Georg Friedrich St?hle

Notes:

The family church registry records indicate he was a bailiff.

Georg married Anna Maria Leins on 4 Nov 1794 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Anna (daughter of Johann Georg Friedrich Leins and Eva Herb) was born on 7 Aug 1769 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 24 Dec 1846 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On "January something" in 1983, Bonnie Jacobs wrote "A search for some years has finally yielded information for me. As you have probably heard, the last of the 10 Benkelman children to emigrate from Germany were the four girls and their mother [Dorothea, age 52, and daughters Dorothea age 23, Catharina, age 21, Maria, age 13, and Lena, age 7]. We had heard from family legends that the mother died at sea and I have pursued that information for years. I have finally retrieved it. It is a painstaking process to get the facts, but I finally found an obituary that identified the port of entry as Baltimore---a stroke of luck since Baltimore was one of the few American ports of entry that did have a Customs passenger list. I have retrieved the film from the Archives in Washington--but it has brought a new mystery. It is remarkable that finding the answer to one question almost always raises another. Missing from the party of four daughters and the mother is the second eldest daughter, Catharina. She was released from the Empire with the others on 20 September of 1853--but there is no record of her having arrived in Baltimore!

At least I have a death date on the mother now. She died at sea on 22 October, barely a month into the voyage. The ship arrived in Baltimore on December 15. Can you imagine being packed into one of those filthy sailing vessels for six to nine weeks? Try to imagine the day to day living with no privacy, no way to bathe or attend to personal needs and only buggy, dried food to eat! Our ancestors suffered much. I will go and try to retrieve the Captain's actual report now that I know the ship and the Captain--to see if a cause of death is listed. Cholera was rampant that year, but I think it was not the cause since the part of the list I have seen shows only one other death during the voyage."

BonnieMargaret Jacobs shows her, on her transcription of the familienregister page of the Benkelmann family, as a daughter of George Friedrich St?hle and Anna Maria REIK or RECH. However, Anna Maria REIK is actually the mother of Dorothea's daughter-in-law Catharina Schaufele, who married Dorothea's son Adam Benkelmann. Kathy Bonnell, on her transcription of G?ppingen church records, shows her mothers maiden name was LEINS. BonnieMargaret appears to have been simply confusing the two Anna Maria's. Additionally, the family register for the family of Georg Friedrich St?hle, listing his wife and children, shows his wife Anna Maria was born to Georg Friedrich Leins, a farmer.

On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Maria Dorothea, Witwe (widow) des Bauers Johann Leonhard Benkelmann von Schneiderhof, Gd. Waldhausen geb. den 5ten Januar 1800. Their guarantor was Johann Georg St?hle, Bauer von B?rtlingen.

(BonnieMargaret's full source citation was: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, "Verzeichnis der Auswanderung aus dem Oberamt Welzheim 1818-1891" F 214 B?schel 91 Fortlaufende Number 42 [or possibly 47] ).

Maria married Johann Leonhard Benkelmann on 20 Nov 1822 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Johann (son of Johann Jakob Binkelmann, III and Maria Catharina Baur) was born on 6 Feb 1796 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 24 Feb 1848 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The family register for the family of Friedrich's maternal grandparents, Georg Friedrich St?hle and wife, Anna Maria Leins, shows that Maria Dorothea St?hle was the fifth of their 15 children. She was married at the Schneiderhof on 20 Nov 1822 to Leonhard Benkelmann. Dot Williams, a Benkelman descendant, visited with a specialist in the old German script at the LDS library at Salt Lake City, where they helped her translate the information on the scans of the actual St?hle family register. They indicated that the writing to the right of Maria Dorothea's name, as well as two of her sisters, said they each had an illegitimate child. Maria Dorothea's child was Johann Friedrich, "who was raised as the eldest of the Leonhard Benkelmann family." It was not indicated one way or the other if he was also Leonhard's biological son. Johann Friedrich was born on 6 Feb 1822, approximately 10 months prior to the marriage of Leonard Benkelmann and Dorothea St?hle.

Freidrich apprenticed with Leonhard as a bricklayer and stonemason. (Jacobs, p. 73)

The oldest of the Benkelman children, he was the last to emigrate to America. He was already established as a stone mason in W?rttemberg when his younger siblings began to emigrate. Over the years, he received many letters from members of the family in America, telling him of the opportunities in the new land. Thus he eventually decided to join them. When he left Germany early in 1873, he was travelling with his wife Christine Stadelmaier, daughter Catherine and son-in-law Friedrich Buerk, granddaughter Catherine Buerk, daughter Christine and her husband George Jaus, and daughters Rosine and Mary, along with Fred's mother, Christina Buerk. German Parish records show "Marz 1873 mit Familie nach Nordamerika."

They sailed from Bremen, Germany on the steam ship "Ohio," and arrived in Baltimore on 5 April 1873, as the vessel was powered by steam, their entire journey took only 15 days. The earlier emigrants had traveled in sailing ships, and thus their journeys had been much longer. Friedrich and his family then traveled by train to Saginaw, Michigan where they were met by Adam, who took them by horse and wagon to Cass City. Adam, helped by his brothers, had constructed a building for them on his land where they stayed. Through hard work and frugal living, Friedrich was later able to purchase land a few miles northeast of Cass City, upon which he built his own home and farm.

At a Benkelman/Striffler reunion, Mary Striffler Benkelman recalled that "Uncle Fred was the oldest and Jolliest of the bunch, I can see him yet a large man of straight build, starting to town a distance of three and a half miles, with a basket of eggs perched on his head and a pail in one arm, marching straight as when he served in the German army but in after years when he became old and feeble he would say "When I think I am going to fall I am already lying on the ground." Later in life, Frederick became lame from rheumatism and used crutches to get about.

(Jacobs, pp. 82, 83, 161, as well various correspondence from BonnieMargaretJacobs, and issues of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcasts)

These are the tombstone inscriptions of he and his wife:

Benkelman, Christina,d. 18 Aug 1897, 74y 3m 25d
Benkelman, Frederick,d. 28 Aug 1897, 75y 7m 22d

http://www.interment.net/data/us/mi/tuscola/casscity/index.htm

A brief mention of his funeral was on the front page of the September 2, 1897 Cass City Enterprise, in the "Home Happenings" column:

"The funeral services of Frederick Benkelman were held at the Evangelical Church on Sunday afternoon, Rev. C.Y. Schneider officiating. As previously mentioned, Mr. Benkelman has been in poor health for some time. He was nearly seventy six years old and has resided in this vicinity for many years."

A copy of his actual Michigan Death Certificate can be viewed here:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Fredrick Benkelman

It was noted under this cause of death that a contributory factor was the death of his wife one week previously. He was shown as 75 years, 7 months, and 22 days of age at the time of his death.

(Research):Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan
Source:FHL Film 1254607 National Archives Film T9-0607
Page 96C
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Fredrick BENKELMAN Self M M W 58 WERTENBERG Occ: Stone Mason Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG
Christina BENKELMAN Wife F M W 57 WERTENBERG Occ:Keeping House Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG

Johann married Rosine M?ller on 26 Nov 1850 in Bartenbach, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Rosine was born on 18 Aug 1821 in Bartenbach, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 16 Oct 1858 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Johann married Christina Catharina Stadelmaier on 17 Jul 1859 in W?rttemberg, Germany. Christina (daughter of Johannes Stadelmaier and Christina Barbara Rommel) was born on 2 Apr 1823 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 18 Aug 1897 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"...lived just seven months..."

Notes:

BonnieMargaret, in the process of writing her manuscript, also read about Schw?bisch folkways. She reported that when each of Leonhard's sons were born, they would have been wrapped by his mother and the midwives in attendance in a shirt belonging to their father and placed on the floor, where the father would then pick him up as an act of recognition and claiming. The infant would be christened as soon as possible before any witch could place a spell on him or her. The godparents would be summoned and the christening would take place, and only at that time would the child's name be revealed. They kept the area the baby slept in lit, so no changeling could be put in his or her place. The baby was not taken from his home for six weeks, after which time the family would begin to visit friends and neighbors. The child was then presented a "schwatzei" or chatter egg, from each of the neighbors, who would lightly tap the child on the mouth with the egg, to pass along the gift of speech. (pp. 70, 71) She also wrote that "according to parish record, he was actually born on the Schmitthof, nearby the Schneiderhof. Probably sometimes it was necessary to go to the midwife....The jurisdiction at the time was the Oberamt Welzheim, and that appears on the death certificate of both Adam and [sister] Louisa Benkelman...Waldhausen Parish is now in the jurisdication of Waldhausen-Lorch and that is where the records are to be found [post 1938]." (p. 127)

On the German church registry, he is shown as a citizen of Waldhausen, a master barrel maker, and belonging to the Schneiderhof near Lorch, renting in B?rtlingen. They also show he emigrated to America in June 1851. None of his children were listed because they are all born in the United States. Waldhausen Parish was nearby Lorch, within the Oberamt Welzheim. BonnieMargaret writes (p. 73) that Adam was accepted to a trades training program in Waldhausen, despite his father not being citizen of that parish or a member of that guild. He completed his training and was considered a master cooper.

BonnieMargaret later noted that Adam would have been about 14 when he began is training as a cooper. "..he would have gone into one of the training houses where the young apprentices lived together while they learned the rudiments of their craft. After several years of apprenticeship, Adam would have begin the 'wandering' that was a traditional part of the training of the journeymen artisans. During those years he woudl travel from village to village, living in the guild housing and working with other journeymen who were proving their skills and providing evidence of their reliability and good character. Adam's admittance into the trades is an example of the flexibility of the W?rttemberg laws governing these things. Strict compliance with the law would have meant that Adam could not have entered this training, since one of the requirements was legitimate ancestry. His father had proved himself a responsible person [however] ...and there is some evidence that Adam's mother came from a substantial and respected family, which would have helped." (p. 127).

Johann Adam Benkelmann and Catherine Benkelmann were referenced as applying to emigrate to North America in 1851 by Schenk, Trudy and Froelke, Ruth THE W?rttemberg EMIGRATION INDEX Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Vol. 5. 1988. 240 p. Source Code 8057.8, p 14. Also listed with them were Johann Georg Benkelmann (1850) and Johannes Benkelman (1851).

The following was excerpted from the "Memoirs of John A. Benkelman" (published posthumously) by Hilda Jane Stickley Benkelman in 1966. John A. Benkelman was the third child of Johann Adam and Catherine (Schiefle) Benkelman. Hilda Stickley Benkelman was John Benkelman's daughter in law, and compiled the book based on the stories he told over and over again to his children.

Adam Benkelman and his wife, Catherine Scheifle Benkelman left Hamburg, Germany, shortly after their marriage in 1850 (sic). Upon arrival in America, they traveled by train to Lancaster, Erie County, New York, to the home of John Scheifle, brother of Catherine. They spent one year with the Scheifles, and it was there that their first son, George, was born.

Their next move was to Bowmansville, Erie County, New York, where the remaining children were born.

Adam Benkelman was a cooper and learned his trade in Germany, where he was kept busy every winter making sap buckets, barrels, kegs and churns which were bought and used by many of his neighbors.

Adam's sisters, Mary and Louise were married to John and Jacob Striffler. They lived in New York State, near Adam and his family. The Striffler brothers bought land in Tuscola County, Michigan, without seeing it first, for $2.00 an acre. In 1860, they moved their families to Watrousville. From there, they walked back and forth to their land and build two log homes. Adam came to visit in 1864, and bought himself 80 acres of land. It was $3.00 an acre, and covered with virgin pine. The land was one mile east and one mile north of the town of Cass City, Michigan. In 1964, a centennial marker was placed at the farm, since it had been owned by the same family for 100 years.

Adam and his family stayed in New York State through the end of the Civil War. Adam worked at a barrel factory as a cooper for Mr. Looney, for whom the town was named. It was a thriving town, near the New York Central railroad, and a passenger and freight depot was not far from the Benkelman home.

When Lincoln was assasinated on April 14, 1865, there was a great deal of argument over his death among the townspeople. Some thought that he should not have been at the theatre, others worried about the future of the country. The train carrying his body to Springfield, Ilinois went through the town. The train and engine were clothed in black. It stopped in Looneville to take on water and supplies at the depot. In a short time, a large crowd gathered to pay respects to this great man. They stood silently, with hats in hand. They stood spellbound until the train was well out of sight, taking President Lincoln to his last resting place.

Adam moved his family to Michigan shortly thereafter, sometime in May or June of 1865. They sent the furniture ahead by freight. When the family reached Pine Run (Vassar), Michigan, they hired a driver to take them the rest of the way. At Centerville (Caro), they were all tired and hungry, so the driver stopped at an old inn run by the a Mr. Velmer, who came to help them off the wagon. George, the oldest child, jumped off, then Louisa, John, Sam, Will, Mary and finally the baby, Ben. The innkeeper laughed and said "For God's sake, how many more are up there?"

By the time the Civil War was over, most of the aggressive, war-like Indians that had resided in around Tuscola County had migrated westward beyond the Mississippi River. There were however scattered camps of peaceful Indians still living in Tuscola County. The early settlers had no reason to fear these Indians. The Indian children often came out to the road to play with the white children, especially those of the Seeger family whose Father had been mistakenly shot for a bear at Elk Lake. An old Indian called Riley often stopped at the Benkelman house at noon time, sometimes eating, and sometimes stretching out on the bare floor for the night. In the morning, he would be gone and often did not return for many months.

Adam and his family lived in an old building on the land of Louisa and Jacob Striffler until Adam was able to build a log home on his land, which he completed around 1871. Sam and John later built the house that is still standing on the farm today. Adam used oxen both to haul the lumber and to help him with farming. He bought his first team of horses in 1873.

The first garden that the family had was grown around the stumps and logs, but they did have a lot of vegetables that fall. The first fruit trees were planted from seeds of apples bought from a man who peddled the apples in the fall with a horse and wagon. The first wheat was planted in a small patch of ground, cradled by hand the next year and threshed on the floor by hand. Later, Adam had six acres of wheat to cut and he hired a good cradler to cut it. The other members of the family followed with twine and tied the wheat in bundles. This wheat was threshed by a machine that was operated with horses. The twine had to be cut and handled seperately by men at the side of the machine. The grain was winnowed and ground to flour by hand. Eventually, they could take the wheat to a water-powered mill at Wahjamega on the Cass River. This took two days to accomplish.

The first spring after they moved to Michigan, George, the eldest son, brought home an orphaned fawn. His mother was not pleased about having a a wild deer in the house, which he was as the weather was still quite chilly, however she consented after much teasing on the part of her children. They named the fawn Dickie, and he stayed in the yard all that next summer, making no attempt to leave. When winter came, Adam made his children a sled and harness. They taught Dickie to take directions like a trained reindeer, and neighborhood children gathered for miles around to have a sled ride.

The fawn was a wild animal however. Once it crashed through a window of their home, when startled by Catherine. Dickies fate was sealed after Adam had bought a bushel of apples from a man in Watrousville, and then saved the seeds for an orchard. (He planted them and they had grown to) nice little seedling trees which he kept close track of, his heart set on an apple orchard.... but in the fall, Dickie ate all the seedlings down to the roots. Adam was so provoked by the deer that he shot him, and used him for meat as it was hunting time. All the children cried bitterly and refused to eat. John related that "then poor Father was sorry that he had destroyed our pet deer."

The first Evangelical Church meeting held in Cass City was in Adam's log house, where the Benkelman farm is now located. A few of the early families of German descent wanted a Church to worship in, similar to their accustomed form. Rev. Henny, the Evangelical minister in Sebewaing at the time was invited to meet with the group to preach and help organize a Church in Cass City. He rode from Sebewaing on horseback.

Bonnie Petee abstracted the following regarding the Evangelical Association from "The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and Illustrations," H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. "A class of this church which is commonly known as the German Methodist, was organized in the town of Elkland about the year 1866, by the Rev. Stephen Henne in connection with the Sebewaing mission. The class numbered about fifteen members. It has had regular services from that time to the present, and a regular succession of pastors. Services being held in the school-house, one mile north and one-half mile east of Cass City. In the latter part of 1882, a formal organization was effected at Cass City, and steps taken for the construction of a house of worship, which is now in course of construction. The earnest zeal of the members and their individual labors and contributions of material have reduced the estimated cost of the building to about $1,500. The pastor of the church at the present time is the Rev. B. F. Wade, who resides on his farm in the town of Elkland. The membership is about fifty. There is a preaching every second Sunday; prayer-meeting and Sunday-school every Sabbath. The trustees of the church are, John Benkelman, Fred Krapf, Oscar Sencner (Lenzner?), Levi Muntz and Adam Benkelman."

The Benkelman family continued to stay heavily involved in the affairs of the church, as this January 24, 1896 news article notes:

At the Evangelical church, the following Sunday School officers have been elected for the ensuing year: Supt., Mrs. Lena SCHWEGLER; ass't supt., Mrs. Mary BENKELMAN; sec., J. MAIER; treas., Adam BENKELMAN; librarian, Miss Lillie Striffler; ass't librarian, Miss Maud MAIER; organist, Miss Martha STRIFFLER; ass't organist, Oscar LENZNER.

The following death notices appeared in the local Cass City Paper after Adam's death:

From the Cass City Enterprise
Published in Cass City, Mich., Dec. 30, 1897

Adam Benkelman, one of our oldest residents and most highly respected, passed away this morning (Thursday), at the age of seventy-two years. The immediate cause of his decease is said to have been diabetes. The funeral services will be held Sunday, at his late residence on Houghton Street at ten o'clock and at the Evangelical Church at 10:30. Obituary next week.

From the Cass City Enterprise
Published in Cass City, Mich., Jan. 6, 1898

Another Pioneer Gone

Adam Benkelman was born in Oberamt Welzheim, Wurtemberg, Germany on the thirteenth of February 1825. In the year 1851 he was married to Catherine Scheufele, who accompanied him to America shortly after. His first home in America was in the State of New York, where he resided fourteen years. In 1865 he came to this place where he lived on the farm one mile east and three-quarters of a mile north of Cass City until 1881, then moved to the village where he has since lived.

As a citizen, Mr. Benkelman was respected by all. His pioneer days here were filled with the hardships of pioneer life, but not disheartened by his surroundings, he toiled on until his timbered land was cleared. All his dealing and business transactions were strictly honest. He practiced honesty and inculcated the same principle in the minds of his children.

Mr. Benkelman was a member of the Lutheran Church until 1867, when he was converted and joined the Evangelical Association, under the pastorate of Rev. S. Heune, the first Evangelical minister that preached in this neighborhood. There being no church or school house in which to hold meetings Mr. Benkelman opened his house as a place of public worship. After his conversion he lived a devoted christian life. He was a regular attendant at all meetings of the church, his seat never being vacant unless sickness would not allow him to be present. Not only could he be found at the meeting, but his children were early taught to go to church and would accompany him to the place of worship. His love for the Lord's house was great. He supported the church not only by his prayers, but he also gave very liberally. He was a pillar in the church and remained a true and faithful member to the end. For thirty-one years he had been a subscriber to the "Christliche Botschafter.**"

His health has been poorly for several months, but not until recently was he confined to his bed. The last few weeks was a time of great suffering, but he endured it all with a childlike spirit. All that human skill and wisdom could do was done, but of no avail. He patiently resigned to the will of God and did not murmur at his lot until it pleased Him who is all wise and the great Author of Life and Death to put an end to his pain by removing his spirit to realms above where suffering cannot come.

His deeply sorrowing widow, one daughter, five sons and twenty grandchildren, besides three brothers and three sisters and a large circle of relatives and friends are left to mourn his departure. On the 29?sup?th?/sup? of Dec., 1897, he fell asleep in the arms of Jesus at the ripe age of 72 years, 10 months and sixteen days.

The funeral occurred on Sunday, Jan. 2?sup?nd?/sup?, from the Evangelical Church. Rev. W Bergey, of Elkton, preached in the German language from Phil. 1. 21, and the writer made a few remarks in the English based on 1 Sam. Xx. 18. His remains were laid in their last resting place there to await the resurrection morn.

In the same paper, the following notice was also published:

Leonard Benkelman, from Wisconsin, brother of the late Adam Benkelman, is in town and will remain for some time.

Detail of Death Certificate: County Tuscola, Township Elkland, Village Cass City ADAM BENKELMAN DOD 30 Dec 1897 Place of Death Cass City, Male, White, Married 26 years, Age 72 yrs, 10 mos, 17 days, Parent of 7 children, 6 living, Born Germany, Occupation Farmer, Father Leonard Benkelman, Mother Dora Stahley, (Both born in Germany), proposed date of burial Jan 2, 1897 (sic), Elkland cemetery, Undertaker A.A. McKenzie, Cass City MI Attending Physician H.P. Edwards, Attended the deceased from June 10, 1895 to Dec 30, 1897, last seen alive on Dec 30, 1897

**Der Christliche Botschafter was the first religious paper in the German language in America. Founded in 1836 it became a stimulus to the rapid growth of the Evangelical Association and a valuable means of recording the progressive movements of the denomination. It was a significant agency in building Christian and denominational bonds.

(Research):Census Information:

The family was listed as follows on the 1860 Federal Censu
s for Erie County, New York:
Bowmansville Post Office Town of Lancaster Enumeration date 13 June 1860
#36-36 Adam Benkerman 35 Cooper $500/$150 Germany
Catherine 37 Germany
George 9 New York
Louisa 7 New York
John 4 New York
Samuel 3 New York
Mary 2 New York

The family was listed as follows on the 1870 Federal Census for Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Township,
#54-54 Benkelmann, Adam 45 Farmer 2010 360 Ger/Wirtenberg
", Catherine 47 Keeping House Ger/Wirtenberg
", George 19 At home NY
", Louisa 17 At home NY
", John 14 At school NY
", Samuel 13 At school NY
", Mary 11 At school NY
", William 9 NY
", Benjamin 7 NY

1880 Federal Census
Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Source:FHL Film 1254607
National Archives Film T9-0607 Page 95B
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Adam BENKELMANSelfMMW55WERTENBURG Occ:CooperFa: WERTENBURGMo: WERTENBURG
Cathrine BENKELMANWifeFMW59WERTENBURG Occ:Keeping HouseFa: WERTENBURGMo: WERTENBURG

Johann married Anna Catharina Schaufele on 24 Feb 1851 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Anna (daughter of Johannes Schaufele and Anna Maria Reick) was born on 23 Aug 1823 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 23 Dec 1906 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In her 1981 unpublished manuscript, BonnieMargaret Jacobs pointed out that as the eldest daughter Maria Dorothea would have been responsible for helping her mother with both the bulk of the household chores, as well as caring for her younger siblings. And with her father dying when she was just 22, she would have had to postpone any plans for marriage she might have had to continue to help her mother care for their large family. (p. 135).

BonnieMargaret noted that Dorothea, along with her mother and three of her sisters, were the last of the family to leave their family home. Eldest brother Friedrich was married, well established, and raising his own family in the area. All the other brothers and sisters had already emigrated to the United States. Only Leonhards widow and four of her daughters remained. German Parish records show that they "ausgewandert nach Amerika" (left for America) in 1853.

