The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-09-06
(From Thursdays Daily


Joseph Bendt, ffty-eight years of
age, for many years prominent in the
business life of the city and also active
in the official life Of Kenosha, met in
slant and horrible death just after
seven clock this morning when he fell
or stepped in front of freight train
on the North Western road at the
Strong street crossing. Witnesses de
clared that Bendt appeared to be in
daze and that he fell directly in front
of the on-rushing train. Friends and
relatives assert that probably growing
deafness, with which he had been at
ficted for many years, had made it
impossible for him to hear the APP
preaching train. They believe that he
stumbled and fell onto the track. The
body was horribly mangled, the wheels
of the train crushing the head and al
most severing it from the body. The
manglcd body was removed to the
Hansen morgue and Coroner Millager
is making an investigation. The time
for the inquest has not been set.
Bendt had made his home at the
residence OF William Barnes ON West
street lie left that place half an hour
before he met death saying that ne was
going over on Strong street to look
after piece of property in which he
had an interest Men who met him on
the street noticed nothing to indicate
that he was in other than normal con-
dition. He had spoken eheerfully to
several men on his way to the cross
inc where he was killed. Several peo-
pie saw the accident and their stories
vary. The facts will probably be
sifted by the coroner at an inquest
to be held later.
The wheels Of the train brought
tragic death to man who had been
widely known in Kenosha and ac-
lively connected with its business
life for many years and his death
caused profound sensation.
Joseph Bendt was son of Joseph
Beudt, one of the pioneers of Kenosha.
He was born here February 20, 1859
His father for many years was
prominent as general merchant and
the Bendt store on Milwaukee avenue
was landmark of Kenosha business
institutions. The son was educated in
the schools of Kenosha and later was
graduated from Northwestern Univer-
sity at Watertown. Later he fitted
himself for business life by a course
in the Spencerian Business College in
Milwaukee. For year or two he was
employed by several large merchandise
ing concerns in Chicago and later he
went into business with his father
On the death of his father he took
over the business and he continued it
until fourteen years ago when he went
into the general building material
business. His new business did not
prove financially successful. In recent
years he had given up most of his
business and was largely engaged in
construction work.
Mr.. Bendt was formerly active in
many lines. He served as a member
of the board of education for several
years and was greatly interested in
education in Kenosha. He was the
"Father of Libraries' in the city.
More than twenty-five years ago he
opened small reading room over on
North Main street which he kept open
for several years until he had shown
that there was demand for more pre-
tentious provisions for Libraries and
reading rooms in Kenosha. He was
one of the first men named as a mem
Der of the board of directors of the