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McLemoreStrong Genealogy Strong - McLemore History and Ancestry |
Report: individuals with associated notes
Description: personen met geassocieerde notities
Matches 1601 to 1700 of 25027 » Comma-delimited CSV file
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| # | Person ID | Last Name | First Name | Birth Date | Death Date | Living | note | Tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1601 | I11923 | Bengelmann | Adam | Between 1580 and 1600 | 0 | (Research): BonnieMargaret Jacobs, in her 1981 unpublished manuscript, noted that from 1601 through 1651 children born to both Jacob and Hans Benggelmann were recorded in the Catholic parish records now on deposit in Aalen (p. 33). She did not specify, however, how Jacob and Hans might be related to Adam. (Though it might be possible that Hans is Hans Jerg?) |
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| 1602 | I8353 | Bengelmann | Adam | Abt 1620 | Yes, date unknown | 0 | The Faschenfeld Church book shows he was a Miller of Scherrenm?hle, at Wailblingen, Faschenfeld parish. In 1656 he was at Berg bei Aalen. In 1670 at Leinroden, and in 1695 he came to Waiblingen. (Jacobs, pp. 50, 89). BonnieMargaret shows his father's name, in church records, as Adam Binggelmann. | STR06 |
| 1603 | I46 | Bengelmann | Hans Albrecht | Abt 1654 | Yes, date unknown | 0 | In April, 1980, Bonnie Jacobs wrote the following in a letter to Ben Benkelman: " I think I am reaching the end of the line on the Benkelman research and so I want to share it with you, Ben. I believe that the oldest ancestor I am going to be able to record is one Albrecht Benkelmann (actually spelled Binkelmann)..I am now researching the parish of Fachsenfeld. The conclusion that Albrecht would be the earliest ancestor BonnieMargaret would discover was premature, as in the Fall of 1980, while on a research trip to Germany, the Stuttgart based genealogist she had hired was able to help her find parish records for both Allbrect's father and grandfather, both of who bore the name Adam. Fachsenfeld parish records-- researched and transcribed by Bonnie aided by the professional German genealogists she had hired--Dr. Paul Edel of Aalen and Friedrich Wollmershauser of Stuttgart--show Hanns Albrecht Benggelmann as a "Bauerknecht von Waiblingen", a farm laborer from Waiblingen (on the outskirts of Aalen), at the time of his marriage. |
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| 1604 | I11925 | Bengelmann | Johann Georg "Hans Jerg" | 3 Mar 1624 | Yes, date unknown | 0 | Hans Jerg was shown in the Adelmannsfelden Parish records to have married a woman named Maria Magdalena on 13 Feb 1692 at Scherrenm?hle. BonnieMargaret Jacobs, on page 6 of her 1981 manuscript, stated that when she visited Germany, one of the places she toured was the Berg "hof" where Benkelmann still live. The family that is still there is descended from Hans Jerg Benkelmann, the brother of Adam of Berg/Waiblingen (and ancestor of the Michigan/Colorado/Kansas Benkelman families), and she suspects that this place of Berg is the true ancestral home of the Benkelman family. On page 33, she noted that Johann Georg (Hans Jerg) Benggelmann , the son of Adam Benggelmann of the Burghards M?hle was baptised anno 1624 in Fachsenfeld. She also stated that throughout the war, the churches were inactive in this area. But there was a displaced pastor from Neubronn who was also a refugee and who continued to administer the sacraments to the other refugees. It was he who recorded the 1624 baptism of Jerg and later entered it into the proper parish records at Fachsenfeld. After the Peace of Westphalia, when the princes became their own popes, W?rttemberg was declared Protestant and the parishes were re-established as reformed. The pastor from Neubronn carefully saw to it that his ministrations were recorded in the proper parishes and only because of him are we one of the few German families of this region who can find the thread back through the holocaust of the Thirty Years War. BonnieMargaret when on to note that Jerg arrived in Scherrenm?hle in Waiblingen, Fachsenfeld parish, in the year 1658 and he appears to have lived his life as a miller there, though several of his children migrated to Aalen. The descendant of his who now lives at the Berg hof is descended from one of Jerg's children who first migrated to Aalen. This repeated return of Benkelmanns to Berg gives weight to the possibility that Berg is the true ancestral home. |
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| 1605 | I11941 | Bengelmann | Maria Barbara | 18 Jan 1698 | Yes, date unknown | 0 | BonnieMargaret Jacobs indicates that Maria Barbara was "secretly married in Leinroden Castle." | STR06 |
| 1606 | I12155 | |||||||
| 1607 | I12155 | |||||||
| 1608 | I12158 | |||||||
| 1609 | I15312 | Benjamin | Lois Ruth | 6 Apr 1917 | 16 Jan 1988 | 0 | The daughter of William Anthony BENJAMIN and Claire Lillian CROTHERS. Lois was a Nurse and Pianist. | STR06 |
| 1610 | I37680 | |||||||
| 1611 | I4018 | |||||||
| 1612 | I851 | Benkelman | Alvin Carlton | 8 May 1895 | 9 Sep 1987 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Mich., April 11, 1919 Page Four Around Our Town Alvin Benkelman, son of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benkelman and a U. of M. student, is enjoying his vacation here at the home of his parents. His daughter, Anne Scott Benkelman Pritchard wrote, on Veteran's Day 2011, "My dad, Alvin Carlton Benkelman, was born in 1895 and served in WWI; he liked to say "where the bullets were the thickest" - loading munitions on ships in New Jersey. Cass City Chronicle Friday, August 27, 1954 Vol 49, Number 18 Page 1 Invention Lauded by Experts New Benkelman Beam Measures Deflection Alvin C. Benkelman, brother of Dorus Benkelman of Cass City, has been lauded by road engineers in the United States for developing an instrument called the "Benkelman Beam" for the measuring of elastic pavement deflections. Deflection of a pavement is the amount the pavement gives under road pressure. Although many devices have been invented to measure deflection, the "Benkelman Beam" is the first really simple device for the highway work, according to engineer Benkelman. In the past, the best method was an electronic method which required a great deal of expensive equipment and a considerable amount of time and effort for each installation. Only a limited number of installations were possible in any one area. Another disadvantage of this method was that the road surface had to be disturbed to install the equipment. While on duty as a consultant engineer with the Bureau of Public Roads on the WASHO test road in Idaho in 1953, Mr. Benkelman developed the deflection measuring device which bears his name. Because of the speed with which Mr. Benkelman's device is operated, the WASHO test personnel was able to make approximately 40,00ft individual deflection readings. An example of the increased speed of the "Benkelman Beam" is reported by the California Highway Department. They used the beam to study pavement which had received severe "longitudinal and transverse" cracking. The beam was used to determine its operational characteristics and to supply experience on the best methods of using it. The results were outstanding. A complete survey of the road was completed in one day, excluding traveling time. Over 40 different sections were tested along the road. The California road commission estimates that the same work done by the electronic method would have taken 10 days. Mr. Benkelman and his wife and daughter, Ann Scott, are visiting Mr. and Mrs. Dorus Benkelman. They stopped in Cass City on their way home to Alexandria, Val, from Idaho. The STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, Vol 22 dated September 7, 1959, reported that Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Benkelman of Ottowa, Illinois and daughter Ann Scott attended the Blaufuss family reunion in Davenport, Iowa. Volume 27 of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, published September 4, 1967 reported that Alvin, a 1917 engineering graduate of the University of Michigan, was honored with the University's Sesquicentennial Award at the annual Asphalt Institute meeting at the University on August 9, 1967. Memorial Service for A. C. Benkelman Sep. 13, 1987 There was a man, born in 1774, who journeyed westward planting or selling seedlings from Pennsylvania to Ohio and beyond. He was a natural man, cheerful, generous in nature, and had an affinity for the wilderness. He supplied frontiersman with apple orchard stock throughout the Midwest. His name, John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed. There was another man who retired in the Elk Creek community in 1967 with a strange sounding name. He was born in Michigan in 1895, and was a graduate of the University of Michigan with a degree in Chemical Engineering. From 1919 to 1928 he worked for the Illinois Highway Department where he was soil engineer on the Bates Road Test. From 1928 to 1934 he worked for the Michigan Highway Department as research engineer on soils, fast actions, and pavement. From 1934 to 1954 he worked for the U. S. Bureau of Public Roads in charge of structural design of flexible pavement. In 1956 he was on the staff of Highway Research Board. He is well known throughout the highway construction trade for his invention of a economical portable device to measure deflections of pavement under heavy loads which to this day carries his name. His name, Alvin C. Benkelman, better known as "Benk". The device that he invented is called the Benkelman Beam. I compare Benk with Johnny Appleseed because they both left their mark. Benk, too, was outgoing, was young at heart, loved people and the out-of-doors. He established a flourishing pine tree farm, and was a member of the American Tree Farmers Association. He couldn't do enough for others. Most think that Benk was lured to the area by his wife, Olive, a native of Elk Creek, but there must have been a yearning or spark that had been smoldering since the days of his youth when, as a young man in a glee club, he learned "In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia", which became one of his favorite pieces. His first trip to this area was at the time of the First World War when he accompanied the body of a dead soldier to Galax, Virginia. He liked it then and vowed to return. Benk had two children, a son and daughter. It is rare when a son gets to choose his step-mother, but Alvin Jr., whose mother had died, introduced his vivacious teacher, Miss Scott, to his widowed father. Matrimony ensued and it was a joyous occasion when "Scotty" was born. Benk and Olive had been making plans for