Rhetty, thanks for posting this! My name is Ben Kiehn as well, and the Ben in your video was my great grandfather. His son (my grandpa) is still alive and is 92 now. I live in Fort Worth and just visited Bessie this summer for the first time in years to see the monument. It's great to see his memory is still alive and being told.
+Ben Kiehn You're certainly welcome and thank you for commenting. I thought it was a small town story worth telling. I'm happy to know that this reached family and it's wonderful that you're named in his honor. I'm glad that the town and others decided to keep his legacy alive. He had to be quite the man for that to happen.
Small world, my great grandfather was Ben’s brother, Peter Kiehn! It’s been several generations since any of this side of the family have visited Bessie, so we’re really excited to find this video. Thank you for documenting Ben Kiehn’s story!
It is amazing to see how much love a town can muster for the memory of one of its most beloved citizens. Before FDIC, if a bank was robbed, the citizens lost their money as it was not insured. That is why bankers would sometimes lose their lives to robbers rather then lose the faith of their community.
This coop is still in use. Part of the mural has a famous picture of the coop taken during wheat harvest when it was very busy. But yea, some are no longer used. There are some that have been turned into rock climbing places.
+mat2ew I haven't seen that picture but I figured it was probably from a picture. Many of these all over in Oklahoma and even out of the state are closing. Kind of sad.
Yep. I think there's a copy in the town museum. Sometime I'll see if I can find it. Yeah, just a lot of up keep hasn't been done on buildings all around the state for years. So we are looking them now.
Just wanted to Add that I have been making Delivers to two different companies in Bessie, OK for the past 5 or so years. One is a food source for elderly and such called GRANNA'S. The people are very friendly and kind.. They work hard and always busy boxing up food for those in need. Thanks for informing others of this history, I find this very interesting. PS that Mural on side of building is actually very well done very impressive seeing it in person...
+Troy Avey Thanks for sharing your connection with the town. I really liked the little town and thought it had a lot of charm. The mural and the memorials are very impressive!
You should be sure to come by Bessie on the first Monday in March each year. That's when we have our annual Pancake and Whole Hog sausage supper. The community and fire department spend all week before: cleaning, prepping, butchering, cooking, etc. The first Monday of each March we have the supper that evening. The money goes to support the fire department. There's always a huge turn out for it. And we have people come back to Bessie from all over the country for it. It's like a family / town reunion each year. It's held in the gym. If you look back at the video, you'll see all of our stoves up on the stage. The Herold Mennonite Church has a balcony at the back of the sanctuary. The rest of the area is just open, so yes, it has a tall ceiling. The Peace Lutheran Church on the highway, yes it's the one in the mural, is the same. It has a balcony as well. It also has a basement area for meeting / family reunions / etc. Parts of the Meat Market and Hardware store are still inside of the Fire station. Including an old apartment. Those buildings will be torn down in a few years, as a new fire station will be built. I hate to see them go. But they are in bad shape.
+mat2ew Thank you for the inside information on the town and some of the structures. I'll have to try and remember that on the first Monday in March. That's pretty neat and I'm all for helping out a local fire department. I don't know anyone in that town but I do like it. It had a nice little charm about it. Those churches sound really nice and they definitely looked nice on the outside. I've passed by the Lutheran Church and cemetery for years on the way to Rocky but I never stopped by all the rest until I filmed this video. I'm sad to hear about those buildings being torn down. It's definitely part of the towns history. I love old structures like that and it would be neat to see the inside of them.
@@mat2ew is Bessie as nice as it looks? We're looking at a move in a couple years and it's high on our short list of possibilities. We're looking for quiet, a decent size place for a garden, very few (fewer the better) people and a bit of freedom to just Live. Thank you
This is GREAT!!! Bessie was my mother's home town and almost a place of pilgrimage for our family. My parents were married there at the Peace Lutheran Church. I've been there countless times and been in the gym and knew older people who knew Ben Kiehn. My late uncle Gilbert Schimmel played a big role in those new brick memorials on the old bank site. But I'd never heard the full story of the robbery. My teeny tiny criticism: I ALWAYS heard Ben's name pronounced as "KEEN" not "kine." "Keen" is in accordance with standard German pronunciation of "ie". And Bessie was a very German town ethnically.
