Samuel W. Striffler

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
January 24, 1908
Local Items, page 4

Fred and Harry Striffler and a number of their young friends went to Argyle Friday evening and spent several housrs at the home of the boys' parents. The trip was made in a bob sleigh and the crowd had a happy time.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 30, 1913

Ruth Striffler of Argyle was the guest of her sister, Mrs. J.A. Sandham, Friday.

Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Striffler of Argyle were callers at the home of J.A. Sandham Tuesday.


Cass City Chronicle
January 15, 1915

Mr. and Mrs. S. W. STRIFFLER and Mr. and Mrs. Angus McPHAIL of Argyle and Harry C. STRIFFLER of Ann Arbor were New Years guests at the home of J.A. SANDHAM

Cass City Chronicle
January 14, 1916

Mrs. Angus McPHAIL of Argyle is visiting her sister, Mrs. J.A. Sandham

Cass City Chronicle
October 05, 1923

Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Moreton of Detroit arrived in town Thursday last week and have been visiting Samuel Striffler, Mr. and Mrs. Angus McPhail and Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Sandham until Wednesday when they returned home. Mrs. Moreton's father, Samuel Striffler, returned with them to make a short stay.

Cass City Chronicle
June 18, 1926
Local Happenings, Page 8

Chas. Rommell of Sturgis is visiting his cousin, S. W. Striffler, and other relatives.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, March 16, 1928

Former Argyle Merchant Is Dead

Samuel W. Striffler, who had been in poor health for several years, passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Angus McPhail, on Tuesday afternoon at the age of 70 years.

He was born in Lancaster, New York, on Dec. 4, 1857. In 1863, the family moved to Sturgis, Michigan, and in 1877 they came to Cass City, settling on a farm in the northeastern part of Elkland township.

On May 9, 1882, Mr. Striffler was united in marriage with Miss Pauline Ahr and they commenced their married life on Mr. Striffler's farm in Greenleaf township, three miles east and one mile north of Cass City. Here their children were born and they remained there until December, 1891, when, owing to Mrs. Stiffler's failing health, they moved to Argyle, Sanilac county, where Mr. Striffler engaged in the mercantile business. As a merchant for 28 years in Argyle, Mr. Striffler became widely acquainted, and because of his honorable dealings with his customers and his public spirit in advancing the interests of his town, he was held in high esteem in that community. He was a regular attendant of the Argyle M.E. church and a staunch supporter of that society.

In the spring of 1920, Mr. Striffler sold his mercantile business at Argyle and bought a home in Cass City. Mrs. Striffler passed away on Nov. 4, 1920, and a son, Edward H., preceded his parents in death in 1903. Since Mrs. Striffler's death, Mr. Striffler has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Angus McPhail.

Funeral services will be held in the Evangelical church in Cass City this (Friday) afternoon at two o'clock, conducted by Rev. George Hill, assisted by Rev. C.F. Smith, and interment will be made in Elkland cemetery.

Mrs. Striffler is survived by five children, Mrs. John A. Sandham and Mrs. Angus McPhail, both of Cass City, Mrs. Wm. Moreton of Detroit, Fred Striffler of Caro and Dr. Harry C. Striffler of Pontiac; two brothers, Wm. D. Striffler and Solomon C. Striffler, both of Cass City, and three sisters, Mrs. Chas. E. Patterson and Mrs. Edward Helwig, both of Cass City, and Mrs. Andrew McDermott of Alhambra, California.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, 2007)

(Research):Census Information:

1900 Census
Michigan, Sanilac, Argyle
Enumerated 22 Jun 1900
SD 7, ED 113, Sheet 10A, Stamped 10
HH 182-186
William and Elizabeth Striffler & Family
HH 184-188
Striffler, Samuel W M Dec 1857 42 M 18 Ny Germany Germany Dry Goods Merchant
Striffler, Pauline F Oct 1860 39 M18 6/6 Ct Germany Germany
Striffler, Edward H W M Jun 1882 17 S Mich NY Ct
Striffler, Grace L W F May 1885 15 S Mich NY Ct
Striffler, Lillian E W F Nov 1886 13 S Mich NY Ct
Striffler, Ruth M W F Apr 1888 12 S Mich NY Ct
Striffler, Fred W M Apr 1890 10 S Mich NY Ct
Striffler, Harry W M July 1891 9 Mich NY Ct

