John "Uncle John" Striffler b. 15 Mar 1833 Lancaster, Erie County, New York d. 12 Jul 1922 Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan: Strong McLemore Ancestry

1833 - 1922 (89 years)

Name	John "Uncle John" Striffler [1, 2, 3, 4]
Nickname	Uncle John
Born	15 Mar 1833	Lancaster, Erie County, New York [1, 2, 5, 6]
Gender	Male
Died	12 Jul 1922	Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan [1, 4, 7]
Buried	Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan
Notes	Art Peck writes that they were among the first families in Tuscola County, Michigan, moving there about 1860 on land purchased for $2 an acre, land they had never seen. They cleared the land to establish a farm, a mile east and a mile north of Cass City. John was Elkland County, Michigan treasurer from 1868 to 1870, and again from 1885 through 1887. Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Mich., Friday, July 14, 1922 Vol. 18, No. 9 John Striffler has Passed Away Settled in Elkland Township 62 Years Ago; Prominent in the Early History of Cass City Community On the tombstone we carve the name of our beloved dead and then two dates--the year of birth and the year of death. Between these two lies the history of the dead and yet so few know that history. Between Mar. 15, 1833 and July 12, 1922, lies the life history of John Striffler. He was born on a farm near Lancaster, N.Y. and passed on to his home eternal at Cass City, Michigan. A few months after his marriage to Miss Mary Benkelman at Lancaster on Nov. 14, 1858, Mr. Striffler came to Tuscola county. They resided six months at Watrousville and then completed their journey overland through the timber to Elkland township where they hewed out a home in the woods, and finally saw beautiful farms take the place of the timber tracts. Mrs. Striffler passed away on May 4, 1913. Two children also preceded the father in death, one child at the age of four years, and Mrs. Salome Bien, a daughter, whose death occured but a few months ago. Coming into the community when it was sparsely settled and all covered with timber and when it took four days' travel with ox teams to go from Vassar to the cite where Cass City now stands, Mr. Striffler had ample opportunity to test the hardships of early pioneer life in the Thumb district. His services in the early days proved valuable and his neighbors soon placed him with the responsibilities of various township offices. John Striffler was a man of generous impluse and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. Friend or stranger never failed to find food and shelter if he sought it at his hands, and he delighted in kind and neighborly deeds. Many a poor family found relief from his storehouse and many people enjoyed his hospitality. His home was always open to all, poor or well-to-do, and many found pleasure in the entertainment provided therein. He had borne adversity bravely and enjoyed prosperity quietly. He had filled the various relations of life as husband, father, brother, friend and filled them satifactorily and his life work was well done. He is survived by five children, Mrs. Archie MARK, G.A. STRIFFLER, Mrs. W.R. KAISER, and Miss Martha STRIFFLER, all of Cass City, and David STRIFFLER of Columbus, Georgia, 12 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Since the death of his wife, his daughter, Martha, has been the companion and faithful attendant of her father. Funeral services will be held in the Evangelical church which Mr. Striffler attended for many years. It is planned to hold the service Saturday afternoon unless David Striffler, who is on his way home from Georgia, is delayed in his journey from the south. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Spring 2007) (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 1860 Census Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland 58-56 John Striffler 27 Farmer $280 $75 NY Mary Striffler 21 Domestic Wirtinburg, Germany The household immediately following theirs was that of Jacob and Louisa Striffler 1870 Census Michigan, Tuscola County 56-56 Striffler, John 37 Farmer $5,075 $860 NY Striffler, Mary 31 Germ Wirtinburg Striffler, Emeline 10 Mich Striffler, Albert 6 Mich Striffler, Salome 4 Mich The households preceding theirs were occupied by Jacob and Louis Striffler (#53), Adam and Catherine Benkelmann (#54), George & Katherine Kolb (#55). 1880 Census Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Source:FHL Film 1254607 National Archives Film T9-0607 Page 95B Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace John STRIFFLER Self M M W 47 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: FRANCE Mo: FRANCE Mary STRIFFLER Wife F M W 41 WERTENBURG Occ: Keeping House Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG Emmiline STRIFFLER Dau F S W 19 MI Occ: Without Occupation Fa: NY Mo: WERTENBURG George A. STRIFFLER Son M S W 16 MI Occ: At School Fa: NY Mo: WERTENBURG Salome STRIFFLER Dau F S W 13 MI Occ: At School Fa: NY Mo: WERTENBURG Martha STRIFFLER Dau F S W 7 MI Occ: At School Fa: NY Mo: WERTENBURG Esther STRIFFLER Dau F S W 2 MI Occ: At Home Fa: NY Mo: WERTENBURG Leonard BUEHRLY Other M S W 21 WERTENBURG Occ:Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG Philipp STRIFFLER Nephew M S W19 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: NY Mo: NY 19 year old Philip Striffler is likely the son of David and Sophia Striffler of Lancaster, New York. David was said to have died in 1872, and it appears that at least his oldest son left New York after his father died, so perhaps Philip did as well. Leonard Buehrly was from same village in Germany as Mary, and would later marry the granddaughter of her brother, Frederick Benkelman. 1900 Census, Michigan, Tuscola, Elkland, ED 110 Enumerated the 12th of June, 1900 by John Marshall SD 8, ED 110, Sheet 6 B 125-125 Archie and Emeline Mark and family 126 126 Striffler, John Hd W M March 1833 67 M 41 NY France France Farmer Striffler, Mary Wife W F May 1839 61 M 41 7/6 Germany Germany Germany 1856 Striffler, Martha Dtr W F Nov 1871 28 S Michigan NY Germany Striffler, Ester Dtr W F May 1878 22 S Michigan NY Germany Striffler, David A. W M Aug 1883 16 S Michigan NY Germany Farm Laborer Bean, Saloma Dtr W F Sep 1866 22 Ed 3/3 Michigan NY Germany Bean, Stanley G.Son W M Dec 1892 7 S Michigan Michigan Germany Bean, Paul P. G. Son W M May 1894 6 S Michigan Michigan Germany Bean, William D. G. Son W M Dec 1895 4 S Michigan Michigan Germany 1910 Census, Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, ED 113, Cass City Village Enumerated 13 Apr 1910 SD 8, ED 113, Sheet No 5 B 138-138 Striffler, John Hd M W 76 M1 NY Germany Germany Own Income Striffler, Mary Wife 70 M1 6/6 Germany Germany Germany Striffler, Martha Dtr F W 37 S Mich Germany Germany They were living in the household immediately preceding that of Mary's nephew, Benjamin Benkelman, Sr.
Person ID	I11992	Strong Family Tree
Last Modified	17 Aug 2014