They left the parish in September, 1853, with just 300 florins to see them to New York; George St?hle warrented any unknown debts.

BonnieMargeret also noted a mystery she uncovered in examining the records: "in addition to the widowed mother and four daughters, there was a fifth member of the party, 'the child Johann Friedrich Benkelmann, born April 2, 1851, the son of the single Maria Dorothea.' However, if the child had actually been the son of the younger Dorothea, he would have been recorded on the familienregister page of the Benkelmann family, but he was not. We can only conclude that the women smuggled the two year old child out of Germany for friends or kin, and that if he survived, delivered him to relatives in America. Who that child may really have been, and what happened to him, are secrets the women kept to themselves." (p. 82)

On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Maria Dorothea, g. d. 13t. Juli 1826 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof. The child accompanying her was listed as "sowid: deren Enkel Johann Friedrich Benkelmann g. d. 2t. April 1851 Sohn der ledigen Maria Dorothea, [blank line] s?mtl. eve. Conf."

BonnieMargaret's full source citation was: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, "Verzeichnis der Auswanderung aus dem Oberamt Welzheim 1818-1891" F 214 B?schel 91 Fortlaufende Number 42 [or possibly 47] ).

On board the ship to America was Johann Friedrich Krapf, from a village a few milies from the Schneiderhof. He and Dorothea married immediately after their arrival in th United States, taking her two youngest sisters to family in New York, and then setting off together for Wisconsin. Sister Catharine Benkelmann accompanied them. Dorothea and Friedrich farmed in Greenfield township, just west of Milwaukee. (p. 136).

Seometime in the early 1860s, after two of her sisters and her brother Adam moved to Cass City, Michigan, Dorothea and Friedrich moved there as well. (p. 137)

Maria married Johann Friedrich "Frederick" Krapf about 1853. Johann (son of Johann Friedrich Krapf and Barbara Unrath) was born on 4 Dec 1828 in Holzhausen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 9 Feb 1906 in Versailles, Morgan County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Leonhard, named for his father, was the trailblazer of the family. Parish records in Waldhausen show "ist 1849 Ausgewandert," meaning he emigrated in 1849. This makes him the first of the ten children [who lived into maturity] of Leonhard and Dorothea Benkelmann to leave Germany for America. Every one of his siblings eventually followed him.

BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that "as in all areas of German life, there were strict requirements to be met in order to be free to leave. The emigrant had to obtain certificates from the tax collector, the pastor and from school officials that he was free from taxes, tithes of other debts. The emigrant also had to renounce their citizenship, and have a specified amount of money to sustain them in their new country until they could establish themselves." (p. 80)

Leonard settled first in Lancaster, New York, but sometime after 1851 moved to Wisconsin, taking his newly arrived younger brother Johannes with him west. They lived first in Milwaukee, and later Leonard alone moved to Manitowac county, where he spent the rest of his life. BonnieMargaret wrote that "pamphlets about Wisconsin had been prepared to be circulated amoung the villages back home in Germany. The Wisconsin Germans were anxious to create a German community with a German culture and they aggresively recruited immigrants to their area...The early settlers in Manitowac were primarily German, Swiss and Irish. They brought with them their cheese making skills and turned Wisconsin into the dairyland of the nation. But manufacture and shipbuilding developed quickly in Manitowoc, with its access through the Great Lakes to endless markets." (Jacobs, p. 1022)

Leonard was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting on 8 Sept 1861 for 3 years as a private in Company A, 1st Regiment, Mechanics Fusileers, though the company disbanded, and he was and discharged on 28 Jan 1862 at Camp Douglas, Illinois. BonnieMargaret Jacobs states that at the time of his enlistment, his occupation was listed as weaver. He reenlisted in 1865 for 1 year in Company D, 48th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and mustered out 19 February 1866 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. BonnieMargaret Jacobs cites his Civil War Pension record as No. 696589, filed on 9 Oct 1890.

His war record showed him as an engineer. The 1880 city directory listed him as the same.

Leonhard appears to have remained in close contact with his family. The Cass City, Michigan paper had several articles over the years mentioning his visits. This brief article appeared one week after the death of Adam Benkelman. "Leonard Benkelman, from Wisconsin, brother of the late Adam Benkelman, is in town and will remain for some time." (Cass City Enterprise Published in Cass City, Mich., Jan. 6, 1898).

A few years later, these articles also mention Leonard:

Cass City Chronicle
November 8, 1901

Local Mentions

A farewell party was given at Mrs. J. Schwegler's Monday evening in honor of her brother, Leonard and his niece Miss Cora Benkelman [daughter of Johannes Benkelman], who left for their respective homes in Manitowoc and Portage, Wisconisn, Tuesday.

Cass City Chronicle
October 30, 1908

Local Mentions

Leonard Benkelman of Manitowoc, Wis., is the guest of his sisters, Mrs. Louisa Striffler and Mrs. John Striffler and other relatives.

A notice of his death was in the Friday, May 30, 1913 issue of the Cass City Chronicle:

"Word has been received of the death of Leonard Benkelman, residing at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clark* [nee Mary Jane Clancey] Sunday morning and was buried Wednesday. Mr. Benkelman was a brother of Mrs. M.M. Schwegler and the late Mrs. John Striffler and has visited Cass City a number of times.

*It appears from the obituary published in the Manitowoc paper that Leonard actually died in the home of his other daughter, Ella Benkelman Bodwin.

Leonhard's step-granddaughter also ended up in Cass City. Cora Horn (daughter of Mary Jane Clancey Horn Clark) married George Albert Striffler, a nephew of Leonhard's.

Jane Zimmerman provided the following obituary of Leonard, published in the Manitowoc Daily Herald on May 30, 1913.

Leonard Benkelman

Manitowoc Citizen Well Known Among German Citizens here

From Manitowoc (Wis.) Daily Herald

While his comrades, assembled throughout the land for memorial services Sunday, listened to tributes to their deeds of valor, Leonard Benkelman, one of the best known veterans of the county, heard taps sounded and passed on, his death occuring at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Bodwin at Kings Bridge, due to infirmaties of age. Mr. Benkelman had been looking forward to the Memorial day services in which he had been a participant for years and the keenest disappointment shadowed his last hours when he realized that he could not survive to join with his comrades another year.

Mr. Benkelman was born at Brech, Wuertenberg [BonnieMargaret Jacob's writes that Breech was just down and across the road from the Schneiderhof, both near B?rtlingen], Germany, July 5, 1828, and in 1848 came to America, locating at Lancaster, N.Y. where he remained two years and then came to this city where he has since resided.

When the civil war broke out Mr. Benkelman responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted in what was known as the First regiment, Mechanic Fussillers, attached to Co. A of which Capt. W. Bates, a Manitowoc man, was in command. Later, after being honorably discharged, Mr. Benkelman enlisted with Co. D, Forty-eighth Wisconsin, and served with the comman in trying experiences on the western plains. He returned here after the war to make his home.

Mr. Benkelman is survived by three children, Mrs. William Clark, of this city; William Benkelman, Marion, Wis., and Mrs. J. Bodwin, of Kings Bridge, sixteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A brother, John Benkelman, Portage, and one sister, Mrs. M. M. Schwegler, Cass City, Mich. also survive. One sister preceded him just two weeks ago.

Decedent was well known in the county and was universally esteemed.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon from the Clark home, 410 Park Street, to St. James Episcopal church and interment will be at Evergreen.


Cemetery records, from the Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Genealogy website:

BENKLEMAN: [W2-150-3]-[Leonard Benkelman/bur. 05-27-1913/cause: adetic [aortic?] insufficiency/bur. on John Horn lot] (William/d. 25 May 1913/age 85/cause: arterial schlorosis/bur. Evergreen 28 May 1913/from record of St. James Epis. ch., Manitowoc)

BENKELMANN: Jane............Aug. 23, 1894 Cem.#44, same name, same year *same, vol.4, p.234

BENKELMANN: Leonard Benkelmann/Co. D. 48th Wis. Inf., ossw: Jane Benkelmann/1830-1894

ossw: CLARKE/HORNE, next to: L. Benkelmann/Co. D/48 Wis. Inf.

(Research):Census Information:


1860 Census
Wisconsin, Manitowoc County, First Ward
8 June 1860
Page 49 (bottom)/Page 50 (top)
389-390
Leonard Brinkleman 30 M Weaver Wurtemburgh
Jane Brinkleman 29 F Ireland
William Brinkleman 11 M Illinois
Mary Brinkleman 8 F Wisc
Frederick Brinkleman 3 M Wisc
Emma Brinkleman 1 F Wisc
Note: William and Mary are Jane's children from her first marriage

1870 Census
Wisconsin, Manitowac, First Ward
17 June 1870, Stamped 192
107-117
Bingleman, Leonard 42 M W Carpenter Ireland (sic)
Bingleman, Jane 40 F Keeping House Ireland
Bingleman, William 21 M Grocery Store Ill
Bingleman, Fred 15 M Wisc
Bingleman, Emma 11 F Wisc

Mary, age 18 is no longer living with her parents. It is possible that she moved to Brown County, Wisconsin, as this is where her daughter, Cora Horn, was born in 1871. On the 1870 Brown County, Wisconsin census, a 19 year old Mary HORAN, House Servant, born in Wisconsin, can be found. This may be Mary Clancey Benkelman, already married but living apart from her husband? Or it may be someone else entirely. Living two households away is a 25 year old George McCORMICK, a teamster from Ireland. McCORMICK is the maiden name of Mary's mother, also born in Ireland. However Jane Zimmerman, a descendant of Leonard and Jane Benkelman, notes that McCORMICK was/is a fairly common name, and she does not know of a connection between Jane McCormick Benkelman and George McCormick.


1880 Census
1st Ward, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
FHL Film 1255434 National Archives Film T9-1434
Page 17
RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Leonhard BINGELMAN Self M M W 52 WURTEMBERG Occ: Engineer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Jane BINGELMAN Wife F M W 50 IRE Occ: Keeping House Fa: IRE Mo: IRE


1900 Census
Wisconsin, Manitowoc, Manitowoc Ward 2
9 June 1900
SD 3 ED 72 Sheet 12B
412-227-264
Clark, William Hd W M May 1846 54 M18 NY England England Horse shoer
Clark, Mary Wf W F Feb 1852 48 M18 4/3 Wisc Germ Ireland
Clark, Cora Dtr W F Feb 1871 29 S Wisc Ny Wisc
Clark, Walter Son W M Sept 1883 17 S Wisc Ny Wisc At School
Clark, Warren Son W M June 1885 15 S Wisc NY Wisc At School
Bingleman, Leonard Father In Law W M July 1828 72 Wd Germ Germ Germ Retired

Johann married Jane McCormick on 19 Feb 1855 in Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Jane was born on 13 May 1830 in Ireland; died on 21 Aug 1894 in Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin; was buried on 23 Aug 1894 in Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Johann Georg Benkelmann was referenced as applying to emigrate to North America in 1850 by Schenk, Trudy and Froelke, Ruth THE W?rttemberg EMIGRATION INDEX Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Vol. 5. 1988. 240 p. Source Code 8057.8, p 14. Also listed with him in this index were Johann Adam and Catharine Benkelman (1851) and Johannes Benkelman (1851).

German Parish records show "ist 1850 Ausgewander." his actual emigration occuring in the same year he applied.

Hilda Stickley Benkelman wrote that "George came from Germany in a sailboat about 1852. He first went to Lancaster, New York, and worked in a sawmill for 25 cents a day. Then he and three friends bought a span of oxen and a covered wagon and started for California around 1854. They worked in the fields or anywhere they could find work to pay their expenses. They arrived in California during the Gold Rush, and found work in the mines for $10 a day. George saved his earnings, and staked his own claim. He lost all his money, and returned to work for other miners.

BonnieMargaret Jacobs, in her 1981 manuscript said that George "had an exquisite little brooch made of all the gold he had ever found its natural state. It is not large! But he laughed as he displayed the net results of his mining attempts....as my father gave the broach to me, he would laugh as heartily at the story of George scratching the earth all that time for no more glad than that!" (Jacobs, p. 117). He was called "Big George," while his nephew and associate in the cattle business was "Little George." (Ibid, p. 119)

He married Christine Rommel, and they moved to Iowa where they bought a herd of cattle. Christine drove the Oxen in a wagon, and George walked beside the cattle. Later they returned west, to Leadville, Colorado. Here he opened a store to service the miners. He also worked as a butcher. Their customers paid them in gold dust, which George and Christine took to the mint in Denver. They later sold their store, and bought a ranch in St. Francis, Kansas. Eventually he owned a hotel in Denver, which was named for him. This was sold by his heirs in 1952. (Stickley)

BonnieMargaret Jacob's states that on 27 Aug 1868, "The Rocky Mounty News" published a deposition of J. G. Benkelman in regards to the inquest of the death of the pregnant Mrs. Henrietta Dietermann and son. She had been captured and killed in a ambush by Indians in Douglas county, Colorado Territory. John was a resident of Central City, Colorada at the time, working as a butcher. At the time of the ambush, however, he and a small group men were tending to cattle at the time, about 45 miles southeast of Denver. (Jacobs, p. 118).

In a separate history she prepared about the Colorado and Nebraska Benkelman's, BonnieMargaret wrote: "The gold and silver strikes in the Rocky Mountains made Denver City a most desirable place for a young man to seek his fortune. John George Benkelman with his wife Christine Rommel Benkelman set out for Denver in 1862. After arriving in Denver, the couple spent the next few days tramping around Denver surveying the possibilities for livelihood. It was apparent that the miners needed supplies brought to them. John George felt like he could handle that chore. Among his many interests were a butcher shop and a shoe shop.

By 1868, George had amassed sufficient funds to consider entering into the cattle business. His headquarters were located at Running Water just east of Denver. The sheep ranchers were taking more and more of the range, so Big George decided to move further east. His first order of business was to contact George Adam Benkelman, his 19 year old nephew in Cass City, Michigan, to see if he was interested in going into the cattle business with him.

In 1870, Big George had purchased two lots in Denver from William Barth at 18th and California Street, for $800. He bought two additional lots for less. He built the Benkelman family residence on his block of land in 1871. Christine and the four boys were at home here. At the time, it was on the outskirts of Denver.

After operating over 30 years, the Benkelman Ranch was sold in 1903. The east half went to Josiah Crosby. This was later sold to Quinn and Martin of Oberlin. Jake Holzwarth leased this land for many years.

The west half of the ranch was sold to Reinholt and Puderbough. They sold their portion to J.G. McCall in 1917. In 1941, Frank R. Douthit purchased the ranch and turned it over Thad Douthit, Sr. Thad was able to regain most of the Benkelman holdings, and used the land to raise Registered Herefords. Thad Sr. died September 23, 1978, and the ranch was once again split up, this time between his son and son-in-law (Thad Douthit Jr and Roger Faulkender). These ranches were still operating as of 1987.

The original headquarters of the old JC Ranch was purchased by A.J. Sheldon, and later sold to Peter O'Brien. It is still a portion of the O'Brien Ranch, operated by Dean and Neal O'Brien.

In her 1981 manuscript, BonnieMargaret noted that George also invested wisely in real estate in Denver. He at one time owned most of what would become California street, from 16th to 18th street. His home was at 1725 California, which would soon become the heart of the banking area of Denver. He also owned a block on Curtis Street, this too in the heart of the commericial downtown area. (Jacobs, p. 121).

A notice of George's death appeared in the January 24, 1908 issue of the Cass City Chronicle, in "Local Items", page 4:

Mrs. John Striffler and Mrs. Louise Striffler received the news of the death of their brother, George Benkelman, on Jan 16, at his home in Denver, Colorado. Mr. M.M. Schwegler, another sister, who left Cass City last fall, to assist in caring for Mr. Benkelman, is expected by her friends to return to this place within a few months.

(Research):
Census Information:

1880 Census
Census Place:Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado
Source:FHL Film 125 4088 National Archives Film T9-0088
Page 25 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John G. BENKELMAN Self M M W 49 WURTEMBERG Occ: Live Stock Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Christina BENKELMAN Wife F M W 48 WURTEMBERG Occ: Keeps House Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
George W. BENKELMAN Son M S W 17 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Charles A. BENKELMAN Son M S W 14 CO Occ: Schoo lFa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Henry J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 12 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
George A. BENKEMAN Other [Nephew] M M W 28 NY Occ: Cattle Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Barbara BENKEMAN Other [Wife of Nephew AND sister-in-law] F M W 27 WURTEMBERG Occ: None Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Mary DEVERNES Other [Sister] F S W 36 WURTEMBERG Occ: Seamstress Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG

Johann married Christina "Christine" Rommel about 1861 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York. Christina (daughter of Michael Rommel and Maria Barbara Frey) was born on 3 Mar 1831 in B?nzwangen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 10 Jan 1903 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado; was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

German Parish records show "ist 1853 ausgewandert" (left for America) in 1853.

On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Maria Catharina, g. d. 16t. August 1831 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof. Three of her sisters were on this journey as well.

BonnieMargaret's full source citation was: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, "Verzeichnis der Auswanderung aus dem Oberamt Welzheim 1818-1891" F 214 B?schel 91 Fortlaufende Number 42 [or possibly 47] ).

Maria married George Anthony Kolb on 6 Dec 1854 in Greenfield, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. George was born on 7 Oct 1831 in Wellingen, Notzingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 29 Dec 1902 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

German Parish records show "ist 1852 ausgewandert" (left for America) in 1852. BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Louise travelled to America at the age of 19, with no other family members to accompany her, however it was likely other villagers made the journey with her. BonnieMargaret speculated that "perhaps her brohters had already spotted one of the Striffler brothers as a likely spouse, and wanted the eligible Louisa on hand." (p. 81).

At the time of the 1900 Census, she was living with her son and daughter-in-law, Samuel and Mary Striffler in Cass City.

Cass City Chronicle
October 28, 1910

Pioneer Lady Laid to Rest-
Mrs. Louisa Striffler Passed away Saturday-
One of the Pioneers of Elkland TownshipWhose Life Was a Blessing to Others-

Death released from her suffering Mrs. Louise Striffler, whose illness had been mentioned several time in the past two months. Her demise occurred at the home of her son, Solomon Striffler, two miles northeast of town.

Louise Benkelman was born in Oberamt Weltzheim, Wurtenberg, Germany, on Sept. 14, 1833. About 1850 she came to America and settled at Lancaster, N.Y. A few years later she was united in marriage to Jacob Striffler in that village. In the year 1850 they came to Michigan, settling in Elkland township. Mr. Striffler died 14 years ago.

Mrs. Striffler was converted to the Christian faith under the labors of Rev. Henne, a pioneer minister of the Evangelical Church. She was one of the charter members of the church of that denomination at Cass City. Before the society erected a church here, they worshipped many times in the Striffler home which was thrown open with the generous hospitality of the pioneer days.

Mrs. Striffler was a good and kind mother and beloved by all her aquantances. She was at home by the bedside of the sick and delighted in all kind and neighborly deeds of helpfulness. Her life was one of usefullness. In such a death there is really no cause for grief. Her life work was done, and well done, and weary of suffering and waiting, she is now at rest.

The funeral service was held at the Evangelical church Tuesday afternoon, Rev. J.A. Schweitzer officiating. Interment was made in the family lot in Elkland cemetery.

Deceased is survived by two sons, Solomon and Samuel of Elkland township, one daughter, Mrs. Geo. Zinnecker of Owendale, two brothers Leonard Benkelman of Manitowoc, Wisc. and John Benkelman of Portage, Wisc., and two sisters, Mrs. Jno. Striffler and Mrs. M.M. Schwegler.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Spring 2007)

A copy of her actual Michigan Death certificate can be seen online here:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Louisa Striffler



(Medical):See attached sources.

Luise married Jacob Striffler about 1853 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York. Jacob (son of Jacob Anton Striffler and Ottila "Odila" "Otil" Zimmerman) was born on 31 Mar 1819 in Kirberg, Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, Imperial Territory Of Alsace-Lorraine, Elsa?-Lothringen, Germany; died on 24 Sep 1895 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 26 Sep 1895 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Johannes Benkelmann was referenced as applying to emigrate to North America in 1850 by Schenk, Trudy and Froelke, Ruth The W?rttemberg Emigration Index Salt Lake City: Ancestry, Vol. 5. 1988. 240 p. Source Code 8057.8, p 14. Also indexed with hims were Johann Adam and Catharine Benkelman (1851) and Johan Georg Benkelman (1850). Census records indicate he emigrated in 1852, though German church records show that actually "ist 1851 ausgewandert."

BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Johannes, at the age of 15, made the journey to America with his older brother, Adam, and Adam's new wife, Catharina Schaufele. When the three of them left, they not only had to receive a release from the authorities that they had no outstanding debts, they also were required to have someone remaining in Germany to act as guarantor for any unknown debts that might later be discovered. Eldest brother Friedrich act as guarantor for Adam, whereas Johann Georg Stager, a citizen and farmer in B?rtlingen, was the guarantor of Johannes. Johannes arrived in Hamburg to depart for the United States a few days later than Adam and Catherine, June 23, 1851 versus June 19, but BonnieMargaret assumed they travelled on the same ship, (p. 81).

He is said to have stayed in New York for some period, presumably with Adam and Catherine, before later leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin with another brother, Leonard. Leonard later moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, whereas Johannes remained near Milwaukee, in Rock County. It was here that John was married in 1857, and from census records it is apparent he and Sarah moved to several other states before returning to Wisconsin.

He was a Private in Captain John Hauser's Company D, 48th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry from February 1865 to November 1865. His declaration for pension dated February 22, 1907 describes him as 6 feet an one-half inches tall, light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. His occupation was shown as blacksmith.

BonnieMargaret writes that John and Sarah moved from Rock County sometime after the birth of daughter Minnie, going northwest to Columbia County where they were live out the rest of their lives, settling first in Marsalla and later in Lewiston. After John could not longer farm, due to rheumatism, they retired to the town of Portage. (p. 108).

The following article appeared in the Cass City Chronicle four months before John's death. An obituary was not located, however.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, September 29, 1916

Mrs. M.M. Schwegler left Tuesday for Portage, Wisconsin to visit her brother, John Benkelman, who is in feeble health. Mrs. Schwegler is expected to remain there two weeks.

