Ven John Family Andale, Sedgwick County Kansas Genealogy Trails

VEN JOHN FAMILY

VEN JOHN FAMILY & FAMILY HOME

The above photo was submitted by Betsy Carol Ven John. The house was built in 1906, according to the printing on the photo. The girl on the far left was born in 1896 and appears slightly older than 10, so perhaps the photo was taken in 1910? Betsy wasn't sure. It is written on the photo that it's 1/4 mile East of Andale. In the past the Ven John has been spelled Venjohann, Venjohn and VenJohn.

The picture below is of Betsy's paternal great grandparents, titled the "Arnold and Anna Ven John Family Portrait." The balding young man with glasses is their son Harry James VenJohann, Sr., which is Betsy's paternal grandfather.

The picture below is a photo of Anna Schinstock Venjohann. It's from a 4th of July birthday celebration. Anna is Betsy's paternal great grandmother, the wife of Arnold Venjohann.

Harry James Ven John, Sr. was born in 1886 in Nebraska and died in Missouri in 1937. Marie Claire Alford Ven John was born 1887 in Stafford, Kansas and died in 1936 in St. Louis, Missouri. The photo below is a wedding photograph of Harry & Marie Claire, which are Betsy's paternal grandparents.

The above gravestone picture is of Arnold VenJohann and Anna Schinstock/Schienstock VenJohann. This was taken in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Andale, Sedgwick County, Kansas.

Betsy also submitted a gravestone photo for Catharina Vonbeck VenJohann and Christina VenJohann, which you'll see below. Their final resting place is in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Andale, Sedgwick County, Kansas. These two ladies were the sisters of her paternal great-grandfather Arnold VenJohann. He settled in Andale, Kansas after his birth in Germany/Prussia and then his coming to America in the 1800's.

Transcription of handwritten letter dated Feb, 9, 1981, from Marie A. Betzen Bogner (Daughter of Catherine "Kate" Venjohann and William "Bill" Betzen) to her cousin Donald Ven John (son of Harry James Ven Johann, Sr., and Marie Claire Alford Ven John). Transcribed by Betsy Carol Ven John in February of 2008:

"Pittsburg, Kansas, Feb 9, 1981"

"Dear Cousin Donald,

I mailed you an X-mas card in 1980. Don't remember if I wrote much or not. Thank you for the picture you sent. I can see a resemblance of your father Harry James Ven John, Sr. in you as I remember him. Your mother Marie Claire Alford Ven John> was a beautiful lady. Yes, I know I should have answered sooner, your letter came the day I was called out of town to help my fourth girl, who has much sickness in her family. They needed to take sons to K.U. Med Center again. I stayed with their 2 younger children. One 3 years, one 18 months. It's a 3 hr drive for me to get to their home. They live near Olpe, Kansas. I was in St. Louis several years ago, with my oldest girl and son in law. While they were taking care of car problems, I checked the telephone directory, that's how I got your address.
I am your father's oldest niece, my mother was Catherine "Kate" Ven John. She is the older one of the two ladies on the family portrait. My father was William
"Bill" Betzen. They were married 10-14-1913 in Andale, Kansas. My mother passed away 3-25-1926, buried in Andale. My father passed away 5-19-1969, buried in Hereford, Texas. Aunt Christine is the 2nd lady on the photo. She became Mrs. Tom Steinberger. Can't remember the date of that marriage. They left Andale shortly after your folks Harry James Ven John, Sr., and Marie Claire Alford Ven John did. As near as I can tell you, they lived in the edge of Nebraska,
later settled near Waumego, Kansas.

Uncle Tom Steinberger - Born in Oklahoma April 22, 1895; died September 16, 1974 - Buried in Andale.

Aunt Christine Venjohann Steinberger died of lung cancer. Born in West Point, Neb., July 8, 1896; died June 19, 1978. Buried in Andale.

They had 3 children - Pauline/Mrs. E.J. Simms, Yukon, Oklahoma, Tom Jr., Waumego, Kansas, and George who lives North West of Ottowa, Kansas. I think
Pauline is in her early 60's. Tom in the 50's + Geo in the late 40's. I do not have the Ven John family picture right now because I sent it with Jo Ann, who lives in Wichita, to have copies made of it. If I remember right, Uncle John is seated next to Grandpa. He was the oldest one in the family, then Uncle Harry, Uncle Cap, my Mother "Kate", next to Aunt Christine + Uncle Arnie. Uncle John was very dear to me, he had done so much for us after Momma passed on.

Uncle John, Birthdate July 3, 1884 - Died Dec 27, 1962, is at rest in Andale, Kansas. He married Anna Schippers, to this union was born Helen (Mrs. M.B.
Englebrecht) Andale, Kansas.

Irene (Irine) who passed away at what age I'm not sure, but think in the spring of 1928. One son John Arthur (Sonny) who still lives on the old home place,
Address: Mt. Hope, Kansas 67108, located 1 mi north and about 1/4 east of Andale on north side of the road. Helen lives about 1 mi + 1/2 west of
Andale on the hill on South side of the road. Aunt Anna (Uncle John's wife) died, it will be 2 yrs in Dec. She rests in Andale also.

Uncle Casper was next to your father, just older than my mother. His birthdate Oct 7, 1888, West Point, Nebraska. Passed away in Garden City, Kansas, Oct 21, 1966. He is buried there. His wife was Mary Schmidt, to this union was born Glen who is in his sixtys, Paul in late fiftys, Norma Jean + Robert. Paul is near Garden City, RR2 Zip 67846. I don't know where the other 3 are. Aunt Mary's death somewhere in the late fifties. The only places I remember Uncle Cap living were west of Conway Springs later in the early thirties east of Garden City, Kansas.