Father	Jacob Anton Striffler, b. 20 Oct 1779, Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany , d. 3 Mar 1850, Lancaster, Erie County, New York (Age 70 years)
Mother	Ottila "Odila" "Otil" Zimmerman, b. 10 Nov 1790, Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany , d. 17 Sep 1863, Lancaster, Erie County, New York (Age 72 years)
Married	4 Nov 1809	Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany [2]
Documents » Slide Show		Striffler-Benkelman Annual Labor Day Family Reunion, 1936 Newspaper article In the mid 1850's, in Erie County, New York, two sons of Jacob & Otilla Striffler married two Benkelman sisters. Shortly after their marriages, the couples moved to the Michigan frontier, many of their brothers and sisters following them. The two families remained intertwined for subsequent generations. At a reunion of the Henry Striffler family in 1930 it was decided to enlarge the scope of the reunion to include descendants of Henry, Jacob, Joseph, Christian, John and Susan Striffler. Members and "in laws" of these families first gathered at the Assembly grounds in Sebewaing for a reunion in 1932. As the Benkelman-Striffler family had remained very close over the years, all branches of the Benkelman family were invited to their Sixth Reunion, and since that time it remained a joint event. This articles from the 1936 "Cass City Chronicle" details one of the earliest joint reunions. Attended by over 170 family members, the reunion was held on the John Striffler homestead northeast of Cass City, with attendees travelling from Ontario, Ohio and many places in Michigan. President W.D. STRIFFLER presided at a business meeting in 1936, and Harry HUNT, Mrs. S.G BENKELMAN (the former Mary Striffler), and Mrs. Ben SCHWEGLER (the former Joanna Mark) were elected officers for the ensuing year. The first volume of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST was published for the September 1936 reunion.
		Striffler-Benkelman Reunion 1954 Handbill Handbill advertising the annual Striffler-Benkelman Reunion, 1954, featuring Cass City's Main Street. At the fiftieth Striffler-Benkelman Reunion in 1981, Ruth Schenck Esau recalled a time when on Main Street, the owners of the newspaper, a farm implement store, both meat markets, the grocery store, paint store, insurance agency, funeral home, and photography studio were all members of the Striffler-Benkelman clan; not to mention a bank teller, many clerks, the music teacher, and many of the town's farmers.
		Striffler-Benkelman Reunion Photo, 1961 Group Photo fromthe 30th Striffler-Benkelman Reunion, held September 4, 1961 at the Cass City Evangelical Church, founded by members of the Striffler and Benkelman families
Family ID	F1784	Group Sheet \| Family Chart

Family Anna Maria "Mary" Benkelman, b. 22 May 1839, Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany , d. 4 May 1913, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 73 years)

Married 14 Nov 1858 Lancaster, Erie County, New York [1, 4, 8]

BonnieMargaret Jacobs also shows a daughter, Martha, born Nov. 1873???