(Research):

Census Information:

1860 Census
Illinois, Wayne County, DuPage, P.O. Wayne Station
Page 358
2630 2681
John Binkleman 24 M Blacksmith $2000 $300 Wittemberg
Sarah Binkleman 26 F Penn
Emma Binkleman 2 F Ohio
Louisa Binkleman 1 F Ohio
Wm. Keech 24 M Blacksmith Penn

1870 Federal Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Marcellon, P.O. Randolph
Enumerated 1 June 1870
Page 21, Stamped 213
166-172
Benkelman, John 34 M W Farmer $1000 $428 Wertemburg
Benkelman, Sarah 36 F W Keeping House Pennsylvania
Benkelman, Franklin 6 M W At home Iowa
Benkelman, Minnie A 4 At Home Wisconsin
Divina, Mary 25 F W At Home Wertemburg


1880 Federal Census
Census Place:Marcellon, Columbia, Wisconsin Source:FHL Film 1255420 National Archives Film T9-1420
Page 17 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John BENKELMAN Self M M W 44 W?rttemberg Occ: Blacksmith And Farmer Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: W?rttemberg
Sarah J. BENKELMAN Wife F M W 45 PA Occ: Keeping House Fa: PA Mo: PA
Franklin BENKELMAN Son M S W 16 IA Occ: At Home Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA
Minne BENKELMAN Dau F S W 13 WI Occ: At Home Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA
Leonard J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 7 WI Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA
Cora E. BENKELMAN Dau F S W 3 WI Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA

1910 Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 1
Enumerated 18 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 4B
220-37-38
Benkelmann, John Hd M W 74 m1 52 Ger-German Ger-German Ger-German
Benkelmann, Sarah Wf F W 75 m1 52 7/2 Pa Pa Pa
Benkelmann, Frank Son M W 46 S Iowa Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelmann, Lenard Son m W 45 Wd Wisc Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelman, John Jr Grandson M W 14 S Wisc Wisc Wisc
Benkelman, Myrtle Granddtr F W 10 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

Johannes married Sarah Jane Keech on 7 Jun 1857 in Emerald Grove, Rock County, Wisconsin. Sarah was born on 24 Aug 1834 in Pennsylvania; died on 28 Nov 1921 in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

German Parish records show "ist 1853 ausgewandert" (left for America) in 1853. On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Anna Maria, g. d. 22t. Mai 1839 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof. Three of her sisters were on this list as well.

BonnieMargaret's full source citation was: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, "Verzeichnis der Auswanderung aus dem Oberamt Welzheim 1818-1891" F 214 B?schel 91 Fortlaufende Number 42 [or possibly 47] ).

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Mich., Friday, May 9, 1913
Vol. 8, No. 3

Elkland Twp. Loses Pioneer Settler
Mrs. John Striffler passed away Sunday Evening
Has Been a Resident of This Township for 54 years; was 73 Years of Age

Following an illness of several months duration, Mrs. John Striffler, one of the pioneer settlers of Elkland Township, died at her home on Pine Street Sunday evening at the age of 73 years.

Mary Benkelman was born in Brech, Wuertemberg, Germany*, on May 22, 1839, and came to this country in 1852, landing at Baltimore. She with some of her brothers and sisters settled in Lancaster, N.Y., and here on Nov. 14, 1858, she was united in marriage with John Striffler. This union was blessed with seven children, six of whom survive.

[BonnieMargaret Jacob's writes that Breech was just down and across the road from the Schneiderhof, both near B?rtlingen]

It was 54 years ago this month, when they, in the prime of life, came to Michigan, locating on the land now known as Striffler homestead, two miles east and north of Cass City. They belonged to that distinguished number of early settlers who opened up this section of Tuscola county and laid the foundation for future prosperity for those who came into these parts later on and here was established a home where the generous impluses and the hospitable ways of the pioneer held sway. When the life on the farm grew to sternouse (sic) for their advanced years, Mr. and Mrs. Striffler moved to Cass City to spend their remaining years.

Mrs. Striffler became a Christian in early life and ever since the establishment of the Evangelical society in this section, has been a regular attendant of that church. Her life was of such a self-sacrificing nature that she became a blessing to all who came to know her and in return God gave her a peaceful life full of hope and joy. Her last sickness was born with patience. She will be missed by the many friends and especially in the home by the husband and daughter.

The funeral services were held at the Evangelical church on Thursday morning. Rev. D.J. Feather, the pastor, officiated, assisted by Revs. J.M. Bittner and J. Schmaus, and the remains were carried to their last resting place in Elkland cemetery by the following nephews of the deceased, who served as pall bearers: B.F. and J.A. BENKELMAN, G. E. and John KRAPF, Solomon and Samuel STRIFFLER.

Besides the husband, six children, Mrs. Archie MARKS, G. A. STRIFFLER, Mrs. Salome BIEN, Miss Martha STRIFFLER, Mrs. W.R. KAISER and David STRIFFLER, one sister, Mrs. M.M. SCHWEGLER of this city, two brothers, Leonard BENKELMAN of Manitowoc, Wis. and John BENKELMAN of Portage, Wis., 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren survive.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 16, 1913
Local Items, Page 4

Mrs. Mary BURK, Mrs. Sarah HOYT and daughter, Miss Iva, of Caro attended the funeral of Mrs. John STRIFFLER Thursday

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

A copy of her actual Michigan Death certificate can be viewed online:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Marry Striffler

Her date of birth on this certificate was instead shown as 22 May 1839, and her parents were listed as Lenard Benkelman and Dora Slatey[St?hle]. The informant was W?/D? A Striffler of Cass City.







(Medical):See attached sources.

Anna married John "Uncle John" Striffler on 14 Nov 1858 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York. John (son of Jacob Anton Striffler and Ottila "Odila" "Otil" Zimmerman) was born on 15 Mar 1833 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 12 Jul 1922 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lena was just eight years old when she left for America with her mother and three of her sisters to America. Tragically, her mother died on the long journey. German Parish records simply show "nach Amerika Ausgewandert."

On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Magdalena, g. d. 31t. August 1845 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof.

BonnieMargaret's full source citation was: Staatsarchiv Ludwigsburg, "Verzeichnis der Auswanderung aus dem Oberamt Welzheim 1818-1891" F 214 B?schel 91 Fortlaufende Number 42 [or possibly 47] ).

Upon her arrival to the United states, she first lived in Lancaster, New York. BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that she may have moved to Wisconsion at the same time her older sisters Dora and Catharina did, around 1859. She married George Deverney, a union army soldier, in 1864. According to pension records, after the war George and Lena moved to Columbia County, Wisconsin, near Marsala, which is where her brother Johannes Benkelmann lived with his wife Sarah.

By the time of the 1870 federal census, Lena was living in the home of her brother John in Marcellon, Wisconsin. She was shown as Mary Divina (Deverney), but her husband was not present in the home. George Deverney was said to have died a few months after this census (7 August 1870), so perhaps he was hospitalized, or already dead? Sometime after Lena was widowed, she moved from Wisconsin to Colorado live with her brother George, in Denver, Colorado. She can be found in his home at the time of the 1880 census.

Mary M[agdelena] Deverney filed for a widows pension in Kansas, application number 424528, Certificate number 315555 on June 5, 1890. In 1891, she moved to Cass City, where she spent her remaining years.

BonnieMargaret also writes that Lena was the only woman listed as a claim holder in the early land records of Cheyenne County, Kansas.

Bonnie writes that "When beloved Aunt Lena re-joined the family in Cass City in 1891, Sam and John (Benkelman) build for her the first home she'd ever really had that was her own. Since she was orphaned at age 8, she'd spent her life with one or another of her brothers and sisters. At age 46, she finally had a home of her own. She married Johannes Schwegler, a widower, also from near B?rtlingen.

After Catherine Benkelman was widowed from Adam, she moved in with Lena, and they remained close companions for the rest of her life.


Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan

"Thirty-five years ago: January 24, 1896"
(Published on Friday, January 23, 1931)

At the Evangelical church, the following Sunday School officers have been elected for the ensuing year: Supt., Mrs. Lena SCHWEGLER; ass't supt., Mrs. Mary BENKELMAN; sec., J. MAIER; treas., Adam BENKELMAN; librarian, Miss Lillie Striffler; ass't librarian, Miss Maud MAIER; organist, Miss Martha STRIFFLER; ass't organist, Oscar LENZNER.

Cass City Chronicle
November 8, 1901

Local Mentions

A farewell party was given at Mrs. J. Schwegler's Monday evening in honor of her brother, Leonard and his niece Miss Cora Benkelman, who left for their respective homes in Manitowoc and Portage, Wisconisn, Tuesday.

Cass City Chronicle
June 24, 1904, page 4

Mrs. M. Schwegler and Miss Esther Striffler went to Elkton Thursday to attend the Evangelical campmeeting which is being held there this week.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, September 29, 1916

Mrs. M.M. Schwegler left Tuesday for Portage, Wisconsin to visit her brother, John Benkelman, who is in feeble health. Mrs. Schwegler is expected to remain there two weeks.


OBITUARY
Cass City Chronicle
Friday, January 29, 1926

Aunt Lena Schwegler Answers Summons-
Funeral Services of Respected Citizen were held Monday-

Mrs. M.M. Schwegler passed away at her home on East Main Street on Friday morning, January 22, after an illness of two weeks with heart trouble. She was 80 years of age and is the last of a family of 10, five brothers and four sisters preceding her in death.

Mary Magdalena Benkelman was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, on August 24, 1845*. She sailed for America with her mother and two small sisters when she was eight years of age. They were 58 days enroute during which time the mother was buried at sea, leaving three little girls to complete the journey alone.

[*BonnieMargaret Jacob's writes (p. 150) that "Lena always celebrated August 24 as her birthday, and would have loved the joke if she'd known it. Her actual birthdate, as recorded in Waldhausen parish, was August 31, 1845. As the last of 16 children, one can imagine that the entire family just threw in the towel on keeping track of birthdates.]

Miss Benkelman spent her youth in New York State. From there she went to Wisconsin, and later to Denver, Colorado and Kansas.

She came to Michigan in 1891 and the same year was united in marriage with John Schwegler. Mr. Schwegler passed away in 1901.

Mrs. Schwegler was greatly interested in the temperance movement and for many years was a very active member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Cass City. She was also a member of the the Woman's Missionary Society of the Evangelical church.

Mrs. Schwegler had an unusually large number of friends, and young as well as older people were made happy in her presence. The joy of her life was to be able to help others and many a person has been made happier by her expressions of love and friendship. She was called "Aunt Lena" outside of the kinship as well as by her nephews and nieces, and held in great respect by all who knew her.

Funeral services were held at the Evangelical church Monday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. C. F. Smith, the pastor, and Rev. C.L. Pohly of Sebewaing, a former pastor at Cass City. Interment was made in Elkland Cemetery.

Friends from out of town at the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Craw, of Caro, Mrs. Clyde Fox, Mrs. Haist and George Klump, all of Saginaw.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)



(Research):Census Information:

Census Information:

1870 Federal Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Marcellon, P.O. Randolph
Enumerated 1 June 1870
Page 21, Stamped 213
166-172
Benkelman, John 34 M W Farmer $1000 $428 Wertemburg
Benkelman, Sarah 36 F W Keeping House Pennsylvania
Benkelman, Franklin 6 M W At home Iowa
Benkelman, Minnie A 4 At Home Wisconsin
Divina, Mary 25 F W At Home Wertemburg


1880 Census

Census Place:Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado Source:FHL Film 125
4088 National Archives Film T9-0088
Page 25 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John G. BENKELMAN Self M M W 49 WURTEMBERG Occ: Live Stock Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Christina BENKELMAN Wife F M W 48 WURTEMBERG Occ: Keeps House Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
George W. BENKELMAN Son M S W 17 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Charles A. BENKELMAN Son M S W 14 CO Occ: Schoo lFa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Henry J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 12 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG George A. BENKEMAN Other M M W 28 NY Occ: Cattle Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Barbara BENKEMAN Other F M W 27 WURTEMBERG Occ: None Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG
Mary DEVERNES Other F S Wd 36 WURTEMBERG Occ: Seamstress Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG

1900 Census
Michigan, Tuscola, Elkland Twp, Cass City Village
Enumerated 6 Jun 1900 by A.C. Gillis
SD 8 ED 111 Sheet 3B
61-61
John Schwaglurs Hd W M Aug 1834 65 M 8 Germany Germany Germany 1853 47 Na Day Laborer
Mary
Jun? Mary M Wife W F Aug 1845 54 N 8 Germany Germany Germany 1853 47

Maria married George Deverney on 12 Feb 1864 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. George was born in 1840 in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin; died on 7 Aug 1870 in Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maria married Johannes "John" Schwegler in Feb 1892 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Johannes (son of Johannes Schw?gler and Christina Steiner) was born on 27 Aug 1834 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 13 Feb 1901 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that Catharina was born when her father was only 20, and before he had met all the requirements to be able to marry. She was raised in her mothers hometown of Bartenbach, and the three of them were not able to live together as a family until she was seven years old. After her parents were finally allowed to marry, in 1850, they were able to move to the Schneiderhof to live at last with Friedrich.

Cass City Chronicle
July 17, 1908
Local Items, Page 4

While returning from a berry patch southeast of town Monday, the horse driven by Mrs. Fred Buerk and her granddaughter, Miss Mary Buehrley, became frightened at the big umbrella ont eh mail wagon and Mrs. Buerk was thrown from the buggy. Her head was caught between the wheel and the buggy box and she was extricated from her perilous posistion with difficulty. Mrs. Buerk's face was badly bruised but her injuries are not considered servious. Miss Buerhly escaped uninjured and showed great pluck during the excitement.

Cass City Chronicle
September 6, 1912
Local Items, Page 5

While driving to Cass City Saturday afternoon the horse of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Buerk became frightened and ran into the ditch. Mr. Buerk was thrown from the buggy and dragged some distance in the water. Fortunately neither Mr. or Mrs. Buerk sustained any serious injuries and aside from a few broken eggs no damage was done.

Cass City Chronicle
September 14, 1917

Mrs. Catherine Buerk
Elkland Twp. Pioneer Passed Away Wednesday, Sept. 12

Mrs. Catherine Buerk, a resident of Elkland Township since 1873, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leonard Buehrly, Wednesday, Sept. 12, following an illness of Bright's disease of three months' duration.

Catherine BENKELMAN was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, August 6, 1843, and was united in marriage with Fred Buerk in 1867. They left Germany for America in 1873 and came directly to Cass City. They purchased a tract of land in Elkland township which they cleared while enduring the hardships of pioneer life and where they spent many happy, contented years. Mr. Buerk passed away on March 27, 1915.

Funeral services will be held at the Evangelical church of which Mrs. Buerk was a faithful member, at ten o'clock Saturday morning. Mrs. Buerk leaves one daughter, Mrs. Leonard BUEHRLEY and three sisters, Mrs. Jacob JOOS, Mrs. Christina JAUS and Mrs. John CROCKER, all of Cass City, besides six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, 2007 and 2008)

Anna married Johann Freidrich "Fredrick" Buerk in 1867 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Johann (son of Johannes B?rk and Christina Reinert) was born on 16 Sep 1840 in W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 27 Mar 1915 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that she was named for her maternal grandmother.

Christine cared for her father and step-mother when they became unable to care for themselves.

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan, Friday, March 8, 1929

Mrs. Christina Jaus Found Dead in Field Thursday
Left Home to Go to Her Son's During Night and Became Lost in Storm

The body of Mrs. Christina Jaus, 76, was found in a field 30 rods from the farm residence of her son, Samuel Jaus, who resides in Elkland Township, four miles northeast of Cass City, early Thursday morning. Mrs. Jaus' death was probably due to exposure, her body having lain in the field several hours.

After Samuel Jaus had finished milking at his barn shortly before seven o'clock Thursday morning, he glanced over at the residence of his mother, who resided just across the highway from his home, and noticed that the chimney had blown donw during the heavy wind which prevailed during the night. He decided to go at once to her home and ascertain if she had been frightened by the noise of the fallen bricks. On arriving there, he failed to find his mother int he house. Alarmed, he immediately instituted a search with the results that her dead body was found about 70 rods from her home. It is thought that Mr. Jaus, frightened by the falling chimney, left her home to go to the residence of her son about 40 rods distant. She crossed the highway and entered her son's farm through a driveway a short distance east of his house. Here her footprints show that she walked in the mud before the ground froze during the night, her steps taking a southeasterly course across the field. She carried a flashlight to light the way. Where Mrs. Jaus was prevented from reaching her son's house by the strong wind which prevailed, if she became lost in the darkness in the journey between the two homes, or whether she suffered a slight stroke just previous of at the time she made the trip is not known. One or all of these may have contributed to the cause of her death. While Mrs. Jaus has been subject to heart trouble, she has been unusually well this winter. When she was last seen alive, she was at the farm barn Wednesday evening after her supple of milk and appeared in good spirts.

Christina was born in Wurtenberg, Germany March 24, 1852. She was united in marriage with George Jaus and within two years of that time they came to America, arriving in Cass City in March, 1873. Mr. Jaus passed away in 1900.

Mrs. Jaus was a member of the Evangelical church. She will be remembered by her friends for her cheerful disposition and kindly manner. Besides her three sons, Samuel and Fred Jaus of Cass City and John Jaus of Cleveland, she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Jacob JOOS of Cass City and Mrs. John CROCKER of Saginaw. Seven children preceded the mother in death. Funeral arrangements had not been completed when the Chronicle went to press Thursday afternoon.

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 16 and 17 Jan 1920
SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 3B
65-68
Jaus, Samuel Hd M w 41 M Mich Germany Germany Farmer
Jaus, Lena Wf F W 40 M NY NY German NY German
Jaus, George Son M W 16 S Mich Mich NY
Jaus, Minnie Dtr F W 12 S Mich Mich NY
66-69
Jaus, Christina Hd F W 67 Wd 1870 Na 1876 Germany Germany Germany

Christina married Johann Georg Jaus about 1871 in W?rttemberg, Germany. Johann (son of Johannes Jauss and Josepha Gfeerer) was born on 7 Jan 1849 in Hattenhofen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 8 Aug 1900 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes, in her 1981 unpublished manuscript, that Rosina and her younger sister Maria Dorothea both went to Saginaw as young women to work as household helpers. Rosine returned to Cass City after her marriage to Jacob Joos in Saginaw to raise her children.


Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan, Friday, November 20, 1953
Page One

Final Rites Held for Oldest Village Resident Thursday

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. at the Douglas Funeral Home for Mrs. Rosina JOOS, 98, Cass City's oldest resident. Mrs. Joos died early Tuesday morning after a period of failing health. At the time of her death, she was living with her son, William JOOS, of Cass City.

Mrs. Joos came to Cass City when she was 18. She was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick BENKELMAN. She was married May 11, 1878, to Jacob JOOS in Saginaw and came to Elkland Township where they made their living for many years on a farm. Mr. JOOS died May 14, 1934. Mrs. Joos was born in Germany March 17, 1855. She was a member of the Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church of Cass City. Surviving are two sons, William and Fred JOOS of Cass City; a daughter, Mrs. Lawrence HARTMAN, of Saginaw; five grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren. Rev. S.R. WURTZ officiated at the funeral services and burial was in Elkland Cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

In the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, dated September 6, 1954, her death on November 17, 1953 is also reported, but she is shown in error as Mrs. Christina Joos.

Rosine married Jacob Joos on 11 May 1879 in Saginaw County, Michigan. Jacob was born on 1 Sep 1844 in W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 14 May 1934 in Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that Mary Dorothea met and married John Webster Crocker in Saginaw, Michigan, where she had moved to work as a Mother's helper.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, March 28, 1952
Page 6

Mrs. Mary Crocker Dies in Saginaw

Burial services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Salem United Brethren Church for Mrs. Mary D. Crocker, 95, who died at the home of her daughter in Saginaw Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Crocker, the former Mary Dorothy BENKELMAN, was born in Germany February 23, 1857, and moved to Cass City 75 years ago. She married John Crocker in 1877 in Saginaw. Mr. Crocker died in 1936. Mrs. Crocker was spry and active until death came suddenly. She was a resident of Cass City for many years. Mrs. Crocker was a member of the Evangelical Church in Cass City. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at the Reitz Funeral Home, the Rev. Carol Lundbom officiationg. Mrs. Crocker leaves a daughter, Mrs. John P. GIBBS of Saginaw; four sons, Louis CROCKER of Cass City; Henry, George and Ben of Saginaw; a sister, Mrs. Rose JOOS of Cass City; 16 grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren. The Rev. S.R. Wurtz officiated at the services in Cass City and burial was in Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

Maria married John Webster Crocker on 10 Mar 1879 in Saginaw County, Michigan. John was born on 20 Jan 1848 in Attica, Seneca County, Ohio; died on 11 Feb 1936 in Saginaw County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

George was the first Benkelman born in the United States. He was born only a few weeks after Adam and Catherine arrived.

In her history of the Colorado and Nebraska Benkelman's, Margaret "Bonnie" Jacob wrote that George Adam Benkelman was living with his family in Cass City, Michigan when his Uncle, "Big George" Benkelman, contacted him about going into the cattle business with him in Colorado. Just 19 years old, and eager to get on with his life, "Little George" eagerly accepted. It was 1870 when he arrived in Denver. Big George explained to him the need for a relocation of the cattle herd. Little George saddled his horse and rode from Denver to the Kansas-Colorado state line and down the south fork of the Republican River. Just inside the state line he lay in a draugh and watched an entire hunting party of Cheyenne Indians cross the river and continue riding south. He knew that if they saw him that he was dead. Luckily, he continued on his journey, but traveled cautiously from then on. He returned to Denver drawing to a close his 400 mile horseback trip.

Little George set out on a second trip east to find line camp headquarters for the Benkelman Ranch. When George Adam Benkelman viewed the valley of the south fork of the Republican River, he saw a carpet of buffalo grass about 8 inches high. It was lush and beautiful with very few trees. The stream trickled across the prairie aimlessly. One did not have to travel very far in either direction to find a bleak desolate land with no water and absolutely no trees. The visibility on a clear day was for miles. There were no buildings except for the deserted stage station which was made of sod. There was not yet to be a fence on the prairie. This trip he traveled much the same route as the first trip only he continued down the south fork of the Republican into Nebraska Territory and back down through what is now Oberlin and on to what is now Ellis, Kansas just west of Hays. Indians were encountered several times on this trip and several skirmishes took place. He returned to Denver with the location selected on the south fork of the Republican River just inside the state line of Kansas. The journey encompassed approximately 800 miles on horseback.

In 1874, Big George, Little George, Jake Haigler, Ben and Jim Morning and a handful of cowboys moved the Benkelman herd to the selected area in 34-4-42 Kansas. Big George returned to Denver. Little George, Jake Haigler and the Mornings looked after the herd. A sod house was built and the ranch was named the JC Ranch. The grazing lands included northeastern Colorado, Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas lands. Large herds of 5,000 to 20,000 head of cattle were run on this range.

George Adam generally kept 10 cowboys, but during round-up and branding time the number would increase to 30. The closest place for the cowboys to purchase supplies was the Roubidoux Store at Fort Wallace, which was 70 miles away. The trip was made about 3 times a year. A guard was posted at Fort Wallace to prevent trail herds being driven north from Texas from taking strays belonging to the Benkelmans.

Jake Haigler was the foreman on the JC. Realizing that other large cattle companies might move in, George Adam urged Jake to from a cattle company up north to prevent a squeeze. Jake went to Missouri in 1875 for 1 year and then returned and formed a cattle company. The Haigler, Aix, Perkins Cattle Company was made up of family and friends. In 1876, he established on the Arickaree Forks in Nebraska.

The winters in western Kansas were extremely cold. The location of the line camp was straight west of the deserted station 20 on the Pikes Peak Leavenworth Trail. The road to Denver lead home for George Adam. On his trips home, he always stayed at the Benkelman residence.

One particular trip in 1877 proved to be a turning point in his life. The guest of honor at the Benkelman house was Mary Barbara Rommel, Christine's sister. She had been in America only five years.

