Donelda Helena Gregor

Notes:

The October 3, 1924 issue of The Cass City Chronicle, page 4, column 4, noted in Local Items that "Mrs. Benjamin Schwegler and Mrs. Fred Jaus entertained a number of relatives and friends at the home of the latter Wednesday evening in honor of their niece, Miss Donelda Gregor of Puslinch, Ont., who was visting...the time was passed pleasantly in vocal and instrumental music and games after which refreshments, including a weenie roast, were served." In the August 26, 1927 issue of the same paper, also in Local Items, it was noted that "Miss Laura Jaus returned Wednesday evening from a ten-day visit with her Aunt at Puslinch, Canada. Her cousin, Miss Donelda Gregor, returned with her and will spend a few weeks with relatives here."

Art Peck shows that Donelda married James McDonald on 1 Feb 1936.

THE STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST-1961 reported that "The James McDonalds, Puslinch, Ontario, are building a new barn this summer to replace the one destroyed by fire on December 17. They lost twenty three cattle, three horses, and thirty one pigs, a shed, hen house, and farm machinery."

Volume 28 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, dated September 2, 1968, reported that Mr. and Mrs. Douglas? McDonald had sold their home at Burlington, Ont. and built a new one in London, Ont. She is the daughter of Laura Schwegler Gregory.

According to Art Peck, they had two sons, Douglas and Paul, and lived in Puslinch, Ontario. At the time of the publication of his book, both were deceased. Douglas married a Gladys Haugh, and had two children, Brent and Michelle. Paul married a Wendy, and had two children as well, Amy and Leslie.

Article about Paul McDonald, the son of Donelda, a member of the Puslinch Fiddle Orchestra.

http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=detail&itmno=13219

ABERFOYLE

Paul McDonald has fiddled around with the Puslinch Fiddle Orchestra ever since it got its initial start in 2005.

But in reality, fiddling has been part of McDonald's life since he was 10, says the 63-year-old, who was raised on a farm in Crieff.

"My mom and dad bought me my first fiddle when I was 10 years old from Sears," he recalled. "They brought it home and on Christmas, I opened it and it was a violin."

Fiddles and violins are the same instrument, according to McDonald. The difference is the type of music played. Fiddling relies on the lower notes, while violins are played on higher notes.

The music is distinctively different, where violinists play classical music and fiddlers go for homegrown music like jigs, reels and waltzes.

"It's old-time country Scottish fiddle tunes," he said of the type of music used by fiddlers.

"The only difference between a classical violinist and a fiddle player is about $60 an hour," he quipped.

The price of the instrument used by classical violinists and fiddlers differs substantially. McDonald paid $5,000 for one of his fiddles, while violins can go for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

His mother Donelda was a pianist at church functions and get togethers and it was her guidance and playing alongside her that slowly honed McDonald's fiddle skills.

"I had no lessons so I played on one string for about six months," he said. "I didn't know how to play all the strings."

His mother asked him to play the music scale and he quickly realized it could not be done playing one string. That prompted him to work hard at mastering the fiddle and its four strings. Eventually he took piano lessons.

"The piano helped me to read music," he added, something that has made his main love, the fiddle, easier to learn and play.

As a teenager he was part of a band, the Country Squires, that played dances. The band had McDonald on fiddle, a drummer, bass player, and guitar. The group played around the countryside until McDonald was in his early 20s. Due to family commitments, he stopped playing on a regular basis, but continued to play the fiddle at home and at family gatherings.

Eventually he would get back at it on a regular basis, forming the Puslinch Fiddle Orchestra.


"It was January of 2005 we started a group at Duff's Presbyterian Church just for something to do in the afternoon and we had five fiddlers and that was just local people," he said. "We set up a schedule and played every third Sunday."

He doesn't know how the word got out, but eventually the tiny group was getting inquiries from other fiddle players wanting to join them for jam sessions.

"It started growing and from there people started coming from Brantford, Stoney Creek, Guelph and the surrounding area," he added.

The church allowed them to practice for free with the understanding they would host an annual concert with proceeds to cover the rental cost.

In 2006 the orchestra and its 43 musicians, including 27 fiddlers, put on their first concert at Duff's - it was sold out.

The church, according to McDonald, can hold about 220 people and offered the orchestra good acoustics and a sound system. Proceeds from the concerts has gone back to the church to cover the orchestra's rental. Any additional money is used at the discretion of the church.