their retirement for many years. They had already negotiated the purchase of the property that is referred to as "The Falls" which at the time was a dump. Where others may have seen trash, Benk saw jewels. One of his first projects was to clean up that unsightly piece of property, build a cabin, and landscape the grounds to show off the falls. It was since become a show place and a haven for many a guest. He attacked the homeplace, "Flag Pond" with the same vigor and vitality, restoring an already existing house and out buildings, into their permanent dwelling. I remember my first visit to their home and how cordial they were and willing to show off their home. Benk was especially proud of the spring that had been walled up and flowed through the end of their entrance way. I was impressed by how low the ceilings seemed, but for someone five feet two, they were high enough. Because I was taller was my fault, not his. The lawns were always neatly mowed and trimmed, Benk doing the work or supervising. One of the log houses in the rear was converted into a wood working showroom which became his hobby. It was not unusual to find him working in his shop in the dead of winter by the warmth of a wood stove. Because of his love of trees, it was only natural that he developed his hobby for working with wood. Every kind of wood was a new challenge. Some he liked better than others, but I've never seen anyone able to make a piece of wood shine without any finish as Benk could. There is hardly a kitchen in the community that doesn't have the little recipe holder that he fashioned with a clothes pin. He made letter holders, lamps, music boxes, jewelry boxes, key boards, cribbage boards cut out in the shape of a state, boot jacks, and even a grandfather clock, to list but a few, and do you know, he gave these away freely to his friends, often accompanied by an original verse by his wife. You could never come away from his house empty handed. If it wasn't something that he had made, it was something that he had grown out of his bountiful garden. He flourished on generosity. ( The above are excerpts from Dr. Palmer Fant's memorial address, courtesy of Alvin C. Benkelman, Jr.) His obituary was published in the October 7, 1987 Cass City Chronicle. Alvin Benkelman Funeral services were held last month for former Cass City resident, Alvin C. Benkelman, who died Sept. 9 in Elk Creek, VA. Born May 8, 1895 in Cass City, Benkelman was a well known civil engineer in the design of flexible pavement. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1919 with a B.S. Degree in Chemical Engineering and began his professional careert as a pavement and soils engineer with the Illinois Division of Highways, serving on the Bates Road Test. He then became associated with the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads and did research at Purdue University and on the Virginia Demonstration Road in 1926-28. Benkelman continued to work in research and design of flexible pavement with the Michigan State Highway Department in 1928. Returning to the bureau in 1934, Benkelman was in charge of research for the Hybla Valley Test Track and on the WASHO Road Test in Idaho. His work as Research Engineer on the AASHO Road Test in Illinois brought him in contact with engineers from all over the world who gathered to learn of road construction and durability. Benkelman is well known for his invention of the "Benkelman Beam: which is widely used in highway construction to measure pavement deflections. After retirement from the Bureau of Public Roads, he traveled extensively as a consultant for the Asphalt Institute. Benkelman was awarded the Highway Research Board's Roy W. Crum Distinguished Service award in recognition of his work in the field of highway research. In 1967 he retired to the Elk Creek Valley where he became a member of the American Tree Farmer's Association. For the past 20 years, he has enjoyed living in the Blue Ridge Mountains with his wife, Olive S. BENKELMAN; one son, A.C. Benkelman, Jr. of Warrenton, VA; one daughter, Mrs. Ann Scott (Benkelman) PRICHARD Jr. of Sacramento, Ca.; one sister, Marie BROWN of Saginaw; 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong) |
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| 1613 | I851 | Benkelman | Alvin Carlton | 8 May 1895 | 9 Sep 1987 | 0 | (Research):He was one the family members BonnieMargaret Jacobs personally interviewed when preparing her history of the Benkelman family. | STR06 |
| 1614 | I865 | Benkelman | Alvin Carlton | 1 Jul 1929 | 21 Aug 2012 | 0 | The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, noted that Alvin C. Benkelman, Jr graduated from Alexandria High School and joined the U.S. Army, serving with the Medical Corp in Korea. As of Volume 11, it was noted that he was discharged from the Army of Occupation, Korea, and was to enter the University of Virginia in the fall. The following was written by Al in August 2000, a self titled memoir of his misspent youth FRANK AND BENK A hundred years ago when we were both young and full of it, we were double dating with a neighbor's two girls ( for the first time). We wanted to impress them so we took them to a Hungarian restaurant/night club in Washington, D.C., and did it up right - steaks, sparkling burgandy - the whole nine yards. Due to a slight misunderstanding, Frank thought I had money, and I thought he had it. We had to borrow money from our dates to pay the bill. And you know those ungrateful girls would not go out with us again. They didn't know the chance they missed. Now for the raccoon story. We were camping in the Adirondacks with Frank and our children and dog several years ago. Our camp site was in a rocky hill area that was over run with raccoons. In those days, we knew how to camp - two tents and a screen enclosure/mess tent and dining area. The site was a little cramped for all these tents so Frank elected to sleep in the mess tent. Oh, yes, we had had champagne with our evening meal. We sat around the campfire after the children were down for the night, with Frank smoking and us reminiscing, ringed by eyes of 'coons glowing in the dark. Occasionally a brave one would come close to beg for food. At about l0:00 p.m. we secured the food in cars or tied them up high bedded down for the night. I awoke about l:00 a.m. to a great clatter of pans. From the position of our tent, I could shine a light down in the mess tent and was treated to the sight of Frank in his shorts with the champagne bottle raised on high chasing a very large 'coon around the picnic table. After I stopped laughing, I went down and unzipped the door of the mess tent, and the 'coon ran out. Frank has never seen the humor in this incident. His comment you never looked up at a large raccoon looking down at you. Of all the rivers Frank and I have canoed, I think Frank will agree that the Cacapon in West Virginia was our favorite. We went down it several times with a dozen stories for each trip; those were the days. There was the time we came up to the community of Capon Bridge and learned that the little stream behind the store had just been stocked with trout. I was fishing with great success (Frank's not a fisherman). I would catch them, take them to Frank who was cleaning them, and putting them in the cooler. I had lost track of the number I had caught, and asked Frank how many there were, and was told nine. The limit was six. We packed up and shoved off! We grilled them for supper, eating eight between us. I think Frank will agree that was the best trout we ever ate. There is a waterfalls on the bank of the Cacapon feeding into the main stream about l0 feet across called the Bridal Veil Falls, a large rock covered with moss, and the water streaming off of it in a hundred little rivulets - a magnificent sight in its own right. We landed and climbed a porous limestone bank rising 50 feet up from the river to fill our canteens in one of the many springs that fed the falls. In one of these pools surrounded by bright green moss a Scarlet Tanager was taking a bath. This was one of the most brilliant sights either of us had ever seen in nature. We filled our canteens with cold clear water [not the bird bath] and returned, inspired, to the canoe and continued our trip. One more and I will quit. Then there was the time we ran out of beer. A common occurrence on a 3 or 4 -day trip because of weight constraints. At evening camp Frank was building a fire place and I was fishing from the bank. Now we were miles from anywhere. I snagged my favorite lure out in the river and waded out to retrieve it. you guessed it, it was snagged on a unopened 6-pack of beer. It may have been a little flat but we thanked our good fortune and drank with gusto. Frank and I have put a lot of water under our keel in more ways than one. We have argued, rejoiced and enjoyed one another's company. In short, best friends. BENK |
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| 1615 | I12659 | Benkelman | Anna Catharina | 6 Aug 1843 | 12 Sep 1917 | 0 | BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that Catharina was born when her father was only 20, and before he had met all the requirements to be able to marry. She was raised in her mothers hometown of Bartenbach, and the three of them were not able to live together as a family until she was seven years old. After her parents were finally allowed to marry, in 1850, they were able to move to the Schneiderhof to live at last with Friedrich. Cass City Chronicle July 17, 1908 Local Items, Page 4 While returning from a berry patch southeast of town Monday, the horse driven by Mrs. Fred Buerk and her granddaughter, Miss Mary Buehrley, became frightened at the big umbrella ont eh mail wagon and Mrs. Buerk was thrown from the buggy. Her head was caught between the wheel and the buggy box and she was extricated from her perilous posistion with difficulty. Mrs. Buerk's face was badly bruised but her injuries are not considered servious. Miss Buerhly escaped uninjured and showed great pluck during the excitement. Cass City Chronicle September 6, 1912 Local Items, Page 5 While driving to Cass City Saturday afternoon the horse of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Buerk became frightened and ran into the ditch. Mr. Buerk was thrown from the buggy and dragged some distance in the water. Fortunately neither Mr. or Mrs. Buerk sustained any serious injuries and aside from a few broken eggs no damage was done. Cass City Chronicle September 14, 1917 Mrs. Catherine Buerk Elkland Twp. Pioneer Passed Away Wednesday, Sept. 12 Mrs. Catherine Buerk, a resident of Elkland Township since 1873, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Leonard Buehrly, Wednesday, Sept. 12, following an illness of Bright's disease of three months' duration. Catherine BENKELMAN was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, August 6, 1843, and was united in marriage with Fred Buerk in 1867. They left Germany for America in 1873 and came directly to Cass City. They purchased a tract of land in Elkland township which they cleared while enduring the hardships of pioneer life and where they spent many happy, contented years. Mr. Buerk passed away on March 27, 1915. Funeral services will be held at the Evangelical church of which Mrs. Buerk was a faithful member, at ten o'clock Saturday morning. Mrs. Buerk leaves one daughter, Mrs. Leonard BUEHRLEY and three sisters, Mrs. Jacob JOOS, Mrs. Christina JAUS and Mrs. John CROCKER, all of Cass City, besides six grandchildren and three great grandchildren. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, 2007 and 2008) |