When John George and George Adam returned to the range in 1878, they moved the headquarters of the ranch down the Republican River seven miles for better hay meadows and springs. The Benkelman Ranch was headquartered up the river from Wano. The exact location was 11-4-41. The new operation was called the T Wrench Ranch because of the brand. The new headquarters consisted of a row of 3 sod houses, an underground storage room, a blacksmith shop, sod barn 20x90 for 22 horses, 11 stalls for two horses each. The roof was made of tree limbs and hay. The corral was 204 square feet.

On January 6, 1880, George Adam Benkelman was united in marriage to Mary Barbara Rommel at the Benkelman residence in Denver. The ranching business had been quite prosperous. George Adam longed for Mary Barbara to be by his side. Their first child, Lottie, was born October 24, 1880 in Denver, as was their son Frank. George and Barbara were living with George and Christina at the time of the 1880 census.

George Adam loaded his family into a wagon and moved from Denver to the JC Ranch in September 1886. Mary Barbara had to be surprised when she saw her new home. It was a small sod hut absolutely colorless with no trees or landscaping. Water had to be hauled from the river, which was only a few steps away. The outdoor privy was not constructed until shortly before she arrived. The inside of the soddie allowed no frills. The walls were plastered with a limestone mixture. She had brought her cookstove from Denver. Wood and cow chips had to be gathered from the offerings of the prairie. One always felt better when there was a stash of chips piled not to far from the house, because of the severe winters. It is amazing what she did with the one room soddie with a few curtains and well spaced colored articles. Life was hard for the pioneers, but Mary Barbara never complained. She tended her family with all the grace and charm with which she had been endowed. Two more children were born, Charles in 1888 and George Albert in 1890. They were the first children born on the ranch.

The ranch cook was Billy Walsh of Irish descent. He had hunted buffalo on the prairies since 1872. A.W. Tip Spencer worked for the Benkelman's since 1877. Other ranch hands were John Burgwald, Ben Benkelman, Lee Bright, Mart Tscheudy, Walter Tovey, Harry Strangeways, John Chandler, George Fahrion, Wallace Clow, Emmet Vandergrift and Elmer Tabor. During the roundup season, the cowboys slept on the ground.

The following was published in the Cass City Enterprise, August 10, 1893, Vol. XII, No. 35:

"Geo. A. Benkelman, of Jaqua, Kansas, is here on a visit to his father, Adam Benkelman, and brothers. Mr. Benkelman reports the wheat crop in his vicinity this season is about as light as is the money crop the U.S. over."

In 1894, the George Adam Benkelmans moved to St. Francis, Kansas after he was elected County Clerk. He served in that capacity until 1904, when he resigned to enter other business opportunities. In 1905, he was appointed postmaster in St. Francis. He served until 1915. He was enroute to California when he suffered a stroke. He died in Alhambra, California, February 10, 1929 at age 77. His wife had died earlier, on May 18, 1928, at age 75, in St. Francis. She was stricken with apoplexy and never regained consciousness before she passed away.

The following biography was transcribed from "A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans," written and compiled by William E. Connelley, Secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. [Revised ed.] Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919, c1918. 5 v. (xlviii, 2530 p., [155] leaves of plates): ill., maps (some fold.), ports.; 27 cm.

GEORGE ADAM BENKELMAN. One historical account states that the first cattle ranch in Cheyenne County was established in the year 1876, but there were no really permanent settlements made for several years after that. These facts give interesting prominence to the career of George A. Benkelman, a well known business man and citizen of St. Francis, who by every right and propriety may be regarded as the real pioneer and first permanent settler of the county, since he was herding cattle on the range in this northwestern corner of Kansas in the year 1876. At that time the frontier was exposed to danger from Indians, who were still numerous and many of them hostile, and there were many more buffaloes to be seen on the prairies than native cattle.

Few men still living have had more intimate contact with the life and times of the old West than George Adam Benkelman. He was born at Lancaster in Erie County, New York, September 7, 1851. His father, Adam Benkelman, was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, in 1830, grew up and married in that kingdom, learned the trade of cooper, and in 1851 brought his family to the United States and settled at Bowmansville, New York. He was a cooper there and in 1865 went to Michigan, where he was both a cooper and farmer. He died at Cass City, Michigan, in 1901. On getting his first papers as an American citizen he affiliated with the democratic party but became a republican later through his admiration of President Lincoln. He was a member of the German Lutheran Church. Adam Benkelman married Christina Schifely, who was born in Wuertemberg in 1826 and died at Cass City, Michigan, in 1910. George Adam was the oldest of their children; Louise is still living in Cass City, Michigan, widow of Andrew Schwegler, who was a farmer there; John also lives on a farm in Cass City; S. G. is a carpenter and farmer at Cass City; W. F. is bookkeeper for a lumber firm in Detroit; and B. F. is a general merchant at Cass City.

Thus of all the family George Adam Benkelman has shown the most enterprise in breaking away from home ties and discovering new fields of conquest in remote districts. He got his education in the public schools of Cass City but at the age of nineteen started out to make his own way in the world. His journeyings soon brought him into the far West and he had an extensive experience as a cowboy in Colorado and along the Western Kansas line. When he was in Cheyenne County in 1876 he had no neighbor nearer than Fort Wallace, seventy-five miles away. He ran his herd of cattle over a domain of country unvexed by wire fence or any other civilized obstruction and made no attempt to secure a more permanent location until the spring of 1888, when he took advantage of the homestead laws and filed upon a quarter section and also a timber claim. The homestead was his place of residence and center of operations until the spring of 1894. Some years later he sold that quarter section.

In the fall of 1893 Mr. Benkelman was elected county clerk of Cheyenne County, and his official duties brought him to St. Francis. He was county clerk for eleven consecutive years. In 1905 President Roosevelt appointed him postmaster of St. Francis, and that office kept him as its incumbent by successive appointments until July, 1915. In the meantime he was identified with all the progressive movements for the upbuilding of his home town. For several years he clerked in a general merchandise store in St. Francis and also owns a farm of 160 acres near St. Francis and thirty-three acres adjoining the town. He is president of the Herald Publishing Company. Mr. Benkelman's home is a modern residence remodeled in 1905, and it stands upon a considerable plat of ground. Politically he is a republican and is a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has also served as noble grand of Rising Star Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is a past master workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at St. Francis.

In January, 1880, at Denver, Colorado, Mr. Benkelman married Miss Mary B. Rommel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rommel, both now deceased. To their marriage were born four children: Lottie C., a graduate of the Cheyenne County High School and of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is at home with her parents; Frank B. is a graduate of the County High School and of the School of Pharmacy of Kansas City, Missouri, and is a registered pharmacist at Kansas City; Charles A. graduated in pharmacy in the Kansas University and is connected with a general store at McDonald, Kansas; George A., Jr., is a dentist, a graduate of the Western Dental College of Kansas City, Missouri, and while his home and professional office are at St. Francis, he was with the United States Army on professional duty at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. "

Cass City Chronicle
July 15, 1927

Mr. and Mrs. George Benkelman, Miss Lottie Benkelman, and Dr. and Mrs. Albert Benkelman, all of St. Francis, Kansas, are guests at the Benjamin F. Benkelman home and are also visiting other relatives in this community. George Benkelman is a brother of John, Samuel and Benjamin Benkelman and lived in Elkland Township when a lad in the late sixties. He left her in 1870 for the West and has spent most of the years since that date in Kansas.

(Research):Cemetery Records:

Benjamin, Orvil B., 12 May 1897--02 Aug 1969,
s/o Alvin Benjamin and Gertrude ROSHONG

Benkelman, George Adam, 07 Sept 1851--10 Feb 1929, h/o Mary B. ROMMEL,
s/o Adam Benkelman and Catherine SCHEULFE

Benkelman, George Albert, 13 Oct 1890--23 Dec 1973, h/o Ruth M.
LOCKWOOD, s/o George A. Benkelman and Mary B. ROMMEL

Benkelman, Lottie Christine, 24 Oct 1880--01 Jun 1956,
w/o Farmer L. Shields and William M. Ball,
d/o George A. Benkelman and Maria B. ROMMEL

?u??/u?

St.Francis Cemetery
Submitted & ? 2003 by: Marilyn Holzwarth

George married Maria Barbara Rommel on 6 Jan 1880 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado. Maria (daughter of Michael Rommel and Maria Barbara Frey) was born on 1 Jun 1852 in B?nzwangen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 18 May 1928 in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas; was buried in St. Francis Cemetery, Cheyenne County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 12, 1916
Page Four
Local Items

Mrs. Louisa Schwegler and Mrs. M. M. Schwegler went to Crieff, Ont., Thursday to spend a few weeks with the former's daughter, Mrs. Charles Gregor.

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan
Friday, September 19, 1924
Vol. 20, No. 19

Resident of Elkland Township for Nearly Sixty Years---
Mrs. Louisa Schwegler Faced Hardships of Pioneer Life in this Community---

The funeral service of Mrs. Louisa Schwegler was held at the Evangelical church at Cass City, of which she was a member, on Saturday afternoon, September 13, conducted by Rev. C.C. Smith, the pastor. Interment was made in Elkland Cemetery.

Louisa Benkelman was born April 9, 1853, in Bowmansville, New York. In 1865 she moved with her parents to Cass City, where she was brought face to face with the hardships of pioneer life.

At the age of twenty, she was united in marriage with Andrew Schwegler and moved with her husband to their farm one mile east and three miles north of Cass City, where she resided until some time after her husband's death which occurred December 25, 1899. Six children were born to this wedlock: Samuel, Laura, William, Mary, Benjamin and Katherine, all of whom reside with their families in the vicinity of Cass City excepting Samuel who preceded his parents in death, and Laura, who with her husband and family lives at Puslinch, Ontario.

Louisa was a genial, lovable women, an efficient housekeeper and an excellent homemaker, loyal to God and her fellowman. She will be sorely missed.

She departed this life September 11, 1924 at the age of 71 years, five months, and two days.

Besides her five children, she leaves five brothers, John, Samuel, and B.F. Benkelman of Cass City, William Benkelman of Detroit, and George Benkelman of St. Francis, Kansas, 14 grandchildren and many other relatives.

Relatives and friends from a distance in attendance at the funeral Saturday were Mr. and Mrs. C.W Gregor and daughter of Puslinch, Ontario, Wm. Benkelman and son, Jack, of Detroit, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Gregor of Elkton, Harold of Sandusky and Miss Mae Benkelman of Flint.

Cass City Chronicle
October 17, 1924
Page Seven
Public Notices

In the matter of the Estate of Louisa SCHWEGLER, Deceased

Laura GREGOR, Wm. J. SCHWEGLER, Mary JAUS and Ben SCHWEGLER having filed in said court their petition praying that the administration of said estate be granted to Wm. J. Schwegler or to some other suitable person, It is Ordered, That the 27th day of October A.D. 1924 at ten o'clock in the forenoon, at said probate office, be and is hereby appointed for hearing said petition; It is Further Ordered, That public notice thereof be given by publication of a copy of this order, once each week for three successive weeks previous to said day of hearing, in the Cass City Chronicle, a newspaper printed and circulated in said county. O.D. Hill, Judge of Probate

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

(Research):Census Information:

1880 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 12 and 14 June 1880
Page 16 SD Third ED 400
153-153
Schwegler, Andres M W 35 Farmer Wurtemberg Wurtemberg Wurte
mberg
Schwegler, Louisa W F 27 Wf Keeping (house) NY Wurtemberg Wurtember
Schwegler, Samuel W M 9 Son At Home Mich Wurtermberg NY
Schwegler, Laura W F 2 Dtr At home Mich Wurtermberg NY
Schwegler, John W W M 10/12 Aug Son (daughter was originally written, and then crossed through) At home Mich Wurtemberg NY
Buerk, Catie W F 14 Domestic Housekeeper Wurtemberg Wurtemberg Wurtermberg
Gombacher, William W M 24 Domestic Farmer Mich Wurtermberg Wurtemberg

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 19 and 20 April 1910 by John A. Benkelman
SD 8 ED 112 Sheet 2A
27-29
Schwegler, Benj. Hd M W 24 S Mich Germany NY Farmer
Schwegler, Louisa Mother F W 57 Wd 6/5 NY Germany Germany Own Income
Schwegler, Catherine Sister F w 17 S Mich Germany NY
28-29
Schwegler, William J Hd M W 30 M1 Mich Germany NY
Schwegler, Alice Wf F W 26 M1 1/1 Canada/Gaelic Canada/Gaelic Canada/Gaelic
Schwegler, Andrew Son M W 2/12 S Mich Mich Canada/Gaelic
Crocker, Henry Hired Man M W 26 S Mich Ohio Germany Laborer Farm

Louisa married Andreas "Andrew" Schwegler on 12 Apr 1874 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Andreas (son of Johannes Schw?gler and Christina Steiner) was born on 9 Jan 1849 in Breech, B?rtlingen Parish, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 25 Dec 1899 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The following biographical information about John was excerpted from the MEMOIRS OF JOHN A. BENKELMAN (By Hilda Jane Stickley, 1966)

John said "I went to school in New York State and learned my A B C 's. When we moved to Michigan I was nine years old, the nearest school was too far to walk back and forth each day. I went to the Bird school when I was 12 years old and stayed with a Mrs. Myers who lived near the school and whose husband worked in the lumber woods. Mr Myers did not want his wife (they had no children) to stay alone and so Father said that I could go and stay with her while going to school. I did the chores--brought in the water, cut the wood for cooking and heating. I attended school along with a few other children. During the winter the teacher planned a spelldown with another school near Gagetown. I remember that I was a good speller and got ready for the spelldown by learning to spell all the words in the two books that the teacher let me take home to study after my chores were done." He was spelled down with the name Zachariah, however, taken from a book he had not studied.

Wild game was abundant near John's home. John remembered one time when a swarm of wild passenger pigeons nesting in trees all through the nearby swamps. Nor was it unusual for bears to prowl around their log home at night. John related that his father "had bought an old Civil War army musket from a returned soldier and had loaded it ready for use if a bear appeared. He had warned us boys that the gun was loaded and for us not to dare to touch it. One day soon afterwards, I looked across a small field of wheat on John Striffler's farm and saw two deer grazing in the wheat. Mother and Father were away, so I though 'This is my chance!' I sneaked the musket out and went back through the woods on the windward side. When I was in sight of the deer still feeding, I laid down behind a big log and took good aim, pulled down on the trigger. The gun went off with a loud bang, knocking me backwards behind the log, knocking the wind out of me and giving me a few bruises. When I got up I looked over where the deer had been. There was a big buck kicking his last. His horns were so big I was afraid to go near him, so turned and ran for home fast as I could. Mother had just returned, and I told her what I had done. She said 'Your Father will give you punishment for this!' When Father came home we had our supper, but I did not eat much as I was afraid of what he would say or do to me. After a while, Mother said 'John, you tell your Father what you did.' He looked mighty cross after I told him, but did not say a word, but went and got a latern, lighted it and said, 'Come on John, show me where the deer is.' We dragged it home, dressed it out and cut it up. Father made me carry a quarter to Jake Striffler and one to John Striffler the next day. The other half, father cut up in pieces and mother preserved some in a salt brine and the rest was hung in the cold shed to keep for later use. Father never scolded me, but he never loaded the gun again, unless he was taking it to the woods to hunt himself. And I did not have a desire to shoot that old kicking musket off again."

John helped his father on the farm, and at the age of 15 he was "a chore boy in a typical Michigan lumber camp of those early days. The camp was about 15 miles North and East of Cass City. The forest extended for miles around us containing all sorts of trees, but the lumbermen were just interested in the pines...I took care of the horses, kept the woodboxes full and helped Kitty Kelley, the cook." The work of the lumbermen apparently impressed John greatly. He related that often he would "steal away from my chores, walk along the pine-fragrant trail and join the men and the excitement of cutting down the big pines. By the time spring came and the ice had thawed in the river, the logs were piled sky high along the bank to be floated down with the swift current to the saw mills in Saginaw. The job of floating the logs down the river was a dangerous one and called for experience and team work. A special crew of men handled this job. They had a river raft which floated along behind the workmen and could be tied to trees along the bank at any time they wanted to stop for the night...(it) was about 100 feet long. Several men followed along the river bank on each side and dislodged the logs that got stuck along the bank and jammed up the current. Then the men walked out on the logs with long poles and pryed them loose. This was dangerous work and some men lost their lives. One day I was supposed to help the men and was trying to loosen some logs with a pole. I lost my footing and fell in the river. The men helped me out. While waiting for my clothes to dry, I decided that was too big a job for a 15 year old boy to do. By this time I had enough of that winter work and told the cook that I was going home. The crew was very sorry to see me leave and I walked back to the farm. Father and Mother were glad to have me home again as well as I was to be there."

John met his first wife, Rosina, while on a visit to New York. They were married in 1879. They can be found in the 1880 census. Living with them is 18 year old Christoph Seeger.

After the death of Rosina, John moved from Cass City to Kansas, and worked on the ranch of his Uncle George, alongside his brothers George and Ben. He lived there almost 4 years, working for $30 a month. He also was homesteading 200 acres of land adjoining his uncles. He returned to Cass City in 1889. He married for a second time to Augusta Krehl in the spring of 1890. They went on honeymoon to Traverse City, and by boat to Milwakee to see Augusta's father (Frederick Krehl), who was in the Old Soldier's home there. Mr. Krehl gave John power of attorney so he could sell some property he owned in Davenport, Iowa. John took Augusta back home, and later traveled to Iowa to sell the property. He gave her the $1200 proceeds.

Bonnie Petee abstracted the following regarding the Evangelical Association from "The History of Tuscola County, Biographical Sketches and Illustrations," H. R. Page Co., Chicago, 1883. "A class of this church which is commonly known as the German Methodist, was organized in the town of Elkland about the year 1866, by the Rev. Stephen Henne in connection with the Sebewaing mission. The class numbered about fifteen members. It has had regular services from that time to the present, and a regular succession of pastors. Services being held in the school-house, one mile north and one-half mile east of Cass City. In the latter part of 1882, a formal organization was effected at Cass City, and steps taken for the construction of a house of worship, which is now in course of construction. The earnest zeal of the members and their individual labors and contributions of material have reduced the estimated cost of the building to about $1,500. The pastor of the church at the present time is the Rev. B. F. Wade, who resides on his farm in the town of Elkland. The membership is about fifty. There is a preaching every second Sunday; prayer-meeting and Sunday-school every Sabbath. The trustees of the church are, John Benkelman, Fred Krapf, Oscar Sencner, Levi Muntz and Adam Benkelman."

Cass City Chronicle
December 4, 1908

Notice to Taxpayers

I will be at B. F. Benkelman's store Cass City, to collect the taxes of Elkland township on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

J. A. BENKELMAN, Treas.

Cass City Chronicle
November 20, 1908

Local Items

The quartet of hunters returned from Hubbard Lake Wednesday evening. They report plenty of game and a good time. Wm. Ball brought home two deer and John Ball one, while they and the other two hunters, J. A. Benkelman and J. C. Lauderbach, exhibited a nice bunch of whiskers which greatly improved (?) their appearance. All of them had great luck in shooting birds-the men, not the whiskers.

Cass City Chronicle
February 20, 1931
John A. Benkelman published a notice on the first page of the paper to the Elkland Township voters, seeking their support in his candidacy for supervisor of the Republican caucus.


His obituary follows:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, August 15, 1952
Vol 47, No 16

John Benkelman, 96, Dies in Hospital Friday Afternoon

John Adam Benkelman, 96, well-known Cass City businessman and civic leader, died late Friday afternoon, August 8, after spending six days in the Cass City Hospital.

The pioneer resident of Cass City had been in failing health for nearly a year.

Mr. Benkelman spent eight years as a partner in the Young and Benkelman meat market in Cass City and served over 10 years as a supervisor for Elkland Township. His varied business career also included farming an work in the implement business.

He was regarded as an authority on early Cass City area history and was noted for his memory of incidents that occurred during pioneer days in this community.

Mr. Benkelman was one of the few men in the entire nation who could remember the hour of Abraham Lincoln's death and the funeral that followed.

He was born in Bowmansville, New York, April 26, 1856, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adam Benkelman. Together with his parents, he moved to a farm in this community when nine years old.

Mr. Benkelman married Miss Augusta Krehl in Cass City in the fall of 1890. The couple made their home int he area until Mrs. Benkelman died in 1935.

Survivors are: one daughter, Mrs. Marie BROWN of Pigeon; four sons, Glenn of Lakewood, Ohio, Dorus of Cass City, Alvin of Alexandria, Virginia, and John of Detroit; six granchildren; one great-granchild; and one brother, Ben Benkelman of Cass City. One daughter, three brothers, and one sister died before him.

Burial was in the family lot in Elkland cemetery.

(Research):Census Information:

1880 Census
Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Source:FHL Film 125
4607
National Archives Film T9-0607 Page 95B RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
John BENKELMAN Self M M W 24 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG
Rosa BENKELMAN Wife F M W 22 WERTENBURG Occ:Keeping House Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG
Christoph SEEGER Other M S W 18 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG

1920 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland
Enumerated 21 January 1920
SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 6A
FM 123-126
Striffler, William D
Fm 124-127
Jaus, John and Maud
Fm 125-128
John A. Benkelman Hd M W 63 New York Wurtemberg Germany Wurtemberg Germany Farmer
Benkelman, Augusta Wf F W 49 M Iowa Wurtemberg Germany/German Germany/German
Benkelman, Dorus Son M W 27 S Mich New York Iowa Clerk in Bank
Benkelman, John Son M W 12 S Mich New York Iowa

John married Rosina Wahl about 1879 in Lancaster, Erie County, New York. Rosina (daughter of Johann Michael Wahl and Anna Maria Nagel) was born on 5 Nov 1857 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 3 May 1886 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Augusta Catherine Freidrika Krehl on 19 Jun 1890 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Augusta (daughter of Friedrich Krehl and Philippine Blaufuss) was born on 6 Mar 1870 in Franklin Center, Lee County, Iowa; died on 8 Feb 1934 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs wrote that "Sam Benkelman, brother of Little George, John and Ben, also came west in 1880 for the wedding of Little George. He took one look at Kansas and high tailed it back to Denver where he spent two years as a carpenter for the D&RG railroad...then returned to Cass City where he devoted his life to residential construction. He apparently built most of the homes of all of our relatives there. "

Cass City Chronicle
August 18, 1899
Chroniclings, page 8

Sam Benkelman is travelling in the interest of the Wettlaufer & Ratz Manufacturing Company, and will visit Saginaw, Mt. Pleasant and other points.


Cass City Enterprise
April 3, 1902
Local Happenings, Page 1
S.G. Benkelman is now manager at the Cass City Foundry, the former manager, Ed Brotherton, being engaged in putting in the new machinery for the Cass City Brick and Tile Co.

