Agnes Marie Benisch, abt. 1857 - abt. 1924

•    Born:  About 1857 (Germany)
•    Died:  About 1924/25
•    Parents: Friedrich Ernst Benisch and Christiana Henriette Ludwig
•    Spouse:  John Zimmermann
•    Children:  John Zimmermann, Rose Zimmermann, Anna Zimmermann, Marie Lillian Zimmermann

About 1857
Born near the Black Forest in Germany  [1]

1881
Age 24
Emigrated to the United States  [2]

1892 May 23
Age 35
Youngest child, Marie Lillian, is born at Clifton, Passaic, New Jersey  [3]

About 1895
Age 38
Left a widow when husband, John, died  [4]

1910 April 16
Age 53
Living in Acquackanonk, Passaic, New Jersey as widow with son John (age 24) and daughter Marie (age 17). [2]

1920 January 2
Age 65
Living in Clifton City, Passaic, New Jersey, with daughter, Marie, and son-in-law, Walter Halliday Farrier [Sr.] [5]

About 1924/25
About age 68
Dies.  [6]

* * *

"Agnes Banish was born near the Black Forest.  She was educated in the best finishing schools.  She married John, 20 years her elder.  She had 5 children.  John came to the U.S.A. first; Agnes followed later with children and a canary.  She was stranded in New York and found by John by putting an ad in a German Newspaper.

"Agnes was artistic and a fine seamstress.  She earned money, made a down payment on a house to get the family out of downtown Patterson, then told John.  John died when Marie (only child born in U.S.) was 3 years old.  Agnes loved America and education.  The local school board held their meetings in her parlor.  She forbade speaking German in her home.  Her son, John, became an architect, helped design the Lincoln Tunnel.  Agnes moved to New York City while daughter Marie attended Juliard School of Music for voice training."

--Claire-Jane Farrier Young

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[1] Birth record for daughter, Marie Lillian Zimmermann, "New Jersey, Births and Christenings, 1660-1980," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCTG-QMX : accessed 15 Feb 2013), John Zimmerman in entry for Marie L. Zimmerman, 23 May 1891; citing reference v 39 p 116, FHL microfilm 494221.

[2]  “United States Census, 1910,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKBJ-N6M : accessed 03 Jan 2013), Marie Zimmerman, Acquackanonk, Passaic, New Jersey; citing sheet 1B, family 17, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374917.

[3]  "New Jersey, Births and Christenings, 1660-1980," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCTG-QMX : accessed 15 Feb 2013), John Zimmerman in entry for Marie L. Zimmerman, 23 May 1891; citing reference v 39 p 116, FHL microfilm 494221.

[4]  Notes from Claire-Jane Farrier Young (date unknown).

[5]  "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M4Y9-5F2 : accessed 15 Feb 2013), Walter H Farrier, , Passaic, New Jersey; citing enumeration district (ED) , sheet 1B, family 15, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821062.

[6]  Personal knowledge of grandson, Walter Halliday Farrier, Jr.