George Albert Striffler

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:

Cass City Chronicle
Friday, Jun 8, 1923
Page One
Largest Class in H.S. History
The largest class ever to be graduated from the Cass City high school, 17 boys and 26 girls, will be presented with diplomas at the opera house next Thursday evening...the Class Day program included a class history, Irvine Striffler...class prophecy, Wilma Striffler...both were listed as member of the Class of '23

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, June 12, 1969

Irvine Striffler dies in Ohio

Funeral services were held Monday for Irvine Albert Striffler, 63, of Marysville, Ohio; a past resident of Cass City.

He died June 5 and his burial will be in Marysville.

He is a retired chemist and director of the control laboratory of Nestle Corporation.

His father was George Albert Striffler and his mother the former Cora Bell Benkelman, both deceased.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Janski, and a daughter, Mary Ann, at home.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Irvine married Mary Adelaide Jansky in Apr 1945. Mary (daughter of Cyril Jansky and Nellie M. Moreau) was born on 3 Apr 1913 in Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin; died on 18 Jun 1989 in Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio; was buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Marysville, Union County, Ohio. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]