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Anna Barbara (Ifft) BensingObituary - August 14, 1919 BENSING -- Anna Barbara Ifft, the subject of this sketch, was born near Zelienople, Beaver Co., Pennsylvania on June Seventh, 1834, and was the daughter of Peter and Anna Gunther Ifft who were natives of Germany. In her early Girlhood she was a member of the Reformed Lutheran Church, remaining a member of that denomination until the establishment of the English Lutheran Church in Malinta of which congregation she remained a faithful member for more than thirty years, being foremost in helping to establish and carry on the work of that institution. In 1853 she was united in marriage to John Bensing, a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany, a man of sterling integrity and great public spirit. The first eleven years of their married life was spent at Monaca, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Bensing owned and operated a ferry across the Ohio River, a property which Mr. Bensing exchanged for a tract of two hundred forty acres of land in Monroe Township, Henry County, Ohio, the transfer being made in 1863. In the autumn of that year, Mrs. Bensing, together with her husband and three children, born in Pennsylvania, removed to Ohio, remaining at Kenton through that winter. In March 1864 the family started for Henry County and great indeed were the hardships encountered on their journey. The country was a wild wilderness with a cabin here and there, the last day of their journey having come twenty miles brought them to the home of Philip Heckler, Sr., just south of Malinta, near whose dwelling Mr. Bensing established his family in a log cabin, rented for that purpose. Shortly afterwards the Bensing family purchased land upon which the town of Malinta now stands. The history of this town is closely identified with that of the Bensing family, the town itself being named after Lizzie Malinta Bensing, a daughter born on March sixth of the year of their arrival. Had it been possible to foresee the difficulties that lay before them surely the hearts of these sturdy pioneers would have failed them, but with indomitable courage they succeeded in making a home for themselves, engaging in many and varied business enterprises besides that of farming. Mr. Bensing, the husband, died in November 1898, a most respected and much loved citizen of his chosen community which has many reasons to be grateful in memory of his unselfish and untiring energy in helping those around him. Mrs. Bensing continued to live at the Bensing homestead in Malinta and passed away at the age of eighty-five years, one month and twenty-one days after having lived in the house in which she died for more than forty-nine years. For several years past Aunt Barbara has patiently suffered from the infirmities incident to age, during which time she has been most tenderly cared for by her family and grandchildren. She became the mother of eleven children, five of whom, Mrs. Catherine Aurand; Mrs. Lizzie Sickmiller and Charles Bensing of Malinta; Mrs. Anna Hicks of Monaca, Penn. and Mrs. Ella Brobst of Cortland, O., together with twenty-five grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren and one great great grandchild remain to mourn their loss. To very few persons has come the distinction of being the initial member of five living generations, a distinction belonging to Mrs. Bensing since the birth of a son of Mr. C. A. Cody of Leipsic early in the present summer. The citizens of Malinta and vicinity unite in extending their sympathy to the bereaved family and will ever hold in honored memory the life history of Anna Barbara Ifft. Card of Thanks We desire to return thanks to king friends and neighbors for their assistance and sympathy during the illness, death and burial of our Mother, Mrs. John Bensing. - The Bensing Family This page was last updated on: ,
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