Harry William Fenker1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 14328, (1892 - 1967)
FatherFriedrich August Fenker4,5,6,7 (20 Sep 1862 - 22 Nov 1936)
MotherFriederike Luise Wilhelmine Schlüter4,8,9,10 (20 Mar 1865 - 1908)

Key Events:

Birth: 10 Dec 1892, Norwood, Ohio11,12,13
Marriage: 1 Jan 1916, Newport, Campbell Co., Kentucky, Clara Marie Ketterer (10 Mar 1892 - 18 Mar 1970)14,15
Divorce: before 1927, Clara Marie Ketterer (10 Mar 1892 - 18 Mar 1970)16,17
Marriage: 28 Dec 1927, Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California, Myrtle Agnes Harden (3 Jul 1892 - 28 Jul 1945)18,19,20
Marriage: before 1954, Mable Clarice Price (7 Feb 1901 - 2 Dec 1970)21,22,23
Death: 22 Aug 1967, Luray, Page Co., Virginia7,24
Burial: Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Luray, Page Co., Virginia25,26
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker
AncestryThe Fenker Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Harry William Fenker was born on 10 Dec 1892 in Norwood, Ohio.11,12,13
     He appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Pleasant Ridge, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of his parents, Friedrick A. Fenker and Friederike Luise Wilhelmine Schlüter.4
     His mother died in 1908, when Harry was about 16 Years old.27,28,29
     He appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Pleasant Ridge, Hamilton Co., Ohio, in the household of his father, Friedrick A. Fenker.5
     Harry married first Clara Marie Ketterer, daughter of Peter Joseph Ketterer and Anna M. Schmidt, on 1 Jan 1916 in Newport, Campbell Co., Kentucky, with Thomas Gerching, justice of the peace, officiating.14,15
     He was a driver at the time of his first marriage.30 He registered for the draft for World War I on 5 Jun 1917, while living at 601 Fairfield Ave., Campbell Co., Kentucky, reporting he was employed as a chauffeur for Kroger Grocery and Bakery Co. in Cincinnati.2
     Harry and Clara appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Bellevue, Campbell Co., Kentucky, at 127 Retreat St., enumerated 7 Jan 1920, reporting that the family rented its home. Their daughter Edith and her daughter by her previous marriage, Orma, were listed as living with them.31
     He was a driver for a milk company by 1920.32,33

Seeking a New Life in California --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Harry moved to California sometime between 1920 and 1927, when he was shown as a resident of Los Angeles when he applied for a license for his second marriage.34
     Harry and Clara were apparently divorced before 1927, when he remarried, though no record of their divorce has been found.16,17
     Harry married second Myrtle Agnes Harden, daughter of John W. Harden and Elizabeth Baughn, on 28 Dec 1927 in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., California, with Albert C. Parker, justice of the peace, officiating.18,19,20
     Harry and Myrtle lived briefly in Pittsburg, Contra Costa Co., California, after their marriage, before returning to Los Angeles.35 They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 181 West 36 Place, enumerated 3 Apr 1930, reporting they rented their home, for $40 per month, and did not own a radio.36
     Harry and Myrtle appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., California, at 147 1/2 W 38 St., enumerated 2 Apr 1940, reporting they rented their home, for $25.00 per month, and that they had lived in the same city in 1935.37
     By 1938 he was listed in the city directory as a foreman for Borden Dairy Delivery Co., But he was listed in the 1940 census as a driver for a milk company, reporting he had worked 54 hours the last week of March, and 52 weeks the prior year, earning $2,200.38,39,40
     Harry registered for the draft for World War II on 26 Apr 1942, while living at 1160 W. Silver Lake Dr., Los Angeles, California, reporting he was employed by Golden State Creamery in Los Angeles.41
     His second wife died on 28 Jul 1945 in Jackson Co., Oregon.42
     He changed the spelling of his surname to Finker, gradually, it seems. That spelling appears in the 1930 census, but not in the city directory until 1938, and the original spelling appears in the 1940 census and his World War II draft card. By the time of his death he seems to have made the new spelling permanent. Both his death certificate and the tombstone for him and his third wife used it.36,43,37,41,7,44

A Third Marriage --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---


     Harry married third Mable Clarice Price, daughter of Edward William Price and Maggie Elizabeth Smith, before 1954.21,22,23
     Harry and Mable lived in Los Angeles for a time after their marriage, living at 4270 Kansas Ave. about 1954. Whether she came to California because he lived there, or came earlier and met him there, is unknown.21
     Harry and Mable moved to Virginia, her home state, at some point, but when is unknown. No record has been found of them there before their deaths. But it seems likely they moved in the late 1950's, as they do not appear in the California voter registration lists after 1956.45
     Harry's death certificate shows his occupation as retired dairy farmer. No record of where he was farming has been found, but it seems likely after they moved to Virginia.40
     Harry died on 22 Aug 1967 in Luray, Page Co., Virginia, at age 74.7,24 He was buried in Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Luray, Page Co., Virginia.25,26

Children:
     Child with Clara Marie Ketterer:

