Lydia Striffler

Lydia married Samuel G. Benkelman on 17 Oct 1882 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Samuel (son of Johann Adam Benkelman and Anna Catharina Schaufele) was born on 26 Aug 1857 in Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York; died on 22 Dec 1940 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 25 Dec 1940 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, July 21, 1911
Local Happenings
Page 4


Misses Bertha Benkelman of this place and Lottie Benkelman of St. Francis, Kansas, left Saturday morning on a trip to Detroit and Buffalo.


Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 24, 1929
Obituaries

Mrs. Bruce Williams

The remains of Mrs. Bruce Williams were brought from her home in Almena, Kansas to Cass City, arriving heer Sunday morning. Funeral services were conducted in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel G. Benkelman, on Third street, by Rev. Geo. Hill, pastor of the M.E. church on Monday afternoon. Interment was made in Elkland cemetery.

Bertha Benkelman was born in Cass City on August 1, 1883, and graduated from Cass City High School with the class of 1900. She was employed as a compositor in the plant of the Cass City Chronicle for several years and later entered the employ of the Herald at St. Francis, Kansas. On her return to Cass City from Kansas, she was employed as bookkeeper in the implement store of J. A. Caldwell.

On December 11, 1912, Miss Bertha Williams was united in marriage with Bruce Williams. While Mr.Williams was employed as a railway mail clerk on the Rock Island R.R. they made their home at Republic and Omaha, Nebraska. About seven years ago, they moved to Almena, Kansas, where they devoted their attention to the interests on their large farm there. Mrs. Williams had been ill about eight months previous to her death on Thursday, May 16. Death was due to cancer. Funeral services at Almena were held at the M.E. church Friday afternoon. Besides her parents she is survived by two brothers, Joseph and Ward Benkelman, both of Cass City.

Mrs. Williams was a member of the M.E. church at Almena and was affiliated with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. Her cheerful helpful life will linger long as a fragrant memory with the large number she won as friends.

(Research):
Census Information

At the time of the 1910 Michigan Census, she was living with Benjamin Benkelman, Sr, her Uncle, in Tuscola County.

1920 Census
Nebraska, Douglas County, Omaha, Ward 10
Enumerated 10 Jan 1920
SD 2, ED 113, Sheet 5A
620-87-105
Williams, Edwin B Hd M W 41 M Pa Pa Mo Mail Clerk Railway
Williams, Bertha C Wf F W 36 M Mich NY Mich

1930 Census
Edwin B. Williams, 51 and widowed, was shown as being born in Pennsylvania, with his father also being born in that state and his mother in Missouri. He was living alone, in Almena, Norton County, Kansas (ED 69-3, SD 1, Sheet 8A, stamped 15).

Bertha married Edwin Bruce Williams on 11 Dec 1912 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Edwin was born on 29 Jul 1878 in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania; died on 11 Jan 1963; was buried in Almena, Norton County, Kansas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]