Theodore Louis Fenker1,2,3

Family Chart
ID# 36, (1871 - 1951)
FatherJohann Hinrich Wilhelm Fennker4,5,2 (2 Jan 1830 - 7 Oct 1888)
MotherJohanna Louise Baum6,2,5 (17 Jun 1836 - 4 Apr 1916)

Key Events:

Birth: 14 Oct 1871, Covington, Kentucky7,8,9
Marriage: 19 Jun 1901, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Florence Ella Carpenter (6 Jul 1879 - 14 Mar 1958)10,11,12
Divorce: 6 Jan 1923, Kalamazoo Co., Ella Carpenter (6 Jul 1879 - 14 Mar 1958)13
Marriage: 22 May 1924, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Helen Hicker (22 Jun 1886 - 6 May 1979)14,15
Death: 16 Jun 1951, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan16,17
Burial: Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan18
ChartsDescendants of Hermann Hinrich Fennker
AncestryThe Fenker Family

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Theodore Louis Fenker was born on 14 Oct 1871 in Covington, Kentucky.7,8,9
     He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Covington, Kenton Co., Kentucky, in the household of his parents, William Fenker and Louisa Lebeau.4
     His father died on 7 Oct 1888, when Theodore was 16 years old.19,20,21
     He was a clerk in the car shops of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railway by 1895.22
     Theodore, his brothers Frederick and Albert, and the wives of the older two, all moved to Michigan in the late 1890's, as did their mother. Theodore and his mother seemed to have moved together, following the older two. Frederick and his wife settled in Detroit, while the others all settled in Kalamazoo.
     By 1899 Theodore was a clerk for The Henderson-Ames Co. in Kalamazoo, manufacturers of "every style of uniform conceivable for the S. of V., G. A. R., railroads, letter carriers, fire dep'ts, police dep'ts, also for military organizations, colleges, and bands" according to their advertisement in the city directory. Others have described the company as a leading producer of uniforms and regalia.23,24,25 Theodore appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, in the household of his mother.6
     Theodore married first Florence Ella Carpenter, daughter of William Riley Carpenter and Mary Jane Andrews, on 19 Jun 1901 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with Rev. J. B. Pinckard offciating.10,11,12
     He was a traveling salesman for Henderson-Ames Co. by 1901, and a department manager for them by the next year, involved with sales.26,27,28,29,30
     Theodore and Ella appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 237 Elm Place, enumerated 23 Apr 1910, reporting they rented their home. Their son Edgar was listed as living with them, as was Mae Harring, a 28-year old widow who was listed as his sister-in-law.31
     Theodore and Ella appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 417 Elm St., enumerated 5 Jan 1920. Their son Edgar was listed as living with them.32
     Ella filed for divorce from Theodore 6 Jan 1923, in Kalamazoo Co. Circuit Court, on the grounds severe cruelty. The divorce was granted 17 Mar 1923.13
     Theodore married second Helen Hicker, daughter of George Henry Hicker and Bird A. Oxenrider, on 22 May 1924 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with Rev. John W. Dunning officiating.14,15
     Theodore and Helen appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 809 West Walnut St., enumerated 7 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home worth $10,000 and did not have a radio. His son by his prior marriage, Edgar, was listed as living with them, as were her son by her prior marriage, Russell Keene Townsend, and her adopted daughter, Virginia Ruth Townsend.33
     He was secretary of the Henderson-Ames Co. by 1930. The company suffered during the great depression, and in 1933 merged with Lilley Company of Columbus, Ohio, to form the Lilley-Ames Company. Operations were soon after moved to Ohio. Theodore seems to have had no part in the new company. He had no occupation listed in city directories after 1933.34,35,36 By 1940 Theodore was not working, and not seeking work. Helen was doing laundry in her home.37
     Theodore and Helen appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at 809 W Walnut, enumerated 17 Apr 1940, reporting they owned a home valued at $4,000. Her father was listed as living with them, and they all reported they had lived in the same house in 1935. There was also a lodger listed in the household, Lamita E. Grable.38
     Theodore died on 16 Jun 1951 in Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, at age 79.16,17 He was buried in Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.18