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| 1616 | I11983 | Benkelman | Anna Maria "Mary" | 22 May 1839 | 4 May 1913 | 0 | German Parish records show "ist 1853 ausgewandert" (left for America) in 1853. On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Anna Maria, g. d. 22t. Mai 1839 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof. Three of her sisters were on this list as well. 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] ). Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Mich., Friday, May 9, 1913 Vol. 8, No. 3 Elkland Twp. Loses Pioneer Settler Mrs. John Striffler passed away Sunday Evening Has Been a Resident of This Township for 54 years; was 73 Years of Age Following an illness of several months duration, Mrs. John Striffler, one of the pioneer settlers of Elkland Township, died at her home on Pine Street Sunday evening at the age of 73 years. Mary Benkelman was born in Brech, Wuertemberg, Germany*, on May 22, 1839, and came to this country in 1852, landing at Baltimore. She with some of her brothers and sisters settled in Lancaster, N.Y., and here on Nov. 14, 1858, she was united in marriage with John Striffler. This union was blessed with seven children, six of whom survive. [BonnieMargaret Jacob's writes that Breech was just down and across the road from the Schneiderhof, both near B?rtlingen] It was 54 years ago this month, when they, in the prime of life, came to Michigan, locating on the land now known as Striffler homestead, two miles east and north of Cass City. They belonged to that distinguished number of early settlers who opened up this section of Tuscola county and laid the foundation for future prosperity for those who came into these parts later on and here was established a home where the generous impluses and the hospitable ways of the pioneer held sway. When the life on the farm grew to sternouse (sic) for their advanced years, Mr. and Mrs. Striffler moved to Cass City to spend their remaining years. Mrs. Striffler became a Christian in early life and ever since the establishment of the Evangelical society in this section, has been a regular attendant of that church. Her life was of such a self-sacrificing nature that she became a blessing to all who came to know her and in return God gave her a peaceful life full of hope and joy. Her last sickness was born with patience. She will be missed by the many friends and especially in the home by the husband and daughter. The funeral services were held at the Evangelical church on Thursday morning. Rev. D.J. Feather, the pastor, officiated, assisted by Revs. J.M. Bittner and J. Schmaus, and the remains were carried to their last resting place in Elkland cemetery by the following nephews of the deceased, who served as pall bearers: B.F. and J.A. BENKELMAN, G. E. and John KRAPF, Solomon and Samuel STRIFFLER. Besides the husband, six children, Mrs. Archie MARKS, G. A. STRIFFLER, Mrs. Salome BIEN, Miss Martha STRIFFLER, Mrs. W.R. KAISER and David STRIFFLER, one sister, Mrs. M.M. SCHWEGLER of this city, two brothers, Leonard BENKELMAN of Manitowoc, Wis. and John BENKELMAN of Portage, Wis., 11 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren survive. Cass City Chronicle Friday, May 16, 1913 Local Items, Page 4 Mrs. Mary BURK, Mrs. Sarah HOYT and daughter, Miss Iva, of Caro attended the funeral of Mrs. John STRIFFLER Thursday (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007) A copy of her actual Michigan Death certificate can be viewed online: http://seekingmichigan.org/ Indexed as Marry Striffler Her date of birth on this certificate was instead shown as 22 May 1839, and her parents were listed as Lenard Benkelman and Dora Slatey[St?hle]. The informant was W?/D? A Striffler of Cass City. |
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| 1617 | I11983 | Benkelman | Anna Maria "Mary" | 22 May 1839 | 4 May 1913 | 0 | (Medical):See attached sources. | STR06 |
| 1618 | I4180 | Benkelman | Bay Morrison | 14 Feb 1951 | 3 Jul 2003 | 0 | Volume 14 of the STIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, dated September 3, 1951, shows the birth of a "Ray Charles Benkelman" to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Benkelman in Colorado. Obituary Daily Times BENKELMAN, Bay Morrison; 52; Denver CO>Anchorage AK; Anchorage D-N; 2003-7-6; dlp |
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| 1619 | I31 | Benkelman | Benjamin Franklin | 24 Sep 1863 | 7 Sep 1952 | 0 | Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs writes that "Ben Benkelman accompanied his parents to Denver in 1880, where his oldest brother George Adam Benkelman married Mary Barbara Rommel. Ben did not return to Cass City with his parents, choosing to instead try his hand at the ranching business. He went to work for his uncle and brother as a cowboy. The Benkelman ranching operations were on the border between Nebraska and Kansas, near the Colorado state line. The Benkelmans shipped many cattle out of Collinsville, Nebraska. On one drive to ship cattle in 1882, they were honored with the removal of the Collinsville sign and the installation of the Benkelman sign. It is still known as Benkelman, Nebraska today. Benkelman Township, in Cheyenne County, Kansas is also named for the family. Cheyenne County was surveyed in 1873-1874 following the signing of an Act by Governor Osborne creating a number on new counties. It was opened for enrollment in 1885. The census at March 1, 1885 gave the population at Cheyenne County at 204, with at least 15 of this number associated with the Benkelman Ranch. A year later, the population was 1256. The Benkelman men were industrious and hard working. They were well respected in the community. The biggest challenge they faced were the extremes in weather. In September, 1885, the T Wrench Ranch has 15,000 head of cattle. The winter of 1886 was a complete diaster for the Benkelmans. Only 125 head of the 15,000 survived. But the family continued to stay on their feet. In 1893-1894, there were 18 months of absolutely no moisture. Feed was scare and had to be shipped in. All the inhabitants of Cheyenne County were in trouble, and people moved out of it in droves. After this, the ranch was turned over to Ben Benkelman. The rest of the family removed themselves from the ranching business." Below are excerpts from letters written by Ben, while he was working as a ranch hand, to a cousin in Cass City, Michigan. The original letters are owned by the family of Ben's grandson, Bob Benkelman, and the transcriptions below were done by Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs. 8-xx-1880 Republican River, Wallace, Kansas. Branded 3600 head of cattle and will start tomorrow to brand 2500 more for Tony. 11-5-1880 George went to Denver about three weeks ago for the winter. I'm in the line camp, and it's living like a mole in the ground. Wakened this morning with snow on my bed. Write to me at the new post office in Wano. 3-17-1881 Haven't seen a girl in four months. There was a dance about 50 miles from here and about 20 of us cowboys went. 9-22-1881 Wano. Plenty of work here now. Just got back from shipping beef and then go again the first of October. 1-xx-1882 Wano. Buffalo is getting scarce, but there's still lots of antelope. You come in the fall when we ship beef and then you could go to Chicago with the cattle. More railroads coming through here now. About 30 miles from here is the station called Benkelman. It is the B&M railroad and will go straight from Denver to Chicago. 6-6-1883 Benkelman. Had a dance at Atwood, Kansas just before I cam here from the ranch. Some girls live 25 miles down river. The mail is 22 miles away, so I go see the girls then pick up the mail on my way back. 1-5-1884 Went to school one day and teacher said I could come back, but I'm too busy. 2-3-1884 We're going to a dance on the 22nd, and there will be some girls there. Don't worry because we're not as bad as the Idaho boys. 3-xx-1884 Soon I have to gather 100 head of cattle which are on the range all winter. 4-25-1884 There's a dance tonight--the last before we start work. Going South to the Arkansas River this summer for 2 or 3 months. George was here from Denver a few days ago. The cook is setting dinner. 8-xx-1884 Back from the Arkansas. Have been stopping along the trail where Texas cattle are coming up. I was there to keep them from our range. Aunty is down from Denver, and doing so much talking I can't write. I bought 50 head of yearlings for $15.25 each. 10--18-1884 Steers worth $30 to $40 a head. There's antelope here and plenty of turkeys but buffalo are scarce. Wages are just fair, $25 to $50 a month. We've got all beef steers shipped now. 12-xx-1884 Staying alone now with no work except taking care of a few horses and cooking. It's boring here, but I make up for it when I go for the mail--12 miles from here. 7-8-1884 Building a sod stable 84 x 15. Will have 5,000 head of cattle to brand, and it will take 5 days. On the 4th, I went to Wano and it was no fun so I went on down river 3 miles, but missed the young folks. It was 4 0'clock and I didn't want to miss the fun on the holiday so started for the city of Benkelman which is 20 more miles. Had a big dance, but had to ride 30 miles home the next day. Went to Denver 3 weeks ago. Got there about 8 p.m. and we spent the evening principally on Holiday Street. Guess what they do on Holiday street! [Dick Fischbach informed me that: " Holladay Street (note correct spelling) was the site of early Denver's notorious red light district, replete with crooked gambling dens, cheap saloons, dance halls, cribs and expensive brothels. Anything cowpunchers wanted was available on Holladay Street.] 