In Search of ... J C Henneberger "John William Henneberger"

Was this a missed opportunity for historians?

He was so small and young when Houdini passed on (in 1926), but he may have recalled stories of exploits between his father, Houdini, Lovecraft, or any number of close friends in that weird tales community. It appears that JCH held onto a portion of his Pennsylvania heritage for many years.

Below, only months ago is recorded the passing of John William Henneberger, age 86.

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May 30, 1924 - June 24, 2010

John William Henneberger, 86, died June 24 in Corvallis.

John was born in Chicago, Ill., to Jacob Clark Henneberger and Alma Katherine Schneidewind. He grew up on the Depression-era streets of the Upper West Side of Manhattan, N.Y., and spent summers on the family farm in Pennsylvania. After earning degrees in forestry from the University of New Hampshire and Colorado Agricultural and Mechanical College, he went on to a 30-year career with the National Park Service.

He married Barbara Bodine in 1952 in Yosemite National Park, Calif. For the next two decades, they and their three children moved around the West while John worked in various national parks and administrative centers. John coordinated wilderness studies for the U.S. National Park Service under the Wilderness Act of 1964, and he was later manager of the Denver Service Center.

His last position was as superintendent of the newly created Chattahoochee National Recreation Area in Atlanta, Ga., where he lived with his second wife, Barbara Griffin. In 1987, he returned to the West, spending his retirement years in Corvallis.

Throughout his life, John had a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world, and he shared that love with his family and many others. He had an intellectual interest in man's relation to nature and parks, and he was an avid mountaineer.

He is survived by his sister, June Henneberger of New York; daughters Diane Henneberger of Corvallis and Sally H. Mervin of Calistoga, Calif.; son Roger Henneberger of El Cerrito, Calif.; grandchildren John, Grace, Violet and Lewis; and longtime companion Moll Brett of Corvallis.

No service is planned. Memorial contributions can be made to SafeHaven Humane Society, Albany.

In Search of ... J C Henneberger Part Two

Chrispy has traced two children of J C Henneberger, but before we get there, let's look at a few other early facts of Jacob Clark Henneberger's life.

Note that Henneberger was the identical age of Lovecraft (though I am unsure of JCH's birthdate).

In 1910, it turns out that as early as February 1910 he was member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.

In 1913, Jacob Clark Henneberger received the bachelor of philosophy degree from Lancaster Franklin and Marshall College (PA). Notes at bottom of today's blog.

As I started the blog, I found two children.

In a public document I copy information about his wife, and his daughter from 1921.

Jacob Clark Henneberger (age 31, born Greencastle, PA) was married to Alma Schneidwind (age 24, Born Chicago) when their daughter Roma June (Jane, sic) Henneberger was born 22 May 1921.

Another son is a sad and missed opportunity. Tomorrow ... an obituary.

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History: Franklin and Marshall Academy was originally a preparatory department connected with Franklin College After the union of Marshall College with Franklin College this department was continued in immediate connection with Franklin and Marshall College and in 1872 was named Franklin and Marshall Academy when a new building was erected for its use and a separate faculty and management were appointed so as to make more ample provision for its efficiency and to enlarge its usefulness An additional building was recently erected at a cost of $100,000

Aim: The aim of the Academy is well expressed in the words used nearly forty years ago in the resolution of the trustees changing the preparatory department to Franklin and Marshall Academy It is to be in the best and highest sense a training school for boys who desire to go to college and also furnish a complete academical course for those who do not purpose taking a full collegiate course of study While seeking to develop right habits of study and accurate scholarship the school endeavors also to develop and mold the sound Christian character which is more important than scholastic efficiency

In Search of ... J C Henneberger Part One

Lots has been written of Mr. Henneberger. 90% is in contecxt of the start of Weird Tales and his association with Lovecraft.

This has been a pet mission of Chrispy's. Who is this guy? What are his roots?

Well, I spent a little time and discovered he was the son of a farmer living in Greencastle, Pa. I could only locate two public documents, but one was a 1910 census, just a bit before he went to college - or he may have already begun and was commuting. I don't know.

He was a middle child, the only listed son with three sisters. Of interest, he may have been a "fraternal" twin, as his sister is listed as the same age. This is certainly not a 100% thing, as the "sibling" may not have been a sibling.

I list it below.

1910
Name: J{acob} Clark Henneberger
Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Relationship to Head of Household: Son
Residence: Antrim, Franklin, Pennsylvania
Marital Status: Single
Race : White
Gender: Male
Father's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Mother's Birthplace: Pennsylvania
Family Number: 126
Page Number: 13

Household // Gender // Age
Parent Jacob O Henneberger M 58y (farmer, cows)
Parent Susan Alice Henneberger F 58y

Minnie B Henneberger F 24y
Elsie Grace Henneberger F 20y
Buela Pearl Henneberger F 18y
J Clark Henneberger M 20y


more tomorrow