More Photos of My Double Cousin Hannah Goldsmith Benedict and Her Family

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I recently posted photos that my cousin Bruce Velzy sent me of his great-great-grandmother Hannah Goldsmith. Hannah is one of the relatives whose lives most fascinate me. Her parents were both related to me. Her father Simon Goldschmidt was my four-times great-uncle, and her mother Fradchen or Fanny Schoenthal was my three-times great-aunt. Simon and Fanny were recent immigrants from Germany to the US when Hannah was born in 1848. And then Hannah lost her mother shortly after Hannah’s second birthday.

Hannah and her brother Henry then moved with their father Simon to Washington, Pennsylvania, where they lived with Hannah’s half-brother Jacob Goldsmith and his wife and children. Then when she was just eighteen, Hannah married Joseph Benedict, a rag dealer who was fourteen years older, and moved to Pittsburgh; her father moved with her. Hannah and Joseph had five children, but only three survived infancy: Jacob (1870), Herschel (1871), and C. Harry (1876).

Bruce is descended from Hannah’s son Jacob and shared these photos, which I’ve previously posted:

Hannah Goldsmith Benedict. Courtesy of the family and edited by the Photo Restoration Facebook group.

Sons of Hannah Goldsmith and Joseph Benedict, c. 1890. Courtesy of the family

Joseph Benedict, Helen Benedict, Marian Benedict, and Hannah Goldsmith Benedict. August 24, 1908. Courtesy of Bruce Velzy

One of the things that makes Hannah’s story so remarkable is the success of her son C. Harry Benedict and of his two sons, Manson Benedict and William Benedict, as I wrote about here and here. They all were Ivy League graduates who pursued highly successful careers in science and engineering.

A few weeks ago I heard from Manson’s Benedict’s daughter Mary, She found my blog and commented as follows:

My father was Manson Benedict, son of C.Harry Benedict. Manson played a large part in the successful development of the atomic bomb. His contribution was developing a process to separate the isotopes of Uranium at a plant in Oak Ridge Tennessee. After the war he became the first professor of nuclear engineering at MIT, and was active in research on peaceful uses for atomic energy, such as nuclear power. I got a Master’s degree in chemistry, doing research on radiation chemistry. My granddaughter, Kirsten Benedict Sauer, earned a PhD in geology and is now employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she is developing ways to safely dispose of radioactive waste from reactors.

I emailed Mary and learned that she and her granddaughter are not the only ones carrying on the Benedict tradition in the sciences. Both of Mary’s sons are scientists as are her daughter-in-law and some of her grandchildren, and her daughter majored in psychology. It’s amazing to see how the DNA carries certain interests and skills from one generation to another.

Mary also shared three photographs with me, including this one taken at the celebration of Hannah Goldsmith’s 90th birthday in 1938. The photo includes Hannah’s three sons Jacob, Herschel, and C. Harry, her grandsons Manson and William, her daughters-in-law and granddaughter-in-law, and her great-granddaughter Mary.

Celebration of Hannah Goldsmith Benedict’s 90th birthday in 1938. Standing in rear Jake, C. Harry, Manson, Herschel, and William Benedict. Seated Marjorie Allen Benedict, Lena Manson Benedict with Mary Benedict Sauer, and Hannah Goldsmith Benedict. Courtesy of Mary Benedict Sauer.

Mary also sent me two wedding photographs. This one is of her grandparents C.Harry Benedict and Lena Manson on their wedding day, February 7, 1902.

C. Harry Benedict and Lena Manson, 1902. Courtesy of Mary Benedict Sauer.

And this one is from Mary’s own wedding in 1959. Mary and her husband Myran Charles Sauer, Jr. are standing with Mary’s grandparents, C Harry Benedict and Lena Manson Benedict.

Mary Benedict, Myran Charles Sauer, Jr., Lena Manson, and C.Harry Benedict, 1959. Courtesy of Mary Sauer.

Once again, I am so drawn to the story of Hannah Goldsmith and so grateful to her descendants for sharing the stories and photographs they have of her.

18 thoughts on “More Photos of My Double Cousin Hannah Goldsmith Benedict and Her Family”

  2. I consider it a great reward for all the hard work you have put into your family blog when relatives send you more pictures to add more light to the lives of your ancestors.
    I just finished reading your touching novel, Amy. Touching because I saw so many parallels to the love story that happened to Biene and me exactly 100 years later. Well done, Amy!

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    • Thank you, Peter! I am so glad you enjoyed the book and so touched that it brought back fond memories of your love story. And yes, I can see the parallels of moving from Germany to Canada and Biene’s parents resistance to it.

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  3. You did a great job with your recent post on the information and photos I gave you. One minor correction: Lena Manson and C. Harry Benedict were married on Feb. 4, 1902. I went to their 60th wedding anniversary in Hollywood Beach, Florida with my family, which included my parents, husband and 1 1/2 year old son, Bryan. Also in attendance were their son, William, and his wife Ruth, and only child Philip.

    I see you wrote a book with Sante Fe in the title. I plan to fly to Sante Fe in September to visit my great granddaughter. I am interested in reading the book. I’ll see if my local library has a copy, or maybe the Sante Fe library, when I get there.
    from your cousin many times removed, Mary Benedict Sauer

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    • Thanks for sharing that, Mary. Your comment is public, however, so I edited it to remove that last story. I hope that’s okay.

      The book is brand new so I doubt the library has a copy. Right now it’s only available on Amazon either in ebook or paperback. Thank you!

      As for the wedding date, I got the February 7 date from the New York State marriage index, but will amend my tree to note your comment about the date. Odd that the state would have the wrong date, but it certainly happens!

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  4. Nothing better than shared photo’s to round out the story of their lives. Love the wedding photo, those smiles just radiate happiness but I am especially drawn to the photo C. Harry and Lena. It truly is amazing how DNA carries certain interests and skills from generation to generation. I really became aware of this after finding my birth family. Enjoyed the post Amy 🙂

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  6. Great photo’s Amy, especially of C. Harry & Lena on their wedding day. They radiate happiness.😊
    I’m enjoying your book…Back in Philly I see there’s a little age-gap going on there between Bernard & Frances & it will be interesting to find out her parents’ views. If he gets his gal she may find life lonely in Santa Fe without her family & friends. I’ll update you when I’ve through. It’s very uplifting!

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  8. What wonderful photos! I’m curious about the name C. Harry – do you know what the C stands for? My brother has the same first name as my dad so while he uses his middle name, he often puts the initial of his first name like C. Harry has done.

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    • According to some sources, the C stood for Centennial since he was born in 1876. Most records just show a C so I don’t have “official” proof.

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