Family Group Sheet
NameBenton Clay Quesenberry, 3C3R
Birth18 Oct 1880, Willis, Floyd Co., Virginia
Death22 Apr 1963, San Joaquin Co., California
FatherWilliam Henry Clay Quesenberry (1842-1898)
MotherEva Jane Slusher (1842-1938)
Other spousesRose Louise Lutgerding
Marriageabt 1922 (?)
SpouseClara A.
Birthabt 1881, Iowa
Notes for Benton Clay Quesenberry
His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Benton Clay Quessenberry, age 37, residence R.R. 4, Box 98, Lodi, San Joaquin Co., California, born 18 Oct 1880, occupation farming & stock, self-employed, nearest relative Mrs. Rose Louisa Quessenberry, same address.
His WW II draft registration card, filed 27 April 1942, records Benton Clay Quessenberry, age 58, residence 121 S. Stanislaus St., Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California, born 18 Oct 1883 in Willis, Virginia, contact Mrs. J. F. Lehman, Rte. 3, Box 345, Lodi, Calif, employer Motor Depot, Port Stockton, CA.
The SSDI lists Benton Quessenberry, born 18 Oct 1880, died Apr 1963, SSN issued in California in 1952.
The California death index lists Benton C. Quesenberry, born 18 Oct 1880 in Virginia, died 22 April 1963 in San Joaquin Co.
His WW II draft registration card, filed 27 April 1942, records Benton Clay Quessenberry, age 58, residence 121 S. Stanislaus St., Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California, born 18 Oct 1883 in Willis, Virginia, contact Mrs. J. F. Lehman, Rte. 3, Box 345, Lodi, Calif, employer Motor Depot, Port Stockton, CA.
The SSDI lists Benton Quessenberry, born 18 Oct 1880, died Apr 1963, SSN issued in California in 1952.
The California death index lists Benton C. Quesenberry, born 18 Oct 1880 in Virginia, died 22 April 1963 in San Joaquin Co.
Census
1910 census of San Joaquin Co., California, Elkhorn township, enumerated 13 May, lists on p. 12A as family #282/283:
Quessenbury, Benton C., 29, b. Va Va Va, farmer; Rose L., wife, 24, b. Missouri Germany Illinois, first marriage for both, married 8 years, mother of 3 children, 3 living; Verna, dau, 7; Sylvester C., son, 6; Lydia M., dau, 4. All children born Arizona Va Missouri. Edwards, Ben W., hired man, 19, single, b. Ca Ca Ky.
1920 census of San Joaquin Co., California, Elkhorn township, enumerated 16 Feb, lists on p. 19A as family #395/445:
Quessenberry, Benton C., 39, b. Va Va Va, stock dealer; Louise, wife, 36, b. Mo Hanover, Germany Indiana; Clay, son, 16, b. Az Va Mo; Lydia, dau, 14, b. Az Va Mo.
There are two records in the 1930 census that both appear to be this Benton, with different wives. (I cannot find two Benton C. Quesenberry’s in any other census year or in vital stats.)
1930 census of Imperial Co., California, El Centro township, enumerated 2 April, lists on p. 1A as family #2:
Quessenberry, Benton C., 45, age at first marriage 21, b. Va US US, livestock dealer; Clara A., wife, 49, age at first marriage 41, b. Iowa Illinois Iowa.
Note that El Centro was where Virginia, daughter of Benton C. Ques(s)enberry and Ruth Gustine, was born in 1932, which is another bit of supporting evidence that this is the same person. It would be too much of a coincidence for there to be two different Benton C. Ques(s)enberry’s born in Virginia and living in El Centro, CA in 1930-1932.
1930 census of Los Angeles Co., California, San Antonia township, town of Maywood, enumerated 3 April, lists on p. 2A as family #12/31:
Quessenberry, B. C., 47, livestock dealer, b. Va Va Va; Rutha, wife, 35, age at first marriage 18, b. Minn U.S. U.S.
Meanwhile, Rose is recorded in Lodi with their son Sylvester, and she is listed as married, not divorced (see her census notes.)
1940 census of San Joaquin Co., California, Elkhorn township, ED 39-25, enumerated 16 April, lists on p. 8A as family #170, on Hogan Lane:
Quesenberry, Benton, 60, b. Virginia, farm laborer; Ruth, wife, 45, b. Minnesota; Douglass, Donald D., stepson, 25, b. Montana, single, stone mason; Quesenberry, Virgina, dau, 7, b. California. All living in Manteca, San Joaquin Co., California.
Quessenbury, Benton C., 29, b. Va Va Va, farmer; Rose L., wife, 24, b. Missouri Germany Illinois, first marriage for both, married 8 years, mother of 3 children, 3 living; Verna, dau, 7; Sylvester C., son, 6; Lydia M., dau, 4. All children born Arizona Va Missouri. Edwards, Ben W., hired man, 19, single, b. Ca Ca Ky.
1920 census of San Joaquin Co., California, Elkhorn township, enumerated 16 Feb, lists on p. 19A as family #395/445:
Quessenberry, Benton C., 39, b. Va Va Va, stock dealer; Louise, wife, 36, b. Mo Hanover, Germany Indiana; Clay, son, 16, b. Az Va Mo; Lydia, dau, 14, b. Az Va Mo.
There are two records in the 1930 census that both appear to be this Benton, with different wives. (I cannot find two Benton C. Quesenberry’s in any other census year or in vital stats.)
1930 census of Imperial Co., California, El Centro township, enumerated 2 April, lists on p. 1A as family #2:
Quessenberry, Benton C., 45, age at first marriage 21, b. Va US US, livestock dealer; Clara A., wife, 49, age at first marriage 41, b. Iowa Illinois Iowa.
Note that El Centro was where Virginia, daughter of Benton C. Ques(s)enberry and Ruth Gustine, was born in 1932, which is another bit of supporting evidence that this is the same person. It would be too much of a coincidence for there to be two different Benton C. Ques(s)enberry’s born in Virginia and living in El Centro, CA in 1930-1932.
1930 census of Los Angeles Co., California, San Antonia township, town of Maywood, enumerated 3 April, lists on p. 2A as family #12/31:
Quessenberry, B. C., 47, livestock dealer, b. Va Va Va; Rutha, wife, 35, age at first marriage 18, b. Minn U.S. U.S.
Meanwhile, Rose is recorded in Lodi with their son Sylvester, and she is listed as married, not divorced (see her census notes.)
1940 census of San Joaquin Co., California, Elkhorn township, ED 39-25, enumerated 16 April, lists on p. 8A as family #170, on Hogan Lane:
Quesenberry, Benton, 60, b. Virginia, farm laborer; Ruth, wife, 45, b. Minnesota; Douglass, Donald D., stepson, 25, b. Montana, single, stone mason; Quesenberry, Virgina, dau, 7, b. California. All living in Manteca, San Joaquin Co., California.
Notes for Benton Clay & Clara A. (Family)
This may not be a real marriage. Benton was recorded in the 1930 census in two locations with two different “wives”, see his census notes. Unless he was a bigamist, at least one of those was an unmarried relationship. The speculative marriage date of about 1922 is based on the 1930 census, where Clara was recorded as age 49 with her first marriage at age 41. The question mark is because that first marriage may have been to a different husband.
