Mosel-Miami Musings: Deneke family photos

I have these photos (mostly of my mother's family) that I hope to identify with a date and subject. If you have corrections or additions for any information, please leave a comment on this page or contact me directly at tgkohn@aol.com.

The photos were scanned in groups, and the groups will be edited into separate photos eventually.

Image 1,

1. Henry Deneke (1878-1960) and his daughter Sr Henrita (Cecilia) Deneke (1915-2002), between 1947 and 1959 at my parents' farm near Ionia KS.

Image 2.

2. Unidentified sister of the Congregation of St. Joseph, likely at the cemetery altar of Nazareth Mothernouse, Concordia KS. Perhaps Sr. Romanus or Sr. Ursula? Cousin Katie M. (a daughter of William Clark) says, "#2 I am pretty sure is sister Ursula."

Images 3a and 3b,

3a. Louise Deneke (1913-1990) and Mathew Robert Kohn (1901-1971) marriage on 1947.02.13 in Beloit KS.

3b. Witnesses her brother Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992) and her friend Margaret L Heger (full identity not known).

Image 3c.

3c. An alternate pose for their wedding portrait.

Images 4a and 4b,

4a. Louise Deneke-Kohn and Math Kohn, 1947.02.12 holding their wedding cake at the wedding reception. I believe that the stone house in the background is not from the Henry Deneke farm.

4b. Math Kohn in a long coat and suit, standing in front of a long porch attached to a brick building with many windows (a hotel or apartment house?). The back is noted, "Math." in my mother's hand.

5a.

Nurse holding the infant James Kohn in a hospital setting. November or December 1948.

5b. Math Kohn and son Jimmy, perhaps March 1949.

5c. James Kohn at about 10 months (September 1949).

5d. Math Kohn, Louise Kohn holding Jimmy (about 15 months), and Sr. Henrita Deneke. About March 1950. They are standing outside the Math Kohn farm home. Who is the photographer?

Images 6a and 6b,

6a.

6b.

Images 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d, and 7e.

7a.

7b.

7c. Christmas crêche.

7d. Marguerite Deneke and Math Kohn.

7e.

8 (no photo)

9 (no photo)

Images 10a, 10b, and 10c.

10a. Group of 10 women and 1 man, perhaps sisters of Saint Joseph celebrating their anniversaries; front left is Sr Mary Henrita Deneke age about 70. The photo back reads, "Class of 1945 Taken May 27, 1995. Top: 1. Rita Flynn Larsen, 2. Emily Shopp Schlenicke, 3. Florence Beatte Schlagecek, 4. Fred Mildrexler, 5. Ruth Boden Alkire, 6. Gage Vanous Hill, 7. Virginia Felt Nelson. Bottom: 1. Sr. Henrita, 2. Zula Preston Norink, 3. Eva Charbonneau Alexander, 4. JoAnn Brown, 5. Dorothy Snodgrass. Absent: 1. Norene Grimm Carter, 2. Pauline Kemp, 3. Margaret Scott Dalton, 4. Annette Gaydusk.

10b. Nazareth Motherhouse.

10c. Sr Mary Henrita (Cecilia) Deneke age about 30.

Images 11a and 11b,

11 Two children, about ages 2 years and 6 months. The card holder has "Schaeffer?" inscribed.

Images 12a and 12b,

12a. Boy age about 8 in white trousers, white shirt, black bow tie, and holding a rosary and small book. Likely a first communion photograph.

12b. Boy about age 8 in white suit and white sailor cap, holding a white tube or rolled diploma. Likely the same photo session as 12a. The card photo holder is marked "The Reflex Studio Beloit."

Images 13a and 13b,

13a. Woman with bright eyes and tightly curled hair, wearing a black gown with broad white collar and black satin bow, about age 22. The card photo holder is marked "Evelyn Butler" with no other identification. Evelyn Marie Butler (1922-?) was the fourth child of James Thomas Butler (1882-1939) and Grace Eugenia Dillon (1891-1960 est. dates). Evelyn was a first cousin to my mother and her siblings.