1910 Census
Michigan, Sanilac, Argyle Twp, ED 127
Enumerated 12 May 1910 by James Aute
SD 7 ED 127 Sheet 12 B
237-238
Striffler, Samuel W Hd M W 52 M1 28 NY France-German Germany-German Retail General Store
Striffler, Pauline Wife F W 49 M1 28 6/5 Connecticut Germany-German Germany-German
Striffler, Lilian Dtr F W 23 S Mich NY Ct Telephone Operator Central Office
Striffler, Fred C Son M W 20 S Mich NY Ct Clerk Retail General Store
Striffler, Grace L Dtr F w 25 S Mich NY Ct

1920 Census
Michigan, Sanilac County, Argyle
SD 7, ED 126 Sheet 1B
20-22
Striffler, Samuel W Hd M 62 M NY France/German Germany/German
Striffler, Pauline Wf F 59 M Oh Oh Oh
Vore, Gladys Servant F 17 F Canada Scotland/English Scotland/English

Samuel married Pauline Ahr on 9 May 1882 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Pauline (daughter of Gottlieb Ahr and Johanna Friedericke Stoll) was born on 2 Oct 1860 in Bridgeport, Fairfield County, Connecticut; died on 4 Nov 1920 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Edward H. Striffler was born in Jun 1882 in Tuscola County, Michigan; died about 1903.
2. Grace L. Striffler was born on 5 May 1885 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 13 May 1969 in Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan; was buried on 15 May 1969 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
3. Lillian E. Striffler was born on 6 Nov 1886 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 19 Nov 1965 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 20 Nov 1965 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan.
4. Ruth Elizabeth Striffler was born on 13 Apr 1888 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died in Nov 1984 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.
5. Fred C. Striffler was born on 30 Apr 1890 in Greenleaf Township, Sanilac County, Michigan; died on 15 Jul 1948 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan.
6. Harry C. Striffler, D. D. S. was born on 19 Jul 1891 in Michigan; died on 28 Dec 1951 in Pontiac, Oakland County, Michigan.

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Mich., Friday, February 10, 1911
Vol. 5, No. 42
Elkland Pioneer Answers Summons
Christian Striffler Passes Away Monday
Had Resided on the Homestead For More than Thirty Years

One by one the pioneers of this vicinity are answering the summons and are passing into the great beyond. We are called upon this week to announce the death of Christian Striffler, who passed away at this home, three miles east and one mile north of Cass City on Monday afternoon, February 6, 1911. Mr. Striffler had been in poor health for some time, but his condition was not alarming to his friends until a few days prior to his passing away. The end came peacefully and quietly, typical of the life the aged man had lived.

Christian Striffler was born December 8, 1827 in Germany, and while yet a young man came with his parents to America to seek a livelihood in a foreign land. The family located at Lancaster, New York, at that time the home of his future wife, also.

Mrs. Striffler, previous to her marriage, went to White Pigeon, Michigan. She was joined there by Mr. Striffler, where they were united in marriage July 3, 1856. Her maiden name was Mary ROMMEL. After their marriage they returned to Lancaster for seven years, when they again decided to make their home in Michigan, locating near Sturgis.

In the year 1877 they came to Cass City where several of Mr. Striffler's brothers resided and soon after purchased the farm which is now the old homestead, and where together they have toiled for more than thirty years. By hard work they gradually converted the wilderness into a nice farm.

Mr. Striffler ans his wife are loyal, consistent Christians, and members of the local Evangelical church. They were converted under the labors of Rev. Mueller and at that time united with the church of their choice.

The house was blessed with eight children, two of them, Christian and Mrs. S.G. BENKELMAN preceding the father to the homeland. The remaining children are: Samuel W. of Argyle, William D., Mrs. Charles PATTERSON, Mrs. H.L. McDERMOTT, Solomon, and Mrs. Edward HELWIG, all of whom resided in this vicinity. One brother, John Striffler, of this place and sixteen grandchildren, also survive him.

