CHAPTER THREE
PETER PESCH----MARY RACHEL PESCH
PETER JOHN PESCH born 04-24-1854 Fredonia, Ozaukee, Wisconsin, died 03-16-1928 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married 03-04-1874 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois to
PAULINA TRACY WEST born 08-24-1855 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 11-13-1934 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois. Father: Gilbert T. West, Mother: Rachael Amanda Mitchell.
Peter is the fourth child of John B. and Maria/Mary Pesch. The following events of Peter’s life were put together by the grandchildren and their cousins as they reflected upon the their memories and the stories told to them by their parents. Maybe this will give you some idea of what Grandpa Pesch was like.
When Peter was about eleven years old he and his brother John ran away from home (See the events of this in John P.’s life story). Nine years after arriving in the vicinity of Bethany, Peter married Paulina Tracy West, and they bought a farm just a few miles outside of Bethany. They lived on this farm until all the children had left home. They then retired and moved into “town”. This house was torn down in 1995 and replaced with a modular home.
A story about the farm: When they bought the farm Peter’s brother-in-law bought the adjoining property. They did not agree on where the property line ran (not that each wanted more property but less). So each built a fence where he said the line should be and this created a “lane “ between the properties, which they called “The Devils Lane”. It was never farmed and though both farms have sold several time a portion of that lane is still visible or was at the first Pesch Reunion in 1992.
In 1892, Peter and Paulina became members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Bethany, Illinois They were faithful members and workers until their deaths. There are no records of their children becoming members of that church
Peter enjoyed telling stories, especially to his grandchildren. We have been told that he would write his letters in English but would close in what was thought to be German. He also liked to dance a “jig” in his wooden shoes before bedtime.
We have noticed in some pictures that were presented at our 1998 reunion that he and Paulina did quit a bit of traveling, especially for folks in those days. If you will notice in the pictures that he always wore a suit and had his hat with him.
It seems that there was one person by the name of, Rose that had a special place in his heart. None of us knew of a Rose other than possible cousins until 1998 when it discovered that his sister; Eva /Effie, had a daughter named Rose. In all probability this is the young lady in question.
Peter and Paulina had eight children, Frank Nelson, Elmer Elsa, Mary Rachael, Effie Pearl, Golda Belle, Charles Harrison, Fred and Wayne Rupert
FRANK NELSON PESCH born 03-26-1875 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 02-06-1959, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, Buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married 01-29-1905 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois to
LULA PEARL BENTZ born 02-26-1880 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 03-08-1956 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois. Father: John Bents, Mother: Hannah Norris.
Nelson’s granddaughter Joyce Shipman Jenkins prepared this short biography of Frank Nelson Pesch.
Frank Nelson is the first child of Peter and Paulina Pesch.”Nelson” as he preferred to be called, as he did not want people to confuse his identity with that of an uncle with the same name of “Frank”. Nelson grew up on the family farm near Bethany, Illinois.
Nelson married Lula Pearl Bents and bought a home in Bethany. Nelson worked as a carpenter and a farm hand during their first years of marriage.
Later they sold the home in town to his father, Peter Pesch and used the money to buy equipment and horses to start his own farming career. Nelson bought the home place from his Dad. He bought his first and only tractor in 1939. His great grand son, Stanley Jenkins, still has the tractor in 1999.
Nelson was also a great storyteller and loved children. His daughter, Lula Pesch Shipman, recalls that every Sunday morning, Nelson would hitch the horses to the buggy and go into town to visit his Dad.
Pearl, his wife, was known for her good cooking. She also made several quilts in her lifetime. Lula, her daughter, remembers that her mother raised chickens and sold them in the fall to pay Nelson’s hired hands to shuck corn.
Nelson and Pearl were of the Presbyterian faith and have three children, Marvin, Virgil and Lula.