Cass City Chronicle
August 28, 1936
Page 4

Samuel G. Benkelman experienced a genuine surprise Wednesday evening when a number of relatives and friends came to his home on East Third Street to celebrate his 79th birthday. A potluck supper and euchre were enjoyed. Mr. Benkelman received many nice gifts.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, December 27, 1940
Death Called Two Well Known Citizens Sunday-Chas. D. Striffler and Samuel G. Benkelman Have Long Resided in Elkland

Samuel G. Benkelman, who had been a resident of Elkland Township for 73 years, died at his home on East Third Street. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Angus McPhall residence. Rev. Paul J. Allured of Kinde, former pastor of the Cass City Presbyterian Church, officiated. Burial was in Elkland Cemetery. Samuel G. Benkelman was born in Bowmansville, New York, August 26, 1857, and came to Elkland Township with his parents, Adam and Catherine Benkelman, in 1865. Since that time with the exception of two years spent in Colorado, he has lived in this township. During 1882 and 1883, he was employed in railroad construction on the line from Pueblo, Colorado, to New Mexico. For many years he was engaged in farming on the Elkland-Greenleaf town line and on a farm one-half mile north of Elkland Cemetery. In 1913, he constructed a comfortable residence on East Third Street and since that time he and Mrs. Benkelman have resided in Cass City. He spent several years in working at the carpenter trade and there are many pieces of woodwork such as lamps, candlesticks and checkerboards in his home which are truly a work of art. They were a hobby of his for years. When Mr. Benkelman retired about seven years ago, he decided to keep himself busy by making things out of wood that he had never before found time to make. For some time he was manager and part owner of a foundry here. Mr. Benkelman was of a quiet, reserved nature, and although he never sought office, he was elected to the position of village trustee and as chief of fire department. Mr. Benkelman's first wife, the former Lydia STRIFFLER, passed away in 1887. Their son, Benjamin, died in infancy and their daughter, Mrs. Bertha WILLIAMS, May 16, 1929. He was married to Miss Mary STRIFFLER in 1888. Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, Joseph and Ward BENKELMAN, and two brothers, John A. and Benjamin F. BENKELMAN, all of Cass City. Both brothers are spending the winter in Florida.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

(Research):Census Information:

1900 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Cass City
Enumerated 9 Jun 1900 A.D. Gillis
SD 8 ED 111 Sheet 5B

HH 109-112 Adam (b. 1861 NY) and Susan MUCK (b. 1862, NY)

HH 110-113
Bankleman, Samuel Hd W M August 1857 42 M 18 NY Germany Ger
many
Bankleman, Mary Wife W F Dec 1861 48 M 18 3/3 Mo Germany Germany
Bankleman, Bertha Dtr W F August 1883 16 S Mich NY Mich
Bankleman, Joseph Son W M Oct 1889 10 S Micg NY Mo
Bankleman, Ward Son W M Feb 1894 6 S Mich NY Mo
Striffer, Joseph F in Law W M Spet 1826 73 W 40 Mich (sic) NY (sic) Mo (sic)

Samuel married Lydia Striffler on 17 Oct 1882 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Lydia (daughter of Christian Striffler and Anna Maria "Mary Anna" Rommel) was born in Jan 1859 in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 16 May 1887 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married Mary Striffler on 28 Nov 1888. Mary (daughter of Joseph Striffler and Rosina Margaretha Ballbach) was born on 8 Dec 1860 in Madison, Monroe County, Missouri; died on 5 Aug 1952 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Benkleman, Mary M,d. 6 Jun 1874, 15y 2m 8d, d/o A & C

Source:

http://www.interment.net/data/us/mi/tuscola/casscity/index.htm

BonnieMargaret Jacobs (p. 153) writes that she died in an outbreak of Scarlet fever in 1874, as did four of her young Striffler cousins.

Notes:

Cass City Enterprise
December 18, 1902
Local Happenings, page 9

Prof. W. F. Benkelman, of Grayling, is spending a few days with relatives and friends here.


Cass City Chronicle
Friday, November 7, 1930
Page 4

Week-end guests at the B. F. Benkelman, Sr. home were Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Benkelman and son, Jack, Mr. and Mrs. Willard McKenna and Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Symington, all of Detroit.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, October 14, 1932
Vol. 27, Number 27

Early School Supt. Here Died in Detroit Tuesday

Wm. F. Benkelman, superintendent of schools in Cass City for three years in the "early eighties," passed away unexpectedly in Detroit Tuesday morning after a very short illness. Funeral services were held in Detroit Thursday night and the burial service will be held in Elkland cemetery this (Friday) morning.

Wm. F. Benkelman was born in Lancaster, N.Y., in 1862, and came with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Adam Benkelman, to Cass City at the age of four years. After completing his education in the local school here, he attended North Central College in Napierville, Ill. He was united in marriage with Miss Alice McDougal and they both taught in the Cass City Schools. Mr. Benkelman serving as superintendent for about three years in a period about 1882 to 1885. He was engaged as an instructor in the schools at Grayling and was later employed by the Salling-Hanson Lumber Co., of that city. He afterwards engaged in the lumber business in Owosee (sp?). Mr. Benkleman, for many years, has resided in Detroit. Besides his widow, he leaves one son, John, and two daughters, Mrs. Frances Simington (sic) and Mrs. Helen McKinney (sic), all of Detroit, and three brothers, John A., Samuel G., and Benjamin F. Benkelman, Sr., all of Cass City.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1930 Census
Michigan, Wayne County, Detroit, Ward 1 Block 104
Enumerated April 12, 1930
ED 82-32 SD 21 Sheet 16B
256-216-75
Benkelman, William Hd M W 69 M 25 NY Germany Germany Clerk Auto Facility
Benkelman, Alice M Wf F W 59 M 18 Canada English Canada English Canada English
Benkelman, John F Son m W 24 S Mich NY Canada English Asst Advertising Mgr Publishing Co
Symington, Edwin S Son-in-law M W 42 M@32 Canada English Canada English England English Manager Electricity
Symington, Frances M Dtr F W 38 M28 Mich Ny Canada English

William married Alice Mary McDougall on 23 Jul 1886. Alice was born in Aug 1868 in London, Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada; died on 27 Aug 1933 in Ontario, Canada; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs writes that "Ben Benkelman accompanied his parents to Denver in 1880, where his oldest brother George Adam Benkelman married Mary Barbara Rommel. Ben did not return to Cass City with his parents, choosing to instead try his hand at the ranching business. He went to work for his uncle and brother as a cowboy. The Benkelman ranching operations were on the border between Nebraska and Kansas, near the Colorado state line.

The Benkelmans shipped many cattle out of Collinsville, Nebraska. On one drive to ship cattle in 1882, they were honored with the removal of the Collinsville sign and the installation of the Benkelman sign. It is still known as Benkelman, Nebraska today. Benkelman Township, in Cheyenne County, Kansas is also named for the family. Cheyenne County was surveyed in 1873-1874 following the signing of an Act by Governor Osborne creating a number on new counties. It was opened for enrollment in 1885. The census at March 1, 1885 gave the population at Cheyenne County at 204, with at least 15 of this number associated with the Benkelman Ranch. A year later, the population was 1256.

The Benkelman men were industrious and hard working. They were well respected in the community. The biggest challenge they faced were the extremes in weather.

In September, 1885, the T Wrench Ranch has 15,000 head of cattle. The winter of 1886 was a complete diaster for the Benkelmans. Only 125 head of the 15,000 survived. But the family continued to stay on their feet.

In 1893-1894, there were 18 months of absolutely no moisture. Feed was scare and had to be shipped in. All the inhabitants of Cheyenne County were in trouble, and people moved out of it in droves. After this, the ranch was turned over to Ben Benkelman. The rest of the family removed themselves from the ranching business."

Below are excerpts from letters written by Ben, while he was working as a ranch hand, to a cousin in Cass City, Michigan. The original letters are owned by the family of Ben's grandson, Bob Benkelman, and the transcriptions below were done by Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs.

8-xx-1880 Republican River, Wallace, Kansas. Branded 3600 head of cattle and will start tomorrow to brand 2500 more for Tony.

11-5-1880 George went to Denver about three weeks ago for the winter. I'm in the line camp, and it's living like a mole in the ground. Wakened this morning with snow on my bed. Write to me at the new post office in Wano.

3-17-1881 Haven't seen a girl in four months. There was a dance about 50 miles from here and about 20 of us cowboys went.

9-22-1881 Wano. Plenty of work here now. Just got back from shipping beef and then go again the first of October.

1-xx-1882 Wano. Buffalo is getting scarce, but there's still lots of antelope. You come in the fall when we ship beef and then you could go to Chicago with the cattle. More railroads coming through here now. About 30 miles from here is the station called Benkelman. It is the B&M railroad and will go straight from Denver to Chicago.

6-6-1883 Benkelman. Had a dance at Atwood, Kansas just before I cam here from the ranch. Some girls live 25 miles down river. The mail is 22 miles away, so I go see the girls then pick up the mail on my way back.

1-5-1884 Went to school one day and teacher said I could come back, but I'm too busy.

2-3-1884 We're going to a dance on the 22nd, and there will be some girls there. Don't worry because we're not as bad as the Idaho boys.

3-xx-1884 Soon I have to gather 100 head of cattle which are on the range all winter.

4-25-1884 There's a dance tonight--the last before we start work. Going South to the Arkansas River this summer for 2 or 3 months. George was here from Denver a few days ago. The cook is setting dinner.

8-xx-1884 Back from the Arkansas. Have been stopping along the trail where Texas cattle are coming up. I was there to keep them from our range. Aunty is down from Denver, and doing so much talking I can't write. I bought 50 head of yearlings for $15.25 each.

10--18-1884 Steers worth $30 to $40 a head. There's antelope here and plenty of turkeys but buffalo are scarce. Wages are just fair, $25 to $50 a month. We've got all beef steers shipped now.

12-xx-1884 Staying alone now with no work except taking care of a few horses and cooking. It's boring here, but I make up for it when I go for the mail--12 miles from here.

7-8-1884 Building a sod stable 84 x 15. Will have 5,000 head of cattle to brand, and it will take 5 days. On the 4th, I went to Wano and it was no fun so I went on down river 3 miles, but missed the young folks. It was 4 0'clock and I didn't want to miss the fun on the holiday so started for the city of Benkelman which is 20 more miles. Had a big dance, but had to ride 30 miles home the next day. Went to Denver 3 weeks ago. Got there about 8 p.m. and we spent the evening principally on Holiday Street. Guess what they do on Holiday street!

[Dick Fischbach informed me that: " Holladay Street (note correct spelling) was the site of early Denver's notorious red light district, replete with crooked gambling dens, cheap saloons, dance halls, cribs and expensive brothels. Anything cowpunchers wanted was available on Holladay Street.]

1-xx-1885 All alone this winter, but only have to cook, eat and sleep. I'm burning coal so there is no wood to chop. I have 2 horses to ride. It's 12 miles to the nearest girl.

4-27-1885 Benkelman. Atwood, Kansas is about 60 miles from here. The area is settling up fast now. Farmers coming every day and taking up land. The cattle will have to leave. The range is getting too small for those large herds. I take care of 120 head of horses. I duck hunt because there's lots of ducks now.

11-25-1885 Wano. Got back yesterday from Sturgis and had a good time there. So many girls! (Note: Ben married Minnie Jesse of Sturgis on the JC Ranch in 1892).

1-7-1886 Snow is a foot deep on the level. I'm cooking for the boys now. It's o.k. until warm weather. Wish I'd stayed in school.

2-9-1886 Two of the boys have started for the Arkansas River to look of cattle that have gone down there. 200 head of horses to feed here every day--about 2 tons a day. That's exercise, and gives me appetite, so I'm at 175 lbs now.

4-18-1886 Went down to Benkelman last week for 2 days and had a good time. We're moving cattle up west to Colorado. Kansas is getting too thick for cattle now. Some nice, fat gals moving in now.

1-7-1887 Wallace. Traveling and staying near Wallace. Riding around town to town watching the farmers to keep them from killing our cattle. I'm working for $40 a month and all expenses.


7-7-1887 We're out on the range with 15-20 men in camp every night. We have a good time singing and playing. Address your next letter to Wallace, Kansas.

9-12-1888 We're shipping cattle to Chicago. Soon we'll be done then head back to the ranch for the winter. Send your next letter to St. Francis.

11-xx-1888 Cousin George took the cattle to Chicago this year.

1-xx-1889 I'm living alone this winter. Burning coal. There's no wood to chop. Went to Wano to help decorate the Christmas tree.

3-xx-1889 Had a job offer of $35 per month. George and I are making a ditch to water our crops. Intend to keep some cattle and horses. Not as good a county for farming as Cass City. Butter is 8 cents, eggs 6 cents a dozen, potatoes $1.00. No girls! They all know me to well!

3-5-1889 I'm tired of cowpunching. We had a fun election for county seat. St. Francis won by a 290 majority.

7-xx-1889 We put up 30 tons of ice. Ice cream every Sunday! Cut 45 acres of alfalfa. I'm thinking of going further west. It's getting too crowded here.

12-xx-1890 Jacqua. I harvested potatoes and got $1.75 a bushel. Corn is 60 cents a bushel. I have 140 head of hogs and 130 head of cattle.

Around 1901, Ben relocated back to Cass City, Michigan, where he owned and operated a general store. In was also reported, in the February 18, 1913 issue of the Cass City Chronicle, that he and P.H. Muck had completed arrangements for the purchase of the stock of general merchandise and the leasing of a store building at Colwood from C.D. Andrews.

Ben closed his store in Cass City in January, 1924. Ben and Minnie summered in Florida, traveling there each year by train. They also built a cottage in Caseville on the lake.

He was active in the affairs of the community of Cass City, with numerous mentions of his activities in the "Local Happenings" column of the Cass City paper. A few of these are shown below:

Cass City Chronicle
December 4, 1908

Notice to Taxpayers

I will be at B. F. Benkelman's store Cass City, to collect the taxes of Elkland township on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

J. A. BENKELMAN, Treas.


Cass City Chronicle
January 19, 1917

B.F. Benkelman was re-elected as secretary to the Cass City Telephone Company.

Cass City Chronicle
Local Happenings
January 26, 1917

B.F. Benkelman, Edward Pinney and M.B. Auten are among the visitors at the auto show at Detroit.

Art Peck wrote, in error, that Ben was a Studebaker dealer until 1928 and that he also he worked for E.B. Schwaderer. It was actually Ben's eldest son, Harold, who was the Studebaker dealer and Schwaderer employee.

Cass City Chronicle
December 24, 1920

All the members of the B.F. Benkelman family will be home for Christmas. Miss Mae, a teacher at Sebewaing came Wednesday; Benj. a student at Ypsilanti, came Thursday; Miss Ruth a teacher at Berwyn, Ill., Friday; and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Benkelman of Sandusky Friday.

Ben Benkelman Senior's obituary appeared in the CASS CITY CHRONICLE on Friday, September 15, 1962:

Final Rites Held for B.F. Benkelman, Sr.

Benjamin F. Benkelman, Sr. 88, last of the family of Adam and Christine (sic) Benkelman, died Sunday in his home following a long period of failing health, just shortly before his 89th birthday. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Douglas Funeral Home. Rev. S.R. Wurtz of Salem Evangelical U.B. Church officiated and burial was in Elkland Cemetery.

Mr. Benkelman was born Sept. 24, 1863, in Bowmansville, N.Y. and came to Michigan at the age of four years with his parents. He was a rancher in Kansas from 1880 to 1901 and operated a general store her from 1901 to 1924.

He retired from business after selling his store. Among his hobbies were traveling with his wife and fishing.

He was a director of the Cass City State Bank for 30 years.

At St. Francis, Kansas, on Dec. 26, 1892, he married Miss Minnie JESSE of Sturgis, Mich., who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. E.T. BALL (Ruth) of Pottersville, New Jersey; Mrs. W.J. CARPENTER (Mae) of Farwell, and Mrs. James PEASE (Lois) of La Grange, Ill.; two sons, Harold and Ben, of Cass City; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

(Research):
Census ListingsL

1900 Census Cheyenne County, Kansas Jacqua Township

#112-#112 Benkelman, Ben Head W M Sep 1868 M 7 yr Born NY, parents born Germany, R&W, Speaks English, Owns Farm, no mortgage
Benkelman, Minnie Wife W F Sept 1875 4 Children all living born MI parents Germany, R&W, Speaks English
Benkelman, Ruth D W F July 1894 Kansas
Benkelman, May D W F May 1896 Kansas
Benkelman, Harold S W M Nov 1897 Kansas
Benkelman, Bengman (sic) S W M Nov 1899 Kansas

1910 Census, Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, ED 113, Cass City Village
Enumerated 13 Apr 1910
SD 8, ED 113, Sheet No 5 B
139-139
Benkelman, Benjamin Hd M W 46 M1 17 NY Germany Germany Retail Merchant Groceries
Benkelman, Mary (sic) Wife F W 44 M1 17 5/5 Kansas Germany Germany
Benkelman, Ruth Dtr F W 15 Kansas NY Kansas
Benkelman, Mary Dtr F W 13 Kansas NY Kansas
Benkelman, Harold SOn M W 12 Kansas NY Kansas
Benkelman, Benjamin F Son M W 10 S Kansas NY Kansas
Benkelman, Lois J Dtr F W 5 Mich NY Kansas
Benkelman, Birtha Niece F W 22 Mich NY Mich Bookkeeper Implement Store

(Medical):Kidney failure, Senility

Benjamin married Wilhelmina "Minnie" Johanna Friederika Jesse on 26 Dec 1892 in St. Francis, Cheyenne County, Kansas. Wilhelmina (daughter of George W. Jesse and Maria Johanna Elisabeth Klevsaat) was born on 27 Sep 1865 in Sherman Township, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 18 Jun 1961 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Art Peck writes that Mary was the oldest in a large poor family, and early on went to work for others. She married Henry Hills when she was just 18, and didn't learn until years later that he was nineteen years older than she. He was a house painter when they met in Cass City. Due to Henry's poor health, they moved to the warmer climate of Texas. They moved about, and in 1902, they settled on a farm in Poinsett County, Arkansas. Henry died here, and Mary lived with various children throughout her remaining years. Her final years were spent with daughter Belle in Pasadena, Texas.

Mary married Henry Cleveland Hills on 11 Oct 1873 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Henry was born on 22 Dec 1835 in Union, Broome County, New York; died on 13 Jan 1916 in Hornersville, Dunklin County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rosa married Oliver Morningstar on 23 Jan 1883 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Oliver was born about 1847 in Canada; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Peck writes that "Will Krapf, as a single man, accompanied his older sister, Mary, and her husband when they moved to Texas. Later he was one of the 20,000 who made a run for a homestead in the Cherokee Strip in Oklahoma in 1880. About 1900 he moved with his family to the "boot heel" country of southeast Missouri. He was an overseer for farmers. When his sons were old enough, he rented land for them to farm. He raised cotton and corn on this rich bottom land. He eventually acquired land of his own."

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, July 2, 1937
Locals, Page 4

William Krapf, Mr. and Mrs. George Krapf, Mrs. Harris Rhew and Truman Krapf, all of Hornersville, Missouri, are visiting with William Krapf's brother, G.E. Krapf, and other relatives in this community. George Krapf is a son and Mrs. Rhew a daughter of William Krapf and Truman is a grandson. The party expects to be in Cass City about a week.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
(Indexed on Ancestry.com as KRAFT)
Missouri, Dunklin County, South Part of Clay Twp, Hornersville
Enumerated 13 Jun 1900
SD 12 ED 41 Sheet 10B
186-193
Krapf, W. F. Head W M Jan 1858 42 M 20 Wisc Germany Germany Farmer Months not employed: 2
Krapf, Mary E Wf W F Sept 1857 42 M 20 7/7 Ga Ga Ga
Krapf, George O Son W M Aug 1880 19 S Tx Wisc Ga Farm Laborer Months not employed: 0
Krapf, Dora E Dtr W F July 1885 14 S IndianTerritory Wisc Ga Farm Laborer Months not employed: 2
Krapf, Magnolia Dtr W F July 1889 10 S IndianTerritory Wisc Ga At School
Krapf, Ira C Son W M Feb 1892 8 S IndianTerritory Wisc Ga
Krapf, Neoma Dtr W F Apr 1895 5 S IndianTerritory Wisc Ga
Krapf, John S Son W M Feb 1897 S Ark Wisc Ga

William married Mary Elizabeth Williams on 2 Nov 1879 in Parker County, Texas. Mary was born on 16 Sep 1856 in Georgia; died on 3 Oct 1916 in Hornersville, Dunklin County, Missouri; was buried in Horner Cemetery, Hornersville, Dunklin County, Missouri. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, February 27, 1920
Vol. 15, No. 49

Passing of Old Resident of Cass City

John Krapf Came to Cass City in Early Sixties

John Krapf who has been in ill health for several months, passed away Tuesday evening, February 24, after an operation to relieve an obstruction of the bowels. Mr. Krapf underwent an operation the previous Saturday for abscess of the stomach. He stood the operation well considering his weakened condition and was getting along nicely until Tuesay when the bowel trouble developed.

John Krapf is among the early comers to Tuscola county. He was born near Milwaukee, Wisc. on January 10, 1861. When he was about two years of age, the family moved to Michigan, settling at Watrousville. About a year later they came to Cass City, settling on a farm 1 1/2 miles northwest of town.

On October 15, 1885 Mr. Krapf was united in marriage with Evelyn Fisher, and after a residence of 12 years on an Elkland township farm, they moved to Pittsfield, Mass., where they resided nine years, returning again to Cass City. Mrs. Krapf died last July.

He was a man of energy and industry and through of a retiring disposition he won many friends during his residence here. As a citizen, he was always obliging and true to any trust he assumed. Mr. Krapf was a member of the Methodist church.

He is survived by three daughters, Miss Dora Krapf and Mrs. Walter Milligan, both of Cass City, and Mrs. Preston Allen of Detroit; two brothers, George E. Krapf of Cass City and Wm. Krapf of Hornersville, Mo.; and four sisters, Mrs. J.J. Gallagher and Mrs. D.C. Elliott of Cass City, Mrs. Cummings of Sterling, and Mrs. Hills of Hornersville, Mo.

Funeral services will be held at the residence Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, 2007)

(Research):Census Information:

1900 Census
Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Pittsfield (Town , War
d 6 (Part of)
Enumerated the Second day of June 1900
SD 115 ED 75 Sheet 5B
44-95-104
Krapf, John Hd M W Jan 1861 39 m 15 Wisc Germany Germany Day Laborer
Krapf, Evaline Wf W F APr 1867 33 M 15 Mich Germany Germany
Krapf, Dora L Dtr W F May 1888 12 S Mich Wisc Mich At School
Krapf, Cecil N Dtr W F Nov 1890 9 S Mich Wisc Mich At School
Krapf, Elsie M Dtr W F Feb 1893 7 S Mich Wisc Mich At School
Krapf, Paul Son W M May 1897 3 S Mass Wisc Mich

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Township
Enumerated 25 April 1910 by John A. Benkelman
SD 8 ED 712 Sheet 4A Stamped 124

John Krapf Hd M W 49 m1 25 Wis Germ Germ Farmer
Evelyne Krapf Wf F W 43 m1 25 Mich Ireland Ireland
Cecil H. Krapf Dtr F W 19 S Mich Wis Mich
Elcie M. Krapf Dtr F W 17 S Mich Wis Mich
Len Wheaten Hired Man M W 22 S Mich Canada Canada

John married Eveline Fisher on 15 Oct 1885 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan. Eveline was born on 3 Apr 1867 in Wickware, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 30 Jul 1919 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, July 14, 1939
Local Happenings

The home of Mrs. D. Elliot on South Seeger Street is headquarters this week for a host of relatives who are visiting friends in Cass City and vicinity. They are Mrs. Addie CUMMINGS of Belding, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob KRAPF and daugther, Cleo, and William KRAPF of Hornersville, Missouri, and Mrs. Becky HOTCHPETH of Leachville, Arkansas. Mrs. Cummings and William Krapf are sister and brother of Mrs. Elliot. Mrs. Cummings expects to spend about two weeks in Cass City, and the other guests planned to leave Thursday.

