Elder F. Obenchain

1904 - Jun 23 - Almon P. Jenks and wife to Elder F. Obenchain; lot in Union tp. $700

1904 - Jul 7 E. F. Obenchain of Loganpsort has purchased the A. P. Jenks cottage on Long Point and has taken possession

County Treasurer Missing

Logansport Man Soid to Be $50,000 SHort.

COunty Treasure Frank Obenchain of Logansport, has been missing for three weeks and Monday his bondsman placed Jacob Guthried in charge pending an accounting. It is known there is a large shortage which is extimated in the neighborhood of $50,000. Obenchain, it is said, has been heavily interested in Virginia oil companies. - Dec 15 1904 Citizen

Quarter of a Million Short

A Misisng Indiana Treasurer Is a Big Defaulter

LOgansport, Ind., Dec. 15, - Elder Frank Obenchain, treasurer of Cass county has been declared a defaulter. His thrity-six bondsmen have assumed charge of the office and placed one of their number, Joseph Gutherie, in charge of the books and funds. It is saind his deflacation may amount to #250,000

Obencohain hemselh has disappeared. He was at first thought to be in CHicago and his relatives went to the home of Frank Rimpley, a CHicago musician, in the hope that Miss Tillie RImpler, of this city, who was visiting her brother, cvould throw some light on Obenchain's absence and his finanical entanlements.
Miss RImply convinced them she k new nothing. SHe returned to Loganspor this morning to clear herself of suspicion. SHe had left Logansport a week ago, having been emplooyed in the treasurer's office.

''Obenchain, it is said was the victiom of ooooverconfidence in his friends. Accoding to his bondsmen he got little or the missing funds, having loaned the money to men who were organizing various companies. Securoties were found showing the ha had loaned $13,000 to Wilson, umpheries & Co., a wholesale printing house that does much of the county wowwrk and wished to reoorganize; $12,000 to the Miskimen Furnance COmpany, of which he was made president; $7,000 to Senator J. G. Powell, who is completing a ditch in this county, and like sums to others for similar ventures, with only personal security and charging no interest.

The bondsmen allege that Obenchain purchased $12,000 worth of city real estate, invested $5,000 in oil and gas companies in West Virginia and Indiana and loaned probably $15,000 to individuals on presonal notes od hand. They are convinced that he tool little with him when he left. There is still $54,000 of the county's money in the city banks.

SOme sources give the estimated complete defalcation at $250,000m but those in closest touch of the affair places the amount at a much lower figure.

Obenchanin was a thrity-second degree Mason and a SHriner, an ELk and an Eagle and Knight of Phythias.

During the last campaign he was the democratic county chairman. He had held the treasurership for two terms, running far ahead of his ticket. Owen McGreevy, a republicanm was elected last Novemebr to succeed Obenchain, although Obenchain, as chairman, bent every effort to elect the democratic nominee in order to gain time to repace the funds it is alleged. - Sioux City, Iowa 16 Dec 1904

Shortage May Reach $150,000 - NY Times Dec 18, 1904

Dozen Bondsmen and Three Banks Prehaps Ruined by Fugitive Official

Speicial to the New York Times

Loganspport, Ind., Dec 18 - The shortage in the accounts of Elder Frank Obenchain, Treasurer of Cass County, has proved so much more extensive than at first supposed that it now threatens not only the bankruptcy of his dozen bondsmen, but the financil ruin of three or four business firms.

It already has caused the appointment of a recveiver for the Milskimen Furnance Company, fo which Obenchain was Treasurer, and a brief run on three local banks.

His bondsmen have learned that in addition to having a shortage of $50,000 which the records show he advanced to private firms and individuals, Obenchain had another shortage of $25,000, which he now is believed to have taken with him when he fled.

HIs bondsmen will confer Wednesday to consider offering $100,00 reward for Obenchain's arresst. The impression prevails that thediscrepancies will reach $150,00.

Elder F. Obenchain the defaulting cass county treasurer may yet may his indebtedness in full. Word was received that the Cann Manington Oil CO. of which Obernchain owned nearly 2000 shares struck a 500 barrell well. If this proves true this well alone will pay his indebtedness = Jan. 12 1905 Citizen The commissioners of Cass county compromised with the bondsmen of defaulting Obenchain at 50 cents on the dollar - Sept 21 1905 Citizen