If I remember correctly one of the relatives made a comment stating the correct pronunciation. I had no idea so I'm sorry about that. I had just passed the sign for years and was curious. I'm glad I researched the story though. Thank you for watching!
@@RhettyforHistory no biggy about the name (said the guy is not of the Kiehn family). I did see the posts by Ben's namesake. Very cool! I'm still amazed and impressed with the details you learned. Was this information-- presumably from contemporary news papers as well as other sources -- gained thru "grave finding" sites? I once found a picture of Ben in a book about Oklahoma Units in WW1, but I never did find any news reports of the robbery. And back when I was a kid, the older Bessie folks I knew didn't recall many details. Very well done all around. OK. I'll try to stop gushing with amazement.
RhettyforFun very interesting indeed. I was in middle school when I lived there. And went to a couple pancake breakfast in the old gym. And there was a store right across from where the old bank was.
And thanks for sharing. I just ran across your channel today when I seen your fb post about crossroads mall. I look forward to watching more of your insightful video's.
Interesting historical story with such human interest. Nice to know that small town hasn't forgotten their town hero. Since a I had a very dear Aunt Bessie.... I am wondering who the town was named after? Was Bessie a famous character also? Thanks for sharing~
+Stitchy Rebel Thanks for watching and commenting! I think they have done a fantastic job of keeping his legacy alive. This town derived its name from the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railway. It was referred to the BES Line. This town basically moved to its present location in 1903 and changed its name at the same time because of that.
Oh, one more thing just for the sake of anyone watching or reading, it's actually pronounced "keen". But don't worry, pretty much everyone says "kine" or "kee-uhn" when they read it, no worries just wanted you to know.
+Ben Kiehn I'm sorry for the mis-pronunciation. I feel bad. I actually tried to Google how to pronounce it and that's what they said. Of course I could see no videos on the name, only articles. I was hoping to run into townsfolk when I was there but I think they all thought I was weird in this small town for filming this and just kept driving by. I've heard from a couple people that lived in the town and they never mentioned anything about the name so I wonder if they even knew. Thank you though for pointing that out. I definitely wanted it correct.
@@RhettyforHistory Yeah. most of the older Germans and certainly the folks who knew Ben, have passed away. Thanks for bringing this great story to light, and in such a truly great way. I'm excitedly sharing it with all my Bessie-related family (even the ones who don't talk to me any more-- hahah!)
Rhetty, thanks for posting this! My name is Ben Kiehn as well, and the Ben in your video was my great grandfather. His son (my grandpa) is still alive and is 92 now. I live in Fort Worth and just visited Bessie this summer for the first time in years to see the monument. It's great to see his memory is still alive and being told.
+Ben Kiehn You're certainly welcome and thank you for commenting. I thought it was a small town story worth telling. I'm happy to know that this reached family and it's wonderful that you're named in his honor. I'm glad that the town and others decided to keep his legacy alive. He had to be quite the man for that to happen.
Wow! Small world!
Small world, my great grandfather was Ben’s brother, Peter Kiehn! It’s been several generations since any of this side of the family have visited Bessie, so we’re really excited to find this video. Thank you for documenting Ben Kiehn’s story!
What a sad and tragic story. Glad you're keeping his legacy alive though.
+E. Keith It's sad but I thought his story needed to be told and shared. Thank you for watching.
It is amazing to see how much love a town can muster for the memory of one of its most beloved citizens. Before FDIC, if a bank was robbed, the citizens lost their money as it was not insured. That is why bankers would sometimes lose their lives to robbers rather then lose the faith of their community.
