William H. Bien

Notes:

Lorraine Smith Benkelman excerpted the following letters between William H. Bien and George Albert Striffler. These letters were written in the late 1880's who was looking for work. Just a few years later William would marry George Albert's younger sister, Salome.

January 8, 1886 Whittemore, Michigan

So many men that they commenced discharging 5 or 6 every day. They cut wages from $26 to $18-$20. Finally we got work up on the Au Sable River. I got in 24 days and then they put the damper on my winter job, so I came on down to this god forsaken palce Whittemore and stuck a tree camp and scored ties for seven days then had the good luck to cut my foot a very bad cut. Dr. says it should be healed in three more weeks.

April 8, 1886 Oscoda, Michigan

Everything is kind'o dull here, but things will be booming if the good weather keeps up. there was quite a lawsuit here about some fellows breaking into a house of ill fame and destroyed almost everything. There were about 15 in the scrape and six of them were sent to Tawas county jail awaiting trial at circuit court. They were a hard looking crew, but the girls got the start of 'em.


July 25, 1886 Black River, Michigan

Never see the face of a woman here. Tell Will Striffler to write. Tell me who your sweet potato blossom was for the fourth. Write me back at Mr. Wards Camp at Black River, MI.

November 18, 1888 Baraga, Michigan

What are you doing in upper Michigan. Is it the homestead we spoke of?

December 23, 1888

Am working in a lumber camp for Thos. Nester co. and our foreman is one of your Cass City neighbors, Malcolm McEachin. Certainly you must know him, his folks live in the scotch settlement and he knows you folks. Wages are $26 to $30, so if you come you are sure of $26.

Mary Hicks, a grand niece of William Bien's ex-daughter-in-law, Helena Shaneyfelt Bien, emailed in July, 2010 that the "Bien / Biehn / Bean family was Mennonite. William H. Bien's father was David G. Bean in Ontario, and he was the son of Abraham Bean (Bien, Biehn) and Susannah Graybill (Grebiel). Abraham was born in Doon, Ontario, Canada, and Susannah was born in Druemore, Lancaster Co, Pennsylvania. "

William married Salome Striffler on 25 Nov 1891 in Kilmanagh, Huron County, Michigan. Salome (daughter of John "Uncle John" Striffler and Anna Maria "Mary" Benkelman) was born on 19 Sep 1866 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 26 Jan 1922 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John Stanley Bien was born on 8 Dec 1892 in Pigeon, Huron County, Michigan; died on 5 Dec 1967 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan; was buried on 8 Dec 1967 in Deepdale Memorial Park, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan.
2. Paul Preston Bien was born on 4 May 1894 in Pigeon, Huron County, Michigan; died on 27 Apr 1955 in Houston, Harris County, Texas; was buried in South Park Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas.
3. William Daniel Bien was born on 23 Dec 1895 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 24 Apr 1964 in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York.