Since 2006, the concerts have been expanded to two and, at one point, three shows, with tickets going for $15. They have sold out every time.

"About seven years ago, Paul McDonald started up the Puslinch Fiddle Orchestra to play old time music, as it was played in the country here in earlier years," local historian Marjorie Clark told the Advertiser in an email.

"There are now approximately 28 fiddlers in the group as well as a pianist (Paul's wife Wendy) and a few guitarists. They hail from far and wide and they are good."

McDonald said the popularity of the orchestra has meant more inquiries about putting on concerts at other churches, something they do when they find time.

Other church concerts are done by donation. They have concerts planned for later this year at Millgrove United Church and Knox Presbyterian Church in Acton.

Most recently they've had an inquiry about participating in a festival out east, but McDonald doesn't think the orchestra will hire a bus and make the trek.

Concerts are usually held during the day because members don't like travelling after dark, he said.

What McDonald has to consider for events for the orchestra is the age of its members and the impact a hectic concert schedule might have. The majority of the musicians range in age from 60 to 90.

By coincidence, McDonald met one of the musicians when he was out on a job for the heating company he works for.

"I was fixing his furnace one day and he asked me 'What do you do'?" McDonald recalled. "I said I play fiddle and he said, 'Me to,' and he started coming out."

As the main organizer for the orchestra's concerts, McDonald usually sends out the written music and a CD of the tunes in December that will be used at the main Duff's concert later the following year.

That allows the musicians to fine-tune each song individually in preparation of practices and the final concert. The concerts also feature solo artists as well as a the full orchestra playing.

McDonald also repairs and makes fiddles using Canadian wood. It's essential the wood has tight growth rings to get the sound of the fiddle to exacting standards. The wood of choice is spruce for the top panels, and maple for the sides and back. The tuning pegs and fingerboard are made of ebony.

McDonald is proud to acknowledge the fiddles are made from all natural products, including the wood and horse hair bows. Even the glue used to put them together comes from an insect in India.

The instruments have no frets for the musician to follow, as is the case with guitars. He said musicians can buy a fret board to lay on the fingerboard, but that is frowned on.

"That's a no-no," he added.

The notes of the strings, from lowest string to highest string, are G,D,A,E, with the E the most difficult to tune, he said.

The strings are tuned a fifth apart, which means the number of tone intervals between one string and the next is five. In practice, this means playing a string together with its neighbour gives a nice sound, a chord in fact. A lot of fiddle players use this "perfect fifth" sound to tune the fiddle, but it takes practice and experience.

Most fiddles are tuned with the pegs and then the fine tuners are located on the bridge. Some fiddlers tune all strings to be fairly close using the pegs, however, McDonald prefers to use the fine tuners on the tailpiece to get tuning accurate.

It also allows him to tune his strings while playing. Some musicians tune the A, then the E, and then the G and the D. They will then re-do the A and E, as tensioning the G and D can change the tension of the other strings.

McDonald has even worked out a routine close to the end of a concert to inject some humour and to thank those who attended.

At one concert he built a fiddle that would explode. Prior to it coming apart, the audience thought it was an expensive fiddle. When they saw it explode they were shocked.

"The top flew off and the people thought it was a new Stradivarius," he said.

It was a routine he had fun with, although it can only be done at the first concert because the trick would be known to subsequent concertgoers.

Besides playing historical tunes, McDonald said musicians continue to come up with new tunes.

"There's a lot of fine people in Canada who write good, old-time fiddle music," he said, pointing out well-known Fergus fiddler Scott Woods.

This year the orchestra is planning its first Christmas concert at Duff's - tentatively scheduled for November.

"It's a wonderful group," he said of his fellow musicians. "It's enjoyable, the outcome is so rewarding."

Vol 45 Issue 32

August 10, 2012

Notes:

He appears to have been a boarder in Oliver Township, Huron County, Michigan at the time of the 1900 Federal census. He was listed as being born August, 1873, in Canada/English, with both his parents being born in Germany to German speaking families.

From "The News from Crieff November 6th 1923" newspaper: "Mrs. Louisa Schwegler, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Benkelman, and Mr. and Mrs. John Benkelman motored from Cass City, Michigan, and spent a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gregor and family."


The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROACAST-1964 reported that the family lived in Guelph, Ontario.