1-xx-1885 All alone this winter, but only have to cook, eat and sleep. I'm burning coal so there is no wood to chop. I have 2 horses to ride. It's 12 miles to the nearest girl. 4-27-1885 Benkelman. Atwood, Kansas is about 60 miles from here. The area is settling up fast now. Farmers coming every day and taking up land. The cattle will have to leave. The range is getting too small for those large herds. I take care of 120 head of horses. I duck hunt because there's lots of ducks now. 11-25-1885 Wano. Got back yesterday from Sturgis and had a good time there. So many girls! (Note: Ben married Minnie Jesse of Sturgis on the JC Ranch in 1892). 1-7-1886 Snow is a foot deep on the level. I'm cooking for the boys now. It's o.k. until warm weather. Wish I'd stayed in school. 2-9-1886 Two of the boys have started for the Arkansas River to look of cattle that have gone down there. 200 head of horses to feed here every day--about 2 tons a day. That's exercise, and gives me appetite, so I'm at 175 lbs now. 4-18-1886 Went down to Benkelman last week for 2 days and had a good time. We're moving cattle up west to Colorado. Kansas is getting too thick for cattle now. Some nice, fat gals moving in now. 1-7-1887 Wallace. Traveling and staying near Wallace. Riding around town to town watching the farmers to keep them from killing our cattle. I'm working for $40 a month and all expenses. 7-7-1887 We're out on the range with 15-20 men in camp every night. We have a good time singing and playing. Address your next letter to Wallace, Kansas. 9-12-1888 We're shipping cattle to Chicago. Soon we'll be done then head back to the ranch for the winter. Send your next letter to St. Francis. 11-xx-1888 Cousin George took the cattle to Chicago this year. 1-xx-1889 I'm living alone this winter. Burning coal. There's no wood to chop. Went to Wano to help decorate the Christmas tree. 3-xx-1889 Had a job offer of $35 per month. George and I are making a ditch to water our crops. Intend to keep some cattle and horses. Not as good a county for farming as Cass City. Butter is 8 cents, eggs 6 cents a dozen, potatoes $1.00. No girls! They all know me to well! 3-5-1889 I'm tired of cowpunching. We had a fun election for county seat. St. Francis won by a 290 majority. 7-xx-1889 We put up 30 tons of ice. Ice cream every Sunday! Cut 45 acres of alfalfa. I'm thinking of going further west. It's getting too crowded here. 12-xx-1890 Jacqua. I harvested potatoes and got $1.75 a bushel. Corn is 60 cents a bushel. I have 140 head of hogs and 130 head of cattle. Around 1901, Ben relocated back to Cass City, Michigan, where he owned and operated a general store. In was also reported, in the February 18, 1913 issue of the Cass City Chronicle, that he and P.H. Muck had completed arrangements for the purchase of the stock of general merchandise and the leasing of a store building at Colwood from C.D. Andrews. Ben closed his store in Cass City in January, 1924. Ben and Minnie summered in Florida, traveling there each year by train. They also built a cottage in Caseville on the lake. He was active in the affairs of the community of Cass City, with numerous mentions of his activities in the "Local Happenings" column of the Cass City paper. A few of these are shown below: Cass City Chronicle December 4, 1908 Notice to Taxpayers I will be at B. F. Benkelman's store Cass City, to collect the taxes of Elkland township on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. J. A. BENKELMAN, Treas. Cass City Chronicle January 19, 1917 B.F. Benkelman was re-elected as secretary to the Cass City Telephone Company. Cass City Chronicle Local Happenings January 26, 1917 B.F. Benkelman, Edward Pinney and M.B. Auten are among the visitors at the auto show at Detroit. Art Peck wrote, in error, that Ben was a Studebaker dealer until 1928 and that he also he worked for E.B. Schwaderer. It was actually Ben's eldest son, Harold, who was the Studebaker dealer and Schwaderer employee. Cass City Chronicle December 24, 1920 All the members of the B.F. Benkelman family will be home for Christmas. Miss Mae, a teacher at Sebewaing came Wednesday; Benj. a student at Ypsilanti, came Thursday; Miss Ruth a teacher at Berwyn, Ill., Friday; and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Benkelman of Sandusky Friday. Ben Benkelman Senior's obituary appeared in the CASS CITY CHRONICLE on Friday, September 15, 1962: Final Rites Held for B.F. Benkelman, Sr. Benjamin F. Benkelman, Sr. 88, last of the family of Adam and Christine (sic) Benkelman, died Sunday in his home following a long period of failing health, just shortly before his 89th birthday. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Douglas Funeral Home. Rev. S.R. Wurtz of Salem Evangelical U.B. Church officiated and burial was in Elkland Cemetery. Mr. Benkelman was born Sept. 24, 1863, in Bowmansville, N.Y. and came to Michigan at the age of four years with his parents. He was a rancher in Kansas from 1880 to 1901 and operated a general store her from 1901 to 1924. He retired from business after selling his store. Among his hobbies were traveling with his wife and fishing. He was a director of the Cass City State Bank for 30 years. At St. Francis, Kansas, on Dec. 26, 1892, he married Miss Minnie JESSE of Sturgis, Mich., who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. E.T. BALL (Ruth) of Pottersville, New Jersey; Mrs. W.J. CARPENTER (Mae) of Farwell, and Mrs. James PEASE (Lois) of La Grange, Ill.; two sons, Harold and Ben, of Cass City; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. |
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| 1620 | I31 | Benkelman | Benjamin Franklin | 24 Sep 1863 | 7 Sep 1952 | 0 | (Research): Census ListingsL 1900 Census Cheyenne County, Kansas Jacqua Township #112-#112 Benkelman, Ben Head W M Sep 1868 M 7 yr Born NY, parents born Germany, R&W, Speaks English, Owns Farm, no mortgage Benkelman, Minnie Wife W F Sept 1875 4 Children all living born MI parents Germany, R&W, Speaks English Benkelman, Ruth D W F July 1894 Kansas Benkelman, May D W F May 1896 Kansas Benkelman, Harold S W M Nov 1897 Kansas Benkelman, Bengman (sic) S W M Nov 1899 Kansas 1910 Census, Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp, ED 113, Cass City Village Enumerated 13 Apr 1910 SD 8, ED 113, Sheet No 5 B 139-139 Benkelman, Benjamin Hd M W 46 M1 17 NY Germany Germany Retail Merchant Groceries Benkelman, Mary (sic) Wife F W 44 M1 17 5/5 Kansas Germany Germany Benkelman, Ruth Dtr F W 15 Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Mary Dtr F W 13 Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Harold SOn M W 12 Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Benjamin F Son M W 10 S Kansas NY Kansas Benkelman, Lois J Dtr F W 5 Mich NY Kansas Benkelman, Birtha Niece F W 22 Mich NY Mich Bookkeeper Implement Store |
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| 1621 | I31 | Benkelman | Benjamin Franklin | 24 Sep 1863 | 7 Sep 1952 | 0 | (Medical):Kidney failure, Senility | STR06 |
| 1622 | I17 | Benkelman | Benjamin Franklin | 17 Nov 1899 | 8 Mar 1998 | 0 | Benjamin Franklin Benkelman, Jr. was born in 1899 in a sod hut on the JC Ranch in Jacqua, Kansas. His father, Ben, Sr., had moved to Kansas from Michigan to work for his Uncle at the ranch, and had spent nearly 20 years working as a cowboy. Ben and his three older brothers and sisters were all born on the ranch. In 1901, the family relocated back to Cass City, Michigan, where they purchased a general merchandise store. Ben remembers working at the store as soon as he was old enough to see over the counter. They sold dry goods, groceries, shoes, and crockeries. Ben recalled that the customers just pointed out what they wanted, and it was the clerks job to go gather everything. "We really worked in those days" he said. He remembers making deliveries in a red coaster wagon or by horse and buggy. The horse was named Topsy. Ben said he was the only one of the children who helped his parent's in their store. His other brothers and sisters didn't want to have anything to do with it. In High School Ben was a star athlete. He was on the baseball, basketball, football, and track teams--four years each, earning a total of 16 letters. He even set several state track records. He graduated from High School during World War I. Fortunately, the war ended a only a few weeks before he was to report for military duty. He went to Kalamazoo College on a football scholarship. His team were the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Champions (MIAA) in 1919. The MIAA is the Nation's Oldest Collegiate Conference. Ben recalls that one of the games he played was against "the Gipper," who played at the University of Notre Dame. Born in 1895, George Gipp was a varsity athlete at Notre Dame from 1917 to 1920. While planning to pursue a career in baseball, he was convinced by legendary college coach Knute Rockne to play football as well. He led the Fighting Irish to a 27-2-3 record, playing both offense and defense. Several of his records still stand today. Gipp caught a throat infection during one of his final football games at Notre Dame. He died a few weeks later at the age of 25. Just before his death, he told Coach Rockne, "Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys - tell them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy." After a year of college, Ben returned to Cass City to help his parents with the store. He later went to work at the Nestle plant in Cass City. Nestles food had purchased the plant from Hires Milk company around 1922. This plant had been producing "sweetened" condensed milk in Cass City since 1917, employing from 50-100 persons with most of their output being exported. The plant had been established at the urging of a group of local businessmen whose objective was to encourage and secure a milk processing plant to give the local farmers, almost all who had a small dairy herd, an easier way to dispose of their milk. While working in Cass City, Ben was on the "Ward's Independents" Basketball Team and they were 'Thumb Champions, Michigan' for the 1921-1922 season. A mutual friend set Ben up on a blind date with Avis Smith, a schoolteacher in a nearby town. This was in 1924. When he arrived to the boarding house to pick her up, she peeked over the balcony to check him out. She had made arrangements with a friend to watch for her signal. If Ben didn't pass muster, the friend was to inform him Avis was sick in bed. He passed with flying colors, however, and they drove nearly 20 miles for Chinese food. Around this same time, Ben enrolled in a dental technician's program in Chicago. He worked his way through school as a waiter at "Child's One Arm Restaurant." The restaurant was named for the tables the diner's each sat at, similar to old fashioned school desks. The following article about his studies appeared in the January 8, 1926 issue of the Cass City Chronicle "Ben Benkelman, jr., has completed his studies at