Children

	1. Emeline Striffler, b. 5 Sep 1860, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 21 Oct 1939, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 79 years)
	2. George Albert Striffler, b. 16 Mar 1864, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 6 Jul 1945, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 81 years)
	3. Salome Striffler, b. 19 Sep 1866, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 26 Jan 1922, Lansing, Ingham County, Michigan (Age 55 years)
	4. Edward Striffler, b. 19 Jun 1870, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 24 Aug 1874, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 4 years)
	5. Martha "Mattie" Striffler, b. 10 Nov 1871, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 25 Oct 1943, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 71 years)
	6. Infant Daughter Striffler, b. 10 Nov 1872, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 10 Nov 1872, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 0 years)
	7. Esther A. Striffler, b. 4 May 1878, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. 2 Feb 1965, Mount Clemens, Macomb County, Michigan (Age 86 years)
	8. David A. Striffler, b. 3 Aug 1883, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan , d. Sep 1964, Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia (Age 81 years)

Photos

» Slide Show

Striffler, John and Mary (Benkelman) Family
A family photo of John and Mary Striffler with their children. Their eldest child, Emeline stands behind her parents, and son George Albert is to their right. Daughter Salome sits on her father's lap and based on the birth order of their remaining children, it is assumed that Mary is holding son Edward on her lap. Edward was born a year before daughter Mattie, and died at the age of four.

Striffler, John and Mary (Benkelman) Family, ca 1890
This photo, taken around or before 1890, is of John and Mary (Benkelman) Striffler and their six surviving children: Emeline (b. 1860), George Albert (b. 1864), Salome (b. 1867), Martha (b. 1871), Esther (b. 1878), and David (b. 1883). Based on their ages, and comparision to numerous other photos, Maggie Battel Bethel (a descendant) has identified each person as follows:
Seated in the front, John Striffler and wife Mary Benkelman, with son youngest son David in front and youngest daughter Esther slightly behind them. Standing in the back, l to r, Emeline, George Albert, Mattie and Salome.

Striffler, Uncle John Home
The original John and Mary Striffler farm home on Schwegler road, nearby the home of his brother-in-law Adam Benkelman

Striffler, Uncle John Descendant's ca 1920's
A gathering of relatives in front of John Striffler's home

Maggie Bethel thinks the following individuals are pictured:

Front: (children) Marjory Schwegler, Alice Buehrly, Keith Buehrly, UNKNOWN, Ruth Schenck Esau, Fern Schwegler, UNKNOWN little blond girl

Middle: David Striffler, Mattie Striffler, Martha Mark Darling, Mary Ida Thompson Striffler, Esther Striffler Kolb, UNKNOWN, Emeline Striffler Mark, UNKNOWN, Lena Mark Schwegler, UNKNOWN women holding baby, Ben Schwegler, Louis Krahling (to the right of the tree)

The Man barely visible in the very back row is UNKNOWN

PLEASE EMAIL IF YOU CAN HELP US CONFIRM THIS

At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

Striffler, Uncle John Descendants
A snapshot identified by Lena Mark Schwegler as "Some of John Striffler's descendants" Her granddaughter, Maggie Battel Bethel, has identified most everyone after comparision to other family photos labeled by her mother and grandmother.

Back row, l to r, Mattie Striffler, Emeline Striffler Mark, Mary Ida Thompson Striffler, UNKNOWN, Aunt Lena Benkelman Schwegler, Archie Mark, Esther Striffler Kaiser, David Striffler, UNKNOWN, George Albert Striffler, UNKNOWN, Stanley Bien

Front: Paul Bien, Salome Bien, William Bien

PLEASE EMAIL IF YOU HAVE CORRECTIONS OR CAN IDENTIFY ANY OF THE UNKNOWN INDIVIDUALS.