Uncle Arnie, the youngest, did not marry until after Grandma Ven John's death, he still lives on the same corner where he lived with his mother, only in a new home. He is in his mid seventies, has no family, his wife is Mary Martin.

Grandpa <Arnold> Ven John died in Jan of 1929. Grandma (Anna Schinstock) in Aug of 1949. Both lay in Andale Cemetary. I have no birthdate on either Grandpa or Grandma Ven John. She is in her late 70's. I think Grandpa came from Holland <NOTE from Betsy - My reseach shows from GERMANY.> Grandma was Anna Schinstock of Houghton, Iowa. Her parents are buried there. Grandma was one of 5 girls + 2 boys who grew up. The Ven Johns + one Schinstock brother moved to West Point, Nebraska. 1 sister, too. From there, Ven Johns came to Andale.

Getting back to Catherine "Kate", there were 7 children to that union, 2 girls + 5 boys. The oldest is me. Then Arnold Betzen, Hereford Texas, John Betzen,
Hereford Texas, Clarence Betzen, Hereford Texas, Mike Betzen, Hereford, Texas, Anna (Mrs. Ridder), Kansas. My brother Leo, just younger than John, went down in World War II over Italy Aug 15, 1944. He was 23 yrs, left a wife whose baby didn't come till Sept 12, 1944. He is David Leo, lives in Wichita, has family of three. My father remarried in Nov of 1929. So I have 2 half brothers + 3 sisters, plus 1 boy that died at birth. Note: M.J. <"Buddy"> Betzen, my youngest brother, came in March 17, 1926. Uncle John Ven John and Aunt Annie raised him. Mother Kate died of complications after MJ's birth. MJ known to all of
us as Buddy lives 3/4 mi east of Andale. Married Edith Winter, they have 7 children + 5 grandchildren. I was married in 1936 to Leonard Bogner in Marienthal, Kansas. We moved back to Sedgwick County, lived north of Wichita 12 yrs as renters. Then bought 320A in Crawford Co - West of Girod, Kansas in 1949. My
husband was killed in a car wreck in July of l954. I was left with 8 minor children ranging in age from 1 yr to 14. Needless to say things were not easy. I have one girl living with me, she is 33 retarded and attends the Class Limited Shop 5 days a week. Her name is Eloise. My oldest Leon A, born in Wichita March 28, 1940

Jo Ann in Wichita Nov 8, 1942

Leona in Wichita Aug 15, 1945

Eloise in Wichita July 15, 1947

Carleen in Wichita March 10, 1949

Catherine born in Girod, Kansas, Sept 5, 1951

Anna born in " Kansas Feb 7, 1952

Anthony born " Kansas July 15, 1953

Leon is a forms painter - 2 children, Len + Lori, Pittsburg.

Jo Ann is with KG&E in Wichita KS, 2 children, Brian, Jan.

Leona, Mrs. D Cooper, 3 children, Jay, Mike + Kristen - Pittsburg.

Carleen, Mrs. Larry Herbert, 3 children Sara, Emily, Gene, Olpe, Kansas.

Catherine, Mrs. Will Bezner, 1 child Abbie, Gainsville Texas

Anthony with Square D in Lincoln Nebraska, welloff moneywise -which they were at that time.

The sun is shining so nice today, thank heaven the wind is down, it is so cold out - Must do some scooping before I can get the car out. I did not know we had relatives in Alaska. Grandpa <Arnold> Ven John had one sister who left 2 children, Anna and Henry, neither of whom married. They are deceased where up new Atumiva, Iowa, the sister's name was <Margaret Venjohann> Becker. No, you haven't shocked me at all, was glad to hear from you - I wish I did know just a more about the families past. Helen (Ven John) Englebrecht did write to your younger brother during World War II - but he quit writing - If I'm not mistaken she got his address from some one in Mt. Hope, Kansas. Also you mention a Chris - That must be referring to Aunt Christine, eh. The ones I've mentioned are those on the family picture. I think they lost some at birth, one <Christ Venjohann> is buried in Andale. Don't know where the others are. Also Grandpa Ven John had 2 old maid sisters <Christina and Catharina>, they are buried right aside my mother (called "Kate" - baptized Catherine.) In closing I do hope + pray you + yours are well and happy.

Feb the 21st Buddy's Dale is being married - I will do my level best to get some snaps of different ones that day. This celebration is to be in Andale, Kansas. There are some 400 invitations out for the occasion. This is the 5th one of Buddy's to be married. I'm looking forward to seeing all the different ones. On Monday I plan to go on to Dodge City to visit my inlaws if the weather permits. I'd say it's time I close, do hope you can manage to read my misspelled scribblings, Ha!

Lovingly, Marie A. Bogner"
(Marie A. Betzen Bogner), Daughter of Catherine "Kate" Ven John Betzen and William "Bill" Betzen)

Above is the headstone of Irine Anna VenJohn. She was born 09 Apr 1923 and died 26 Mar 1929, a child. She was the young daughter of John VenJohann
(1884-1962) and Annie H. Schippers (1895-1979). This headstone is in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Andale, Kansas, and can be seen in the background of the larger headstone of Catharine and Christina VenJohann. Her father John Venjohann was one of my great uncles/the son of my great grandparents Arnold Venjohann
and Anna Schinstock Venjohann.

The photo above is the gravestone of Christ Venjohann, who was the "infant" son of Arnold and Anna Ven John

Photos and information were submitted by Betsy Carol Ven John. If you are related to this line and would like to contact Betsy you may do so at CCMom123@socal.rr.com.