the McCarrie School of Mechanical Dentistry at Chicago and is now assisting Dr. P.A. Schenck in the latter's dental parlors where he is gaining practical experience in his chosen work." Ben and Avis were married in August, 1926. Seven years later, on December 8, 1933, their only child, Bonnie, was born. Despite being born in the midst of the depression, Bonnie remembers an idyllic childhood. By lucky accident, her father withdrew their life savings from the bank the day before the great bank crash. He took out their savings to buy a winter coat and chair. When he returned to redeposit the balance, the banks had all closed. Ben remained steadily employed, running the dental lab for Dr. Pearl Schenck and then Dr. D.E. Rawson. He was employed by them for 42 years. The Benkelman's owned a house in Cass City, and a cabin in Caseville, on Lake Huron. Ben served on the village council for 11 years, and was twice village president (Mayor). He was never too busy for his daughter though. Bonnie remembers her father helping her, along with half the football team, with their math homework throughout high school. He was a charter member of the Cass City Gavel Club, and Past Master and Life Member of the Tyler F&AM lodge. When Ben was in his thirties, he went on a strict diet due to problems with his gallbladder. He abstained from sugar and fat for nearly 30 years. This, and his love of sports, probably contributed to his longetivity. He was able to play golf into his late eighties, and walked every morning and evening until he was nearly 96. Volume 26 of the STIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST, published on September 5, 1966, reported that Ben retired "after 40 years as a Dental Technician. He and Avis were going to spend the winter in Houston, Texas with their daughter and family." When the McLemore's were transferred back to Chicago, Ben and Avis moved onto St. Petersburg, Florida. They lived in a retirement community. They were to fulfill a dream when the visited Hawaii for their 50 wedding anniversary. They also enjoyed a Caribbean Cruise together. Ben had surgery for both kidney cancer and prostate cancer, both of which never reocurred. Avis died in 1981, and Ben lived in Florida for seven more years. After he suffered several minor strokes, he decided to move back to Houston, where the McLemore's had returned. This was around 1988. He lived in a retirement community on his own for several more years. Ben's biggest fear was that his mind would deteriorate before his body, and sadly this came to pass. Around 1994, suffering from senile dementia and Alzheimer's, Ben moved into his daughter's home. Here he was to live until he died from complications from pneumonia in early 1998. His daughter, Bonnie, and granddaughters, Melinda and Leigh were at his bedside when he died. Written by Melinda McLemore Strong, granddaughter, circa 1995 and revised periodically. He was one the family members BonnieMargaret Jacobs personally interviewed when preparing her history of the Benkelman family. |
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| 1623 | I17 | Benkelman | Benjamin Franklin | 17 Nov 1899 | 8 Mar 1998 | 0 | (Medical):Cerebrovascular disease, chronic renal failure, Alzheimers disease, kidney and prostate cancer in remission | STR06 |
| 1624 | I12009 | Benkelman | Bertha C. | 1 Aug 1883 | 16 May 1929 | 0 | 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. |
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| 1625 | I12009 | Benkelman | Bertha C. | 1 Aug 1883 | 16 May 1929 | 0 | (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). |
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| 1626 | I13 | Benkelman | Bonnie Jean | 8 Dec 1933 | 26 Sep 2023 | 0 | Bonnie was extremely active during her High School years in Cass City, Michigan. According to her yearbook, the "1952 Perranos", she spent four years in the band (she played the clarinet) and in the honor society; was alternately treasurer, secretary, and president of her home room; was in the junior class play; and was on the Annual Staff and in the Queen's Homecoming Court her senior year. Her lively sense of humor was apparent from her statement in the class will: "I, Bonnie Benkelman, of questionable mind and body, will my ability, (which I don't have) to stay on my hall guide post all hour to Jean Holmberg, who doesn't have it either but since she has to make a good impression it might come in handy." She went to Western Michigan College in Kalamazoo, and was a member of the Sigma Kappa sorority. She was social chairperson of the Panhellenic Council in 1952. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, specializing in Occupational Therapy. It was a good fit for her, combining her love of science and her enjoyment of doing things with her hands. Bonnie noted that Jane Stickley Benkelman, a nurse who worked both with veterans and crippled children, had suggested she pursue this career path. Bonnie interned in Baltimore, at Shepherd Pratt Psychiatric Hospital, becoming an O.T.R. She also received an Elementary Provisional Certificate from the State of Michigan State Board of Education which would have allowed her to teach Occupational Therapy at the High School level. Her first job after graduation was at Hines Veterens' Administrations Hospital in Chicago, in the Cardiac department. She saved her money faithfully to purchase an automobile. At that time a VW Beetle cost around $1,500. When she was within $50 of this goal, she broke her leg skiing. Most of her savings went to pay off her hospital bills, and to finance a trip to Europe with her Aunt Ilo Smith shortly before her wedding. When Bonnie resigned from the Veterens' Administration in before her marriage in 1958, she was classified as a GS-631-7 and was making $4,980 yearly. Bonnie worked as an Occupational Therapist before her daughters were born. When her eldest daughter was 18 months old, she returned to work at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children in Dallas. After the birth of younger daughters, she stopped her paid employment to become a full time mom and volunteer. She was a homeroom mother, sunday school teacher, and girl scout leader. Her husband's career involved moves every four years, and Bonnie helped her daughters acclimate to new schools and new friends in various cities in Oklahoma, Illinois, California, and Texas. The family returned to Houston in 1982, which became their permanent home. She returned to the workforce then, working with her husband at one of his privately held businesses, Control Graphics. She was General Manager. After she and Tom retired, they travelled extensively, with their daughters and their families joining them on special occasions. She also enjoyed the many friends she made everywhere they lived. She died on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, peacefully in her home with family members, and her caretaker, Esther Reyes, by her side. She is survived by husband, Thomas McLemore of Houston, three daughters, Melinda (Tom) Strong of San Antonio, TX; Melissa (Jim) Bramhall and Leigh (Scott) Haney of Houston; one granddaughter, Hailey Bramhall (Bentonville, AR); five grandsons, Michael (Jennifer Tocci) Strong of Boerne, TX; Ryan Bramhall, Cameron (Eva) Haney, Grant Haney all of Houston; and Will Haney a senior at Texas A&M, College Station. She is also survived by her first great-grandchild, Bella Strong, who was born this June, and whom Bonnie was thrilled to meet in person in late July. A memorial service will be held in Houston on December 8, her 90th birth anniversary. In lieu of flowers, anyone who desires may instead donate in her memory to the Rawson Memorial Library, 6495 Pine Street, Cass City, MI 48726, or to a charity of their choice. |
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| 1627 | I13 | Benkelman | Bonnie Jean | 8 Dec 1933 | 26 Sep 2023 | 0 | (Research): In the News Cass City Chronicle Friday, July 12, 1940 Local Happenings, Page Four The dog at the B.F. Benkelman Jr., home rejoiced Sunday night. His little mistress, Bonny, and her mother, Mrs. B.F. Benkelman, Jr., returned that day from a week's visit in Lansing and Grand Ledge. Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Michigan, Friday, October 26, 1956 Page One Bonnie Benkelman Passes OTR Exam "Miss Bonnie Benkelman, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. B.F. Benkelman, 4581 West Street, Cass City, has successfully completed her national examination for registration by the American Occupational Therapy Association. A graduate of Western Michigan College, Kalamazoo, one of 29 colleges in the United States offering OT programs approved by the American Medical Association, Miss Benkelman joins the ranks of 5,000 OTR's working in hospitals and schools across the nation. Occupational therapists give treatment on the doctor's prescription in the form of supervised activity to people injured physically or mentally by accident or disease." Cass City Chronicle April 28, 1960 Page Six Cass City Area Social and Personal Items Mr. and Mrs. Ben Benkelman enjoyed a four-day visit last week with their daughter and family, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McLemore and little daughter, in Chicago. Cass City Chronicle August 18, 1960 Page 4 Mr. and Mrs. T.E. McLemore and little daughter Melinda of Chicago, Ill., returned home Saturday after two weeks here with Mrs. McLemore's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Benkelman. Cass City Chronicle Thursday, July 26, 1962 Page Two Cass City Area Social and Personal Items Mrs. Thomas McLemore and daughter Melinda of Dallas, Texas, are spending two weeks with Mrs. McLemore's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Benkelman. Cass City Chronicle Thursday, July 15, 1966 Page Two Personal News from Cass City Area Mr. and Mrs. Thomas McLemore and daughters, Melinda and Melissa, from Houston, Tex. Arrived July 4 and have been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Benkelman. Their youngest daughter, Leigh remained in Texas with her paternal grandmother. The McLemores expect to leave Thursday to return home. The following article was published in "The Paris (TX) News" in the Fall of 1976. Mrs. McLemore is Newcomer Mrs. Tom (Bonnie) McLemore, 1065 Johnson Woods Drive, has been named as the Welcome Wagon's Newcomer of the Month. A native of Michigan, Mrs. McLemore attended schools in Cass City and holds a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy from Western Michigan University. She has been active in Girl Scouting, garden club work, Panhellenic activities, and a volunteer for Hope House for the Multiple-Handicapped Children. She and her husband have three daughters, Melinda, 16; Melissa, 13, and Leigh, 11, and have lived in Paris about a month. |