Last Modified 12 Jul 2013

Family ID F5023 Group Sheet | Family Chart

Event Map

	Born - 15 Mar 1833 - Lancaster, Erie County, New York
	Married - 14 Nov 1858 - Lancaster, Erie County, New York
	Died - 12 Jul 1922 - Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan
	Buried - - Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan

= Link to Google Earth

Pin Legend : Address : Location : City/Town : County/Shire : State/Province : Country : Not Set

Photos » Slide Show		Striffler, John ca 1910-1920 John Striffler was one of the earliest settlers in Cass City, Michigan. "Uncle John" arrived in the late 1850's, along with his wife, Mary Benkelman, They acquired a farm one mile east and one mile north of the village of Cass City, and addition to farming he was a carpenter, blacksmith, and lumberman. Just south of his house he had a sorghum mill to make maple syrup. Three of his brothers and a sister, as well as various Benkelman in-law's, followed he and Mary to Cass City
		Striffler Reunion Photo, bet. 1908-1910 Members of the John Striffler and Mary Benkelman family, around 1908-1910 Standing in the Back row, l to r, UNKNOWN woman in black, Esther Striffler Kaiser, Rudolph Kaiser, Cora Horn Striffler, George Albert Striffler holding his son Irvine, Pastor Schweitzer, Mattie Striffler, Archie Mark, Billy Bien Seated in the Middle row, l to r, Salome Striffler Bien, Paul Bien, the wife of Pastor Schweitzer, Mary Mark Buehrly, Aunt Lena Benkelman Schwegler (sister of Mary), Martha Mark Darling, Emeline Striffler Mark Front row, l to r, Mary Rommel Striffler (sister-in-law of John), Christian Striffler (brother of John), John Striffler, Mary Benkelman Striffler, Leonhard Benkelman (brother of Mary), Louisa Benkelman Stiffler (sister of Mary and widow of Jacob) Seated on ground, l to r, Alma Mark Krahling Seegar, Stanley Bien, Lena Mark Schwegler PLEASE HELP US IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN WOMAN IN THIS PHOTO
		Striffler/Mark Four Generation Photo Collage, ca 1911, Cass City, Michigan Left Side, seated, John and Mary (Benkelman) Striffler, standing, and Emeline (Striffler) and Archie Mark. Emeline is a daughter of John and Mary. Right side, Standing, Mary Jane (Leitch) and Edward Mark, daughters Stella and Ruth. Edward is a son of Archie and Emeline Mark, and grandson of John and Mary Striffler. Stella and Ruth are the two eldest of 11 children born it Edward and Mary Mark.
		Striffler, Uncle John's Farm The family gathered at Uncle John's farm after the felling of a particularly large pine tree on March 8, 1905. The tree was 112 feet tall and 4 feet, 7 inches in diameter. Lena Mark Schwegler identified the women standing to the left as Esther Striffler, Miss Klump, Lillian Striffler and Mattie Striffler. Just to their right, with the long white beard, is John Stiffler, the family partriarch. The youngest boys are Stanley, Paul and Will Bien. PLEASE EMAIL IF YOU KNOW WHICH OF THE TWO LILLIAN STRIFFLER'S THIS IS (they were cousins, close in age) OR IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY ANYONE ELSE IN THE PHOTO.
		Striffler, Uncle John's Farm The family gathered at Uncle John's farm to harvest a particularly large pine tree on March 8, 1905. The tree was 112 feet tall and 4 feet, 7 inches in diameter. Written on the back of the photo, in handwriting not familiar to Maggie Battel Bethel who received the photo from her grandmother's collection, are the names Fred Schaf, Albert Striffler, David Striffler, Solomon Striffler, Uncle John Striffler, younger boys Stanley, Paul and Will Bien, and Frank Striffler (l to r). Several unknown men are pictured as well. PLEASE EMAIL IF YOU CAN HELP US BETTER IDENTIFY EACH PERSON PICTURED. Please also note that Uncle John had two nephews names Solomon, one the son of his brother Jacob and the other the son of his brother Christian. It is not known positively WHICH Solomon Striffler was present at this event.

Headstones

Striffler, John

Sources

[S492] Peck, Edward Arthur THE TEN BENKELMANS WHO EMIGRATED TO AMERICA Ca. 1850s AND CERTAIN OF THEIR DESCENDANTS, 1982.
[S498] Marchetti, Ruth Marie (jmarchetti@acsalaska.net) "Marchetti" Ver. Oct 31 19:05:54 2001 ; http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:1505327&id=I70122389.
[S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 151, 153, 157 (Reliability: 3).
[S653] Cass City Chronicle, P.O. Box 115, Cass City, Michigan 48726, Published continously since 1899, archived from 1899 through 2005 at http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/, Friday, July 14, 1922 Vol. 18, No. 9 (Reliability: 3).
[S653] Cass City Chronicle, P.O. Box 115, Cass City, Michigan 48726, Published continously since 1899, archived from 1899 through 2005 at http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/, Friday, July 14, 1922 Vol. 18, No. 9 Shows date of birth as 15 March 1833 (Reliability: 3).
[S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 157, Shows date of birth as 13 March 1833 (Reliability: 3).
[S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 153, 157 (Reliability: 3).
[S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 151, 157 (Reliability: 3).