The funeral services were held at the Evangelical church Thursday afternoon at half past one o'clock, the pastor, Rev. J.A. Schweitzer officiating. The pall bearers were his three sons, Samuel, William, and Solomon; and three son-in-laws, H.L. McDERMOTT, Charles PATTERSON and Edward HELWIG. The interment was at Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

A copy of his actual Michigan Death Certificate is viewable online here:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Christ Striffler


(Research):
Census Information:

1850 Census
New York, Erie County, Lancaster
Enumerated 23 Aug 1850
Page 200
1048-1082
Otil Strifler 59 F $2550 Germany
Jacob Strifler 30 M Farmer
Susanna Strifler 27 F
Joseph Stifler 24 M Farmer
Christian Strifler 22 m Farmer
John Strifler 17 Farmer New York (sic)
David Strifler 14


1880 Census, Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland, ED 400
Page No Eighteen SD--- ED---
Enumerated on the 15th of June, 1880
George Petertand
170-170
Striffler, Christian W M 52 Farmer France France France
Striffler, Mary A W F 42 Keeping House Wurtemberg Wurtemberg Wurtemberg
Striffler, Samuel W. W M 22 Son Farmer NY France Wurtemberg
Striffler, Lydia W F 21 Dtr Without Occupation NY France Wurtemberg
Striffler, William D. W M 14 Son At School Michigan Framce Wurtemberg
Striffler, Christina A W F 7 Dtr At Home Michigan France Wurtemberg
Striffler, Barbara O W F 5 Dtr At Home Michigan France Wurtemberg
Striffler, Mary P W F 1 Dtr At Home Michigan France Wurtemberg

The household immediately preceding his was that of John and Elizabeth Zinnecker.

1900 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County,Elkland Twp
Enumerated 8 and 9 June 1900 by John Marshall
SD 8 ED 110 Sheet 5A Stamped 108
93-93
Striffler, Christ Hd W M Dec 1827 72 M Germany Germany Germany Farmer
Striffler, Mary Wife W F Dec 1837 62 M 6/5 Germany Germany Germany
Striffler, Barbara Dtr W F Sep 1875 24 S Mich Germany Germany
Striffler, Mary Dtr W F Nov 1878 21 S Mich Germany Germany
Striffler, Solomon Son W M ??? 188? 18 S Mich Germany Germany Farm Laborer

Christian married Anna Maria "Mary Anna" Rommel on 3 Jul 1856 in White Pigeon, St. Joseph County, Michigan. Anna (daughter of Michael Rommel and Maria Barbara Frey) was born on 8 Dec 1837 in B?nzwangen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 31 Oct 1911 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Mich., Friday, November 3, 1911
Vol. 6, No. 29

Pioneer Lady Answers Summons
Mrs. Christian Striffler Died Tuesday, Oct. 31
Came to Elkland Township in 1877 and Settled on Farm Four Miles for Cass City

Another pioneer was called to rest when Mrs. Christian Striffler answered the final summons at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Edward HELWIG, three miles east of Cass City, at five o'clock Tuesay afternoon. Mrs. Striffler had been in poor health for several months, and as her illness developed into a serious nature several weeks ago, the end was not unexpected.

Mary ROMMEL was born in Germany on Dec. 9, 1837. She came to the United States with her parents while she was yet young and they located at Lancaster, N.Y.
Later she went to White Pigeon, Mich. and at that place she was united in marriage with Christian Striffler on July 3, 1856. Shortly after they returned to Lancaster and resided there about seven years when they came to Michigan, locating near Sturgis. In 1877 they came to Cass City where Mr. Stiffler's brother resided and soon after purchased the farm four miles northeast of town on which they lived until Mr. Striffler's death Feb. 6, 1911.

Mrs. Striffler was a loyal and consistant Christian lady and a member of the Evangelical church. She was ever of a kind indulgent disposition and none ever entered her home without a warm welcome nor left without feeling the warmth of genuine hospitality.

Her home was blessed by eight children, two of whom, Christian and Mrs. S.G. Benkelman, preceding the mother in death. The remaining children are: Samuel W. of Argyle; William D., Mrs. Clara (sic) PATTERSON, Mrs. H.L. McDERMOTT, Mrs. Edward HELWIG and Solomon C., all of whom reside in this vicinity. She is also survived by her two brothers, Andrew and George RUMMEL, of Sturgis, one sister, Mrs. Geo. BENKELMAN of St. Francis, Kansas, 18 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. The funeral services will be held at the residence of Edward HELWIG at 12 o'clock today (Friday) and later int he afternoon at the Evangelical Church.

