Keith M. Knight

Notes:

Keith Knight married an Esther in 1941. They were the parents of Kenneth Nathan (born 1943), Linda (born 1948) and James Keith (born June 17, 1953, Sterling). He also had a son, Terry Lee, who died at the age of four months on March 22, 1956.

The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Volume 26, September 5, 1966, reported that Linda had graduated from Arenac Eastern High School.

Percy married Ethel Gallagher on 29 Nov 1912 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Ethel (daughter of John J. Gallagher and Louisa Krapf) was born on 15 Feb 1888 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 8 Jun 1976 in Sterling, Arenac County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Cass City Chronicle
Friday, December 6, 1912

On Thanksgiving Day, the wedding anniversary of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Gallagher, Miss Ethel Gallagher became the bride of Percy Knight of Twining.

From the Local Items Column, the same day:

Miss Lena Gallagher, a teacher in the Stanton Public Schools, arrived home last Wednesday to attend the wedding of her sister, Miss Ethel Gallagher.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan, Nov. 25, 1921
Page Five
Thanksgiving Guests

Mr. and Mrs. John Gallagher entertained at Thanksgiving dinner, Mr. and Mrs. G.E. KRAPF and family, Mr. and Mrs. D.C ELLIOTT and family and Mrs. M.M. SCHWEGLER and Miss Adeline GALLAGER of Highland Park.

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan
January 6, 1926

J.J. Gallagher was called to Shelburne, Ontario, on Monday by the death of a sister-in-law.

Cass City Chronicle
Vol. 35, Number 30
Friday, October 16, 1940

Prominent Elkland Farmer Passed Away Friday

John J. Gallagher Supervised Building of Several State Reward Roads Here

John J. Gallagher, who served Elkland Township as highway commissioner four years during which period many of the township's state reward roads were constructed under his supervision, passed away at the home of his son, Albert, on Friday morning, October 11. He had been confined to his bed for four weeks, his children being with him most of that time.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Henry G. Bushong in the Methodist Church here Sunday afternoon. Interment was made in Elkland Cemetery.

John J. Gallagher was born January 16, 1859, at Adjilo*, Ont. He was the next to oldest of 11 children, six of whom are still living. At the age of 20 years, he came from Canada, walking from Port Huron to Cass City. He worked for the late Gene Morse on the present Gallagher farm each summer for four years and went north to work in the lumber camps in the winters.

In 1885 he was united in marriage with Louise Krapf to which union seven children were born. One died in infancy and a daughter, Helena, died in 1913 at the age of 12. The first few years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher lived on a farm a mile west and three and a half miles north of Cass City at which time they were members and attended the Bethel Methodist Church. In 1893, they purchased from Mr. Morse the farm Mr. Gallagher first worked on arrivign at Cass City, located one mile west and 1 1/2 miles north of town. Mr. Gallagher lived there the remainder of his life with the exception of 10 years which were spent in the Cass City home on West Main Street. Mrs. Gallagher passed away March 21, 1925. Since that time he has lived during the year with his son and daughter-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Gallagher, on the farm and with his daughter Miss Adeline Gallagher, when she was home during the summer months.

Mr. Gallagher has been a member of the Methodist Church in Cass City ever since moving from the Bethel district and a regular attendant until recently when he when he was unable to be present because of ill health. He served as member of the board of trustees of the society.

Mr. Gallager became an American Citizen soon after entering the United States and has been loyal ever since.

Mr. Gallagher leaves two sons, Fred of Vancouver, B.C. and Albert of Cass City; three daughters, Mrs. P.H. Knight of Sterling and Mrs. Floyd Johnson and Miss Adeline Gallagher of Detroit; six grandchildren; four brothers, W.H. Gallagher of Vancouver, Herbert, Lorne and Thomas Gallagher, all of Shelburne, Ont.; and two sisters, Mrs. Jas Wallace of Cartwright, Sask., and Mrs. Wm. Perm of Vancouver, B.C.