Cass City Chronicle
Vol. 30, Number 23
Friday, September 28, 1945

Mrs. D.C. Elliott Died Unexpectedly

Friends of Mrs. D.C. Elliott were very much surprised and saddened when the news of her passing was conveyed Wednesday morning. She had worked in her garden onthe days previous and in the evening enjoyed an automobile ride with her son. She passed away during the night and in the morning was found dead in her bed by a neighbor, Mrs. Robert Warner. Mrs. Elliott was unusually active for her age. A few weeks ago she, with her son and other relatives, took a motor trip to Missouri to visit her brother in that state.

Matilda Krapf was born March 7, 1863 in Elkland township and was married to David C. Elliott of Caro in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Elliott lived in the state of Massachusetts from 1892 to 1905 when they returned to Cass City.

Mrs. Elliott was a faithful member of the Evangelical church, of the Sundays School, the Woman's Missionary Society and the Ladies Aid.

She is survived by one son, Burton A. Elliott; two grandsons, Leonard E. of Ubly and Francis E. of Bay City; one great grandson; two brothers, G.E. Krapf of Cass City and William Krapf of Hornersville, Mo. A son died in infancy and Mr. Elliott 12 year ago.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday by Rev. S. P Kirn at one o'clock in her home and at two in the Evangelical church. The remains will be interred in Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Family/Spouse: David H. Elliott. David was born on 18 Jul 1856 in Brockport, Monroe County, New York; died on 22 Jun 1933 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
Vol. 20, No. 46
Friday, March 27, 1925

Sudden Death of Mrs. J.J. Gallagher
Active Worker in M.E. Church and Temperance Cause
Born in Elkland Township and spent entire life in this community

Mrs. John J. Gallager passed away very suddenly at her home on West Main St. Saturday evening at 9:45 o'clock shortly after retiring for the night. Mrs. Gallagher has been afflicted with heart trouble for several months, but her condition the past few weeks has been much better and Saturday she spent some time at the home of her sister, Mrs. D.C. Elliott, and did some shopping at local stores, one of her purchases being a birthday gift for one of her daughters. She retired for the night in her usual health.

Louisa Krapf was born July 20, 1865, and has spent her entire life in this community. On Nov. 29, 1883, she was united in marriage with John J. Gallager and seven children came to bless their home. Two of them preceded the mother in death.

Mrs. Gallagher has been a member of the M.E. church at Cass City for many years and has been an active worker in various organizations connected with the church, especially so in the Women's Home Missionary society. Mrs. Gallagher was greatly interested in W.C.T.U. work and was president of the local union. She was also a member of Venus Rebekah Lodge.

The funeral was held at the M.E. church Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Cargo conducting the service. Burial was in Elkland cemetery.

Besides her husband, she leaves two sons and three daughters, Fred GALLAGHER of Van Couver, B.C., Mrs. P.H. KNIGHT of Twining, the Misses Adeline and Lena GALLAGHER of Detroit and Albert GALLAGHER of Cass City; two brothers, G.E. KRAPF of Cass City and Wm. KRAPF of Hornersville, Mo., and three sisters, Mrs. D.C. ELLIOTT and Mrs. CUMMINGS, both of Cass City, and Mrs. Mary HILL of Hornersville, Mo.

Relatives and friends from a distance who came to attend the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Percy H. KNIGHT of Twining, the Misses Adeline and Lena GALLAGER of Detroit, Herbert and Lorne GALLAGER of Shelburne, Ont., and Wm. KRAPF of Hornersville, Mo., Mrs. N.L. KNIGHT of Sterling, Mrs. Marcella TOOHEY of Gagetown, the Misses Gladys CAHOON, Myrll HIGHT and Nellie YOUNG, all of Detroit, and Mr. and Mrs. Geo. HALL and daughter, Lucile, of Imlay City.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Louisa married John J. Gallagher on 29 Nov 1883. John was born on 16 Jan 1859 in Ontario, Canada; died on 11 Oct 1940 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
Thursday, June 11, 1959
Page Four

Pioneer of Area Dies Wednesday

George Emanuel Krapf, one of the few remaining pioneers of this community, died at the Tuscola County Nursing Home Wednesday, June 3.

Mr. Krapf was born in Elkland Township, September 20, 1867, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Krapf.

He married Miss Amelie KAISER July 10, 1890, in Caro. Following their marriage they made their home on a farm in Elkland township, later moving to Cass City.

Mr. Krapf has been a member of the Evangelical United Brethren Church for more than 65 years. He was school treasurer of District No. 6, Elkland township, for 20 years.

He leaves a number of nieces and nephews. Mrs. K died July 17, 1950, on day after they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Funeral services were hald Saturday at the EUB Church, Rev. S.R. Wurtz officiating. Burial was in Elkland cemetery.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

(Research):Census Information

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 15 and 16 April 1910
SD 8 ED 112 Sheet 1A Stamped 121

10-10
Krapf, George E Hd M w 42 m1 20 Mich Germany Germany Farmer
Krapf, Emelia Wf F W 44 m1 20 3/0 Germany Germany Germany

George married Emilia Pauline Kaiser on 10 Jul 1890 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan. Emilia (daughter of Heinrich Rudolph Kaiser and Maria Barbara Zeller) was born on 28 Sep 1865 in G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 17 Jul 1950 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
October 6, 1933
Local Happenings, Page Four

Mrs. Addie Cummings and son, Judson Cummings, Mr. and Mrs. Sigmund Spencer and two children, all of Belding, spent Saturday and Sunday with Mrs. D.C. Elliott.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Michigan, Arenac County, Adams Township
Enumerated 23 and 24 Jan 1920
SD 10 ED 40 Sheet 2B
42-44
Cummings, Addie Head F W 49 Wd Mich Germany German Germany German Farmer
Spencer, Sagmon Son M W 12 S Mich Mich Mich
Cumming, Judson Son M W S 10 S Mich Mich Mich

Adeline married Hiram Spencer on 5 May 1892 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan. Hiram (son of Joseph W. Spencer and Almanza Hopkins) was born on 31 May 1861 in Gilford, Tuscola County, Michigan; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Adeline married Judson A. Cummings on 29 Sep 1910 in Essex County, Ontario, Canada. Judson was born in Mar 1839 in Oakland County, Michigan; died about 1913. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Took his step-fathers last name, however he spelled it Binkelman. Art Peck shows his place of birth as Joliet, Jane Zimmerman instead writes that he was born in Chicago.

Marion Advertiser - Marion, WI - May 18, 1917
Reminiscences of Old Times - By D. A. Ramsdell
(Courtesy of Lorraine Smith Benkelman)

William R. Binkelman, was born in Chicago, Ill., March 2nd, 1848. From there moved to Manitowoc Wis. Apr. 2nd 1887 (sic) he married Mary M. Ramsdell, daughter of Erastus and Sylvia Ramsdell of this place. Here they resided for several years, doing business in fruit and grocery store. Hoping to better their fortunes they like many others, thought there were more opportunities in a newer country. Disposing of his business in Manitowoc in 1878, they located at Perry's Mill, Dupont.

In writing this early experience of Mr. Binkelman, I desire the reader to take into consideration this fact that from childhood, he had been afflicted with a hip disease that debarred him--or should have done so--from strenuous labor. His education was received in the schools of Manitowoc. That he was qualified to teach a common school; he proved with the discrimination and ambition to understand anything in sight to care for and support his family. His life and expectence one of the early settler and families of Marion; should or ought to be an example, that many a man with a more rugged constitution could follow. That his first few years here were ? ? of hardship and endurances, I can well believe. To illustrate, they had been without flour for some time. He started for Clintonville, and prevailed upon F. M. Guernsey to let him have a 60lb. sack, it being all he had and all there was to be had in Clintonville at that time. With this 60 pounds of flour upon his back, he, a cripple, whom every step was the cause of pain, it must have meant a great deal to them. About half way home he met James H. Churchill and asked him where he was going. He replied, "I am going to Clintonville for flour." Mr. Binkelman told him he had the last to be got in Clintonville. Churchill said, "I have got to have flour and I am going until I find it," which he did at New London. Mr. Binkleman said of that 60 pounds of flour they had one baking of biscuit the balance of it was loaned to their neighbors, this showing the disposition and self sacrifices made for each other.

When in 1873 the Binkelmans came to Perry's Mill they lived in a small frame house built by W. I. Ramsdell and owned by his widow. They had one child, a daughter born at Manitowoc in 1872 Ollie Estelle. She married Eldert G. Vischer, then pastor of the M. E. Church at Marion. Her's was a life of devotion to her husband and friends. She passed from earth life several years ago, with the blessed faith of life eternal.

Ervinin May, the second daughter was born at Marion Nov. 11th 1874. She was educated at Oshkosh and Valparaiso, Ind. Married Wm. D. Huebotter of Texas in 1898. She departed this life a year or so ago, leaving three bright young boys, the eldest being 7 years. They are living with their grand parents at Oshkosh. Mr. Binkelman having legally adopted them.

Luella, the third daughter, was born at Marion Oct. 22nd, 1876. With her father and mother her life has been one of self sacrifice to her two departed sisters.

Frederic Mark, a son was born at Marion in 1877, a promising boy of eight years when he departed this life. The earthly remains of the brother and two sisters are laid to rest in the Dupont Cemetery.

Tilden (sic) J., a second son was born April 14th 1879. He married Edna Cuff of New London. They have three sons, the two eldest being twins, all fine boys. Jay, as we know him, was educated in the Marion schools, finishing up a business course at Racine. Was in business with his father until he sold to L. M. DeVaud & Co. Since then he remained in their employ until six months ago, he accepted a position with a Detroit house as travelling salesman, and two weeks since his family left for Port Huron, Mich. to make their future home.

Muriel, the youngest daughter of the family, was born in this village April 14th 1884. She is with her parents in Oshkosh, the life and joy of the household.

I have no wish or desire to flatter or give honor or respect where it is not due, but in this case, where I can write from a knowledge of what I am writing about I think it no flattery to say that for a family laboring under the conditions that this one did, all honor is due. That he was willing anxious to undertake any kind of labor to support his family he proved. He taught school at Belle Plaine two terms, cooked in the woods, purchased 10 acres of land on the town and county line road 1 1-2 miles west of the Marion Cemetery, and now owned by Wm. Anelam, moved his family there and was living there when we came in 1875. Here with no team, trying to clear up enough to get in a crop to keep them from starving, with his neighbor Aug. Dieck who had an ox team, they would exchange work, Binkelman driving the oxen, while Dieck with his two sons August and Jule would pile up the logs, fine maple logs worth now 40 dollars per thousand feet. Had to burn them up to make room to grow something to eat. That it was a struggle to live I can well believe. In 1876 he sold his farm to Wm. Anelam and came to the village and lived in a house located where Chas. Wiesman now lives and owned by Mrs. M. Timm. On the site or near it now occupied by Joseph Miller's grocery store, Binkelman and a man named Ritter, started a Hardware Store. It was a little frame building and I think built by a man from Royalton, have forgotten his name. Later the same year, Mr. Binkelman bought out Ritter. In 1877 he bought of W. R. Brainard, two lots in Block 8; original plat, and erected the north half of the DeVaud hardware store. In this was the only hall we had for years. In this half our different societies met, here our debating club thrashed out the principal questions of the day. Perhaps the world's war could have been amicably settled by us, had Germany been ready to fight. I believe here is where Louis Bowers did his last playing for our dances. 'Twas good music and faithfuly performed. Just before daylight a hat was passed around for collection. It came back, the hat did, 'this is a fact for I was there as the 2nd Violinist, and was to receive one half and there was no division of that collection, it was mostly pants buttons. Had Louis found out who was ? these buttons he would have returned them but he never did. That Mr. Binkelman prospered and his business grew, is due to his attention and hard work. In a few years he added to his store as it stands today. In 1913 he sold to L. M. DeVaud & Co. and moved to Oshkosh to take a rest. Call on him at 575 Main St. and see if you think he is. Mr. Binkelman has always taken a great interest in Marion. He is still the possessor of two fine residences, one on Garfield Ave., occupied by the Jos. Miller family and the other on Railroad Ave. and Clinton St. now the home of the Kelly family. Was Postmaster one term, Clerk of the Circuit Court at Waupaca, Chairman of the town of Dupont, Treasurer of the School District and also director of High School. Has been prominent in all that pertained to the welfare of the town and village. Their removal from this village to Oshkosh was a loss to the community and more especially the M. E. Church of which I think they are still members. That they received the rest they required by their removal would appear to an onlooker as a question for our old Debating Club. What do you say to it Will?

http://www.wigenweb.org/waupaca/News/waupnews1917.htm

BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that she had received a handwritten copy of his obituary from Mrs. John Arndt, and that it was carried in the Marion Advertiser on September 26, 1969(???). She does not show a date of death, however, and 1969 would make him nearly 120.

(Research):
Census Information:

1900 Census
Wisconsin, Waupaca County, Marion
Enumerated 21 Jun 1900
SD 6 ED 124 Sheet 14A
238-241
Binkelman, William Head W M Apr 1849 51 M 29 Ill Germany Ireland Hardware Salesman
Binkelman, Mary M Wf W F Sept 1849 6/5 Wisc Vermont Vermont
Binkelman, Zinnia M [Ervenia] Dtr W F Nov 1874 25 S Wisc Ill Wisc Music Teacher
Binkelman, Luella Dtr W F Oct 1876 23 S Wisc Ill Wisc School Teacher
Binkelman, Lindon J Son W M Apr 1880 20 S Wisc Ill Wisc Salesman
Binkelman, Murel Dtr W F Apr 1885 15 S Wisc Ill Wisc At School
Krueger, John Boarder W M Jan 1877 23 S Wisc Germany Germany Tinker

1910 Census
Wisconsin, Waupaca, Dupont
William R. Binkelma 60 Ill England England
Mary M. Binkelma 59
Luella Binkelma 32
Merl Binkelma 25

(Index info only, was unable to open the actual census page on Ancestry.com)

William married Mary Ann Ramsdell on 28 Mar 1871 in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Mary was born in Sep 1849 in Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Census records show she was born in Wisconsin, however Jane Zimmerman writes that her actual place of birth was Chicago.

Mary's first marriage was to a HORNE, and she and two children, Cora and William Horn, can be found on the 1880 Manitowoc census.

It is likely she was the widow of John E. Horne, a civil war veteran who was some twenty years her senior. Perhaps she was his second wife? This appears to be the most likely scenario, as John E. Horne, her son, William, and her stepfather and mother, Leonard and Jane Benkelman, all share a common burial plot and grave marker. It might also be possible that she was instead the widow/divorced wife of John's son, Daniel, who was a few years her junior.

John E. Horne's tombstone is marked "Co. D., Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry."

The Manitowoc County Civil War Round Table has the following information posted about John E. Horne. It is not known with certainty, however, if the 1870 census transcription they include below, is for the same John Horne. If it is for him, his marriage to Mary Clancey Benkelman must have occurred soon after this census enumeration, as her daughter, Cora Horne, was born early in 1871.

http://www.mccwrt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=31

John E. Horne

Born: ca 1829 Enlisted: July 23, 1862 as a Private from Raymond, WI Absent, sick: July 14, 1865 (absent at Muster Out of Regiment) ?i?
?u?
?/u??/i?
1875-76 Manitowoc City Directory: John Horne, Ship Caulker, res State east of 5th

John Horn bur May 7, 1876
Buried: Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc, WI
Gravesite: @2-150-3: "John E. Horne/Co. D/20th Wis. Inf."

At the time of the 1870 census, Mary, age 18 was no longer living with her parents. It is possible that she moved to Brown County, Wisconsin, as this is where her daughter, Cora Horn, was born in 1871. On the 1870 Brown County, Wisconsin census, a 19 year old Mary HORAN, House Servant, born in Wisconsin, can be found. Living two households away is a 25 year old George McCormick, a teamster from Ireland. McCORMICK is the maiden name of Mary's mother. It is not certain, however, that Mary HORAN and Mary Jane are the same individual, however. Additionally, John Horne is found in the 1870 Fond du Lac census, but with a wife and 14 year old son.

1870 Census, WI, Fond du Lac, Ward 5:
John Horne, 41, Male, White, Carpenter, RE 800, PE 200, born Scotland
Julia, 38, Female, White, Keeping House, born Scotland
Chd: Daniel, 14, born NY


Therefore, further research should be done to determine the exact nature of the connection between John E. Horne and the Benkelman family of Manitowoc; who Mary Clancey Benkelman's first husband was; and if the 1870 census transcriptions above even relate to John E. Horne or to Mary Clancey Benkelman Horne buried in Evergreen Cemetery.

Mary Jane remained close to her stepfather, Leonard Benkelman, and Art Peck writes that she took care of her step-father in his declining years. He was listed in her home at the time of the 1900 census.

She also visited her stepfather's extended family in Cass City, Michigan, were her daughter resided, as can be seen from the follow brief mention:


Cass City Chronicle
October 30, 1908

Local Mentions

Mr. and Mrs. Clark returned to their home in Manitowac, Wis., Monday after spending several weeks with their daughter, Mrs. G. A. Striffler.



(Research):
Census Listings:

1880 Census
Wisconsin, Manitowac, 3rd Ward
Mary Horn Self F W 29 Manitowoc County, Wisc KH Prussia Ireland
Cora Horn Daught F W 9 Brown County, Wisc Canada Wisconsin
William Horn Son M W 6 Mantiowoc County, Wisc NY Wisc
Mary Malhal Other F W 16 Mantiwoc County, Wisc Servant Ireland Scotland

Mary married John E. Horne before 1871. John was born about 1829 in Scotland; died in May 1876 in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin; was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Mary married William Clark on 2 Sep 1882 in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. William was born on 11 May 1845 in New York; died on 3 Dec 1920 in Wisconsin; was buried on 5 Dec 1920 in Evergreen Cemetery, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Probably died as a young man. He can not be located on an census records subsequent to the 1870 census at which time he was shown as age 15. Jane Zimmerman writes that "supposedly he set out for California & was killed by Indians on the way." Jane further indicated this has never been proved or disproved.

Notes:

Jane Zimmerman writes that Emma Ella suffered from rheumatism for many years & was in a wheel chair for about the last 19 years of her life. She was always cheerful though, and did a lot of tatting and other handwork. Jane also supplied the following obituary of Emma, published in the Friday, January 15, 1937 issue of the Manitowoc Herald Times.

Dies at Home of Daughter

Services for Mrs. Ella Bodwin To Be Held Monday

Mrs. Ella Bodwin, 78, life-long resident of ths county and city, died early today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Cahill, 310 North Ninth Street. She had been ill for several months.

Funeral services will be held Monday, at 8:30 a.m. from the Wallaws, Urbanek and Schlat funeral home and at 9 o'clock from the Sacred Heart Church. Interment will follow at the Catholic cemetery at Mishicot.

Born here in 1858

Mrs. Bodwin, whose maiden name was Ella Benkelman, was born in this city in 1858. In 1877 she was married to John Bodwin. They located on a farm in Gibson and later moved to Kings Bridge. Eighteen years ago Mr. and Mrs. Bodwin came to the city to reside. Mr. Bodwin died in 1931.

Mrs. Bodwin was a member of the Women's Relief Corps and the Altar society of the Holy Cross congregation at Mishicot.

Survivors are three sons, Richard and Walter of this city and Peter, Milwaukee; two daughters, Mrs. Cahill, city, and Mrs. Henry Hobbins, Milwaukee; ?? grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

The body may be viewed at the funeral home from Saturday noon until the hour of the services Monday.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2009)

Emma married John Bodwin on 22 May 1877 in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. John (son of Pierre Joseph "Peter" Beoudoin) was born on 20 Oct 1850 in Brussels, Belgium; died on 2 Dec 1929 in Manitowoc, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin; was buried in Mishicot, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Known as "Denver George." He founded the Finance Service Corporation and the Merchants Biscuit Company. He served as secretary to the Colorado Packing and Provision Company. His father had founded the company, but the younger George managed it until its merger in 1913 with the National Packing Company.

He tore down the Benkelman residence and built the Benkelman Block at 18th and California. There was housed the Finance Service Corporation.

BonnieMargaret transcribed his obituary from the Rocky Mountain News as follows:

"George W. Benkelman, founder and vice president of the Merchants' Biscuit company and the last of a long line of pioneer settlers in the West, fell dead early last evening at the Denver Athletic Club following an acute heart attack. Mr. Benkelman at the time was chatting with friends at the club and until he suddenly dropped forward in his chair, he gave no indication of the sudden seizure of heart disease which caused his almost instant death. Having for many years been closely identified with mining, manufacturing and cattle interests, Mr. Benkelman occupied a prominent position in the financial and industrial life of the city and state." (Jacobs, p. 122 and 123).

BonnieMargaret also wrote, in a separate paper about the Kansas Benkelmans, that one of his honorary pallbearers was William Buck, a Cheyenne County Rancher, who was located 4 miles north of St. Francis.

George was unmarried and had no heirs. An item in his will left property in Trust with The Denver National Bank. The will provided that at the end of five years, the bank, as trustee, would convey title to the property to a corporation and one-tenth of the capital stock should be given to Mrs. Mary M. (Lena Benkelman) Schwegler or her heirs.

Lena died childless, and before the expiration of the trust. Her heirs were the descendants of her brothers and sisters, as they also had predeceased her. This Decree, dated September 2, 1931 by the District Court of Denver, Colorado, is an important genealogical document. The Bank had to locate and identify 60 widely scattered Benkelman heirs to share in this inheritance. BonnieMargaret references this as Court docket No. 111060, filed on June 12, 1931 in the District Couty, State of Colorado, City and County of Denver.

Bonnie notes that the Denver branch of the Benkelman family were all originally buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Denver, but reinterred to the Fairmount Cemetery on October 14, 1920 by George W.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1910 Census
Colorado, Denver County, Denver Ward 9
Enumerated 21 Apr 1910
Twenty First Street
523-91-146
Benkelman, George W Head M W 47 S Co Germany/German Germany/German Office Beef and Pork Packer
Benkelman, Charlie A Brother M W 44 m1 1 Colorado Germany/German Germany/German President Oil and Gas co
Benkelman, Florence E Sister in Law F W 35 m1 1 England/English England/English England/English 1891 None
Benkelman, Harry J Brother M W 42 S Colorado Germany/German Germany/German Own Income

1920 Census
Colorado, Denver County, Denver City
Enumerated 3 Jan 1920
SD 1 ED 262 Sheet 2B
1080-40-41
Dronn (or Drown), Linnaeus Head M W 46 m Oh Pa Oh Surgeon General Practice
Dronn(or Drown), Cora M Wf F W 45 m Oh Pa Oh
Benkelman, George W Lodger M W 57 S Co Germany/English Germany/English Mining Mine

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 5, 1916
Page Five

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benkelman of Denver, Colorado, are guests of their aunt, Mrs. M. M. Schwegler, while they are visiting a host of relatives in this vicinity.