Her tombstone inscription reads:

Striffler, Mary,b. 9 Dec 1937, d. 31 Oct 1911, mother

Her actual Michigan Death Certificate can be viewed online here:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Mary Anna Striffler

(Medical):See attached sources.

Notes:

According to the Rev. Roy J. Striffler, the Striffler's emigrated from the Alsace-Lorraine region of France to New York State in 1830. They were part of the German-speaking population of Alsace. Some of the older Striffler family members recalled a family joke---there were 11 boys in the family, and all of them had a sister Susanna. She married Christian Oscar Lenzner. Family genealogists have only been able to account for eight of the 12 children however. Two of the boys married Benkelman sisters. One son married Mary Rommel, and as there were several Benkelman/Rommel marriages as well, the two families became further intertwined.

Although the family originally settled in New York only Jacob's son David remained in New York. Peter pushed further west, to Kansas. Around 1880, most of the others settled in Cass City, Michigan, where they lived until their deaths. They cut off the stumps remaining on the land they built and turned the wilderness into fruitful farm land.

(Excerpted from Art Peck's THE TEN BENKELMANS WHO EMIGRATED TO AMERICA. He in turn references a September 4, 1950 article from the "Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast", Volume 13, Cass City, Michigan)

Both the flyleaf of the Striffler family Bible, and the tombstone of Jacob Striffler in Lancaster, showed him to be be born in Kirrberg, "departmente de Rhein." (Jacobs, p. 164). In the chapter on the Striffler family in her unpublished 1981 manuscript, BonnieMargaret Jacobs noted that widely spread family stories stated that the Striffler family originated in Switzerland (p. 164). It would appear these were either errorneous, or that the family moved from Switzerland to Alsace.


BonnieMargaret Benkelman Jacobs, in an undated family report she prepared for some of the descendants of the Striffler brothers who married Benkelmann sisters, wrote that birth records had been of the children born to Jacob and Otillia "Have been extracted from the French civil records and translated, and show 8 children born in France, two of whom died while still just children (one was only 15 months old, the other just a few months past their sixth birthday). She stated that "these official civil records support the oft repeated family joke, "There are seven brothers and each one has a sister." On page 165 of her unpublished 1981 manuscript documenting the Benkelman family, she repeated this saying, adding however that "one Striffler heard the riddle with 11 brothers and it should be noted that there is still much to be learned about this family."

With the records in France showing 8 children were born there, and census records show two known children born in the United States, it appears we can account for 10 of the 11. It is possible that records may be uncovered one day to find the final child, or that this final son may have been stillborn or died at a young age, and his memory passed down only through the family joke or riddle.

Jacob married Ottila "Odila" "Otil" Zimmerman on 4 Nov 1809 in Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany. Ottila was born on 10 Nov 1790 in Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany; died on 17 Sep 1863 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her father was a school master.

(Research):

Census Listings;

1850 Census
New York, Erie County, Lancaster
Enumerated 23 Aug 1850
Page 200
1048-1082
Otil Strifler 59 F $2550 Germany
Jacob Strifler 30 M Farmer
Susanna Strifler 27 F
Joseph Stifler 24 M Farmer
Christian Strifler 22 m Farmer
John Strifler 17 Farmer New York (sic)
David Strifler 14

1860 Census
Not located

Notes:

BonnieMargeret Jacobs, on page 21 of her unpublished 1981 manuscript about the Benkelman Family, said that the name "Rommel" was a pet form of names beginning with RUHM ("fame"), or alternatively blustering or noisy, or messy or untidy.

The Wuerrtemberg, Germany Emigration Index shows that a Johann Michael Rommel, from the district of Ludwigsburg, was born 1 Oct 1804 in Beihingen, applied to emigrate to New York in Oct 1853 (#837989). Unless the date of birh and location of birth are slightly off, this is not our Michael Rommel.

The Michigan Death index shows he was born ca 1804 in Germany, and died on 9 Feb 1888 in St. Joseph, Michigan. He was widowed at the time of his death. The Sattler Family Tree on Ancestry.com shows Michael as a son of Johannes Rommel and Anna Maria Vester.

Michael married Maria Barbara Frey on 30 Jan 1827 in B?nzwangen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Maria was born on 4 Dec 1804 in Faurndau, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 27 Feb 1873. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]