13b. Man with bright eyes and straight, thin hair, very faint moustache, wearing a woolen edge-trimmed three-piece suit, two-tone cravatte, and gold pocket watch on chain. The photo margin reads "Jean Honey, Art Studio, Beloit, Kans."

Image 14a.

14 Not yet certain if the photo (right) or the text on the reverse (below) holds genealogical information. Cousin Katie M. (a daughter of William Clark) says, "#14 I am sure is Dorothy Peterson, Gray."

Visible text below the photograph reads, "a former resident of Kansas City, Kansas, ...was announced today. ...married September 5 to Mr. Clarence Gray." Perhaps the photo is of Dorothy M Peterson (b. 1914.10.03), the daughter of Mary Forendo Clark (1893-1924) and Arthur Peterson and the grand daughter of Mary Ann Butler (1866-1939) and Ecles Leslie Joseph Clark (1868-1944).

The text on reverse lists members of several committees in the first story, announces the officiants of a Methodist church service in the second story, announces a meeting of the Bethany hospital guild in the third story, and announces a class meeting of the Central Christian church.

Image 14b. (reverse)

Images 15a and 15b,

15a. Marriage double portrait, about 1940. The back has the identification "Mary Hansen & Pete Braun 2nd wife" in my handwriting. Mary Agnes Deneke-Braun (1909-1936) was Pete Braun's first wife, who died in childbirth. His first marriage was 1931.08.12 at St. John the Baptist Catholic church in Beloit; his second marriage date and location unkown.

15b. Three boys in suits and a girl in a white dress, ages about 8 through 15, clothing that indicates a photo session around 1925. All wear over-the-ankle dress shoes. No identification.

Images 16a and 16b,

16a. Boy in a suit holding three cats. He is about age 10, and he looks to me much like Paul Deneke. He is seated on a wicker divan in a yard with a white picket fence. Outside the fence is a black propane tank. The photographer's shadow registers to the right of the boy. The reverse has a stamp, "Reflex Kodak Finishers Beloit, Kansas." Who is the photographer?

16b. Man and woman in Sunday best, likely mid-1920s, with a church in the background. I believe the church is Annunciation in Frankfort, Kansas. The reverse has the name "Mary" in an unknown hand and a stamp, "Reflex Kodak Finishers Beloit, Kansas." Theresia Maria Deneke (1891-1957) married Francis James Marksman (1875-1943) in 1917 at St. John the Baptist Catholic church in Beloit. They lived on a farm outside of Frankfort and raised a family of 9 children. I have no knowledge of a daughter named Mary, although their daughter Rosemary was born in 1921. Perhaps this is Francis' sister Mary Marksman.

Images 17a, 17b, and 17c.

17a. ?

17b. Back notation: "Mary Edgett." The couple is the same as in photo 16b.

17c. Same boy and setting as photo 16a, but the boy has his hands on two dogs. A pile of cut timber is in the far background. Who is the photographer?

Images 18a, 18b, and 18c.

18a. Photo notation: "Harold Deneke, Joe Deneke son." Harold R. Deneke (1920-1999) was born in the Beloit area and died in Washington OR. His parents are Joseph F. Deneke (1884-1945 or 1957) and Margaret E. Witt (estimated dates 1901-1975), who were married at St. John's in Beloit and moved to Mt. Angel OR.

18b.

18c. Photo notation: "Mary Edgett."

Images 19a, 19b, and 19c.

19a. Photo notation: "Pearl Whitaker Sweet" and studio mark "Leo Stern, 1118 Grand Ave., Kansas City MO."

19b. Photo notation: "Evelyn Butler. ...man Gale, York Aurora."

19c.

Images 20a, 20b, and 30c.

20a. Photo notation: "Aunt Sadie Butler."

20b. Photo notation: "James Clark, son of Wm J. Clark."

20c. Photo notation: "1-S. 1-E. 1-J. 1 of Uncle Jim Butler's girls" and studio mark "The Reflex Kodak Finishers, Beloit Kansas."

Images 21a, 21b, and 21c.

