Anna Catharina Schaufele

Notes:

As noted in the "Memoirs of John A. Benkelman" by Hilda Jane Stickley Benkelman, when Catherine and Adam first immigrated to the United States, they lived with her brother Johann Scheifle in Erie County New York. I was, however, unable to locate a Johann/John Scheifle on either the 1850 or 1860 census. I did find a Gottlieb Scheifly on both however.

Hilda Jane further wrote that "Catherine was a favorite in the community. She was jolly and fat, a very good cook of German style dishes, and a mother to everyone in the neighborhood. A good midwife, she was called in by the neighbors in case of sickness or for confinements as there were few doctors around at that time. She helped bring more than 100 babies into the world. "

Catherine made a home for her nephew, Leonard Buerhly, when he first came to Cass City. Leonard was the son of her sister Marie.

Cass City Chronicle
November 1, 1901
Local Mention, Page Eight

Grandma Benkelman has rented her property on East Houghton Street and has disposed of all her household goods and will henceforth make her home with Mrs. Lena Schwegler.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, December 28, 1906

Died Suddenly

Mrs. Catherine Benkelman, aged eighty-three years, died suddenly at her home on East Main street Sunday evening, December 23. While eating with Mrs. M. M. Schwegler she suddenly became unconscious from which condition she did not recover. She has been troubled with heart disease for many years.

Catherine Scheifele was born August 23, 1823 in Boertlingen, Germany. In the year 1837 she was confirmed. She was united in marriage to Adam Benkelman in Germany in 1851 and they came to America the same year, living in Bowmansville, N.Y., until 1865. That year they came to Cass City, residing on a farm northeast of town. By hard work and frugal living Mr. and Mrs. Benkelman acquired a goodly portion of property and in 1884 they retired from active life and move to town to spend their remaining days. Mr. Benkelman died nine year ago on the 27?sup?th?/sup? of December and nearly ever since that time Mrs. Benkelman had resided with Mrs. M.M. Schwegler on east Main street, the ladies enjoying each other's companionship to the fullest extent. Mr. and Mrs. Benkelman were the parents of seven children, one daughter dying at the age of fifteen. The remaining children, five sons and one daughter, are: George A. of St. Francis, Kansas, William F. of Owosso, Benjamin F., Samuel G. and John A. Benkelman and Mrs. Louisa Schwegler of this place. She also leaves twenty-five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

All her children were present at the funeral services which took place Thursday forenoon at the Evangelical church of which the deceased was an honored and beloved member, and the burial was made in Elkland cemetery. The pallbearers were five sons and a grandson, W.J. Schwegler. The funeral service was largely attended.

Mrs. Benkelman was a lady of beautiful character, loving and kind in disposition and will be missed by many who found in her a good neighbor and friend.

Detail of Death Certificate: Tuscola County, Village of Cass City, CATHERINE BENKELMAN, Female, White, DOB 23 Aug 1823, 83 yrs, 4 mos, 0 days, Married at age 28 years, parent of 7 children, 6 living, Born Germany, Father Schifley, Germany, Mother Not Known, Occupation Housewife, Informant J.A. Benkelman, DOD 23 Dec 1906, Attending Physician W.W. Wickwars, Cass City, Dates December 1904 to Dec 23, 1906 last seen alive on Dec 23 at 6 pm, Burial Elkland Dec 27, 1906, Undertaker H Polk Cass City

A copy can be seen here:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Catheren Benkelman

(Research):

Census Records, her brother??

