Father: George Washington Behn, born 1813, South Carolina
Mother: Nancy Green King, born approximately 1837, birthplace unknown.
Siblings: Laura, Polly, John, Prince, and Edward "Edd"Behn
First Wife: Emma Behn
Children: Milton Ward Behn, Addie Behn, Mamie Behn, Mattison Behn, and Juanita Mabel Behn
Second Wife: Delilah Evangeline Rentie
Children: Harold Morris Behn and Hartle Mae Behn-Bennett
Third Wife: Beatrice Flossie Wilson
Children: Frederick Hill Behn, Jr., Alice Vivian Behn-Burrus, and Willie Esther Behn-Lewis
*************
The following is taken from the program of the Frederick Hill Behn Family Reunion, held August 31, 2002, at the Four Points Hotel Sheraton, 5451 North Gates, Fresno, California:
"Frederick Hill Behn. What do we know about him? We know that he was born a slave on his father's plantation in Thomas County, Georgia in 1860. It wasn't until January 1, 1863 that the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in States rebellious to the Union, was passed. His father was German and his mother was from West Africa. As a result of this union, there were four sons and two daughters.
"We know that Frederick was very religious. In fact, he started preaching when he was only 17 years of age. He was highly respected by the members of his community, who referred to him as 'Reverend Behn.' To his children, however, he was simply 'Poppa.'
"We know that he was very industrious. His father left Georgia and took his family to Texas when he was a small child. He worked very hard as a farmer until he was able to purchase his own farm on the Brazos River in Grimes County. In 1900, he left Texas for Oklahoma and managed to purchase his own home in 1903. By 1906, he owned 280 acres of land! Then in 1925, he became the proud owner of a brand new car!
"We know that he had a lot of pride and concern for his community. Even though he had only a fourth grade education, he knew how important education was for survival in a racist environment. His concern extended beyond the needs of his children into his entire community for which he had a school built on his property. It was called the Behn School and it was the first school in his community, which had a staff of educated teachers.
"Reverend Behn did not allow himself to be confined to the limits that society placed upon him because of his race. He participated in the local politics of his community and built a reputation of integrity, hard work, and responsibility. It was because of this reputation and his pride that he managed to be successful in an atmosphere which was extremely immersed in racism. That racism did not prevent him from standing up for his rights. After the stock market crash of 1929, banks were required to only return 15 percent of the holdings of its customers. Many blacks were afraid to ask for their money for fear of retaliation from bankers. Not Reverend Behn! He demanded and received his money, which amounted to $4,500. Thus, he must have had a savings of $30,000 in the bank in 1929!
"And finally, we know that Reverend Behn was a good parent. His children never feared that he would ever desert them or fail to provide for them. He died on December 13, 1937 at the age of 77, leaving an inheritance of land to his youngest children, along with a rich legacy of leadership qualities for them and our community to emulate."
Mother: Nancy Green King, born approximately 1837, birthplace unknown.
Siblings: Laura, Polly, John, Prince, and Edward "Edd"Behn
First Wife: Emma Behn
Children: Milton Ward Behn, Addie Behn, Mamie Behn, Mattison Behn, and Juanita Mabel Behn
Second Wife: Delilah Evangeline Rentie
Children: Harold Morris Behn and Hartle Mae Behn-Bennett
Third Wife: Beatrice Flossie Wilson
Children: Frederick Hill Behn, Jr., Alice Vivian Behn-Burrus, and Willie Esther Behn-Lewis
*************
The following is taken from the program of the Frederick Hill Behn Family Reunion, held August 31, 2002, at the Four Points Hotel Sheraton, 5451 North Gates, Fresno, California:
"Frederick Hill Behn. What do we know about him? We know that he was born a slave on his father's plantation in Thomas County, Georgia in 1860. It wasn't until January 1, 1863 that the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in States rebellious to the Union, was passed. His father was German and his mother was from West Africa. As a result of this union, there were four sons and two daughters.
"We know that Frederick was very religious. In fact, he started preaching when he was only 17 years of age. He was highly respected by the members of his community, who referred to him as 'Reverend Behn.' To his children, however, he was simply 'Poppa.'
"We know that he was very industrious. His father left Georgia and took his family to Texas when he was a small child. He worked very hard as a farmer until he was able to purchase his own farm on the Brazos River in Grimes County. In 1900, he left Texas for Oklahoma and managed to purchase his own home in 1903. By 1906, he owned 280 acres of land! Then in 1925, he became the proud owner of a brand new car!
"We know that he had a lot of pride and concern for his community. Even though he had only a fourth grade education, he knew how important education was for survival in a racist environment. His concern extended beyond the needs of his children into his entire community for which he had a school built on his property. It was called the Behn School and it was the first school in his community, which had a staff of educated teachers.
"Reverend Behn did not allow himself to be confined to the limits that society placed upon him because of his race. He participated in the local politics of his community and built a reputation of integrity, hard work, and responsibility. It was because of this reputation and his pride that he managed to be successful in an atmosphere which was extremely immersed in racism. That racism did not prevent him from standing up for his rights. After the stock market crash of 1929, banks were required to only return 15 percent of the holdings of its customers. Many blacks were afraid to ask for their money for fear of retaliation from bankers. Not Reverend Behn! He demanded and received his money, which amounted to $4,500. Thus, he must have had a savings of $30,000 in the bank in 1929!
"And finally, we know that Reverend Behn was a good parent. His children never feared that he would ever desert them or fail to provide for them. He died on December 13, 1937 at the age of 77, leaving an inheritance of land to his youngest children, along with a rich legacy of leadership qualities for them and our community to emulate."
