Felix Benjamin married Emma Clara Joice on July 23, 1879 in Parham, Frontenac County, Ontario, Canada.   Together they adopted one childe, Lena.  (Emma was born November 23, 1861 in Napanee, Ontario, and died January 21, 1916 in Yarker, Ontario.  Emma was buried in Riverside Cemetery in Yarker.)

At time of his marriage to Emma, Felix was a resident of Hinchinbrooke, Ontario.

Felix's father Elijah Wesley Benjamin died in 1910.  Felix's wife Emma received a bequest of $1,000 in the will of Felix's father.  Isobel (Benjamin) Ross writes, "...on the death of his father [he, Felix] demanded that his share of the business be sold; took the cash and moved to Sask, where he managed to lose most of his money on horses."

Felix's wife Emma died in 1916.  Her will, dated August 11, 1911, was proved on March 18, 1916. The inscription on the Benjamin tombstone in Yarker Cemetery put Emma's death year at 1915, which differs from that given when her will was proved. Emma was referred to as "Aunt Felix" by Albert Benjamin's children.

After Emma's death, Felix married Margaret Howitt.  According to Donelda McGregor, "Margaret and her sister Agnes were 'Bernardo Children' sent from Scotland to Canada to work for famillies here; they were split up - each to an unknown location.  The sisters became reunited after Agnes's marriage to David Dafoe.  About this time Margaret was hired to care for Felix's ailing wife who was dying. When Emma passed away Felix and Margaret became 'an item;' the talk of the older folks of Yarker for years because at the time they were living common law.

According to descendants of Felix's brother Albert, Felix may have headed west after Emma's death; Felix sold his part of the business, the Benjamin Wheel Factory. They thought they'd try farming out west - possibly in Saskatchewan or Alberta. Their only son, Newt, may have been born out west.

According to Donelda McGregor, Felix died "out west" and was buried there. Thus, though his name appears on the Benjamin memorial stone in Yarker Cemetery, his body is likely not there.

1. Barbara Winn blwinn@citenet.net