amongst first ever to do so). |
’46 | 16 | At Ft.Ross, marries 31 year-old William Benitz (marriage registered Feb.’47). |
’46-50 | 16-20 | At Ft.Ross, first 3 children die, 2 tragically (names & dates unknown). |
’50-63 | 20-33 | At Ft.Ross, 7 more children born: Frank’50, Josephine’52, William’54, Charles’56, Alfred’59, John’61, Herman’63. They all reach adulthood. |
’55 | 25 | Sister Caroline marrries William “Dutch Bill” Howard. |
’58 | 28 | Father dies (Michael Kolmer), buried in Timber Cove. |
’65 | 35 | Mother dies (Josephine Wagner/Kolmer), buried in Timber Cove. |
’65-67 | 35-37 | Family moves from Fort Ross to new home in Oakland, at 320 Webster. |
’74 | 44 | Entire family emigrates to Argentina. |
’75 | 45 | Sets up home at estancia La California, 30km. north of Cañada de Gómez, Santa Fé. |
’76 | 46 | June: Husband, William Benitz, dies. She assumes leadership of the family. |
’76 | 46 | Sep.: Eldest son Frank abandons the family to make his own way. |
’77 | 47 | Apr.: Son Charlie dies, Cañada de Gómez, Santa Fé. |
’78 | 48 | July: She co-signs first note for son Frank, unwisely backing his risky ventures. |
’78 | 48 | Nov.: Daughter Josephine finds happiness when she marries John Schreiber, of Hamburg. They marry at La California. They go to live in Rosario then B.A. |
’80 | 50 | May: She must settle a note son Frank is unable to pay. |
’80 | 50 | Oct.: Brother-in-law Franz X. Benitz (Uncle Frank) dies, at La California. |
’81 | 51 | Feb.: La Independencia, ¼ of La California, is sold to cover son Frank’s notes. |
’81 | 51 | Feb.: Son Willie marries Clara E. Allyn in Corsicana, Texas. |
’81 | 51 | Aug.: Son Frank marries Elisa Bichsel at La California. |
’81 | 51 | Nov.: Son Frank drowns fording Rio Toba west of Alejandra, Santa Fé. His widow, Elisa Bichsel, goes to live at La California. |
’81-82 | 51-52 | Sons Willie, Alfred, & Johnnie assume control of the family enterprise. |
’82 | 52 | June: Sister Caroline Kolmer / Howard dies, at Occidental, California. |
’82 | 52 | Son Willie leaves La California, becomes an estancia manager in Entre Rios. |
’84 | 54 | Son Alfred leaves La California to establish a second estancia for the family, at Laguna Yacaré, on Frank's failed Colonia Espín, west of Alejandra, Santa Fé. |
’84 | 54 | Elisa, Frank’s widow, leaves complaining of mistreatment. (Note: Elisa was the third young woman glad to leave La California. Josephine’s daughter (Josephine) found happiness leaving via marriage; & daughter-in-law Clara Allyn left with husband William O. Benitz after only a very short while at La California though, as the eldest son, William would almost certainly have been its manager.) |
’90 | 60 | Brother John Kolmer is murdered, Timber Cove, California. |
’92 | 62 | Son Johnnie marries Marjorie M. Macintosh. |
’93 | 63 | Youngest son, Herman, dies tragically while on holiday at Mar del Plata, Bs.As. |
’98-99 | 68-69 | 18 March ‘98: Travels to England & U.S.; in California visits: Oakland, San Francisco, Fort Ross, Timber Cove, & Olompali. Returns: June 1899. |
’99 | 69 | Johnnie & Marjorie go to live at Los Algarrobos; Willie & Clara return to La California. |
’09 | 79 | Moves into Villa Josefina, her home in Cruz Grande, Córdoba. |
’10 | 80 | Celebrates her 80th birthday. |
’11 | 81 | Son Willie dies in Corsicana, Texas. |
’12 | 82 | Dies 20 Aug. at Villa Josefina; is buried at La California, Las Rosas, Santa Fé. |
© Peter Benitz (Benitz Family)