In her 1981 manuscript, BonnieMargaret writes that "son Charles was never in good health and limited his interests to the family mining properties though he held several sales positions in Denver. At one point it seems that J. G. founded a business, the Columbian Engraving Co., hoping it would give Charles' business activities some direction, but it lasted only a few years." (Jacobs, p. 121).


(Research):


Census Listings:

1910 Census
Colorado, Denver County, Denver Ward 9
Enumerated 21 Apr 1910
Twenty First Street
523-91-146
Benkelman, George W Head M W 47 S Co Germany/German Germany/German Office Beef and Pork Packer
Benkelman, Charlie A Brother M W 44 m1 1 Colorado Germany/German Germany/German President Oil and Gas co
Benkelman, Florence E Sister in Law F W 35 m1 1 England/English England/English England/English 1891 None
Benkelman, Harry J Brother M W 42 S Colorado Germany/German Germany/German Own Income

Charles married Florence Elliott about 1909 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado. Florence was born on 5 Apr 1875 in England, United Kingdom; died on 15 Mar 1917 in Denver, Denver County, Colorado; was buried in Fairmount Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

He was an officer in State National Bank. He and his brother George lived in their family home at 523 Twenty-First Street in Denver, along with brother Charles and his wife. (Art Peck).

BonnieMargaret, in her 1981 manuscript, wrote that "Harry began his work experience as a deputy city clerk, was eventually absorbed within the Colorado Packing and Provision Company as a clerk and ultimately became a branch manager of this family enterprise. Harry's obituary described him as "generous and liberal, perhaps to a fault" and he eventually died in a Denver sanitarium, hospitalized 7 years with an alcohol problem he was not able to overcome."

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 16, 1913
Local Items, Page 4

Mrs. Mary BURK, Mrs. Sarah HOYT and daughter, Miss Iva, of Caro attended the funeral of Mrs. John STRIFFLER Thursday

Cass City Chronicle
Feb. 5, 1926
Local News
Page 8

Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kolb attended the funeral of the former's sister, Mrs. Burke, in Caro Friday afternoon.

Mary married Charles Buerk on 16 Oct 1875 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Charles (son of Johannes B?rk and Christina Reinert) was born in Feb 1851 in W?rttemberg, Germany; died in Apr 1912 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Art Peck wrote that "John never had a home of his own. He travelled from job to job, but primarily stayed on the farm of his brother George and helped with farm work. George's niece Arlee remembered hims as a friendly man, and always had a piece of candy for his nieces and nephews. This is how he acquired his nickname, 'Candyman.' Arlee also remembers that he drank, and she was not allowed to be around him at those times. One Sunday when George and his family were on their way to church, John declined to go with them. When the family returned, he had hung himself in the barn.'

Obituary
Cass City Chronicle
November 21, 1930
Page Eight

John Kolb

Funeral services for John Kolb, who died Saturday at the home of his brother, George Kolb, were held Tuesday afternoon from the Evangelical church.

John Kolb was born September 17, 1856, in Greenfield, Wisconson, and came to Cass City with his parents when eight years of age. He has made his home here since.

He leaves two sisters and one brother, Mrs. Elizabeth Craw and Mrs. Rose Don of Caro, and George Kolb of Cass City.

Relatives from out of town at the funeral were Mrs. Elizabeth Craw, Mrs. Rose Don, Mrs. Ida Mitchell, Mrs. H. Barringer, Miss Ernestine Barnes and Rai Hogh, all of Caro, Mr. and Mrs. Ferris Jamieson, Robt. Wagner and children, Laurie and Bob, of Saginaw; and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Kolb of Pontiac.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Notes:

George took up homesteading across the road from his folks, but when his mother died, he sold the homestead to pay for her funeral.

He worked in the area known as Harwick Pines.

He was over six-and-a-half feet tall. Wife Annie was not quite five feet. It was said that when George died, the undertaker had a problem finding a large enough casket. It was rumored George's legs had to broken for him to fit.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, March 4, 1932
Vol. 26, Number 47

Pioneer Residents Called By Death Edw. Knoblet, Geo. Kolb and Geo. Parrott Have all Resided Here over 50 years

Geo. H. Kolb

Geo. H. Kolb passed away at Pleasant Home hospital at Cass City on Friday morning, Feb. 26, at the age of 74 years. Funeral services were conducted at the Evangelical church by Rev. C.E. Smith, on Sunday afternoon.

Born Nov. 5, 1857, at Milwaukee, Wis., Mr. Kolb came to Michigan with his parents when he was 7 years of age. Except for 10 years residence at St. Johns, he lived in the vicinity of Cass City. In September, 1883, he was married to Anne Holmes Cleaver. To them nine children were born, three of whom prededed the father in death.

Mr. Kolb is survived by his widow, five daughters, Mrs. Edith Ormes of St. Johns, Mrs. Iva Wisniewski and Mrs. Helen Markin, both of Detroit, Mrs. Elsie Brueggeman of Philadelphia, and Mrs. Bernice Kleinschmidt of Cass City; one son, Harold Kolb of Pontiac; two sisters, Mrs. A.J. Craw and Mrs. Rose Don, both of Caro; eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. All the children were present at the funeral service.

Kindness was a crowning virtue of the deceased and to the surviving family and his friends he will be remembered as a kind man.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

George married Caroline Annabel "Annie" Holmes in Sep 1883 in Tuscola County, Michigan. Caroline was born on 15 Apr 1867 in Ellington Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 21 Mar 1951 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 16, 1913
Local Items, Page 4

Mrs. John Wagner of Mayville was a guest at the house of George Kolb from Wednesday to Saturday.

Cass City Chronicle
Feb. 28 1919
Around Our Town
Page Four

Mrs. Geo. Kolb was called to Mayville Monday by the serious illness of her sister-in-law, Mrs. John Wagner. She passed away that evening. Mr. Kolb and Frank Gordon left Wednesday to attend the funeral. Mrs. Wagner was born in Wisconsin 61 years ago. At the age of six years she came to Elkland Township with her parents and resided heer about 25 years when she moved to Caro. She leaves two brothers, Geo. and John Kolb of Cass City; three sisters, Mrs. Ad Craw of Mrs. Isaac Adel, both of Caro and Mrs. Mary Buerk of Pontiac; two sons, Frank Gordon of Cass City and Robt. Wagner of Mayville, and two daughters.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

(Research):Census Information:

1880 Census
Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Oc
cupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
John GORDON Self M Male W 27 MI Farmer NY NY
Anna GORDON Wife M Female W 21 WI Keeping House --- ---
Martha E. GORDON Dau S Female W 1 MI MI WI
Sarah GORDON Dau S Female W 5M MI MI WI
Source Information:
Census Place Almer, Tuscola, Michigan
Family History Library Film 1254607
NA Film Number T9-0607
Page Number 30B


1900 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Fremont Twp
Enumerated 7 Jun 1900
SD 8 ED 116 Sheet 3B
56-58
Wagner, John Hd W M May 1842 58 M 24 NY Germany Germany Farmer
------, Anna Wife W F Feb 1859 41 M 24 4/4 Wisc Germany Germany
------, Blanch. G. Dtr W F Apr 1884 16 S Mich Mich Wisc At School
------, Frank Son W M July 1886 12 S Mich Mich Wisc At School
Nash, Earl Gr. Son W M Jul 1897 2 S Mich Mich Mich

Anna married John Gordon about 1879. John was born about 1853 in Michigan; died before 1900. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Anna married John Wagner on 31 Dec 1894. John was born on 17 May 1842 in New York; died on 17 Oct 1922. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, December 5, 1947
Page 10

Mrs. A.J. Craw died in Bay City on Sunday

Mrs. A.J. Craw, 87, passed away Sunday, November 30, in the house of her daughter, Mrs. Ferris R. Jameson of 317 N. Sheridan Street, Bay City, after an illness of six weeks.

Funeral services were conducted Tuesday afternoon in the Jameson residence by Rev. E. Ray Willson and the remains were interred in the Caro Cemetery.

Elizabeth Kolb was born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, March 26, 1860. In 1879 she was united in marriage with Mr. Craw who passed away in 1927. She has made her home with her daughter, her only child, since the death of her husband. She was a sister of the late John and George Kolb of Cass City.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong)

Elizabeth married Adjet Jay Craw, D. V. M. on 1 Jul 1879 in Tuscola County, Michigan. Adjet was born on 9 Dec 1856 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan; died in Jun 1927 in Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Indian Fields Township Cemetery, Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

(Research):Census Information:

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola, Almer Twp
Enumerated 20 and 21 April 1910
SD 8 ED 105 Sheet 3A Stamped 31
41-41
Adle, William M Hd M W 49 M1 1 Pa Germany Germany Farmer
Adle, Rosena Wf F W 48 m2 1 Wisc Germany Germany
Don, Percy J Stepson M W 11 S Mich Scotland Wisc


1920 Census
Not located

1930 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Indianfield Twp
Enumerated April 16, 1930
ED 79-23 SD 11 Sheet 6A Stamped 32
118-120
Adle, Rosina Hd O $1500 F W 68 Wd 17 Wisc Germany Germany N
o Occupation
Burns, Ernistine Granddtr F W 28 S Mich Mich Mich Teacher Public School

Rosina married James Don before 1879. James was born about 1861 in Scotland; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Rosina married William Adle about 1909. William was born about 1860 in Pennsylvania; died before 1930. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
August 18, 1899
Chroniclings, page 8

Henry Kolb, formerly of Cass City was buried in Elkland cemetery last Monday. Mr. Kolb at the time of his death was employed in a Chicago malt house, and somehow was suffocated in a malt vat. When found by other laborers he was dead.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Henry married Jennie Staples on 5 Apr 1885 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Jennie was born about 1865 in Wells, Delta County, Michigan; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 16, 1913
Local Items, Page 4

Mrs. Mary BURK, Mrs. Sarah HOYT and daughter, Miss Iva, of Caro attended the funeral of Mrs. John STRIFFLER Thursday.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, August 28, 1914
Local Items
Page 4

Mr. and Mrs. George Kolb, Harold, Clarence and Helen Kolb, Mrs. Fred Wright and son, Maurice, and Mrs. M.M. Schwegler attended the funeral of Mrs. Roe Hoyt at Caro Friday. Mrs. Hoyt had been suffering with heart disease for several weeks and her death occured Wednesday, August 19. She was born in Cass City, March 15, 1867, where she lived until her marriage in 1882 when she went to Caro where she has since resided. Besides her husband and five children, she is survived by five sisters and two brothers; the brothers being John and George Kolb of Cass City.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Sarah married Henry Roe Hoyt on 9 Jul 1882 in Tuscola County, Michigan. Henry was born in Dec 1860 in New York; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Art Peck wrote that her husband was a lumber jack and took her to the camps in Northern Michigan. There he badly used her by selling her favors to other men. She finally wrote to her father, who brought her home. She was disfigured on her face and neck from disease, and lived out her life at home. BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that she may have died around 1936 in Caro.

Notes:

Her tombstone states she was age 12 years, 1 month, and 3 days old

Notes:

Tombstone reads:

Striffler, Leonard,d. 29 Apr 1874, 16y 9m 19d

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that he died of scarlet fever, as did his younger siblings, Lydia and Jacob.

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 30, 1913

Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Striffler visited at the home of Frank Striffler in Deford over Sunday.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, November 24, 1933
Local Happenings
Page 3
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Striffler and daughter, Luella, and Miss Gertrude Striffler of Detroit spent Sunday with Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Striffler.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 15, 1936
Elkland Twp. Loses Prominent Citizen
Solomon Striffler Came Here in 1859, Year after Township Was Organized

Elkland township lost a pioneer resident and an outstanding citizen in the death of Solomon Striffler, who passed away at his home on the corner of Leach and Third streets in Cass City on Friday morning, May 8. He had been ill for about a year.

The funeral services were held at the Evangelical church on Sunday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. G.A. Spitler, pastor of the church. Interment was made in Elkland Cemetery.

Solomon Striffler was born in Lancaster, N.Y., on April 5, 1859, and came to this community with his parents, Jacob and Louisa Striffler, at the age of six weeks.

Solomon Striffler and Miss Katherine Burke were married on Nov. 15, 1883, by Rev. B.F. Wade at the home of the bride's uncle, Fred Burke, in Elkland township. The following spring, Mr. Striffler erected a residence on his farm one mile north of the Elkland cemetery and here he and his wife lived and reared their children until 13 years ago when they moved to Cass City. Mr. and Mrs. Striffler celebrated their golden wedding on Nov. 15, 1933.

Mr. Striffler, with possibly one exception, had spent more years in Elkland township than anyone residing in the community. His advent in this place was in the year following the organization of the township of Elkland in 1858. Watrousville was the nearest point that boasted any mercantile establishments in those pioneer days when a lumber trail was the only road in Cass City. Settlers left here at noon and walked to Watrousville, carrying their merchandise purchases home the next day.

Ms. Stiffler was a member of the Evangelical church here and a man of high ideals. He was for many years, until ill health made it necessary for him to resign, the teacher of the adult class in Sunday School and he stood foremost among students as a Bible student. He served Elkland township as treasurer, justice and highway commissioner, and for 28 years was a school director.

Mr. Striffler leaves besides his widow, six children, Frank and Louis Striffler of Detroit, Mrs. Ira Reagh, Leonard Striffler, Mrs. Alma Schenck and Miss Gertrude Stiffler, all of Cass City, eight grandchildren, one brother, Samuel Stiffler, of Battle Creek, and one sister, Mrs. George Zinnecker, of Moore, Montana.

Those for out of town in attendance at the funeral Sunday afternoon included Mr. amd Mrs. Ira H. Blakely, Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Benson, Mr. and Mrs. I.M Clapper, Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Batten, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Striffler, Mr. and Mrs. William R. Kaiser and children, Kenneth John and Ruth, Mrs. Florence Spangler, Louis Striffler, Burke Arehart, and Miss Luella Striffler, all of Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Striffler and daugther, Anna, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Buchanan and children, James and Nellie Marie, all of Battle Creek; Fred Striffler of Caro; and Mr. and Mrs. Otto Nique of Decker.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Winter 2007)

(Research):Census Information:


1900 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, Cass City Village
Enumerated 12, 13 and 14 June 1900 by John Marshall
SD 8, ED 110, Sheet 7A Stamped 110
137-137
Samuel & Mary Striffler
138-138
Striffler, Solomon Hd W M APr 1889 41 M16
Striffler, Kate Wf W F Sept 1864 34 M 16 5/5
Striffler, Franklin A Son 13
Striffler, Alice L Dtr 11
Striffler, ____ Son 9
Striffler, ____ ??? 4
Striffler, Luella A Dtr 7/12

(Note this listing was at the bottom of the page, and the m
icrofilm copy of it was partially obscured).

1930 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Cass City, ED 11
Striffler, Solomon M W 70 M @ 24 NY Alsace Lorraine Germany Retired Farmer, Greenhouse
Striffler, Kate 65 F W M @ 18 Germany Germany Germany 1878
Striffler, Leonard 38 S M W S Michigan New York Germany Groomer Stock for Show

Solomon married Eva Catharina "Katie" Koepf on 15 Nov 1883 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Eva (daughter of Johannes Koepf and Christine Barbara Buerk) was born on 25 Sep 1865 in W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 15 Jan 1938 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Tombstone reads age 8 years, 4 months and 16 days

Notes:

Tomstone reads age 4 years, 7 months, and 16 days

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan, March 23, 1923
Local Happenings, Page Four

Sam Striffler spent a few days last week in Battle Creek where he was the guest of his daughter, Mrs. Earl BUCHANAN.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, November 12, 1954
Page Six
Cass City Area News Items

Relatives here received word of the death, Saturday, of Samuel Striffler, 82, of San Diego, Cal. Mr. Striffler, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Striffler, was born and raised here. Funeral services and burial took place in California. He is survived by his wife, Mary, who has been hospitalized for a long period of time; a daughter, Mrs. Earl Buchanan, of San Diego and a son, Vernon Striffler, of Long Beach, California, and one sister, Mrs. George Zinnecker of Moore, Montana.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Winter 2007)

California Death Index:

STRIFFLER SAMUEL 02/28/1872 BENKLEMAN STRIFFLER M MICHIGAN SAN DIEGO(37) 11/06/1954 366-07-0433

(Research):Census Information:

1900 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, Cass City Village
Enumerated 12, 13 and 14 June 1900 by John Marshall
SD 8, ED 110, Sheet 7A Stamped 110
137-137
Striffler, Samuel W M Feb 1872 28 M2 Mich France Germany
Striffler, Mary L W F May 1879 21 M2 1/1 Germany Germany Ge
rmany
Striffler, Catherine W F Dec 1899 5/12 Mich Mich Germany
Striffler, Louisa W F Sept 1853 57 7/3 Germany Germany Germany
Crocker, Fred W M Apr 1880 20 Mich Ohio Germany

HH 138-138
Solomon and Kate Striffler

Fred Crocker was Samuel Striffler's first cousin, once removed. His mother was Dorothea Benkelman Crocker, a niece of Sam's mother, Louisa.

Samuel married Marie L. Kaiser on 17 Aug 1898. Marie (daughter of Heinrich Rudolph Kaiser and Christine Barbara Buerk) was born on 20 May 1879 in G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 21 Apr 1955 in San Diego, San Diego County, California. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Moore Resident Dies in Billings

Mrs. Lydia Zinnecker, 82, resident of Moore nearly 28 years, died of a heart ailment at 1:37 a.m. Thursday in a Billings hospital. She entered the hospital Wednesday night.

She had been visiting two weeks in the home of a daughter, Mrs. Harry Miller of Billings, Rt. 3, when she became ill.

The body was taken to the Creel Funeral Home in Lewiston where funeral services at 3 p.m. Saturday will be conducted by the Rev. Raymond Ginther of the Moore Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Moore Cemetery.

Mrs. Zinnecker was born Nov. 20, 1874, in Cass City, Mich., daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Striffler. She was married to George Zinnecker in Cass City Nov. 22, 1893, and they lived in Michigan until 1912.

They then went to Starkweather, N. D., where they lived four years before moving to Garfield county. They lived there until 1929, when they moved to Moore in Fergus county.

Mr. Zinnecker, a carpenter, died in Moore Feb. 15, 1955. Mrs. Zinnecker was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Surviving Mrs. Zinnecker, besides the daughter in Billings, are two other daughters, Mrs. George Steinar of Gary, Ind., and Mrs. Hal Lucas of Superior, three sons, L. F. Zinnecker of Moore, Henry Zinnecker of Long Beach, Calif., and Dr. Kenneth Zinnecker of Columbus, Ohio; 22 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Lydia married George Henry Zinnecker on 22 Nov 1893 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. George (son of Johannes "John" Zinnecker and Elizabeth Wagner) was born on 14 Jul 1871 in Ionia County, Michigan; died on 14 Feb 1955 in Moore, Fergus County, Montana. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Minnie married Thomas Owen Edwards on 17 Aug 1892 in Lewiston, Columbia County, Wisconsin. Thomas was born on 14 Oct 1869 in Wisconsin; died on 4 Apr 1963 in Lewiston, Columbia County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

On his registration card for World War I, he was listed as Leonard Josiah Benkelman, born October 12, 1872 and a resident of Portage, Wisconsin. He was a farmer, tall, slender build, with blue eyes and dark hair. His mother was shown as Sarah Benkelman of Portage.

At the time of the 1930 Federal census, Leonard was a boarder in the home of Charles and Julia Langford in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin (ED 11-24, SD 9, Sheet 6A, Stamped 69). He was listed as age 58, widowed, born in Wisconsin, and a Farm Laborer.

BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that he was cared for by the Dreyer family in his later years, Harold Dreyer being the son of a niece of Friedericke's. (Jacobs, p. 112).

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 4
Enumerated 5 Jun 1900
SD 1 ED 21 Sheet 4B
88-92
Benkelman, Leonard Hd W M Oct 1870 29 M 6 Wisc Germany Germay Day Laborer
Benkelman, Reaka Wf W F July 1866 33 M 6 2/2 Wisc Germany Germany
Benkelman, John Son W M Oct 1895 4 S Wisc Wisc Wisc
Benkelman, Myrtle Dtr W F Sept 1899 8/12 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

1910 Census
Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 1
Enumerated 18 Apr 1910
SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 4B
220-37-38
Benkelmann, John Hd M W 74 m1 52 Ger-German Ger-German Ger-German
Benkelmann, Sarah Wf F W 75 m1 52 7/2 Pa Pa Pa
Benkelmann, Frank Son M W 46 S Iowa Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelmann, Lenard Son m W 45 Wd Wisc Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs
Benkelman, John Jr Grandson M W 14 S Wisc Wisc Wisc
Benkelman, Myrtle Granddtr F W 10 S Wisc Wisc Wisc

Leonard married Friedericke "Rieka" Koch on 12 Jun 1894 in Columbia County, Wisconsin. Friedericke was born in Jul 1866 in Wisconsin; died on 20 Nov 1904 in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The 1900 census listed Cora a single. She was a school-teacher.

Cass City Chronicle
November 8, 1901

Local Mentions

A farewell party was given at Mrs. J. Schwegler's Monday evening in honor of her brother, Leonard and his niece Miss Cora Benkelman, who left for their respective homes in Manitowoc and Portage, Wisconisn, Tuesday.

Name: Cora E. Binkelman
Gender: Female
Burial Date:
Burial Place:
Death Date: 18 Jun 1904
Death Place: Portage, Columbia, Wisconsin
Age: 28
Birth Date: 1876
Birthplace:
Occupation:
Race:
Marital Status:
Spouse's Name:
Father's Name: John Binkelman
Father's Birthplace:
Mother's Name: Sarah
Mother's Birthplace:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I08850-8
System Origin: Wisconsin-EASy
Source Film Number: 1310176
Reference Number: p235
Collection: Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968

BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Cora died in 1904 of sarcoma. (p. 111)

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, October 27, 1939
Page 6

Mrs. Archie Mark

Mrs. Archie Mark, 79, passed away Saturday, October 21, in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Andrew Seeger, after a long illness.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 pm Monday in the home of another daughter, Mrs. Fred Buehrly. Rev. R.N. Holsaple, pastor of the Evangelical Church, officiated and burial was in Elkland Cemetery.

Emeline Striffler was born September 5, 1860, on a farm one mile east and one mile north of Cass City, and has lived in this vicinity all of her life.

On December 23, 1886, she was united in marriage with Archie Mark. He died in 1934 and for about a year after his death Mrs, Mark continued to make her home on 3rd Street, her sister, Miss Martha Striffler, living with her. Because of ill health, she has made her home with her daughters, Mrs. Buehrly, Mrs. Ben Schwegler and Mrs. Seeger.