Friends and relatives from a distance to attend the funeral services included Mr. and Mrs. Bert Standerline, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. James Sizer, Henry Hegler, Miss Gladys Cahoon, Miss Beatrice Farnum, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ray, son Bud, and daughter, Dora, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Whale and son, Dick, Miss Elsa Spier, Mrs. F.C. Whitney, Mrs. Beatrice Lamont, Mrs. C. Southerland, Miss Eula Quakenbush, Mrs. Mary Graves and Mr. and Mrs. Howell Reid and daughter, Anne, all of Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. Archie Knight of Sterling; Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon Peterson of Bad Axe; Herbert and Lorne Gallagher of Shelbourne, Ont., Mr. and Mrs. Harold Hall and Mrs. Geo. Hall, Imlay City; Mr. and Mrs. Percy Knight and two sons, Sterling; Miss Adeline Gallagher and Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Johnson and two daughters, Detroit.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

*Perhaps he was from Adjala-Tosorontio, in south central Ontario?

John married Louisa Krapf on 29 Nov 1883. Louisa (daughter of Johann Friedrich "Frederick" Krapf and Maria Dorothea "Dorothy" Benkelman) was born on 20 Jul 1865 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 21 Mar 1925 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)

Notes:

John Frederick Krapf was on the same ship to America as Dorothea Benkelman. He had been orphaned as a boy, and bound out to others until he came of age. Truman Krapf, his great-grandson of Hornersville, Missouri has a picture of John and Dorothea taken upon their arrival in America. They were married shortly thereafter. They first lived in Wisconsin, and later moved to a farm in Cass City.

Fred and Louisa were charter members of the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Cass City.

Art Peck shows that Fred Krapf remarried after Dorothea, to Christiana Weinhardt, and that they were the parents of Christian Frederick, Mary Caroline, Daisy Theresa, Mary Magdeline and Louisa Roceny KRAPF.

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."

(Research):
Census Information:

1860 Census
Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, Greenfield, Post Office Root Creek
Enumerated 18 Jun 1860
275-262
Frederick Krapf 32 M W Farmhand $300 $100 Wertenberg
Doretha Krapf 34 F W Wife Wertenberg
Maria Krapf 5 F W Wisc
Rosina Krapf 4 F W Wisc
William Krapf 2 M W Wisc

1870 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland, P.O. Elkland
Enumerated 22 July 1870
Page 8
63-63
Krapf, Gottlieb & Caroline
64-64
Krapf, Frederick 42 M W Farmer $1200 $300 Ger Wirtemberg
Krapf, Doretha 44 F W Keeping House Ger Wirtemberg
Krapf, Roseanna 14 F At Home Wisc
Krapf, William 11 M W At School Wisc
Krapf, John 9 M W Wisc
Krapf, Matilda 7 F W Mich
Krapf, Louisa 5 F W Mich
Krapf, Emanuel 2 M Mich

1880 Census
Household: Name Relation Marital Status Gender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace

Frederick KRAPF Self M Male W 51 WERTENBURG Farmer WERTENBURG WERTENBURG

Mary D. KRAPF Wife M Female W 53 WERTENBURG Keeping House WERTENBURG WERTENBURG

Rosa KRAPF Dau S Female W 24 WI Without Occupation WERTENBURG WERTENBURG

John KRAPF Son S Male W 19 WI Farmer WERTENBURG WERTENBURG

Emanuel KRAPF Son S Male W 12 MI At School WERTENBURG WERTENBURG

Adeline KRAPF Dau S Female W 9 MI At School WERTENBURG WERTENBURG

Source Information: Census Place Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Family History Library Film 1254607
NA Film Number T9-0607
Page Number 93A

1900 Census
Nebraska, Phelps County, Rookfalls Twp
Enumerated 22 and 23 Jun 1900 by John R. Gainsforth
SD 5 ED 150 Sheet 8B (Bottom) and Sheet 9A, Stamped 109A (Bottom)
149-149
Krapf, Frederick Hd W M W M Dec 1839 (sic) 60 M 11 Germany Germany Germany 1870 30 N Farmer
Krapf, Christina Wf W F Feb 1859 41 M 11 5/5 Germany Germany Germany 1899 21
Krapf, Fredrick C Son W M Nov 1889 10 S Michigan Germany Germany Farm Laborer
Krapf, Mary C Dtr W F July 1891 8 S Nebraska Germany Germany At School
Krapf, Daisy Dtr W F Apr 1893 7 S Nebraska Germany Germany At School
Krapf, Mary M Dtr W F Jun 1895 4 S Neb Germany Germany
Krapf, Rosina L Dtr F July 1899 11/12 S Nebraska Germany Germany

Johann married Maria Dorothea "Dorothy" Benkelman about 1853. Maria (daughter of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann and Maria Dorothea St?hle) was born on 13 Jul 1826 in Schneiderhof, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 5 Jan 1888 in 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)