Charles married Laura Schwegler on 25 Dec 1901 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Laura (daughter of Andreas "Andrew" Schwegler and Louisa Benkelman) was born on 30 May 1878 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 24 Dec 1961 in Puslinch, Ontario, Canada; was buried in Crown Cemetery, Puslinch, Ontario, Canada. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 19, 1911
Page Four
Local Items

Mrs. Charles Gregor of Crieff, Ontario, is visiting her mother, Mrs. Louisa Schwegler, and other relatives and friends here.

In the same column it was noted that Louisa had undergone an operation at Pleasant Home hospital the prior week, and was improving quite rapidly.

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
Thursday, December 28, 1961
Page Four

Mrs. Gregor, 83, Dies in Ontario

Funeral services were to have been held Wednesday at 2 p.m. for Mrs. Laura Gregor, 83, of Puslinch, Ont. Mrs. Gregor died Sunday at her home in Puslinch.

The former Laura Schwegler, she was the wife of Charles Wesley Gregor. The Gregors would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary Christmas Day.

Those surviving, besides her husband, are a daughter, Mrs. James (Donelda) McDonald of Puslinch, two sons, Gordon of Hespeler, Ontario and Lincoln of Whitby, Ontario, and a sister, Mrs. Orton KLINKMAN of Decker. The late Ben Schwegler was her brother.

The services were at the Geo. Wall Funeral Home in Guelph and burial was in Crown Cemetery, Puslinch, Ontario.

Notes:

Married:
The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Volume 15, September 1, 1952, noted that "The Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Gregor was observed by their friends and family in their farm home near Puslinch, Ont., on Christmas Day.

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Cass City, Michigan
Friday, December 29, 1899
Page 1

A Good Man Gone

Mr. Andrew Schwegler, died at his home in the township on Christmas Day. His demise was the result of heart trouble which was greatly aggravated by a severe injury received about two years ago.

Mr. Schwegler was born in Germany January 9, 1849. In the year 18?? he imigrated to this country and located for a few years in Alton, New York, where his brother Jo?? resided. In 1874, Mr. Schwegler came to Cass City, and a few months later was united in marriage with Louisa BENKELMAN, who survives him. Besides his widow five children are left to mourn his loss. One child has preceded him to that better land beyond. Mr. Schwegler has been a resident of this township for the past twenty-five years and was one of the most industrious and succesful farmers in the county. The present homestead is the result of hard work and wise management.

Mr. Schwegler was a member of the Evangelical Church and held various positions of trust during his connections with the society. He was a man of genial nature, beloved in his home circle, and had left a host of friends to whom his sudden death has come as a severe blow. His death was a victorious one. He spoke of it in a matter of fact way for several days before he passed away. He retained his consciousness up to the last moment, and finally at 8 o'clock, on the day when God proclaimed peace and good will to all men, his spirit left the mortal body and went to that eternal rest where all hardships of life forever cease.


The transcription of his tombstone reads:

Schwegler, Andrew, b. 1849, d. 1900, father

Andreas married Louisa Benkelman on 12 Apr 1874 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Louisa (daughter of Johann Adam Benkelman and Anna Catharina Schaufele) was born on 9 Apr 1853 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 11 Sep 1924 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 13 Sep 1924 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [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

Johannes married Christina Steiner on 9 Jan 1831 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. Christina (daughter of Christian Steiner and Anna Widmann) was born on 25 Jan 1808 in B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany; died on 27 Jan 1871 in Breech, B?rtlingen Parish, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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:

As noted in the "Memoirs of John A. Benkelman" by Hilda Jane Stickley Benkelman, when Catherine and Adam first immigrated to the United States, they lived with her brother Johann Scheifle in Erie County New York. I was, however, unable to locate a Johann/John Scheifle on either the 1850 or 1860 census. I did find a Gottlieb Scheifly on both however.

Hilda Jane further wrote that "Catherine was a favorite in the community. She was jolly and fat, a very good cook of German style dishes, and a mother to everyone in the neighborhood. A good midwife, she was called in by the neighbors in case of sickness or for confinements as there were few doctors around at that time. She helped bring more than 100 babies into the world. "

Catherine made a home for her nephew, Leonard Buerhly, when he first came to Cass City. Leonard was the son of her sister Marie.

Cass City Chronicle
November 1, 1901
Local Mention, Page Eight

Grandma Benkelman has rented her property on East Houghton Street and has disposed of all her household goods and will henceforth make her home with Mrs. Lena Schwegler.