MARVIN THEODORE PESCH born 09-08-1905 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 08-12-1992 St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, buried Resurrection Cemetery, Shrewsbury, Missouri, married 09-12-1930 to
JOSEPHINE CHRISTINE FELDHACKER born 11-29-1903 Cedar County, Nebraska, died 12-29-1992 St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, buried Resurrection Cemetery, Shrewsbury, St. Louis, Missouri. Father: Peter Feldhacker, Mother Elizabeth Schafer
Marvin is the first child of Frank Nelson and Lula Pearl Pesch. He was a salesman. Marvin died of cancer. Even though Josephine also had cancer at the same time she died three months later of cerebral vascular accident, (see certificate of death). Marvin served in the US Army. They had no children.
VIRGIL ADRIAN PESCH born 09-19-1907 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 06-26-1967 Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married 02-26-1937 Henderson, Henderson, Kentucky to
FREDA MAY MARLOW born 05-09-1912 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 03-17-2004 Bovina Center, New York, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois. Father: James Azel Marlow, Mother: Mary Rachael Pesch
Virgil is the second child of Frank Nelson and Lula Pearl Pesch. Virgil and Freda are first cousins, and first cousins were not permitted to marry in the state of Illinois at that time. Virgil and Freda were married in Kentucky where it was permitted. They later moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where Virgil operated service a station for several years. He liked to hunt and fish in his spare time. Several years after Virgil’s death, Freda moved to Peekskill, New York to live with her sister March. Virgil and Freda have no children.
LULA MAY PESCH born 03-23-1913 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 11-02-2001, Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois, buried 11-07-2001, Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married 05-16-1932 to
WALTER TRUMAN SHIPMAN born 07-04-1902 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 12-04-1981 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois. Father: Godfrey Shipman, Mother: Anna Butt
Lula is the third child of Frank Nelson and Lula Pearl Pesch. Walter “Jack” was a farmer. He had cancer and committed suicide. Lula was a school bus driver. Lula has contributed much to the history of the Pesches that lived in Illinois. She and Walter are of the Presbyterian faith and have one child, Joyce.
JOYCE SHIPMAN born 11-07-1935 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois married 11-27-1955 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois to
WALTER JENKINS born 10-26-1934 Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois. Father: Walter H. Jenkins, Mother: Effie Nicum
Joyce is the only child of Lula May and Truman Shipman. Joyce is a homemaker and Walter “Punkin” is a tooling engineer. Since they have retired they do a lot of traveling around the country. Joyce helped organize and host the first Pesch reunion in Decatur, Illinois in 1992 and has helped a lot on getting information for this book. They are active in the Presbyterian Church, Bethany, Illinois. They have five children, Ronald, Duane, Stanley, Gary and Diane.
RONALD JENKINS born 07-07-1956 Decatur, Macon, Illinois, married (1) 1982 and divorced 1989 (2) to
BETTY
COOKE
JANE
KINKLEAR
Ronald is the first child of Joyce and Walter Jenkins. Ronald “Ron” is a parts manager for an auto dealership. He and Betty had three children, Sean, Dustin and Corey. Ron and Jane have two children, Alex and Jenna
CHRISTOPHER SEAN JENKINS born 08-04-1979, married 06-17-2006, to
KRISTIN STALEY
Sean is the first child of Ronald and Betty Jenkins. They have one child, Tyler.
TYLER CHRISTOPHER JENKINS, born 07-26-2004
DUSTIN
JENKINS born 12-25-1980, married 11-17-2007 to
BRENDA WEBER born 03-01-1981
Dustin is the second child of Ronald and Betty Jenkins.
COREY JENKINS born 10-16-1985, married 07-22-2006, to
CHASITY SWEENEY
Corey is the third child of Ronald and Betty Jenkins. Chasity has one child from a previous marriage, Cristian. Corey and Chasity have no children.
