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 1930
SpouseRuth Hohl Gustine
Birthabt 1895, Minnesota
Death14 Nov 1978, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California
FatherLevi Sexton Gustine (1855-1939)
MotherLydia Jane “Jennie” Burch (1854-1916)
Other spousesRedmond C. Douglass
Children
1 FVirginia Dawn Quesenberry , 4C2R (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
SpouseWilliam E. Tout
SpouseThomas Allen Downs (Data Omitted for Privacy)*
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 Ruth Hohl Gustine
Her obituary in the Stockton reported:
“QUESENBERRY - In Stockton, Ca., November 14, 1978. Ruth Quesenberry, wife of the late Benton C. Quesenberry. Loving mother of Donald Douglass of Sutter Creek and Virginia Tout of Stockton and the late Leona Christenson. Grandmother of Shane Keven and Patsy Tout. A member of the Rainbow Rebecca Lodge and the Neighbors of Woodcraft. A native of Minnesota. Friends are invited to attend funeral services Friday, November 17, 1978 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of B. C. Wallace & Son, 520 N. Sutter St. Committal at Park View Cemetery.”
“QUESENBERRY - In Stockton, Ca., November 14, 1978. Ruth Quesenberry, wife of the late Benton C. Quesenberry. Loving mother of Donald Douglass of Sutter Creek and Virginia Tout of Stockton and the late Leona Christenson. Grandmother of Shane Keven and Patsy Tout. A member of the Rainbow Rebecca Lodge and the Neighbors of Woodcraft. A native of Minnesota. Friends are invited to attend funeral services Friday, November 17, 1978 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of B. C. Wallace & Son, 520 N. Sutter St. Committal at Park View Cemetery.”