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| 1628 | I2763 | |||||||
| 1629 | I6281 | Benkelman | Carole Jean | 26 Oct 1951 | 19 Jan 2023 | 0 | Carole was born in Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, but was brought home to her parents apartment in East Lansing, very close to Michigan State University, where her parents were living at the time. In January, 1999, her mother wrote of her eldest daughter, "Lives in St. Johns, Michigan with her husband, a radio station engineer, yes, they met at our radio station. She works in a social agency and has three children, a boy and girl grown and a son (Andy) who is a second grader." CAROLE JEAN BENKELMAN, 71, died January 19, 2023, after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at her home in Saint Johns, Mich., surrounded by family. Carole was born October 26, 1951 in Lansing, the first of three daughters born to Robert and Lorraine (Smith) Benkelman, and grew up in Cass City, where she graduated from high school in 1969. A graduate of Michigan State University with a degree in human ecology, Carole worked as a social worker for several years. After graduating, she worked at Michigan Works, and then served as a case manager at a domestic violence and sexual assault services center in Clinton County. She also worked for several years at Federal Mogul in Saint Johns. Before retiring, she worked for The Salvation Army in Owosso. From childhood to the end of her life, Carole was a source of joy for everyone around her, always sharing her positive spirit with friends and family even in times of adversity. She cared deeply about her family, especially her sons Jason and Andy and her daughter Carrie. Children brought her particular happiness. If you were lucky enough to be a child in Carole's life, you no doubt have a story to tell about something special she did for you or a fun place she took you. Carole found great satisfaction in making connections. She was the keeper of family lore, and used her curiosity and sharp memory to help people understand their ancestors and what life was like for the people who came before us. After her parents died, she kept the pictures and letters they had retrieved from the old Striffler-Benkelman House on Houghton Street in Cass City, which was packed with family history (and a lot of other things) when her parents bought it in the 1960s. When the internet and genealogy web sites came along, Carole and her mother took great pains to post digital versions of the photos so that there were faces to go with the names. Connections were so important to Carole that she helped people outside her family make them, too. In the last years of her life, she walked her caregivers through Ancestry.com to research their own families, helping them create genealogical trees and using the TV screen to display the app on her phone. She said it was a good way to pass the time, but everyone knew it was more than that. It was a reflection of how she lived her life, believing that time shouldn't be wasted sitting still, even when her disease forced her to. She loved to go on those journeys of discovery with the people who were helping her. As a social worker, her generous and empathetic nature made her beloved among clients, as she helped them pay their utility bills or find them a warm place to stay. Once or twice her dedication to this work got her into trouble, like when she went against agency policy to transport clients to a safe place or buy them food with her own money, earning reprimands from bosses in the bureaucracy. But she cared more about the people than the policies - especially if children were involved. She was always thinking about someone else. Carole adored things that had stood the test of time: old buildings, old furniture, old photographs and old souls. Her sisters remember how she liked to take pictures in cemeteries around the Thumb as a teenager. She cared as much about the elderly as she did children, making time to visit her grandparents to see that they never felt isolated as they aged. Carole was always active - fixing or painting something, cleaning or working in the garden. She never sat down. So her 2014 diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, was difficult to fathom. But it was also the same year that the Ice Bucket Challenge brought about heightened awareness of ALS, so its presence in society, and in her, was hard to ignore. She fought it to the very end, even though ALS is a progressive disease against which there really is no arsenal. That reality brought great frustration to her and her fellow "PALS" (people with ALS). Carole is survived by her loving husband, Kevin Larke; sons: Jason Tetreau of Cass City, Andrew Larke of Owosso; daughter, Carrie Tetreau of Saint Johns; two sisters: Catherine (Charles) Brooks of Sheridan, AR; Susan (Ken Fireman) Benkelman of Bethesda, MD; two nephews: Steven Brooks, Eric Brooks; two nieces: Catherine Fireman, Alexandra Fireman. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place. Inurnment will be in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City in the spring. Carole asked that donations in her memory be made to ALS of Michigan in Southfield, which she said was the non-profit organization that helped her the most, and she'd like to pay that generosity forward. Published by Kranz Funeral Home - Cass City on Jan. 21, 2023. |
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| 1631 | I1968 | Benkelman | Charles A. | 7 Feb 1866 | 17 Jun 1917 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle Friday, May 5, 1916 Page Five Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benkelman of Denver, Colorado, are guests of their aunt, Mrs. M. M. Schwegler, while they are visiting a host of relatives in this vicinity. In her 1981 manuscript, BonnieMargaret writes that "son Charles was never in good health and limited his interests to the family mining properties though he held several sales positions in Denver. At one point it seems that J. G. founded a business, the Columbian Engraving Co., hoping it would give Charles' business activities some direction, but it lasted only a few years." (Jacobs, p. 121). |
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| 1632 | I1968 | Benkelman | Charles A. | 7 Feb 1866 | 17 Jun 1917 | 0 | (Research): Census Listings: 1910 Census Colorado, Denver County, Denver Ward 9 Enumerated 21 Apr 1910 Twenty First Street 523-91-146 Benkelman, George W Head M W 47 S Co Germany/German Germany/German Office Beef and Pork Packer Benkelman, Charlie A Brother M W 44 m1 1 Colorado Germany/German Germany/German President Oil and Gas co Benkelman, Florence E Sister in Law F W 35 m1 1 England/English England/English England/English 1891 None Benkelman, Harry J Brother M W 42 S Colorado Germany/German Germany/German Own Income |
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| 1633 | I4179 | Benkelman | Charles Robert | 19 Jul 1953 | 30 Oct 2007 | 0 | Veterinarian. After living in Anchorage, Alaska, he returned to Denver to establish a pet supply store with himself in attendance. The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News (Online Edition) Published in the Denver Newspaper Agency from 11/3/2007 to 11/4/2007 Dr. Charles Robert Benkelman Charley passed away on October 30, 2007. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Janna; children, Erinn and Chad; mother, Barbara Bramley; sister, Dana (John) Hubbach; niece, Mimi (David) Tenace; nephew, Jeff (Jocelyn) Hubbach; sister-in-law, Jackie (John) Dunn. He is son of the late Dr. Robert K. Benkelman and brother of the late Bay M. Benkelman. Memorial Service will be held Monday, November 5, 2007 at 10:00 a.m. at Horan and McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 E. County Line Road, Centennial, Colorado. Donations to Bel-Rae Institute of Animal Technology c/o Dr. Charles Benkelman Memorial Scholarship, 1681 S. Dayton, Denver, CO. You may also express sentiments at www.horancares.com (courtesy of Lorraine S. Benkelman) |
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| 1634 | I12022 | Benkelman | Charles Wilmot | 27 Jul 1915 | 5 Dec 1972 | 0 | Wilmont managed the family farm at McDonald, Kansas. | STR06 |
| 1635 | I12660 | Benkelman | Christina | 24 Mar 1852 | 7 Mar 1929 | 0 | BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that she was named for her maternal grandmother. Christine cared for her father and step-mother when they became unable to care for themselves. Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Michigan, Friday, March 8, 1929 Mrs. Christina Jaus Found Dead in Field Thursday Left Home to Go to Her Son's During Night and Became Lost in Storm The body of Mrs. Christina Jaus, 76, was found in a field 30 rods from the farm residence of her son, Samuel Jaus, who resides in Elkland Township, four miles northeast of Cass City, early Thursday morning. Mrs. Jaus' death was probably due to exposure, her body having lain in the field several hours. After Samuel Jaus had finished milking at his barn shortly before seven o'clock Thursday morning, he glanced over at the residence of his mother, who resided just across the highway from his home, and noticed that the chimney had blown donw during the heavy wind which prevailed during the night. He decided to go at once to her home and ascertain if she had been frightened by the noise of the fallen bricks. On arriving there, he failed to find his mother int he house. Alarmed, he immediately instituted a search with the results that her dead body was found about 70 rods from her home. It is thought that Mr. Jaus, frightened by the falling chimney, left her home to go to the residence of her son about 40 rods distant. She crossed the highway and entered her son's farm through a driveway a short distance east of his house. Here her footprints show that she walked in the mud before the ground froze during the night, her steps taking a southeasterly course across the field. She carried a flashlight to light the way. Where Mrs. Jaus was prevented from reaching her son's house by the strong wind which prevailed, if she became lost in the darkness in the journey between the two homes, or whether she suffered a slight stroke just previous of at the time she made the trip is not known. One or all of these may have contributed to the cause of her death. While Mrs. Jaus has been subject to heart trouble, she has been unusually well this winter. When she was last seen alive, she was at the farm barn Wednesday evening after her supple of milk and appeared in good spirts. Christina was born in Wurtenberg, Germany March 24, 1852. She was united in marriage with George Jaus and within two years of that time they came to America, arriving in Cass City in March, 1873. Mr. Jaus passed away in 1900. Mrs. Jaus was a member of the Evangelical church. She will be remembered by her friends for her cheerful disposition and kindly manner. Besides her three sons, Samuel and Fred Jaus of Cass City and John Jaus of Cleveland, she is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Jacob JOOS of Cass City and Mrs. John CROCKER of Saginaw. Seven children preceded the mother in death. Funeral arrangements had not been completed when the Chronicle went to press Thursday afternoon. |