You're right about that. They were ready to defend all.
I love seeing old fire stations and old coops
+Tampa Jay We have a lot in Oklahoma and many of the Coops are abandoned now.
This coop is still in use. Part of the mural has a famous picture of the coop taken during wheat harvest when it was very busy.
But yea, some are no longer used. There are some that have been turned into rock climbing places.
+mat2ew I haven't seen that picture but I figured it was probably from a picture. Many of these all over in Oklahoma and even out of the state are closing. Kind of sad.
Yep. I think there's a copy in the town museum. Sometime I'll see if I can find it.
Yeah, just a lot of up keep hasn't been done on buildings all around the state for years. So we are looking them now.
+mat2ew I didn't realize there was a town museum there. Where is that?
Beautiful little town and a wonderful story of such a hero.
It really is great that they have embraced their history and kept his memory going. Thank you for watching!
That was an excellent history. I never would've known. I'm glad you shared that and you did it so awesome as always buddy
+Tampa Jay Thanks Jay for the kind words and I appreciate you watching.
RhettyforFun it's my pleasure dude
Just wanted to Add that I have been making Delivers to two different companies in Bessie, OK for the past 5 or so years. One is a food source for elderly and such called GRANNA'S. The people are very friendly and kind.. They work hard and always busy boxing up food for those in need.
Thanks for informing others of this history, I find this very interesting.
PS that Mural on side of building is actually very well done very impressive seeing it in person...
+Troy Avey Thanks for sharing your connection with the town. I really liked the little town and thought it had a lot of charm. The mural and the memorials are very impressive!
You should be sure to come by Bessie on the first Monday in March each year. That's when we have our annual Pancake and Whole Hog sausage supper. The community and fire department spend all week before: cleaning, prepping, butchering, cooking, etc. The first Monday of each March we have the supper that evening. The money goes to support the fire department. There's always a huge turn out for it. And we have people come back to Bessie from all over the country for it. It's like a family / town reunion each year. It's held in the gym. If you look back at the video, you'll see all of our stoves up on the stage.
The Herold Mennonite Church has a balcony at the back of the sanctuary. The rest of the area is just open, so yes, it has a tall ceiling. The Peace Lutheran Church on the highway, yes it's the one in the mural, is the same. It has a balcony as well. It also has a basement area for meeting / family reunions / etc.
Parts of the Meat Market and Hardware store are still inside of the Fire station. Including an old apartment. Those buildings will be torn down in a few years, as a new fire station will be built. I hate to see them go. But they are in bad shape.
+mat2ew Thank you for the inside information on the town and some of the structures. I'll have to try and remember that on the first Monday in March. That's pretty neat and I'm all for helping out a local fire department. I don't know anyone in that town but I do like it. It had a nice little charm about it.
Those churches sound really nice and they definitely looked nice on the outside. I've passed by the Lutheran Church and cemetery for years on the way to Rocky but I never stopped by all the rest until I filmed this video.
I'm sad to hear about those buildings being torn down. It's definitely part of the towns history. I love old structures like that and it would be neat to see the inside of them.
Yep. Just stop by in March. You know me now.
@@mat2ew is Bessie as nice as it looks? We're looking at a move in a couple years and it's high on our short list of possibilities. We're looking for quiet, a decent size place for a garden, very few (fewer the better) people and a bit of freedom to just Live. Thank you
Beautiful video,! God bless you and your family. Worderful story.
Thank you and I appreciate you watching!
This is GREAT!!! Bessie was my mother's home town and almost a place of pilgrimage for our family. My parents were married there at the Peace Lutheran Church. I've been there countless times and been in the gym and knew older people who knew Ben Kiehn. My late uncle Gilbert Schimmel played a big role in those new brick memorials on the old bank site. But I'd never heard the full story of the robbery.
My teeny tiny criticism: I ALWAYS heard Ben's name pronounced as "KEEN" not "kine." "Keen" is in accordance with standard German pronunciation of "ie". And Bessie was a very German town ethnically.