Images 22a and 22b,

22a. Photo notation: "Louise Kohn."

22b. Photo notation: "1. Joe Downey, 2., 3. Pete Deneke, 4. Aunt Ella Downy, 5. Henry (Grandpa Deneke), 6., 7., 8. Leo Deneke, 9." Who is the photographer?

Images 23a, 23b, and 23c.

Images 24a, 24b, and 24c.

24a. Louise Deneke at graduation from St. John High School.

24b. Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992), date unknown, about age 20.

24c. Infant, unknown.

Images 25a and 25b,

25a.

25b.

Image 26a.

26a. Bound album cover. The photos can be dated to about Spring/Summer 1949, taken at the Kohn farm near Ionia KS. At that time, the ages of Pete and Nora's children were 8 (Cecelia Ann), 6 (Fred), 4 (Mary Lee), and 2 (Marguerite).

At most, only two of their children are shown in the same photo.

Who is the photographer?

Images 26b and 26c.

26b. James Kohn about age 8 months.

26c. Sr. Henrita (Cecilia) Deneke (1915-2002), about age 34.

Images 26d and 26e.

26d. Mary Lee Deneke (age 4, born 3 Jan 1945) standing beside her seated grandfather Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960) and, standing, aunts Louise Deneke-Kohn (1913-1990) and Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002).

26e. Left to right: Nora Agatha Long-Deneke (1917-2005), James Robert Kohn (b. November 1947), Louise Josephine Deneke-Kohn (1913-1990), Mary Lee Deneke-Kadel (b. January 1945), Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960), Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), and Peter Bonface Deneke (1910-1971).

Images 26f and 26g.

26f. Partial exposure. Left to right: Louise Josephine Deneke-Kohn (1913-1990), James Robert Kohn (b. November 1947), Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), and Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960).

26g. Left to right: Peter Bonface Deneke (1910-1971), Nora Agatha Long-Deneke (1917-2005), James Robert Kohn (b. November 1947), Louise Josephine Deneke-Kohn (1913-1990), and Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960).

Images 26h and 26i.

26h. Left to right: Nora Agatha Long-Deneke (1917-2005), Cecelia Ann Deneke-Dean (b. 24 September 1940), James Robert Kohn (b. November 1947), Mary Lee Deneke-Kadel (b. January 1945), Louise Josephine Deneke-Kohn (1913-1990), Mary Lee Deneke-Kadel (b. January 1945), Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960), Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), and Peter Bonface Deneke (1910-1971).

26i. Medium shot, left to right: James Robert Kohn (b. November 1947), Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), Mary Lee Deneke-Kadel (b. January 1945).

Images 27a and 27b.

27a.

27b. Graduation class, 1932 St. John High School: Veronica Otter, Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), Gertrude Wendell, Loretta Rasher Lowry, Mildred Schaeffer, Agnes Krone, Bob Magette, and one unidentified woman and three unidentified men. First Communion class? of ten girls.

Images 28a and 28b.

Images 29a, 29b, and 29c.

Images 30a, 30b, 30c, and 30d.

Images 31a, 31b, and 31c.

31a.

31b.

31c.

Images 32a, 32b, and 32c.

32a.

32b.

32c.

Images 33a and 33b.

Images 34a and 34b.

Images 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d.

35a. Louise

35b.

35c.

35d. Kohn-Deneke wedding reception.

Images 36a and 36b.

36a.

36b. Seneca Hospital, where Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) worked.

Images 37a, 37b, and 37c.

Images 38a and 38b.

Images 39a, 39b, 39c, and 39d.

39a

39b. Louise

39c.

39d. Edgett-Marksman wedding? The couple is the same as in photos 16b and 17b.

Images 40a, 40b, 40c, and 40d.

40a. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) in nursing uniform.

40b.

40c.

40d.

Images 41a, 41b, and 41c.

41a.

41b.

41c. Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960) and Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002). Who is the photographer?

Images 42a and 42b,

42a.

42b. Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960), Louise, Tommy, Jimmy. Who is the photographer?

Image 43.