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| 1636 | I12660 | Benkelman | Christina | 24 Mar 1852 | 7 Mar 1929 | 0 | (Research):Census Information: 1920 Census Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp Enumerated 16 and 17 Jan 1920 SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 3B 65-68 Jaus, Samuel Hd M w 41 M Mich Germany Germany Farmer Jaus, Lena Wf F W 40 M NY NY German NY German Jaus, George Son M W 16 S Mich Mich NY Jaus, Minnie Dtr F W 12 S Mich Mich NY 66-69 Jaus, Christina Hd F W 67 Wd 1870 Na 1876 Germany Germany Germany |
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| 1637 | I2771 | |||||||
| 1638 | I12674 | Benkelman | Cora E. | 26 Jun 1876 | 18 Jun 1904 | 0 | The 1900 census listed Cora a single. She was a school-teacher. Cass City Chronicle November 8, 1901 Local Mentions A farewell party was given at Mrs. J. Schwegler's Monday evening in honor of her brother, Leonard and his niece Miss Cora Benkelman, who left for their respective homes in Manitowoc and Portage, Wisconisn, Tuesday. Name: Cora E. Binkelman Gender: Female Burial Date: Burial Place: Death Date: 18 Jun 1904 Death Place: Portage, Columbia, Wisconsin Age: 28 Birth Date: 1876 Birthplace: Occupation: Race: Marital Status: Spouse's Name: Father's Name: John Binkelman Father's Birthplace: Mother's Name: Sarah Mother's Birthplace: Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I08850-8 System Origin: Wisconsin-EASy Source Film Number: 1310176 Reference Number: p235 Collection: Wisconsin Deaths and Burials, 1835-1968 BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Cora died in 1904 of sarcoma. (p. 111) |
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| 1639 | I3911 | |||||||
| 1640 | I850 | Benkelman | Dorus William | 6 Dec 1892 | 14 Feb 1973 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle Friday, August 16, 1957 Re-elect officers at Farm Produce Annual meeting of the stockholders of Farm Produce was held. The following officers were re-elected for another year: Joe Crawford, President, Audley Rawon, Vice President, D.W. Benkelman, Treasurer, and C.J. Striffler, Secretary. Cass City Chronicle Thursday, February 22, 1973 Services held for Dorus Benkelman Dorus Benkelman, 80, of Cass City died Wednesday, February 14, in Hills and Dale General Hospital. A lifelong area resident, he was born in Cass City December 6, 1893, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John Benkelman. Mr. Benkelman and Miss Jane STICKLEY were married November 2, 1943, in Detroit and the couple made their home in Cass City. She died April 7, 1960. A retired banker, he was a member of Tyler Lodge No. 317 F&AM, the American Legion Post No. 507 and was a member of Salem United Methodist Church. He served with the Army in World War I. Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Marie BROWN of Pigeon, and one brother, Alvin BENKELMAN of Elk Creek, Virginia, nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held Friday evening at Little's Funeral Home under the auspices of Tyler Lodge. Funeral services were held at the funeral home Saturday morning with the Rev. Ira Wood, pastor of Salem church officiating. Burial was in Elkland cemetery. |
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| 1641 | I12683 | Benkelman | Emma Ella | 18 Feb 1860 | 14 Jan 1937 | 0 | Jane Zimmerman writes that Emma Ella suffered from rheumatism for many years & was in a wheel chair for about the last 19 years of her life. She was always cheerful though, and did a lot of tatting and other handwork. Jane also supplied the following obituary of Emma, published in the Friday, January 15, 1937 issue of the Manitowoc Herald Times. Dies at Home of Daughter Services for Mrs. Ella Bodwin To Be Held Monday Mrs. Ella Bodwin, 78, life-long resident of ths county and city, died early today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. James Cahill, 310 North Ninth Street. She had been ill for several months. Funeral services will be held Monday, at 8:30 a.m. from the Wallaws, Urbanek and Schlat funeral home and at 9 o'clock from the Sacred Heart Church. Interment will follow at the Catholic cemetery at Mishicot. Born here in 1858 Mrs. Bodwin, whose maiden name was Ella Benkelman, was born in this city in 1858. In 1877 she was married to John Bodwin. They located on a farm in Gibson and later moved to Kings Bridge. Eighteen years ago Mr. and Mrs. Bodwin came to the city to reside. Mr. Bodwin died in 1931. Mrs. Bodwin was a member of the Women's Relief Corps and the Altar society of the Holy Cross congregation at Mishicot. Survivors are three sons, Richard and Walter of this city and Peter, Milwaukee; two daughters, Mrs. Cahill, city, and Mrs. Henry Hobbins, Milwaukee; ?? grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The body may be viewed at the funeral home from Saturday noon until the hour of the services Monday. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, January 2009) |
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| 1642 | I12035 | Benkelman | Fern Marie | 27 Mar 1912 | 2 Feb 1928 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Michigan Friday, February 10, 1928 Vol. 23, No. 23 Junior Class Lost Honor Student Death of Fern M. Benkelman is mourned by a Large Circle of Friends A death mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives and one of that greatly shocked the entire community was that of Miss Fern Marie Benkelman, only child of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benkelman, who passed away unexpectedly shortly after 10 o'clock Thursday night, February 2, after a ten day illness with pneumonia. She was nearly 16 years of age, her birthday being March 27, 1912. Fern was an honor student of the Cass City High School, her name appearing each year among those who won special honors in their monthly and semester standings. She was a member of the Junior Class, the Girls' Glee club, and president of the community club, a school organization. Twice she was elected to represent the local school in a statewide academic contest for the high school pupils, at the Central Normal at Mt. Pleasant, both years winning honors for her school. Her activities in church work were also outstanding and made her a much admired and loved member of the Evangelical Sunday School, Junior choir, and Butzbach Missionary Circle. Fern served as an assistant pianist at this church, faithfully and efficiently. Rev. C.F. Smith, pastor of the Evangelical church officiated at the funeral service which was held at the family residence Monday afternoon and attended by one of the largest companies of relatives and friends ever gathered at a similar occasion in this community. Members of the Junior class, numbering about 60, attended the services in a body, and bore the many beautiful floral tokens of affection to the Elkland cemetery where the burial services were held in the chapel. Donald and Robert WALLACE, Lester BATTEL, Clark HELWIG, Maurice JOOS and Edward SCHWEGLER served as pallbearers. Friends and relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were Mrs. William ACKERMAN of Hartford City, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Adolph WAHL, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. WAHL and son, Mr. and Mrs. Milton GILBERT, C. WAHL and Mr. and Mrs. Albert WAHL, all of Bad Axe; Henry BENDER and Mrs. Druit CAPLING of Caro; Rev. and Mrs. F.L. POHLY, Mr. and Mrs. John SCHWALM and Marjorie HESS, all of Sebewaing, Mr. and Mrs. Walter GRAICHEN, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur GETZE, and Albert HIRZEL, all of Forestville; Miss Marjorie SICKLES of Saginaw, Mrs. W.J. CARPENTER of Flint; Mr. and Mrs. Jas. BROWN of Pigeon; Mrs. Wm. SMITH and Albert and Miss Bertha YIETTER, all of Harbor Beach; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. KOSANKE and sons, Ralph and Donald of Pontiac. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007) |
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| 1643 | I34 | Benkelman | Florence Mae | 8 May 1896 | 19 Dec 1989 | 0 | Also was a teacher, attending Mt. Pleasant Normal. Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Mich., April 11, 1919 Page Four Around Our Town Miss Mae Benkelman, daughter of B.F. Benkelman and a teacher in the Sebewaing schools, is spending her Easter vacation here this week. Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Michigan January 6, 1926 Miss Mae Benkelman returned to Flint on Sunday after spending the past two weeks at her home here. |
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| 1644 | I12017 | Benkelman | Frances M. | 10 Sep 1892 | 2 Mar 1961 | 0 | Art Peck instead shows her date of death as March 1, 1961. | STR06 |
