(Last updated: Saturday January 21, 2012)

    The following Benitz persons, born in Endingen after 1800, did not emigrate to the Americas during the 1830-1850 period when many of their siblings and cousins did so. 

    The daughter of Franz Jacobus Böniz (Beniz) and Barbara Koch, she was born Josepha Bönitz on 25 December, 1812, in Endingen, Baden, Germany.

    Rosa was the daughter of Johannes Beniz (master dyer) and Maria Barbara Herb.  She married Joseph Hildebrand 19 November, 1835, in Endingen and died there on 2 June, 1872.

It is interesting to speculate why her daughter Rosa Hildebrand died in Reno (Washoe Cty.), Nevada, USA, in 1892.  Did she travel there because of her uncle Adolphus Benitz?

   The son of Anton Böniz and Maria Ana Wagner, he was born Judas Thadius Böniz on 26 Feb. 1805, in Endingen, Baden, Germany.  He continued in the family trade as a cooper.  During the early 1850's he was not doing well and his younger brother Wilhelm sent him funds from California.  Wilhelm wrote in June, 1853: I will also send you a check for 1250 Gulden [about US$500] through Rothschild, but I can not send it before I go to the bank at San Fco. which will be in a few month's time, but you can rely upon the fact that you will get the money this year; it will be of some help to you. Your letter made me and my wife nearly cry, I've never thought your situation was as bad as that. From the letters, it appears the money may not have arrived until December, 1854!  In later letters (1855, 1863) it seems Thad was doing better, though in 1863 Wilhelm gives him his share of an inheritance, amount unspecified but large enough that brother Franz Xavier and sister Nany wanted their shares.

    Thad married Magdalena Seilnacht (on 29 Jan. 1836) and they had 5 children, all christened at the Catholic church in Endingen (Sankt Petri-sankt Martin-katholisch, Endingen).   His brothers wrote to him of their experiences in America and several of the letters (available on this site) have been translated into English - the originals in German have been lost.

    His daughter Barbara was still living when Alfred Benitz (Thad's nephew, son of Wilhelm) visited Endingen in August, 1904.   Alfred wrote in his diary:  "went ... to the house of Barbara Benitz Werg, an old lady, who is the daughter of Thadeus Benitz, Father's brother.  She has a son called Franz, also a daughter (ugly).  Theodore Lederle is the son of Anna Benitz Lederlie (dead) who was the daughter of Thady (Thadeus) Benitz.  Theodore is a fine chap, and is married with two children."  It is almost certain Theodore Lederle is the source of the letters mentioned above.