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, December 28, 1906

Died Suddenly

Mrs. Catherine Benkelman, aged eighty-three years, died suddenly at her home on East Main street Sunday evening, December 23. While eating with Mrs. M. M. Schwegler she suddenly became unconscious from which condition she did not recover. She has been troubled with heart disease for many years.

Catherine Scheifele was born August 23, 1823 in Boertlingen, Germany. In the year 1837 she was confirmed. She was united in marriage to Adam Benkelman in Germany in 1851 and they came to America the same year, living in Bowmansville, N.Y., until 1865. That year they came to Cass City, residing on a farm northeast of town. By hard work and frugal living Mr. and Mrs. Benkelman acquired a goodly portion of property and in 1884 they retired from active life and move to town to spend their remaining days. Mr. Benkelman died nine year ago on the 27?sup?th?/sup? of December and nearly ever since that time Mrs. Benkelman had resided with Mrs. M.M. Schwegler on east Main street, the ladies enjoying each other's companionship to the fullest extent. Mr. and Mrs. Benkelman were the parents of seven children, one daughter dying at the age of fifteen. The remaining children, five sons and one daughter, are: George A. of St. Francis, Kansas, William F. of Owosso, Benjamin F., Samuel G. and John A. Benkelman and Mrs. Louisa Schwegler of this place. She also leaves twenty-five grandchildren and one great grandchild.

All her children were present at the funeral services which took place Thursday forenoon at the Evangelical church of which the deceased was an honored and beloved member, and the burial was made in Elkland cemetery. The pallbearers were five sons and a grandson, W.J. Schwegler. The funeral service was largely attended.

Mrs. Benkelman was a lady of beautiful character, loving and kind in disposition and will be missed by many who found in her a good neighbor and friend.

Detail of Death Certificate: Tuscola County, Village of Cass City, CATHERINE BENKELMAN, Female, White, DOB 23 Aug 1823, 83 yrs, 4 mos, 0 days, Married at age 28 years, parent of 7 children, 6 living, Born Germany, Father Schifley, Germany, Mother Not Known, Occupation Housewife, Informant J.A. Benkelman, DOD 23 Dec 1906, Attending Physician W.W. Wickwars, Cass City, Dates December 1904 to Dec 23, 1906 last seen alive on Dec 23 at 6 pm, Burial Elkland Dec 27, 1906, Undertaker H Polk Cass City

A copy can be seen here:

http://seekingmichigan.org/

Indexed as Catheren Benkelman

(Research):

Census Records, her brother??

1850 US Census
New York Erie County Buffalo Ward 4 23 Aug 1850 ---
1808 Gottlieb Scheifly 25 M Shoemaker Germany
Maria Scheifly 24 F Germany
Georg Scheifly 2 M New York

1860 US Census
New York Erie County Bowmansville
725-725 Godlip Sheifley 35 M Shoemaker $500 Germany
Mary Sheifley 34 F Baden
George Shufley 12 M NY
John " 10 M NY
Godlip " 7 M NY
William " 5 M NY
Frederick " 2 M NY
Charles Fink 19 M Shoemaker Germany
Christina Shufly 17 F NY


Gottlieb would have been born ca. 1825. Kathy Bonnell's transcription of Baptismal records do not show a son named Gottlieb born at that time. Catherine did have a brother Johannes born ca. 1828. Could his middle name be Gottlieb? Could he be the child named Gottlob born ca 1830? The baptismal records, however, show that son died ca. 1843.

Notes:

Married:
Catharina and Adam were married in B?rtlingen.

On May 16, 2002, Ingolf Vogel noted that "The Kingdom of W?rttemberg was made up of four Kreises - the Neckarkreis, the Schwarzwaldkreis, the Jagstkreis and the Donaukreis. These Kreises were much larger than today's Kreises. Each of them was divided into so-called Ober?mter which are more similar in size to today's Kreises. The Oberamt for B?rtlingen was Kirchheim.. Incidently the Oberamt Kirchheim was the only Oberamt of the Donaukreis west of the Schw?bische Alb (a mountain range). B?rtlingen (today Kreis G?ppingen) has only 745 people listed in it's telephone directory, so it probably doesn't have more than 2000-3000 inhabitants.

Adam and Catharina were married in February, 1851, and in June, 1851 they were formally released from the Kingdom of W?rttemberg and would be free to emigrate.