William Akerman

Notes:

BonnieMargaret Jacob's indicates, on page 18 of her 1981 unpublished manuscript THE FAMILY BENKELMAN, that the origin of the name ACKERMANN was occupational, meaning "Farmer" in German.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, October 3, 1941
Page One

Funeral William J. Akerman Was Held Here On Sunday

Funeral services for William J. Akerman were held at the MacPhail & Keehn Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon at two-thirty o'clock and were conducted by the Rev. Stanley P. Kirn, pastor of the Evangelical Church. Interment was made in Elkland Cemetery.

Mr. Akerman passed away at Pleasant Home Hospital, where he had been a patient nine days, on Friday, Sept. 26. The cause of death was uremia.

William J. Akerman was born in Stuttgart, Wurttemberg, Germany, on May 6, 1858, and came to the United States at the age of 15 years. He first resided near Forestville in Sanilac County, and on October 27, 1884, he was united in marriage with Marie Wittwer. Mr. and Mrs. Akerman left their farm near Forestville and came to Cass City in 1905. Mrs. Akerman passed away August 17, 1929 (sic).

The deceased was employed as a painter and decorator in Cass City for many years until ill health compelled him to retire. He was a member of the Evangelical Church and served the congregation for many years as class leader and as a member of the board of trustees.

Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. H.F. Lenzner and Mrs. Joseph Benkelman, both of Cass City, and Mrs. Herbert Blodgett of Hartford City, Indiana; three granddaughters, Miss Andrene Blodgett of Marion, Indiana, Mrs. Gordon L. Thomas of Coral Gables, Florida, and Miss Shirley Anne Lenzner, of Wayne, and a step-sister, Mrs. William Miller, of Birmingham.

Friends and relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Blodgett and daughter, Andrene, of Hartford City, Indiana; Miss Shirley Anne Lenzner of Wayne; Mrs. William Miller, Mr. and Mrs. William A. DaLee and Mrs. Merton Weaver, all of Birmingham; Mr. and Mrs. John Wagester of Pigeon; Dr. and Mrs. E.A. Wittwer and daughter, Henrietta of Bay City; Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Wahl, Mr. and Mrs. William Wahl, Mr. and Mrs. Wilton Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Yeitter, Dr. and Mrs. G.F. Lenzner all of Bad Axe; Frank Yeitter of Flint; Mr. and Mrs. Ed Yeitter, Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, all of Harbor Beach; Mrs. H. Lee Pocklington of Algonac; Mrs. Otto Erdman and son of Forestville.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2008)

(Research):
Census Lisitings:

1900 Census
Michigan, Sanilac County, Delaware Township West Precinct
Enumerated 1 and 2 June 1900
SD 7 ED 119 Sheet 1B
10-10
Akerman, William Hd W M May 1857 43 M 15 Germany Germany Ge
rmany 1874 Na Farmer
Akerman, Mary Wf W F Dec 1861 39 M 15 3/3 Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland
Akerman, Mollie Dtr W F Sept 1885 14 S Mich Germany Switzerland
Akerman, Ester Dtr W F Feb 1889 12 2 Mich Germany Switzerland
Akerman, Mary Dtr W F July 1889 10 S Mich Germany Switzerland

1910 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Township, Cass City Village
Enumerated 21 Apr 1910
SD 8 ED 113 Sheet 4A Stamped 135
93-93
Akerman, William J Hd M W 51 m1 25 Germany/German x three 1895 Na Labourer Farm
Akerman, Maria S Wf F W 49 m1 25 3/3 Switzerland/German x three 1857
Akerman, Maria C Dtr F W 2? S Mich Germany/German Switzerland/German Teacher School
Akerman, Ester S Drt F W 20 S Mich Germany/Germany Switzerland/German

William married Marie Wittwer on 27 Oct 1884 in Sanilac County, Michigan. Marie was born on 12 Dec 1860 in Bern, Switzerland; died on 17 Aug 1928 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 20 Aug 1928 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Mollie M. Ackerman was born on 18 Sep 1885 in Minden City, Sanilac County, Michigan; died on 20 May 1965 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 23 May 1965 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
2. Esther Selma Ackerman was born on 12 Feb 1888 in Minden City, Sanilac County, Michigan; died on 9 Feb 1980 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan.
3. Marie M. Ackerman was born on 19 Jul 1889 in Minden City, Sanilac County, Michigan; died in Dec 1977 in Hartford City, Blackford County, Indiana.