2 January 2015

Benjamin Friedrich Fiegenbaum

1865 — 1934

Biographical Material

The Ninth Biennial Report of the Kansas State Board of Health reported on business conducted between 30 June 1916 and 30 June 1918. One item concerning changes in personnel had a bearing on our family history.

At the Second Quarterly Meeting of the State Board of Health, held in the City of Manhattan on 2 November 1917, "the appointment of Mr. F. E. Rowland as assistant chief food and drug inspector was unanimously confirmed" (see page 56 of the Ninth Biennial Report).

Mr. Rowland's promotion triggered a search for his replacement, which in turn initiated a state-wide examination for eligible candidates.

Report of the Secretary at the Third Quarterly Meeting of the State Board of Health,

Held in the city of Lawrence, March 29, 1918.

• • • • •

Following the promotion of Drug Inspector Frank E. Rowland to the position of assistant chief food and drug inspector, by which a vacancy in the drug inspector's working force was made, application was made to

page 58

the State Civil Service Commission for an eligible list of drug inspectors, whereupon the Commission called for a competitive examination, which resulted in certifying to the department the name of Mr. Benjamin F. Fiegenbaum as the only person who had passed the examination and was eligible for appointment.  Accordingly, the following letter was sent to Mr. Fiegenbaum:

December 13, 1917.

Mr. Benjamin F. Fiegenbaum, 937 Kentucky Avenue, Lawrence, Kan.:

Dear Sir -- I have to advise that the State Civil Service Commission has certified to me your name as eligible to the position of drug inspector for the Kansas State Board of Health.  The salary of this position is $100 a month and traveling expenses for the first year, $110 for the second year, and $125 per month thereafter.

Under the rules of the Board, three names should be certified in the eligible list, but inasmuch as only one name certified, which leaves no choice of applicants, I am, therefore asking you to accept the position of drug inspector for the State Board of Health under the following conditions:

First:  A six months' probationary period, after which, if the work is agreeable to you and your work is acceptable to the State Board of Health, a permanent appointment shall be made.

Second:  Inasmuch as the appointing power is the State Board of Health, the final appointment by the Board cannot be made until their next meeting, which would be in March, 1918, or it may not be until in June 1918.  There is no doubt, however, but what the Board will confirm the appointment if by that time the situation is satisfactory to all parties concerned.

If, then, you wish to accept the appointment of drug inspector for the State Board of Health under the above conditions, please to advise me, and report for duty at Topeka on the morning of January 2.

Respectfully,

S. J. Crumbine, M.D., Secretary.

Mr. Fiegenbaum accepted the conditions of the appointment and is now at work, and thus far his work is entirely satisfactory.

page 59

Minutes of the Third Quarterly Meeting of the State Board of Health,

Held in the city of Lawrence, Kan., March 29 1918.

• • • • •

The recommendations of the secretary were then taken up for discussion, and, upon motion, the following recommendations were unanimously adopted: ....

Third.  The appointment of Mr. Benjamin F. Fiegenbaum as drug inspector upon the conditions named in his letter of notification.

page 68

Source: Kansas. State Board of Health., Biennial Report, volume 9 (1916-1918), pages 56, 58-59, 67, 68.

"Ninth Biennial Report being the 33rd and 34th annual reports of the State Board of Health of the State of Kansas; June 30, 1916 to June 30, 1918."

Apparently, Benjamin F. Fiegenbaum did show up for work at Topeka, Kansas in January 1918. And his work during the first half of the probationary period, up to the end of March, was satisfactory enough for him to continue as a state drug inspector.

Brief Genealogy

Benjamin Friedrich Fiegenbaum's family

Myrtle Maud Darling's family

The history of Myrtle Darling's family is not well known at this time. The parents, T. C. and Sarah Darling< were born and married in Canada. They had a least three children:

  • Maggie Darling ( ? - ? )
  • Myrtle Maud Darling (1870-1954)
  • Alice Grace Darling (about 1874 - ?)

Fiegenbaum - Darling family

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