If I remember correctly one of the relatives made a comment stating the correct pronunciation. I had no idea so I'm sorry about that. I had just passed the sign for years and was curious. I'm glad I researched the story though. Thank you for watching!
@@RhettyforHistory no biggy about the name (said the guy is not of the Kiehn family). I did see the posts by Ben's namesake. Very cool! I'm still amazed and impressed with the details you learned. Was this information-- presumably from contemporary news papers as well as other sources -- gained thru "grave finding" sites? I once found a picture of Ben in a book about Oklahoma Units in WW1, but I never did find any news reports of the robbery. And back when I was a kid, the older Bessie folks I knew didn't recall many details. Very well done all around. OK. I'll try to stop gushing with amazement.
I had some information that the banking association had on him as well as just a few other sources like a more modern newspaper story.
Enjoyed it very much thank you again!!
You're welcome and thank you for watching Robert!
Inflation Calculation $800.00 in 1928
$11,164.49 in 2017
+Cemetery Devil That puts it into a little more perspective for everyone. Thanks for converting it!
That's very interesting. Thank you.
You're welcome and thank you for watching Woodrow!
You have the most interesting video's. I look forward to every one. Thanks' for doing this and all the others.
+Flo Costa Thank you for watching. I'm glad to hear you enjoy them.
RhettyforFun I lived in Bessie for 2 years in the mid 80's. Had slot of fun in that little town. Thanks for sharing
+Greg S. It's a great looking little town. I though Ben's story was interesting. Thanks for watching!
RhettyforFun very interesting indeed. I was in middle school when I lived there. And went to a couple pancake breakfast in the old gym. And there was a store right across from where the old bank was.
And thanks for sharing. I just ran across your channel today when I seen your fb post about crossroads mall. I look forward to watching more of your insightful video's.
Informative and engaging.
Thank you so much for watching!
Lovely story to a very brave man great video rhetty💦💦
Thank you Sandy!
Interesting historical story with such human interest. Nice to know that small town hasn't forgotten their town hero. Since a I had a very dear Aunt Bessie.... I am wondering who the town was named after? Was Bessie a famous character also? Thanks for sharing~
+Stitchy Rebel Thanks for watching and commenting! I think they have done a fantastic job of keeping his legacy alive. This town derived its name from the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railway. It was referred to the BES Line. This town basically moved to its present location in 1903 and changed its name at the same time because of that.
This is correct.
Oh, one more thing just for the sake of anyone watching or reading, it's actually pronounced "keen". But don't worry, pretty much everyone says "kine" or "kee-uhn" when they read it, no worries just wanted you to know.
+Ben Kiehn I'm sorry for the mis-pronunciation. I feel bad. I actually tried to Google how to pronounce it and that's what they said. Of course I could see no videos on the name, only articles. I was hoping to run into townsfolk when I was there but I think they all thought I was weird in this small town for filming this and just kept driving by. I've heard from a couple people that lived in the town and they never mentioned anything about the name so I wonder if they even knew. Thank you though for pointing that out. I definitely wanted it correct.
@@RhettyforHistory Yeah. most of the older Germans and certainly the folks who knew Ben, have passed away. Thanks for bringing this great story to light, and in such a truly great way. I'm excitedly sharing it with all my Bessie-related family (even the ones who don't talk to me any more-- hahah!)
Thank you for sharing the story! It's a heroic one worth remembering!
Sad that the one robber got away
Yes it is. Maybe fate caught up with him though and he met his demise somewhere else. I'm a firm believer in what goes around comes around.
Did they ever catch the other outlaw and did the one that Ben shot live to have trial ?
No, they never caught the other outlaw and the one that was shot died before anything else could happen to him.
@@RhettyforHistory Thanks for your response great story and video.
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate you watching and commenting.
Is this a Cliff Hanger? What happen to the bank robbers?
One died and the other one no one knows.