E. F. Obencahin by sheriff to Wickizer-Bondurant CO., 1/2 acre in lot 3 in 21-32-1 $731 - Citiizen

Elder Franklin "Frank" Obenchain BIRTH 12 FEB 1867 Logansport, Cass, Indiana DEATH 29 AUG 1942 Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand as William James Robertson BURIAL Hillsborough Cemetery Hillsborough, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand son of Allen Stair Obenchain and Eliza Jane Obenchain The death has occured of Mr. WIlliam James RObertson, aged 76, of 117 Mountain Raod, Epson, born in Canada he c ame to New Zeland 38 years ago with one of the first geological survey parties prospecting for petroleum and for the greater part of his business career was assocoiated with the perroleum inducstry for a number of years. Mrs. Robertson was Deputy Mayor of Dargaville. He is survived by his wife and four children - Auckland Star Aug 31 1942 NOTE his change of idenity was found on Ancestry.

married 24 Apr 1888 South Bend, Indiana, Mary A Barnhart BIRTH 14 JUN 1865 North Liberty, St Joseph, Indiana DEATH 26 Apr 1958 Flora, Carroll County, Indiana BURIAL Highland Cemetery South Bend, St. Joseph County, Indiana, daughter of John Naff Barnhart and Mary J. Peffley Barnhart

Asks to Sell Home
Mrs. Obernchain Left in Beed by Her Fugitive Husband

Logansport Ind., Oct. 24 - FOrced through necessity to sell her little home to provide for oheself and three children, Mrs. Mary A. Obenchain, wife of Elder Frank Obenchain, the absconding treasurer of Cass county, who has not been heard from since he left Logansport nearly two years ago, after looting the county treasury of more than $60,000, has asked the Cass circuit court for permission to oconvey the property without her husband;s consent.

The property consoists of a himble little home on the north side, and in her petition she says she an oppertunity to dispose of it for $1,200.

The property has always been in her name and was not inclusded in the assets of Obenchain, all of which were disposed of for the benefit of his bondsmen.

Mrs. Obenchoain maked affidavit that she knows n othing of the whereabouts of her fugitive hisband. - The South Bend Tribune - 1906-10-24


Mrs. Mary A. Obenchain filed a bill in the circuit court for a decress from Elder Frank Obenchain, claiming he abandoned her and their four children. The COuple was married April 24 1888 and separated Dec. 3, 1904 - 16 Apr 1910 South Bend, Indiana

They had

Roland Ross Obenchain 1890–1961
Mildred M Obenchain 1892–1942
John Allen Obenchain 1894–1945
Edgar Thomas Obenchain 1900–1994

married 2nd 1907 Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand Ellen (Nell) Bridget Grayden 1877–1961

They had:

Allen Grayden James Robertson 1908–1988
Marie (Molly) Phyllis Robertson 1910–2014
Gladys Joan Robertson 1911–1993
Peter Franklin Robertson 1916–1995

1870 United States Federal Census 	
Name	Elder F Obenchain
Age in 1870	3
Birth Date	abt 1867
Birthplace	Indiana
Dwelling Number	20
Home in 1870	Adams, Cass, Indiana
Race	White
Gender	Male
Post Office	Logansport
Inferred Father	
Allen Obenchain
Inferred Mother	
Eliza J Obenchain

1880 United States Federal Census 
Name	Elmer F. Obenchain
Age	13
Birth Date	Abt 1867
Birthplace	Indiana
Home in 1880	Adams, Cass, Indiana, USA
Dwelling Number	26
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Son
Marital Status	Single
Father's Name	Allen Obenchain
Father's Birthplace	Virginia
Mother's Name	Eliza J. Obenchain
Mother's Birthplace	Ohio
Occupation	At Home
Attended School	Yes

Indiana, U.S., Marriages, 1810-2001 
Name	Elder F Obenchain
Gender	Male
Event Type	Marriage Registration (Marriage)
Marriage Date	24 Apr 1888
Marriage Place	South Bend, Indiana, United States
Spouse	 Mary A Barnhart
Page	139
FHL Film Number	001503392

1900 United States Federal Census 
Name	Elder F Obenchain [Elder T Obenchain]
Age	33
Birth Date	Feb 1867
Birthplace	Indiana, USA
Home in 1900	Eel, Cass, Indiana
Ward of City	4 (Part)
Street	Ottowa
House Number	13
Sheet Number	5
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation	119
Family Number	115
Race	White
Gender	Male
Relation to Head of House	Head
Marital Status	Married
Spouse's Name	Marry A Obenchain
Marriage Year	1888
Years Married	12
Father's Birthplace	Virginia, USA
Mother's Birthplace	Ohio, USA
Occupation	Traveling Salesman
Months Not Employed	None
Can Read	Y
Can Write	Y
Can Speak English	Y
House Owned or Rented	Own
Home Free or Mortgaged	Mortgaged
Farm or House	H
Neighbors	View others on page
Household Members (Name)	Age	Relationship
Elder F Obenchain	33	Head
Marry A Obenchain 34	Wife
Roland R Obenchain 9	Son
Mildred M Obenchain 7	Daughter
John A Obenchain 6	Son
Thomas E Obenchain 3/12	Son