1850 US Census
New York Erie County Buffalo Ward 4 23 Aug 1850 ---
1808 Gottlieb Scheifly 25 M Shoemaker Germany
Maria Scheifly 24 F Germany
Georg Scheifly 2 M New York

1860 US Census
New York Erie County Bowmansville
725-725 Godlip Sheifley 35 M Shoemaker $500 Germany
Mary Sheifley 34 F Baden
George Shufley 12 M NY
John " 10 M NY
Godlip " 7 M NY
William " 5 M NY
Frederick " 2 M NY
Charles Fink 19 M Shoemaker Germany
Christina Shufly 17 F NY


Gottlieb would have been born ca. 1825. Kathy Bonnell's transcription of Baptismal records do not show a son named Gottlieb born at that time. Catherine did have a brother Johannes born ca. 1828. Could his middle name be Gottlieb? Could he be the child named Gottlob born ca 1830? The baptismal records, however, show that son died ca. 1843.

Anna married Johann Adam Benkelman on 24 Feb 1851 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Johann (son of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann and Maria Dorothea St?hle) was born on 13 Feb 1825 in Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 30 Dec 1897 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 2 Jan 1898 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Catharina and Adam were married in B?rtlingen.

On May 16, 2002, Ingolf Vogel noted that "The Kingdom of W?rttemberg was made up of four Kreises - the Neckarkreis, the Schwarzwaldkreis, the Jagstkreis and the Donaukreis. These Kreises were much larger than today's Kreises. Each of them was divided into so-called Ober?mter which are more similar in size to today's Kreises. The Oberamt for B?rtlingen was Kirchheim.. Incidently the Oberamt Kirchheim was the only Oberamt of the Donaukreis west of the Schw?bische Alb (a mountain range). B?rtlingen (today Kreis G?ppingen) has only 745 people listed in it's telephone directory, so it probably doesn't have more than 2000-3000 inhabitants.

Adam and Catharina were married in February, 1851, and in June, 1851 they were formally released from the Kingdom of W?rttemberg and would be free to emigrate.

1. George Adam "Little George" Benkelman was born on 7 Sep 1851 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 10 Feb 1929 in Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California; was buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Cheyenne County, Kansas.
2. Louisa Benkelman was born on 9 Apr 1853 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 11 Sep 1924 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 13 Sep 1924 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
3. John Adam Benkelman was born on 26 Apr 1856 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 8 Aug 1952 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
4. Samuel G. Benkelman was born on 26 Aug 1857 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 22 Dec 1940 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 25 Dec 1940 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
5. Mary M. Benkelman was born on 2 Oct 1858 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 6 Jun 1874 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
6. William Frederick Benkelman was born on 10 Feb 1862 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 11 Oct 1932 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
7. Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr. was born on 24 Sep 1863 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 7 Sep 1952 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.

Notes:

The in the church registration records of his daughter, Anna Catharina, he was shown as a citizen and wagonmaker or wheelwright.

Johannes married Anna Maria Reick on 25 Jul 1821 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Anna (daughter of Johann Jakob Reick and Anna Maria Maier) was born on 4 Aug 1794 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 10 Oct 1857 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gottlieb married Maria Agnes Straub on 18 May 1784 in Hohenstaufen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Maria (daughter of Ursula Straub) was born on 29 Dec 1758 in Hohenstaufen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 16 Dec 1837 in Hohenstaufen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johann married Anna Maria Maier on 12 Oct 1798 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Anna (daughter of Leonhard Maier and Barbara Frey) was born on 12 Sep 1775 in Hohenstaufen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Leonhard married Catharina M?ller on 9 Feb 1750 in Hohenstaufen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Catharina (daughter of Johannes M?ller and Maria M?rdter) was born on 8 Aug 1714 in Hohrein, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died between 1756 and 1761. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

She married Matth?us St?ckle of Hohenstaufen on 13 Jan 1775, in Hohenstaufen.

Jakob married Ursula Ostertag on 19 Apr 1768 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Ursula (daughter of Friedrich Ostertag and Maria Magdalena Reick) was born on 24 Aug 1744 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 5 Mar 1816 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargeret Jacobs, on page 21 of her unpublished 1981 manuscript about the Benkelman Family, said that the name "Maier" originally had the meaning of "overseer or head servant"...and later came to mean "farmer-reaper."

Leonhard married Barbara Frey about 1770 in Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Barbara was born about 1747 in Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]