CRISTIAN J. SWEENEY, born 08-19-1998
ALEX
BRANDON JENKINS born
06-10-1994 Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois
JENNA
MICHELLE JENKINS born
03-25-1997 Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois
DUANE JENKINS born 04-16-1958 Decatur, Macon, Illinois, married 08-04-1979 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois to
TAMI WOODS born 01-18-1961
Duane is the second child of Joyce and Walter Jenkins. Duane is a house painter. He and Tami have one child, Danielle.
DANIELLE JENKINS born 04-15-1984, married 08-27-2005, in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois (divorced 2006)to
DUSTIN STOLTZ born 08-02
FREDRICKS
Danielle is the daughter of Duane and Tammy Jenkins. She and Justin have no children. Danielle has one child Ivan. She and Fredricks have one child Lillian.
IVAN STEELE FREDRICKS. born 12-01-2006
LILLIAN BELLE FREDRICKS born 12-03-2007
STANLEY JENKINS born 07-18-1959 Decatur, Macon, Illinois
Stanley is the third child of Walter and Joyce Jenkins. He has his Great Grandfathers 1939 farm tractor and it still runs.
GARY DEAN JENKINS born 07-09-1960 Decatur, Macon, Illinois, died 07-10-1960 Decatur, Macon, Illinois, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois.
DIANE JENKINS born 04-06-1966 Decatur, Macon, Illinois, married 09-23-2000 St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri to
JIM DOYLE
Diane is the fifth child of Joyce and Walter Jenkins. She is a purchasing agent for a plumbing company and Jim a product manager. They have no children.
ELMER
ELZA PESCH born 04-23-1878 Bethany,
Moultrie, Illinois, died 02-09-1935, Bethany,
Moultrie, Illinois, married to
CARRIE ETHEL GADDIS born 1878, died 02-19-1972
Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany,
Moultrie, Illinois.
Elmer is the second child of Peter and Paulina Pesch.
He was called “Elzie”. Elzie was a farmer and farmed around Bethany and in
Shelby County, Illinois. We are told that he was quite a dancer in his younger
days. A little story about him: when he and Aunt Carrie would have a little
misunderstanding he would get in his old Ford and go to his brother, Fred’s
home in Indiana and stay until it cooled down. One time he had been gone about
three weeks and Aunt Carrie called my mother Eva to see if he was at their
house. When she was told that he was there Aunt Carrie said don’t tell him I
called, he’ll come home when he gets ready. Elmer and Carrie had two children,
Dolly Ethel and Alson Hulbert.
DOLLY ETHEL PESCH born 09-17-1909 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married 12-31-1938 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois to
EARL SUTTON born 08-23-1905 Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois, died 04-11-1973 Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois.
Dolly “Ethel” is the first child of Elmer and Carrie Pesch. Earl was a policeman and a caretaker at the Masonic Home in Sullivan, Illinois for many years. He committed suicide. Ethel continued to live in Sullivan for several years after Earl’s death but due to bad health she now lives with her daughter in Springfield, Illinois. Ethel and Earl have one child, Barbara.
BARBARA SUTTON born 08-13-1936 Sullivan, Moultrie, Illinois. Barbara is the only child of Ethel and Earl Sutton. She is a career lady and never married.
ALSON HULBERT PESCH born 12-11-1913, died 04-30-1970, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married and divorced to
MAXINE HILL
Alson is the second child of Elmer and Carrie Pesch. In his youth he was called “Billy Buck” but later it was cut to “Bill”. He would ride horses standing up on their backs. His children tell me he was married several times but I have no record of any other than Maxine. He and Maxine have four children, Billy, Jerry, Nancy and Carol.
BILLY DEWAYNE PESCH born 07-27-1937 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois, married 06-03-1960 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois to
TERESA PRICE born 02-09-1942, Father: James Noe Price, Mother: Retha Kull.
Billy is the first child of Alson and Maxine Pesch. He and Teresa have two children, Christopher and Penny.
