Ben
J.
"Bennie, Bernard"
Defend
Born in Clinton, Illinois, United States
Son of Henry DeFend
and Louise (Michael) Defend
Brother of
Edward Christ Defend, Sophia (Defend) Brinkman, Anna (Defend) Schnitzmeyer, Richard John DeFend, Paul Defend, Albert Ernest Defend, Unnamed Infant Defend and Unnamed Infant Defend
[spouse(s) unknown]
[children unknown]
Died
at age 64
in Marion, Illinois, United States
Profile last modified
This page has been accessed 10 times.
Biography
Ben was born in 1908. He was the son of Henry DeFend and Louise Michael. He passed away in 1972. He married Hilda Reinkensmeyer in Centralia, Illinois in 1934.
He owned a Chevrolet Garage in Breese, Illinois from 1945 until selling it in 1956. In 1961, he moved from Breese to rural Centralia, at which time he began working in semi-retirement repairing farm machinery from his home.
He was a World War II Coast Guard veteran, having served from 1943 to 1945. He wasa member of St. Peter United Church of Christ in Centralia.
His obituary does not mention any children as among his survivors.
Research Notes
His proper name was probably Bernard, but nearly every record I can find- including a World War II Draft Card bearing his own signature- refers to him as "Ben J. Defend," with the only exception being census records calling him "Bennie" in 1920 and "Bernard" in 1930. Therefore I'm leaving "Ben" as his proper name unless and until a more competent primary record specifying it as Bernard can be cited. - Daniel M. Culp, 7-10-2023
Sources
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