43

44 (no photo)

Images 45a and 45b,

45. Henry Deneke homestead photographed by Tom Kohn in 2002.

45a. House from the north.

45b. Barn from the west.

Images 46a and 46b,

46 Henry Deneke homestead photographed by Tom Kohn in 2002.

46a. House from the west.

46b. House from the northeast.

Images 47a and 47b,

47a. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) and Louise, about 1925.

47b. Formal Family Portrait, 1938: front: Pete, Henry, Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992); back: Louise, Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002).

Images 48a and 48b,

48a. Photo notation: "Denekes of Oregon, One of Joe Deneke's." But who?

48b. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) from the same 1938 photo session for the full family portrait (47a).

Images 49a and 49b,

49a. Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960) at graduation from St. Benedict's?

49b. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) and Louise from the same 1938 photo session for the full family portrait (47a).

Images 50a and 50b,

50a. Photo notation: "Peter & Agnes Braun, 1939-1938." The date noted is incorrect, as Agnes died in 1936, and their marriage was 1931.08.12.

50b.

Image 51.

51. High school graduation portrait for Louise, about 1931 (seven men, five women). Louise is most left in the back row.

Image 52.

52. Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992) and June Griffith-Deneke, formal wedding portrait, 1961.07.17.

Images 53a and 53b,

53. Photo notation: "Lizzie Pilcher" in left border, "Anna Butler" in right border, and in bottom border "Agnes Clark, Mary Clark, Kate Butler." Who is the photographer?

See details for Mary at photo 54a, Lizzie and Anna at photo 54b, and Kate in both 54a and 54b.

Agnes—Thresa Agnes—Clark (1900-1988) seems to be about age 12. Her age roughly corroborates the dating of photo 54a, which has many similarities in matting and color. Agnes married William Richard Prochaska (1897-1992) in the Glasco area on 1919.11.26. They lived in Cloud county and raised a family of four children: Harold William Prochaska (1920-2001), Maxine Marie Prochaska (1922-1924), Max Prochaska (1926-), and Neal Prochaska (1928-).

Images 54a and 54b.

54a. Photo notation, on front border: "Aunt Kate Bulter, Clarks from Glasco." Who is the photographer?

54b. Photo notation, on back: "Kate, Lizzie, Anna Butler." Who is the photographer?

Kate—full name Catherine B.—Butler (1870-1952) was the fifth child of Richard and Mary Ellen Butler. Kate was a Glasco teacher, postmaster, and housekeeper for the Catholic priest. She was born on the farm near Waunakee WI, moved with her parents to their farm west of Glasco, and lived in town and in Delphos KS when she became self-sufficient. By 1947 at age 77, she lived in Concordia.

The "Clarks from Glasco" must have included my mother's aunt Mary Ann Butler (1866-1939), her husband Ecles Leslie Joseph Clark (1868-1944), and several of their children: Mary Forendo Clark (1893-1924), William Richard Clark (1895-1967), Joseph Henry Clark (1897-1977), Thomas Francis Clark (1899-1965), Thresa Agnes Clark (1900-1988), Catherine Gertrude Clark (1903-1995), Margaret Ellen Clark (1906-1980?), and Julia Frances Clark (1908-1988). The photo includes Aunt Kate (back left), four women beside her in the back row, two young girls (middle row), and two boys (foreground). If Ecles Clark is the photographer, the full Clark family is missing one son. The youngest child appears to be about 7 years old, which might date the photo in 1915.

Lizzie—Elizabeth Gertrude—Butler (1885-1957) was the youngest child of Richard and Mary Ellen Butler. She married Hal Pilcher (1882-1953) on 1905.10.02 and had 15 children, of whom at least 3 died in infancy. and she raised the family in or near Delphos KS.

Anna—Anastasia L.—Butler (1875-1933) was the seventh child of Richard and Mary Ellen Butler. Anna was born on the farm near Waunakee WI, moved with her parents to their farm west of Glasco, and married Henry Deneke in Glasco KS on 1908.10.07.