Children:
     Child with Florence Ella Carpenter:

Children:
     There were no children with Helen Hicker

Citations

  1. [S160] William Fenker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, shows given name as Theodore.
  2. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend.
  3. [S9243] "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952," Ancestry.com, record for Theodore Louis Fenker, citing cet. no. 23293.
  4. [S160] William Fenker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky.
  5. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1901, Kalamazoo Co., no 5711, Theo. L. Fenker and Ella F. Carpenter.
  6. [S776] Louise Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  7. [S160] William Fenker household, 1880 U.S. Census, Kenton Co., Kentucky, shows age 7 and state.
  8. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend, shows age 52 at marriage 21 May 1924, city, and state.
  9. [S9243] "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952," Ancestry.com, record for Theodore Louis Fenker, citing cet. no. 23293, shows date and state.
  10. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1901, Kalamazoo Co., no 5711, Theo. L. Fenker and Ella F. Carpenter, shows date, city, state, and officiant.
  11. [S777] Theodore Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows both married 4 years.
  12. [S9231] "Michigan, Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952," Ancestry.com, 17 Mar 1923, Kalamazoo Co., Theodore L. Fenker and Ella Fenker, shows date, city, and state.
  13. [S9231] "Michigan, Michigan, Divorce Records, 1897-1952," Ancestry.com, 17 Mar 1923, Kalamazoo Co., Theodore L. Fenker and Ella Fenker.
  14. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Lousi Fenker and Helen Townsend, shows date, city, state, officiant, and second marriage for both.
  15. [S467] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows married, with his age at first marriage as 25, and hers as 20.
  16. [S9243] "Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952," Ancestry.com, record for Theodore Louis Fenker, citing cet. no. 23293, shows date and city, county, and state.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25812173, Theodore Louis Fenker, shows year and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  18. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 25812173, Theodore Louis Fenker, includes tombstone photo.
  19. [S6638] Wm. Fenker obituary, The Enquirer, shows he died "yesterday."
  20. [S284] Linden Grove Cemetery, burial records, no. 3770, Wm Fenker, shows date, street address, which is also listed as his "late residence."
  21. [S410] Smithies, copied documents, Return of Death for William Fenker, no. 618, shows month and day, and cause of death as cerebral apoplexy.
  22. [S10413] William's Cincinnati Directory, 1895, pg 524.
  23. [S10700] Rzepczynski, "Henderson-Ames Company", shows the company as one of the country’s leading producers of uniforms and regalia.
  24. [S10534] F. A. Corey's Annual Directory of Kalamazoo City, 1899, pp 236, 269.
  25. [S776] Louise Fenker household, 1900 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows occupation as clerk-clothing.
  26. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1901, Kalamazoo Co., no 5711, Theo. L. Fenker and Ella F. Carpenter, shows occupation as traveling salesman.
  27. [S10604] Polk's Kalamazoo City Directory, 1904, pg 240; 1905, pg 255.
  28. [S777] Theodore Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows occupation as manager, and industry as regalia factory.
  29. [S1868] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows occupation as assistant manager and industry as military co.
  30. [S2785] Marriage Register, State Copy, Michigan, 1924, Kalamazoo Co., no 23050, Theodore Louis Fenker and Helen Townsend, shows occupation as salesman.
  31. [S777] Theodore Fenker household, 1910 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  32. [S1868] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1920 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  33. [S467] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  34. [S467] Theodore L. Fenker household, 1930 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows occupation as secretary and industry as regalia factory.
  35. [S10604] Polk's Kalamazoo City Directory, 1931, pg 168, shows occupation as secretary; 1934, pg 149, shows no occupation.
  36. [S10700] Rzepczynski, "Henderson-Ames Company", shows decline of company and merger.
  37. [S10648] Theodore Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan, shows him with no occupation, not seeking work, no work shown for prior month or year; for her shows occupation as laundry and industry as own home.
  38. [S10648] Theodore Fenker household, 1940 U.S. Census, Kalamazoo Co., Michigan.
  39. [S10649] Marriage Records, Elkhart Co., Indiana, 52:68, Edgar L. Fenker and Lucille Grace Boersma.