She is survived by a son, Edward Mark, of Cass City; four daughters, Mrs. Buehrly, Mrs. Schwegler, and Mrs. Seeger, all of Cass City, and Mrs. Owen Darling, of Brown City; two brothers, G.A. Striffler of Cass City and David Striffler, of Columbus, Georgia; and two sisters, Miss Martha Striffler of Cass City and Mrs. W.R. Kaiser of Detroit.

She also leaves 23 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Six grandchildren acted as pallbearers. They were Mark and James Darling of Brown City, Keith Buehrly, Archie and Leitch Mark, and Leonard Urquhart.

Those from out-of-town who attended the funeral were David Striffler of Columbus, Georgia, Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Kaiser, Mrs. Bernice Kleinschmidty of Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Owen Darling and sons, Mark and James, of Brown City; Mrs. Jane Leitch, Mr. and Mrs. John Simkins and daughter, Maggie, of Pontiac; N. Karr of Kingston; and Mrs. Leon Ormes of St. Johns.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Emeline married Archibald "Archie" Mark on 23 Dec 1886 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Archibald (son of Walter Roach Mark and Elizabeth McLean) was born on 22 Mar 1862 in Whitby Township, Ontario, Canada; died on 25 Aug 1934 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lorraine Smith Benkelman transcribed the following letters that George Albert Striffler received from his family at home while he was working at various lumber camps in the west of Michigan and Wisconsin.

May 11, 1888

From Salome Striffler, George's younger sister

The men have been working near the river these two weeks, when the weather was so they could plow. Today they were sowing oats. Pete Burg helped mother with the garden. I let the deer out one evening and he ran around the house in the orchard and garden and tracked the garden all up. We got him back in. The report around is that Adam Benkelman was coming home. We were so glad to think they were going to be here again, then we were disappointed to hear it was only Minnie Burg's talk. It seems odd to not see you, with a book under your arm or in the morning see you come from upstairs. Mother wants to know how far it is from church, are are there any girls in your neighborhood?

Your fat sister, "Baby Elephant Jumbo", Salome

June 7, 1888

From Mary Striffler, cousin. to George at Lathrop, Delta County, Michigan

I took dinner from Mrs. Weydemeyer yesterday and glad to learn that Home is in camp with you now. You mention you live in the most newsless part of the earth. It strikes me that you take on the habit of a hermit without much remonstrance. The second annual institue of the M.E. Sunday School convened at Cass City, June 5. We hear that Anna Peterson is dead. Eventually she died of after effects of operation to remove a tumor. Mr. Klump is expected to hold quarterly meetings in the German Church next Sunday.

August 29, 1888

From Ella Wallace to George

Do you not almost wish you were back here. We all miss you. I suppose you have long since found the squaw whom you proposed getting for a housekeeper during the summer. It is dull here. My naughty sister has not come home yet. I see Mary and Gus, but not often. I have been raising kittens all summer for the chivaree. I was out East for a drive the other night and I really pitied Sam when I saw how far he had to walk.

September 11, 1888

From I. A. Fritz to George

Would like to know how you like the north woods. Do you have a church, if you do not, how do you pass your Sabbaths. I saw Mr. Weydemeyer and he said we are thankful to receive your assessment. Ben McCune will leave for conference. The assessment plan has worked very well. Of course, you have heard that I was married. Yes, I have settled down and am happy we have gone to housekeeping in the rooms in connection with my office. She is a stranger to you. I first met her in Carsonville, 3 year ago. Her name was Anderson. Dr. Blair left this morning for his home in Canada.

October 19, 1888

From his parents, John and Mary (Benkelman) Striffler

You say you might go West. I don't know why you would, in the winter, and get lost in one of the blizzards. Got a letter from John Wheelock, he says hundreds of people coming every day looking for work and can't find any. Wages are low, work scarce. D. Morrison told me the same the other day that his boys writes the same. Mrs. Benkelman said that Denver, Col is full of people looking for work. We just thrased last week bout 560 bu. of wheat, 800 bu. Oats and 121 bu. buckwheat on the V. Sta. Some of our Pear trees was loaded so that the limbs bent to the ground and such an apple crop. You didn't tell us how much you get a month or how you get your pay. JOHN STRIFFLER

I would expect you home pretty soon now if you're talking of going West. It is hard to have only one boy that is big enough to help his Father and him way off working for other folks when there is so much to do at home. Of course, if you can do lots better, I don't want to say come home. MA

November 18, 1888

William Bien, friend and future brother-in-law

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

The Biography below, of George Albert, is copied from "History of Michigan" by Charles Moore, Volume IV, The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1915

https://archive.org/stream/historyofmichiga04moor/historyofmichiga04moor_djv

GEORGE A. STRIFFLER. He whose name initiates this paragraph is not only one of the representative business men and landholders of Tuscola county but is a native son of the county and a scion of one of its best known and most honored pioneer families. Here he was reared and here he has found abundant scope for personal achievement along normal lines of enterprise. He is the leading implement dealer at Cass City, one of the thriving and attractive towns of this section of the state, and as a citizen and business man he is well upholding the honors of a name that has been most prominently linked with the development and upbuilding of Tuscola county.

George Albert Striffler was born on a pioneer farm in Elkland township, Tuscola county, Michigan, on the 16th of March, 1864, and the place of his nativity is one mile east and one mile north of Cass City, his present place of residence. He is a son of John and Mary (Benkelman) Striffler, the former of whom was born near Lancaster, Erie county, New York, of German lineage, and the latter of whom was born in the kingdom of Wurtemburg, Germany. The father was reared to manhood in the old Empire state and there he learned the trade of carpenter. In 1859 he came to Michigan and numbered himself among the pioneers of Tuscola county, where he obtained a tract of wild land, in Elkland township, and where he instituted the reclamation of a farm of forty acres, in the meanwhile finding much requisition for his services as a carpenter, at Cass City and other points in this section. He was numbered among the very early settlers of the county and he erected, for William Clark, the first frame store-building in Cass City, besides having done much other important work tending to advance the upbuilding and progress of the village and county. He was identified with lumbering operations for a number of years and threw himself fully into the strenuous work involved in the development of a new country. He has ever commanded inviolate place in popular esteem and he is today honored as one of the sterling pioneer citizens of the county in which he has long maintained his home and in which he has served in various township offices. He was born March 15, 1833, and his devoted wife, who was born May 22, 1839, was summoned to the life eternal on the 4th of May, 1913; he is now living retired in Cass City.

Of the seven children, six are still living: Emaline is the wife of Archibald Mark, and they reside on the old Striffler homestead; George A., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Salome, who resides in Cass City, is the widow of William Bein; Miss Martha has supervision of the domestic economies of her father's home, in Cass City; Esther is the wife of William R. Kaiser, of this place; and David A. is now a resident of Columbus, Georgia.

George A. Striffler was reared on the homestead farm and well recalls the conditions and incidents of the pioneer days in Tuscola county. After attending the district school he continued his studies in the public schools of Cass City, and he was about thirty-two years of age when he went to the city of Detroit, to learn the trade of steam-fitting, in the Michigan Central car shops. He completed his apprenticeship and then returned to Cass City, where he has since been successfully engaged in the implement business, as the successor of his cousin, Jacob H. Striffler, who founded the enterprise many years ago, so that it is the oldest business of its kind in Tuscola county, even as it is the largest in Cass City, with equipment and facilities of the best type. The original firm was J. H. Striffler & Company, and the present firm was first Striffler & McDermott and is now composed of George A. Striffler and Charles E. Patterson. The firm deals in all kinds of farm implements and machinery as well as in buggies, carriages and wagons, the trade of the concern being widely disseminated and its reputation being of the highest.

Mr. Striffler has recently completed in Cass City a handsome and thoroughly modern house of twelve rooms, the same being the family home and one of the most attractive in the village, even as it is one of the most hospitable,a center of much of the social activity of the community. An appreciable part of the timber utilized in the erection of this building was taken from land owned by Mr. Striffler and is of growth that has been made since the disastrous forest fires which swept this section in 1871. Mr. Striffler himself found satisfaction in assisting in the sawing of the logs into the lumber and shingles for his fine new residence. Like other representatives of the family Mr. Striffler stands exponent of progressiveness and public spirit, and he is one of the loyal and liberal citizens of his native county. He was a Republican until the formation of the Progressive party, in 1912, when he transferred his allegiance to the new organization. He has not been ambitious for public office but has served as township treasurer. He is affiliated with the local organization of the Knights of the Maccabees, and his wife, who is a leader in the social life of the community, is a member of the Woman's Literary and Study Club, besides being a devoted communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church. In the year 1900 Mr. Striffler wedded Miss Cora Belle Home, of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where she was born and reared, and they have one son, Ervine Albert, who was born in Cass City, on the 27th of March, 1906.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, October 18, 1940
Page Four

Mr. and Mrs. W.R. KAISER of Detroit, David STRIFFLER of Columbus, Georgia and Miss Martha STRIFFLER were Sunday guests at the G.A. STRIFFLER home. All the guests returned to Detroit Sunday evening. David STRIFFLER returned to Cass City on Tuesday and is spending the week with his brother, G.A. STRIFFLER, and other relatives. Miss Martha, who has spent a few weeks with her sister, Mrs. KAISER, in Detroit, returned to Cass City with her brother Tuesday.


Cass City Chronicle
Friday, July 13, 1945
Page One

G.A. Striffler Died Here Friday At Age of 81 Years
Conducted an Implement Business in Cass City For 45 Years

George Albert Striffler, retired business man of Cass City, passed away at his home in the village on Friday morning, July 6. He was 81 years of age.

Born in Elkland township, the son of John and Mary Striffler, on March 16, 1864, he had spent the greater portion of his life in this community.

Mr. Striffler entered the business ranks of Cass City as a partner of the late J.H. Striffler, pioneer implement dealer here, on Nov. 1, 1899. The business was conducted under the name of J.H. Striffler & Co. for one year when J.H. Striffler sold his interest to the late Hector L. McDermott and the firm name was changed to Striffler & McDermott. This partnership continued for 12 years. From the time Mr. Striffler conducted the business under his own name until Dec. 29, 1944, when because of failing health he sold his holdings to Copeland & Munro, he had been in business here for 45 years.

Mr. Striffler served the village as trustee, was village president for two years, and township treasurer on two different occasions. He was a past master of Tyler Lodge, F. & A.M., a member of the Cass City Community club and the Michigan Implement Dealers' association, and belonged to two hunting clubs, the Canada Creek Ranch Hunting club near Atlanta and the Lost Lake Woods club near Lincoln.

The deceased is survived by his widow, the former Cora Belle Clark, whom he married on Nov. 29, 1900, at Manitowac, Wis., and a son, Irvine Striffler, of Marysville, Ohio. A brother, David Striffler, of Columbus, Ga., and a sister, Mrs. W. R. Kaiser, of Detroit also survive.

Funeral services were conducted at the Presbyterian church by Rev. Melvin R. Vender, the pastor, Sunday afternoon. The impressive Masonic burial rites were conducted at Elkland cemetery by members of Tyler lodge under the leadership of Edward Golding, past master of the society.

Relatives and friends from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Irvine Striffler of Marysville, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Dozier of Walled Lake; Dr. and Mrs. H. Clay Murphey and Mr. and Mrs. Willet Hazard of Pontiac; Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Kaiser, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Striffler, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Striffler, Stanley Striffler and Mrs. C.P. Miller, all of Detroit, Mr. and Mrs. George Southworth of Elkton, and Mr. and Mrs. Ed Gardner of Plymouth; Mr. and Mrs. Owen Darling of Decker; Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Spriggs of Peck; Mr. and Mrs. Carl Miller of Fairgrove; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mahon of Minden City; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar and Mr. and Mrs. Merle Ashe of Vasser.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

(Research):
Census Information:

1910 Census, Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, ED 113, Cass City Village
Enumerated 13 Apr 1910
SD 8, ED 113, Sheet No 5 B

Striffler, George A Hd M W 44 M1 9 Mic NY Germany Salesman Agriculture Implements
Striffler, Cora B Wife F W 35 M1 9 1/1 Wisc Wisc Wisc
Striffler, Irvine A Son M W 4 S Mich Mich Mich
Clark, Warren W Brother in Law Wisc Wisc Wisc Commercial Trader

George married Cora Belle Horn on 29 Nov 1900 in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. Cora (daughter of John E. Horne and Mary Jane Clancey) was born on 3 Feb 1871 in Brown County, Wisconsin; died on 19 Oct 1964 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Lorraine Smith Benkelman transcribed the following letters from Salome to her brother, George Albert

May 11, 1888

The men have been working near the river these two weeks, when the weather was so they could plow. Today they were sowing oats. Pete Burg helped mother with the garden. I let the deer out one evening and he ran around the house in the orchard and garden and tracked the garden all up. We got him back in. The report around is that Adam Benkelman was coming home. We were so glad to think they were going to be here again, then we were disappointed to hear it was only Minnie Burg's talk. It seems odd to not see you, with a book under your arm or in the morning see you come from upstairs. Mother wants to know how far it is from church, are are there any girls in your neighborhood?

Your fat sister, "Baby Elephant Jumbo", Salome

June 6, 1888

I am staying at the Muck's for three weeks now. Anna Peterson is dead. She had a tumor and died under an operation. I heard that Adam Benkelman was expected home any day, but will not be sure until I hear that Minnie Burg did not make it up. The population of Cass City has increased since you left. Adam Muck has a girl, Del Landon a girl, Duncan Graham and Alex McKenzie both boys.


July 31, 1888

What are you doing there? Are you going to stay there. What do you eat anyhow? is Mrs. W. Weydemeyer working where you board? Berries and huckleberries are scarce this year. The Enterprise says "Two women to eveyr raspberry." Lucy Meier was here begging for the new church in Fremont. Did you hear from Will Bien yet, since you are up there? He gets $28 a month. How much are you getting. David said you should come home and cut his hair.

October 10, 1888

folks making syrup again. Mother and Mattie are helping in the sugar house and I am doing the housework. Charlie Yous is working for us again this fall. Johnnie Zinnecker hired out to Pa for a month, he may stay and go to school this winter. Dora Schenck has engaged to teach the Walmsley school. Walter Gamble and Lissie Ale are teaching the CC school. Mrs. John Doying died last Monday. Ada's funeral was yesterday. Peter Dodge is married to Sam's stepdaughter, got license in Caro at 8 pm, thene married at 2 am, lots of talk. Archie's father is married again to Albert Scarr's widow. Adam Muck has a girl, Del Landon a girl, Duncan Graham has a boy, Alex McKenzie a boy.


November 9, 1888

You mentioned going West, how far, Wisconisn or further? Mattie and I sent for the Normal course books. Mrs. Wunderlich organized the class. We younger folks have clubbed together and bought a book for the minister, "the Beautiful story and Gold gems of religious thoughts." Got is from James Waldon, the fellow who's feet got frozen. He is a book agency, walks with crutches.

November 29, 1888

Today is Sam and Mary's wedding day. Rev. N. Wienderlich performs the ceremony. I was not invited. Did you know Mr. Champion died last week. Archie has no hired man at present. Elmer Eastman was working for him but he is gone. Johnnie Zinnecker is going to work for his board this winter and go to school. George Zinnecker is a worker here now. Jake Striffler and family have gone to New York on a visit. Mrs. Waldon has a pair of artificial feet.


Cass City Chronicle
August 15, 1919
The Week's Doing, Page Eight

Mrs. Salome Bien left Monday for a short visit at the home of her son, Stanley Bien, at Lansing.

Cass City Chronicle
February 3, 1922
Page One

Deaths of the Week

Mrs. Salome Bien

The Evangelical church was crowded Sunday afternoon by relatives and friends who came to attend the funeral of Mrs. Salome Bien whose death occurred at her home in Lansing last Thursday. Rev. F. L. Pohly conducted the services and interment was made in Elkland cemetery.

Salome Striffler was born Sept. 19, 1866, on the parental farm near Cass City. She was united in marriage with Wm. Bien in Kilmanagh, Mich., Nov. 25, 1891. This happy union was of short duration, for Mr. Bien preceded his wife in death 26 years ago. Three sons came to bless the home for whom their mother toiled and sacrificed these many years to make possible their education and welfare and whose privilege it became, in these later days, for them to reciprocate their love and devotion in caring for her.

For the past few years, Mrs. Bien has suffered greatly from cancerous trouble but in it all manifested a most patient and hopeful spirit. All that medical skill and kind hands could do could not overpower her affliction. On Jan. 26, 1922, she peacefully passed away at Lansing, Mich., at the age of 55 years. Mrs. Bien gave her heart to God in her youth and united with the Cass City Evangelical church of which she remained a member.

She leaves to mourn her departure three devoted sons, Stanley of Lansing, Paul of Detroit, and William, a student at the U. of M. at Ann Arbor, an aged father, John Striffler of Cass City, two brothers, G.A. Striffler of Cass City and David Striffler of Columbus, Ga., three sisters, Mrs. Archie Mark, Miss Martha Striffler and Mrs. W.R. Kaiser, all of Cass City, besides a host of other relatives and friends.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, March 2008)

(Research):Census Infomation:

1900 Census, Michigan, Tuscola, Elkland, ED 110
Enumerated the 12th of June, 1900 by John Marshall
SD 8, ED 110, Sheet 6 B
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 Township, Cass City Village
Enumerated 21 Apr 1910
SD 8 ED 113 Sheet 4A Stamped 135
95-95
Bien, Salome Hd F W 43 Ed 3/3 Mich NY Germany Own Income
Bien, John C Son M W 17 S Mich Canada/English Mich
Bien, Paul P Son M W 15 S Mich Canada/English Mich
Bien, William D Son M W 14 S Mich Canada/English Mich

Salome married William H. Bien on 25 Nov 1891 in Kilmanagh, Huron County, Michigan. William was born before 1867 in Ontario, Canada; died about 1895 in Huron County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacobs (p. 153) writes that he died in an outbreak of Scarlet fever in 1874, as did several of three of his Striffler "double cousins", along with another cousin, Mary Benkelman.

Notes:

Her father's obituary indicated that Martha, the eldest daughter still at home, remained single and in her father's home to care for him, after the death of her mother. She never married. At the time of the 1930 census, she was living with her sister and brother-in-law, Archibald and Emeline Mark, in Cass City Village.

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan
Friday, January 23, 1931
"Thirty-five years ago: January 24, 1896"

At the Evangelical church, the following Sunday School officers have been elected for the ensuing year: Supt., Mrs. Lena SCHWEGLER; ass't supt., Mrs. Mary BENKELMAN; sec., J. MAIER; treas., Adam BENKELMAN; librarian, Miss Lillie STRIFFLER; ass't librarian, Miss Maud MAIER; organist, Miss Martha STRIFFLER; ass't organist, Oscar LENZNER.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, October 29, 1943

Miss Martha Striffler, 71, a lifelong resident of this vicinity, passed away in her home Monday evening after a long illness.

Miss Striffler, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Striffler, was born Nov. 10, 1871, on the Striffler farm in Elkland township and spent her entire life here.

She was a member of long standing of the Evangelical Church where she taught a Sunday School class for many years. She was also active in the Woman's Missionary Society and the Ladies' Aid and held offices in both societies for a number of years. She was a very faithful attendant at all Church services as long as her health permitted. She was also a member of the Townsend Club.

She is survived by a sister, Mrs. W.R. Kaiser of Detroit, and two brothers, George Albert Striffler of Cass City and David Striffler of Columbus, Ga.

The remains were at the Munro Funeral Home until Wednesday when they were taken to her own home on Houghton Street. At noon Thursday the body was taken to the Evangelical Church where it lay in state until the hour of the funeral service at 2:00 p.m. Rev. S.P Kirn, pastor of the church, officiated and burial was in Elkland cemetery.

Pallbearers were Stanley Bien of Lansing, John and Kenneth Kaiser of Detroit and Edward Mark of Cass City, all nephews, and Ben Schwegler and Fred Buehrly, nephews by marriage.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
June 24, 1904, page 4

Mrs. M. Schwegler and Miss Esther Striffler went to Elkton Thursday to attend the Evangelical campmeeting which is being held there this week.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, October 18, 1940
Page Four

Mr. and Mrs. W.R. KAISER of Detroit, David STRIFFLER of Columbus, Georgia and Miss Martha STRIFFLER were Sunday guests at the G.A. STRIFFLER home. All the guests returned to Detroit Sunday evening. David STRIFFLER returned to Cass City on Tuesday and is spending the week with his brother, G.A. STRIFFLER, and other relatives. Miss Martha, who has spent a few weeks with her sister, Mrs. KAISER, in Detroit, returned to Cass City with her brother Tuesday.


Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, February 11, 1965
Page Two
Mrs. Esther Kaiser Dies in Mt. Clemens
Mrs. Esther Kaiser of St. Clair Shores, widow of the late W.R. Kaiser, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, in a nursing home in Mount Clemens. Funeral services were held Friday p.m. in the Kaul Funeral Home, St. Clair Shores. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. William (Irene) QUIGLEY of St. Clair Shores, with whom she lived for several years, and Mrs. Stanely (Ruth) GLICKMAN of New Rochelle, N.Y.; two sons, Kenneth of Grand Rapids, Mich., and John of Pittsburg, Pa.

The Kaiser family were former residents of Cass City and the children attended school here. Mr. Kaiser served as custodian of the local schools for many years.

Mrs. Kaiser was the last member of the family of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Striffler, pioneer settlers of this area.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Spring 2007)

Esther married William Rudolph Kaiser on 3 Aug 1908. William (son of Heinrich Rudolph Kaiser and Christine Barbara Buerk) was born on 27 Sep 1874 in G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 11 Jun 1947 in Allen Park, Ecorse Township, Wayne County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

In the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Volume 9, September 2, 1946, in a column about vacations and travels, it was noted that Mr. and Mrs. David A. Striffler and daughter, Peggy, of Columbus, Georgia, spent two weeks in Michigan with Mr. and Mrs. W.R. KAISER of Detroit. In Volume 17 of the same periodical, it was reported he had completed his three year term on the Board of Control of the National Selected Morticians. He furnished a room at the National Foundation of Funeral Service at Evanston, Ill. for faculty, to be known as the D.A. Striffler room.

(Research):Census Listings:

1930 Census
Georgia, Muscogee County, Columbus
Enumerated April 7, 1930
ED 108-10 SD 10 Sheet 9A Stamped 189
2214 Hamilton Road
82-98
Striffler, David A Hd R 47.50 M W 46 M 37 Mich Mich Mich Funeral Director
Striffler, Ida M Wf F W 33 M 24 Ga Miss Ga
Thompson, John G Father M W 72 Wd Miss Ga Ga
Thompson, Susie W Sister-in-law F W 26 S Ga Miss Ga
Thomas, Gladys I Sister-in-law F W 32 M 24 Ga Miss Ga Stenographer Hosiery MIll
McClellan, Mary F Roomer F W 28 S Ga Ga Ga

David married Mary Ida Thompson on 11 Dec 1919 in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia. Mary was born on 13 Jul 1896 in Geneva, Talbot County, Georgia; died on 29 Sep 1975 in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]