Images 55a and 55b,

55a. Pete Deneke family dated January 1962. Front: Robert Dean, Cecelia Ann, Nora, Debbie Dean, Stanley, Pete; back: Paul, Rita, Marguerite, and Mary Lee. Actually taken Christmas Day, 1961?
Is Fred the photographer?

55b. Children on the Henry Deneke homestead. Photo notation on back: "Louise, Janita, Eva; Cecelia, Dorothea; Leo, Kenneth, Keith." The notation does not provide names the left-to-right order, so I can only guess that Leo Deneke is seated at the left end of the log, Louise is at the right end of the log, and Cecelia is third from the right. If I remember my mother's description, the other children are from neighboring farms. Who is the photographer?

Image 56.

Image 57.

57. Photo notation, "Sister Romanus, twin of Aunt Carrie." Anna (Sr. Romanus) Deneke (1887-1945). She entered the novitiate 1905.06.30 at Nazareth Motherhouse, Concordia KS, and professed her vows 1908.08.15. She was a primary and intermediate teacher in the schools of St. Peter, Schoenchen, Antonina, Aurora, St. Joseph, Herndon, Pfeifer, Cawker City, Tipton, and St. Mary's Academey, Silver City NM. I have two dates for her death: 1945.05.17 in El Paso TX or 1933.09.23 in Mitchell county. I believe the first date is more reliable. She is buried at Nazareth Motherhouse.

Image 58.

58. Photo notation: "Uncle George, Aunt Mary Dorsey,"in my hand—I was taking my mother's dictation. George Deneke (1877-1938) was my grandfather's eldestt brother, who married Mary Dorsey (1888?-1978) in the cathedral in Kansas City MO in 1915. My records show Arkansas as Mary's birth location. I believe they had no children, and I have no certain knowledge of exactly where they lived, althought they were in the 1920 census of Mitchell county. He is buried in Beloit. She resided in Ft. Smith AR at her death.

Note: It is possible that George Deneke is the father of Frank Deneke (1897-1968), who were raised as brothers. Family rumors cite Maria Rosa Deneke (1880-1935) as Frank's actual birth mother.

Images 59a and 59b,

59a. Louise

59b. ?

Images 60a and 60b,

60a. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) from the same 1938 photo session for the full family portrait (47a)

60b. Louise?

Image 61.

61

62

63

64

Images 65a, 65b, and 65c.

65a. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002)

65b. Louise?

65c.

Images 66a and 66b,

Images 66a reverse and 66b reverse,

66a. Corner Courts Motel, owned by Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992) and June.

66b. Funeral card, Mary Deneke.

67 (no photo)

Image 68.

Image 69.

Images 70a, 70b, and 70c.

Images 71a ...

Images 72a and 72b,

Images 72a reverse and 72b,

Images 73a ...

Images 74a, 74b, 74c, 74d, 74e, and 74f.

Images 75a, 75b, and 75c.

Images 76a, 76b, 76c, and 76d.

Images 77a, 77b, and 77c.

Images 78a, 78b, 78c, and 78d.

Images 79a and 79b,

Images 80a, 80b, and 80c.

Images 81a, 81b, 81c, and 81d.

Images 82a, 82b, and 82c.

Images 83a, 83b, 83c, and 83d.

Images 84a, 84b, 84c, and 84d.

Images 85a, 85b, 85c, and 85d.

Images 86a ...

Images 87a, 87b, and 87c.

87a. ?

87b. ?

87c. Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992), Math, Louise, Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960). Children l-r: ??, Jimmy, Tommy (in arms).

Images 88a, 88b, 88c, and 88d.

88a.

88b.

88c. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), Louise

88d.

Images 89a and 89b.

89a.

89b. Pete, Louise, Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002), Leo Francis Deneke (1919-1992), and Agnes

Images 90a ...

90a. Edgett-Marksman wedding? The couple is the same as in photos 16b and 17b.

Images 91a, 91b, 91c, and 91d.

91a. Nora and Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002).

91b. Louise and ?

91c.

91d. Sr. Henrita (Cecelia Genevieve) Deneke (1915-2002) and her father Henry Eugene Deneke (1878-1960).