CHRISTOPHER TODD PESCH born 03-02-1967 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois, married 05-08-1993 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois to
NANCY WALLACE born 10-31-1966
Christopher is the first child of Billy and Teresa. They have no children.
PENNY SUE PESCH born 10-28-1963 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois, married 12-18-1993 to
JEFFERY F. STANDERFER born 11-20-1958
Penny is the second child of Billy and Teresa Pesch. Penny is an Illinois State employee. She and Jefferey have one child, Nathan.
NATHAN JAMES STANDERFER born 10-07-1994.
JERRY PESCH born 10-02-1939 Findley, Shelby, Illinois, married to
ELDA
MOOMEY born 07-19-1945 Pana, Christian,
Illinois, Father: Homer Moomey,
Mother: Edith Adkins
Jerry is the second child of Alson and Maxine Pesch. Jerry is a welder. They have four children, Colene, Dale, Randy and Carrie.
COLENE RENEE PESCH born 05-01-1964, married 1982 to
JOHN THOMAS REAMS
Colen is the first child of Jerry and Elda Pesch. She and John have two children, Joshua and Jessica.
JOSHUA REAMS
JESSICA
REAMS
DALE ALSON PESCH born 04-10-1965, married 1985 to
JULIE KOTTWRTZ
Dale is the second child of Jerry and Elda Pesch. He and Julie have two children, Arian and Samuel.
ARIAN NICOLE PESCH
SAMUEL
JOSPEH PESCH
RANDY RAY PESCH born 09-26-1968,
Randy is the third child of Jerry and Elda. He is not married.
CARRIE DORENE PESCH born 12-23-1970, married 1990, divorced 1992 to
BRENT RICKLE
Carrie is the fourth child of Jerry and Elda Pesch. She and Brent had no children.
NANCY PESCH born 03-24-1941 Findley, Shelby, Illinois, married to
DAVID METZER born 1938
Nancy is the third child of Alson and Maxine Pesch. She and David have two children, Bryan and David.
BRYAN
KEITH METZER born
00-11-1963, married to
DONNA
Bryan is the first child of Nancy and David. He is a minister. I have no record of any children.
DAVID BRADLEY METZER
David is the second child of Nancy and David Metzer. He is not married.
CAROL JEAN PESCH born 01-22-1943 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois, married (1) divorced (2) 01-28-1964 to
CHARLES BABBS
JACK L. BROWN born 12-08-1934, Morrisville, Christian, Illinois.
Carol is the fourth child of Alson and Maxine Pesch. Jack is a coal miner. She and Charles have one child, Marcia. Carol and Jack have three children, Jeanne, Jeff and Charles.
MARCIA BABBS born 02-13-1958 Enfield, White, Illinois, married (1) divorced 1978 (2) to
DAVE POLLEY
MIKE McGARRAH born 01-21-1959 Enfield, White, Illinois.
Marcia is the only child of Carol and Charles Babbs. Marcia is a store clerk and Mike a factory worker. Dave and Marcia have one child, Kelly. She and Mike have one child Shawn.
KELLY POLLEY born 08-13-1975 Shelbyville, Shelby, Illinois.
SHAWN McGARRAH born 04-07-1982 Carmi, White, Illinois.
JEANNE LAVONE BROWN born 01-11-1965 Pana, Shelby, Illinois, married divorced 12-17-1990 to.
DONALD EUGENE BOWMAN born 07-17-1961 McCleansboro, Hamilton, Illinois. Father: Eugene Bowman, Mother: Norma Anderson.
Jeanne is the first child of Carol and Jack Brown. Jeanne is a practical nurse and Donald is a railroader. They have two children, Dylan and Dalton.
DYLAN EUGENE BOWMAN born 02-04-1988 Evansville, Vanderburg, Indiana.
DALTON ERIC BOWMAN born Fairfield, Wayne, Illinois.
JEFF BROWN born 09-29-1967, married 11-03-1989 to.
JULIE RUBENOCKER
Jeff is the second child of Carol and Jack Brown. They have no children.