Children:
     There were no children with Myrtle Agnes Harden

Children:
     There were no children with Mable Clarice Price

Citations

  1. [S480] Frederick Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows name as Henry Fenker.
  2. [S10730] Harry William Fenker, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918.
  3. [S9234] Marriage License and Return, Campbell Co., Kentucky, 89:412, Harry W. Fenker and Clara Kimmich.
  4. [S480] Frederick Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  5. [S493] Frederick H. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio.
  6. [S1309] Marriage Licenses, San Joaquin Co., California, 52:113, no, 20257, Harry W Fenker and Myrtle Harden.
  7. [S10737] Harry William Finker, Certificate of Death.
  8. [S10373] Reis, "Re: My List of Know Fenkers," e-mail to author (100), 1 Feb 2001.
  9. [S1309] Marriage Licenses, San Joaquin Co., California, 52:113, no, 20257, Harry W Fenker and Myrtle Harden, shows mother as Crystal Matheny.
  10. [S10737] Harry William Finker, Certificate of Death, shows his mother as Crystal Mathmey.
  11. [S480] Frederick Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows month and year, age 7, and state.
  12. [S493] Frederick H. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows age 17 and state.
  13. [S10730] Harry William Fenker, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, shows date, city, and state.
  14. [S9234] Marriage License and Return, Campbell Co., Kentucky, 89:412, Harry W. Fenker and Clara Kimmich, shows date, city, county, state, and officiant.
  15. [S2703] Harry Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., Kentucky, shows married.
  16. [S1309] Marriage Licenses, San Joaquin Co., California, 52:113, no, 20257, Harry W Fenker and Myrtle Harden, shows they married 28 Dec 1927.
  17. [S10724] Clara Kimmich household, 1930 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., Kentucky, shows her as widowed, which was not uncommonly reported by divorced persons to avoid admitting a divorce, and using her first married name.
  18. [S1309] Marriage Licenses, San Joaquin Co., California, 52:113, no, 20257, Harry W Fenker and Myrtle Harden, shows date, town, and officiant.
  19. [S10736] Harry Finker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows married, with his age at first marriage as 35, and hers as 35.
  20. [S10735] Harry Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows married.
  21. [S6249] Great Register, California, 1954, Los Angeles Co., Los Angeles City precinct no. 452, Finker, Harry W. and Mrs. Mabel C, both at 4270 Kansas Ave.
  22. [S10737] Harry William Finker, Certificate of Death, shows her as his wife.
  23. [S10738] Mable Clara Finker, Certificate of Death, shows him as her late husband.
  24. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 48502916, Harry William Finker, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  25. [S10737] Harry William Finker, Certificate of Death, shows cemetery, city, and state.
  26. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 48502916, Harry William Finker, includes tombstone photo.
  27. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 64525174, Friederike Luise Wilhelmine Schlater Fenker, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  28. [S493] Frederick H. Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Hamilton Co., Ohio, shows her husband as a widower.
  29. [S313] Frederick A. Fenker, Certificate of Death, shows he was a widower.
  30. [S9234] Marriage License and Return, Campbell Co., Kentucky, 89:412, Harry W. Fenker and Clara Kimmich, shows occupation as driver.
  31. [S2703] Harry Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., Kentucky.
  32. [S2703] Harry Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Campbell Co., Kentucky, shows occupation as driver and industry as milk co.
  33. [S10736] Harry Finker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as truck driver and industry as dairy.
  34. [S1309] Marriage Licenses, San Joaquin Co., California, 52:113, no, 20257, Harry W Fenker and Myrtle Harden, shows him as a resident of Los Angeles, California.
  35. [S6249] Great Register, California, 1928, Contra Costa Co., Pittsburg precinct no. 10, Fenker, Harry W. and Mrs. Myrtle A., shows both at box 623, Pittsburg.
  36. [S10736] Harry Finker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  37. [S10735] Harry Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California.
  38. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1938, pg 697, shows occupation as formn Borden Dairy Del Co.
  39. [S10735] Harry Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Los Angeles Co., California, shows occupation as truck driver and industry as wholesale dairy.
  40. [S10737] Harry William Finker, Certificate of Death, shows occupation as retired dairy farmer.
  41. [S10731] Harry William Fenker, World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of California.
  42. [S4085] "Oregon Death Index, 1898-2008," Ancestry.com, record for Myrtle A. Fenker, citing cert. no. 4418, shows date and county.
  43. [S4473] Los Angeles City Directory, 1938, pg 697, shows name as Harry W. Finker.
  44. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 48502916, Harry William Finker, includes tombstone photo showing name as Harry W. Finker, and memorial # 48502917, Mabel Clarice Price Finker, includes tombstone photo showing name as Mabel C. Finker.
  45. [S6249] Great Register, California, 1956, Los Angeles Co., Los Angeles City precinct no. 453, Finker, Harry W. and Mrs. Mabel C.
  46. [S462] Bien, "Clara Ketterer Fenker," e-mail to author (100), 1 Aug 2002, indicates it is not clear from her grandmother's notes that Edith was the daugter of Clara and Harold, but would appear so since she knows of no other Fenkers in her family.