Father: George Washington Behn, born 1813, South Carolina
Mother: Nancy Green King, born approximately 1837, birthplace unknown.
Siblings: Laura, Polly, John, Prince, and Edward "Edd"Behn
First Wife: Emma Behn
Children: Milton Ward Behn, Addie Behn, Mamie Behn, Mattison Behn, and Juanita Mabel Behn
Second Wife: Delilah Evangeline Rentie
Children: Harold Morris Behn and Hartle Mae Behn-Bennett
Third Wife: Beatrice Flossie Wilson
Children: Frederick Hill Behn, Jr., Alice Vivian Behn-Burrus, and Willie Esther Behn-Lewis
*************
The following is taken from the program of the Frederick Hill Behn Family Reunion, held August 31, 2002, at the Four Points Hotel Sheraton, 5451 North Gates, Fresno, California:
"Frederick Hill Behn. What do we know about him? We know that he was born a slave on his father's plantation in Thomas County, Georgia in 1860. It wasn't until January 1, 1863 that the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in States rebellious to the Union, was passed. His father was German and his mother was from West Africa. As a result of this union, there were four sons and two daughters.
"We know that Frederick was very religious. In fact, he started preaching when he was only 17 years of age. He was highly respected by the members of his community, who referred to him as 'Reverend Behn.' To his children, however, he was simply 'Poppa.'
"We know that he was very industrious. His father left Georgia and took his family to Texas when he was a small child. He worked very hard as a farmer until he was able to purchase his own farm on the Brazos River in Grimes County. In 1900, he left Texas for Oklahoma and managed to purchase his own home in 1903. By 1906, he owned 280 acres of land! Then in 1925, he became the proud owner of a brand new car!
"We know that he had a lot of pride and concern for his community. Even though he had only a fourth grade education, he knew how important education was for survival in a racist environment. His concern extended beyond the needs of his children into his entire community for which he had a school built on his property. It was called the Behn School and it was the first school in his community, which had a staff of educated teachers.
"Reverend Behn did not allow himself to be confined to the limits that society placed upon him because of his race. He participated in the local politics of his community and built a reputation of integrity, hard work, and responsibility. It was because of this reputation and his pride that he managed to be successful in an atmosphere which was extremely immersed in racism. That racism did not prevent him from standing up for his rights. After the stock market crash of 1929, banks were required to only return 15 percent of the holdings of its customers. Many blacks were afraid to ask for their money for fear of retaliation from bankers. Not Reverend Behn! He demanded and received his money, which amounted to $4,500. Thus, he must have had a savings of $30,000 in the bank in 1929!
"And finally, we know that Reverend Behn was a good parent. His children never feared that he would ever desert them or fail to provide for them. He died on December 13, 1937 at the age of 77, leaving an inheritance of land to his youngest children, along with a rich legacy of leadership qualities for them and our community to emulate."
Mother: Nancy Green King, born approximately 1837, birthplace unknown.
Siblings: Laura, Polly, John, Prince, and Edward "Edd"Behn
First Wife: Emma Behn
Children: Milton Ward Behn, Addie Behn, Mamie Behn, Mattison Behn, and Juanita Mabel Behn
Second Wife: Delilah Evangeline Rentie
Children: Harold Morris Behn and Hartle Mae Behn-Bennett
Third Wife: Beatrice Flossie Wilson
Children: Frederick Hill Behn, Jr., Alice Vivian Behn-Burrus, and Willie Esther Behn-Lewis
*************
The following is taken from the program of the Frederick Hill Behn Family Reunion, held August 31, 2002, at the Four Points Hotel Sheraton, 5451 North Gates, Fresno, California:
"Frederick Hill Behn. What do we know about him? We know that he was born a slave on his father's plantation in Thomas County, Georgia in 1860. It wasn't until January 1, 1863 that the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in States rebellious to the Union, was passed. His father was German and his mother was from West Africa. As a result of this union, there were four sons and two daughters.
"We know that Frederick was very religious. In fact, he started preaching when he was only 17 years of age. He was highly respected by the members of his community, who referred to him as 'Reverend Behn.' To his children, however, he was simply 'Poppa.'
"We know that he was very industrious. His father left Georgia and took his family to Texas when he was a small child. He worked very hard as a farmer until he was able to purchase his own farm on the Brazos River in Grimes County. In 1900, he left Texas for Oklahoma and managed to purchase his own home in 1903. By 1906, he owned 280 acres of land! Then in 1925, he became the proud owner of a brand new car!
"We know that he had a lot of pride and concern for his community. Even though he had only a fourth grade education, he knew how important education was for survival in a racist environment. His concern extended beyond the needs of his children into his entire community for which he had a school built on his property. It was called the Behn School and it was the first school in his community, which had a staff of educated teachers.
"Reverend Behn did not allow himself to be confined to the limits that society placed upon him because of his race. He participated in the local politics of his community and built a reputation of integrity, hard work, and responsibility. It was because of this reputation and his pride that he managed to be successful in an atmosphere which was extremely immersed in racism. That racism did not prevent him from standing up for his rights. After the stock market crash of 1929, banks were required to only return 15 percent of the holdings of its customers. Many blacks were afraid to ask for their money for fear of retaliation from bankers. Not Reverend Behn! He demanded and received his money, which amounted to $4,500. Thus, he must have had a savings of $30,000 in the bank in 1929!
"And finally, we know that Reverend Behn was a good parent. His children never feared that he would ever desert them or fail to provide for them. He died on December 13, 1937 at the age of 77, leaving an inheritance of land to his youngest children, along with a rich legacy of leadership qualities for them and our community to emulate."
Family Members
Siblings