CHARLES
BROWN born 09-12-1960, married
to.
PRESHA SHELLINBURG
Charles is the third child of Carol and Jack Brown. Charles and Presha have two children, Jamie and Rachel.
JAMIE BROWN
RACHEL
BROWN
MARY RACHAEL PESCH born 04-09-1880 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 08-10-1934 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, married 11-12-1899 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois to
JAMES AZEL MARLOW born 12-27-1875 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 01-06-1952 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois.
Mary “Maymie” is the third child of Peter and Paulina Pesch. James “Jim” was a farmer. Maymie and Jim have two children, Freda and March.
FREDA
MAY MARLOW born 05-09-1912 Bethany, Moultrie,
Illinois, died 03-17-2004 Bovina Center, New York, buried Marrowbone Township
Cemetery, Betheny, Moultrie Illinois, married 02-26-1937 Henderson, Henderson, Kentucky
to.
VIRGIL ADRIAN PESCH born 09-26-1907 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 06-26-1967 Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, buried Marrowbone Township Cemetery, Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois.
Freda is the first child of Mary and James Marlow. She married her first cousin. (See the record of Virgil Adrian Pesch for comments).
MARCH LUREA MARLOW born 03-11-1919 Bethany, Moultrie, Illinois, died 12-19-2003 Bovina Center, New York, married (1) 10-04-1952 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, deceased (2) 09-26-1959 Indianapolis, Marion Indiana to.
BEN McCUTCHENS STOKES born 04-15-1919 Chicago, Cook, Illinois died 09-26-1957 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, buried Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana. Father: William John Stokes, Mother: Bearnice Lee.
MANNING LEE STOKES born 06-21-1911 St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, died 01-05-1976 Farmingdale, Nassau, New York, buried Farmingdale, Nassau, New York. Father: William John Stokes, Mother: Bearnice Lee.
March is the second child of Mary and James Marlow. She served in the Marine Corps Auxiliary in WW II and worked in VA Hospitals. After Ben died she married his brother Manning and they moved to New York. At her death, she had her body donated for medical research. She and Manning did not have children. March and Ben have two children, Bearnice and Benita.
BEARNICE LEE STOKES born 04-29-1953 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, married (1) 08-15-1978 Bethel, Fairfield, Connecticut, divorced 1982 (2) 08-02-1985 to
GENE ALFRED CROFT born 12-15-1953 Peekskill, Oscawana, New York. Father: Travis B. Croft, Mother Gertrude June Zeliph.
ROBERT
NORMAN HUDSON born 09-15-1943 Peekskill,
Oscawana, New York. Father: Norman
Hudson, Mother:
Eleanor Finch.
Bearnice is the first child of March and Ben Stokes. She is a schoolteacher. Robert her second husband is also a schoolteacher. She and Robert have no children. Bearnice and Gene have one child, Lauren.
LAUREN LUREA CROFT born 03-29-1980 Mt. Kisco, West Chester, New York.
BENITA McCUTCHENS STOKES born 02-04-1956 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, married 02-11-1984 Peekskill, Oscawana, New York to.
WILLIAM CAESAR BRANCIFORTE born 11-24-1943, Father: Caesar Branciforte, Mother Marjorie Hancock
Benita is the second child of March and Ben Stokes. She and William have five children,
Rachael, Peggy, Charles, Elizabeth and William.
RACHAEL ANN BRANCIFORTE born 10-09-1984 Mt. Kisco, West Chester, New York
PEGGY SUE BRANCIFORTE born 01-12-1988 Cortland, Cortland, New York
CHARLES CAESAR BRANCIFORTE born 05-19-1990 Cortland, Cortland, New York
ELIZABETH LEE BRANCIFORTE born 07-11-1992 Cortland, Cortland, New York
WILLIAM CAESAR BRANCIFORTE, Jr. born 03-12-1996 Valhalla, West Chester, New York.