Family History Notes and Photos by Bob Mesenbrink

This is a tribute to my grandfather, who I never knew, Benjamin Henry Mesenbrink. Through the wonders of the internet, and a few family photos that I've collected over the years, I feel like I have gotten to know him a bit. He lived his entire life in and around Denison, Iowa. He was born near Charter Oak in 1888 and grew up on the farm in Goodrich Township, just to the north or northwest of Denison, perhaps between Charter Oak and Deloit. He must have been a good student. He won an award for writing. Later, his family would move to a large house near Dunlap. It was here that he likely became acquainted with the Brady family, in particular his future wife, Mildred. His brother, Charlie, married Mildred's sister, Winnie Hazel as well. I think this is around 1913 or 1914, with Mildred Brady, Ben Mesenbrink, and possibly Hazel Brady Ben and Mildred married in 1914. According to an article in the Denison Review, they took a fairly long wedding trip, and returned hom