Anna Catharina Schaufele

1823 - 1906  (83 years)

• Name	Anna Catharina Schaufele  [1, 2, 3]
  Born	23 Aug 1823	B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany   [1, 2]
  Gender	Female
  Died	23 Dec 1906	Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan   [1, 2]
  Buried	Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan
  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.
  Person ID	I40	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	29 Dec 2020

  
  

  Father	Johannes Schaufele,   b. 11 Aug 1794, Hohenstaufen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany ,   d. 21 Feb 1879, B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Anna Maria Reick,   b. 4 Aug 1794, B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany ,   d. 10 Oct 1857, B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany  (Age 63 years)
  Married	25 Jul 1821	B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany   [4]
  Family ID	F36	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Johann Adam Benkelman,   b. 13 Feb 1825, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany ,   d. 30 Dec 1897, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  (Age 72 years)
  Married	24 Feb 1851	B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany   [5]
  	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.
  Children	1. George Adam "Little George" Benkelman,   b. 7 Sep 1851, Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 10 Feb 1929, Alhambra, Los Angeles County, California  (Age 77 years)   2. Louisa Benkelman,   b. 9 Apr 1853, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 11 Sep 1924, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  (Age 71 years)   3. John Adam Benkelman,   b. 26 Apr 1856, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 8 Aug 1952, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  (Age 96 years)   4. Samuel G. Benkelman,   b. 26 Aug 1857, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 22 Dec 1940, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  (Age 83 years)   5. Mary M. Benkelman,   b. 2 Oct 1858, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 6 Jun 1874, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  (Age 15 years)   6. William Frederick Benkelman,   b. 10 Feb 1862, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 11 Oct 1932, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan  (Age 70 years)   7. Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Sr.,   b. 24 Sep 1863, Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York ,   d. 7 Sep 1952, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  (Age 88 years)
  Documents		B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg Founded 1202 B?rtlingen is a small German village founded in 1202. It is in southwest of Germany in the Schwabish Alps, a few miles outside of G?ppingen. The church on the bottom left of the card is the Evangelische Johanneskirche, the same church in which Catherine and Adam Benkelmann were married before departing for America.
  		B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg, Evangelische Johanneskirche, Summer 2006 Evangelische Johanneskirche in 2006. This is the same church in which Adam Benkelman and Catherine Schaufele were married in in 1851.
  Last Modified	2 Jul 2013
  Family ID	F28	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 23 Aug 1823 - B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany Married - 24 Feb 1851 - B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany Died - 23 Dec 1906 - 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		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) ca 1860's Adam and Catherine Benkelman were married in B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg around 1851; and then left almost immediately for New York, where their seven children were born. This photo of Adam and Catherine appears to have been taken when they both were in their mid 30's, probably while they were still living in Lancaster, Erie County, New York, and before their westward journey to Michigan.
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) ca 1878, Family Portrait TOP ROW: Identified by Marjory Schwegler Battel, granddaughter of Lousia, to be l to r, standing, Sam (age 19), Ben Sr. (age 15), John (age 22), and George (age 27) BOTTOM ROW: from left to right, seated, Will (age 17), Louisa (age 25), Catharine (55) and Adam (53). This is likely correct, however several descendants of Ben Sr instead believe he is seated next to his sister, Louisa, and elder brother Will is standing, second on the left. It was probably taken near the families farm in Tuscola County, Michigan.
  		_Schaufele, Anna Catharina Wife of Adam Benkelman B. 1823 W?rttemberg D. 1906 Michigan
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) ca 1890 Adam and Catherine Benkelman were the parents of seven children, six of whom survived into adulthood. This photo was probably taken in the 1890's, when they were both in their seventies.

  
  

  Documents		Benkelman, Adam and Catharina (Schaufele) 1851 Marriage, B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg, Germany German Church Family Registery. This shows Adam's birthdates and marriage dates, as well as his parents. However, the name on the right hand side of the card, under "hausmutter" is difficult to read. His wife was Anna Catharina Schaufele. The date above her name is certainly incorrect. PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU CAN HELP INTERPRET THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CARD.
  		Schaufele, Catherine (Mrs. Adam Benkelman) Death Certificate

  
  

  Headstones		Benkelman, Catharine (Schaufele) Catharine's name is engraved on one side of this four sided marker, which she shares with her husband and two daughters-in-law that both died shortly after marriage
  		Benkelman, Adam and Catherine Family Plot This marker was engraved on all four sides, with trees planted eight to ten feet out on either side of the marker. The engraving on the granite is very difficult to read, however, the four names engraved upon it are still legible, and are for Adam Benkelman, his wife, Catherine, and two of their daughters-in-law who died shortly after marriage, Lydia Striffler, the wife of Samuel Benkelman and Rosina Wahl, the wife of John Adam Benkelman. This marker was likely erected in 1886, when Rosina died.

  
  

  Histories

  Ancestral Region in Germany G?ppingen, in the midst of the Swabian-Franconian mountains, is the current day German District from which Adam and Catharina Benkelman emigrated shortly after their marriage in 1851. When Adam and Catherine left for America, their hometown was still considered part of the Welzheim Administrative District (though rents were paid to G?ppingen). The border between the two districts ran along the crest of the mountain shared by Breech and the Schneiderhof.

  
  

• Sources

  [S337] Benkelman, Hilda Jane Stickley THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN A. BENKELMAN (Privately Published, 1966). [S29] State of Michigan, Department of State, Division of Vital Records, Death Certificate. [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. 128 (Reliability: 3). [S311] Bonnell, Kathy Brandt (kbonnell@byu.edu) "G?ppingen, W?rttemberg, Germany and surrounding villages" http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=kbonnell, (RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: G?ppingen, W?rttemberg, Germany and surrounding villages. This database is one large family tree; everyone is connected by birth or marriage. Many of the families were inputted from the family books which were compiled by the pastors of each village beginning in 1808. Villages include Heiningen, Bartenbach, Gruibingen, Faurdau, Schlat, Hattenhofen, Eislingen, Holzheim, Auendorf , D?rnau, Bezgenriet, Ebersbach , Maitis, Gammelshausen, B?rtlingen, Boll, and others. Kathy Brandt Bonnell work directly from German records to the computer.). [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. 95, 128 (Reliability: 3).