| 1645 | I1972 | Benkelman | Frank Benjamin | 28 Jun 1882 | 21 Nov 1948 | 0 | Pharmacist and had a pharmacy in Kansas City, Missouri before moving to West Coast. The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, dated September 1, 1947, reported that "Frank Benkelman of Littleton, Colo. suffered a heart attack last Nov. and still is not able to be about." A website about the historic Captain Fletcher's Inn (ca. 1865) at the Navarro Beach area of the Navarro River Redwoods State Park states that on March 20, 1931, the Gilmores sold the Inn to Frank B. Benkelman (Mendocino County Official Records, Book 58, pp. 445-446 hereafter Official Records). Frank and his wife, Effie held the property until he died. It was a prosperous period for the Inn. Several local sources say that Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent part of their "honeymoon" at the Inn. It is possible that they spent some time at the Inn, after their marriage on March 29, 1939, since Gable liked remote places and enjoyed salmon fishing. According to Lyn Tornabene in her book, Long Live the King (New York: 1976 p. 279), Gable and Lombard spent many days fishing the Rogue River. The Benkelmans also conveyed a portion of the original property to the state of California for purposes of building a highway on May 16, 1940.(Official Records, Bk. 142, p. 266). After her husband's death, Mrs. Benkelman married a second time to Robert Linn, the father of Geneva Linn (Mrs. Frank Ray). http://www.navarro-by-the-sea-center.org/history5.html Art Peck also shows him as married to a Dorothy Miller, however it appears that it must have been another Frank Benkelman who married Dorothy Miller, The following is a brief biography of Nellie Burget Miller, Poet Laureate of Colorado in 1923: "Nellie Burget grew up in Fayette, Iowa, graduating from high school at the age of fifteen and earning a B.S. from Upper Iowa University in 1894. She married Dr. Lucas A. Miller in 1894 and in 1908 they moved to Colorado Springs. Together they had three children: Dorothy, Arnold, and Muriel Imogene. Dorothy was an accomplished schoolteacher in Denver. DOROTHY [MILLER] AND HUSBAND FRANK BENKELMAN did not have children. Arnold Miller served in World War II and ran a medical practice in Denver. Arnold and his wife Mabel had three children." Census records, however, show that Nellie Miller's daughter Dorothy was born ca 1901 in Iowa, and at the time of the 1910 and 1920 federal census enumerations, she was still living at home with her parents in Colorado Springs, and was listed as single. By the time of the 1930 census, she was living in Haxtun, Phillips County, Colorado, and boarding in someone's else home. She was listed as single, and as a school teacher. At the same time that Dorothy Miller is still a single schoolgirl in Colorado Springs (1910), Frank Benjamin Benkelman can be found with his wife Effie in St. Louis, and Frank, Effie and John can be found again in 1930, in California, while Dorothy Miller was a single schoolteacher in Colorado. And as Frank Benjamin Benkelman was said to have remained married to Effie until his death, it could not have been the same Frank Benkelman that married Dorothy Miller. |
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| 1646 | I1972 | Benkelman | Frank Benjamin | 28 Jun 1882 | 21 Nov 1948 | 0 | (Research): Census Listings: 1910 Census Missouri, Jackson County, Kansas City Enumerated 23 Apr 1910 SD 5 ED 38 Sheet 11A Stamped 11 501-132-226 Benkelman, Frank B Hd m W 28 M1 1 Co Germany German Germany German Eng Prescription Clerk Drug Benkelman, Effie Wf W FW 19 M1 1 0/0 Iowas Iowa Iowa 1920 Census Not located 1930 Census California, Santa Clara, San Jose Twp Enumerated 4 Apr 1930 ED 43-4 SD 10 Sheet 3A Stamped 50 George Steet 131-79-83 Benkelman, Frank B Head R $35 M W 48 M 27 Colo NY Germany Retired Benkelman, Effie F Wf F W 38 M 18 Mo Ind Iowa Benkelman, John F Son M W 10 S Mo Colo Mo |
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| 1647 | I12682 | Benkelman | Friedrich | Between 1856 and 1857 | Yes, date unknown | 0 | Probably died as a young man. He can not be located on an census records subsequent to the 1870 census at which time he was shown as age 15. Jane Zimmerman writes that "supposedly he set out for California & was killed by Indians on the way." Jane further indicated this has never been proved or disproved. | STR06 |
| 1648 | I841 | Benkelman | George Adam "Little George" | 7 Sep 1851 | 10 Feb 1929 | 0 | George was the first Benkelman born in the United States. He was born only a few weeks after Adam and Catherine arrived. In her history of the Colorado and Nebraska Benkelman's, Margaret "Bonnie" Jacob wrote that George Adam Benkelman was living with his family in Cass City, Michigan when his Uncle, "Big George" Benkelman, contacted him about going into the cattle business with him in Colorado. Just 19 years old, and eager to get on with his life, "Little George" eagerly accepted. It was 1870 when he arrived in Denver. Big George explained to him the need for a relocation of the cattle herd. Little George saddled his horse and rode from Denver to the Kansas-Colorado state line and down the south fork of the Republican River. Just inside the state line he lay in a draugh and watched an entire hunting party of Cheyenne Indians cross the river and continue riding south. He knew that if they saw him that he was dead. Luckily, he continued on his journey, but traveled cautiously from then on. He returned to Denver drawing to a close his 400 mile horseback trip. Little George set out on a second trip east to find line camp headquarters for the Benkelman Ranch. When George Adam Benkelman viewed the valley of the south fork of the Republican River, he saw a carpet of buffalo grass about 8 inches high. It was lush and beautiful with very few trees. The stream trickled across the prairie aimlessly. One did not have to travel very far in either direction to find a bleak desolate land with no water and absolutely no trees. The visibility on a clear day was for miles. There were no buildings except for the deserted stage station which was made of sod. There was not yet to be a fence on the prairie. This trip he traveled much the same route as the first trip only he continued down the south fork of the Republican into Nebraska Territory and back down through what is now Oberlin and on to what is now Ellis, Kansas just west of Hays. Indians were encountered several times on this trip and several skirmishes took place. He returned to Denver with the location selected on the south fork of the Republican River just inside the state line of Kansas. The journey encompassed approximately 800 miles on horseback. In 1874, Big George, Little George, Jake Haigler, Ben and Jim Morning and a handful of cowboys moved the Benkelman herd to the selected area in 34-4-42 Kansas. Big George returned to Denver. Little George, Jake Haigler and the Mornings looked after the herd. A sod house was built and the ranch was named the JC Ranch. The grazing lands included northeastern Colorado, Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas lands. Large herds of 5,000 to 20,000 head of cattle were run on this range. George Adam generally kept 10 cowboys, but during round-up and branding time the number would increase to 30. The closest place for the cowboys to purchase supplies was the Roubidoux Store at Fort Wallace, which was 70 miles away. The trip was made about 3 times a year. A guard was posted at Fort Wallace to prevent trail herds being driven north from Texas from taking strays belonging to the Benkelmans. Jake Haigler was the foreman on the JC. Realizing that other large cattle companies might move in, George Adam urged Jake to from a cattle company up north to prevent a squeeze. Jake went to Missouri in 1875 for 1 year and then returned and formed a cattle company. The Haigler, Aix, Perkins Cattle Company was made up of family and friends. In 1876, he established on the Arickaree Forks in Nebraska. The winters in western Kansas were extremely cold. The location of the line camp was straight west of the deserted station 20 on the Pikes Peak Leavenworth Trail. The road to Denver lead home for George Adam. On his trips home, he always stayed at the Benkelman residence. One particular trip in 1877 proved to be a turning point in his life. The guest of honor at the Benkelman house was Mary Barbara Rommel, Christine's sister. She had been in America only five years. When John George and George Adam returned to the range in 1878, they moved the headquarters of the ranch down the Republican River seven miles for better hay meadows and springs. The Benkelman Ranch was headquartered up the river from Wano. The exact location was 11-4-41. The new operation was called the T Wrench Ranch because of the brand. The new headquarters consisted of a row of 3 sod houses, an underground storage room, a blacksmith shop, sod barn 20x90 for 22 horses, 11 stalls for two horses each. The roof was made of tree limbs and hay. The corral was 204 square feet. On January 6, 1880, George Adam Benkelman was united in marriage to Mary Barbara Rommel at the Benkelman residence in Denver. The ranching business had been quite prosperous. George Adam longed for Mary Barbara to be by his side. Their first child, Lottie, was born October 24, 1880 in Denver, as was their son Frank. George and Barbara were living with George and Christina at the time of the 1880 census. George Adam loaded his family into a wagon and moved from Denver to the JC Ranch in September 1886. Mary Barbara had to be surprised when she saw her new home. It was a small sod hut absolutely colorless with no trees or landscaping. Water had to be hauled from the river, which was only a few steps away. The outdoor privy was not constructed until shortly before she arrived. The inside of the soddie allowed no frills. The walls were plastered with a limestone mixture. She had brought her cookstove from Denver. Wood and cow chips had to be gathered from the offerings of the prairie. One always felt better when there was a stash of chips piled not to far from the house, because of the severe winters. It is amazing what she did with the one room soddie with a few curtains and well spaced colored articles. Life was hard for the pioneers, but Mary Barbara never complained. She tended her family with all the grace and charm with which she had been endowed. Two more children were born, Charles in 1888 and George Albert in 1890. They were the first children born on the ranch. The ranch cook was Billy Walsh of Irish descent. He had hunted buffalo on the prairies since 1872. A.W. Tip Spencer worked for the Benkelman's since 1877. Other ranch hands were John Burgwald, Ben Benkelman, Lee Bright, Mart Tscheudy, Walter Tovey, Harry Strangeways, John Chandler, George Fahrion, Wallace Clow, Emmet Vandergrift and Elmer Tabor. During the roundup season, the cowboys slept on the ground. The following was published in the Cass City Enterprise, August 10, 1893, Vol. XII, No. 35: "Geo. A. Benkelman, of Jaqua, Kansas, is here on a visit to his father, Adam Benkelman, and brothers. Mr. Benkelman reports the wheat crop in his vicinity this season is about as light as is the money crop the U.S. over." In 1894, the George Adam Benkelmans moved to St. Francis, Kansas after he was elected County Clerk. He served in that capacity until 1904, when he resigned to enter other business opportunities. In 1905, he was appointed postmaster in St. Francis. He served until 1915. He was enroute to California when he suffered a stroke. He died in Alhambra, California, February 10, 1929 at age 77. His wife had died earlier, on May 18, 1928, at age 75, in St. Francis. She was stricken with apoplexy and never regained consciousness before she passed away. The following biography was transcribed from "A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans," written and compiled by William E. Connelley, Secretary of the Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. [Revised ed.] Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1919, c1918. 5 v. (xlviii, 2530 p., [155] leaves of plates): ill., maps (some fold.), ports.; 27 cm. GEORGE ADAM BENKELMAN. One historical account states that the first cattle ranch in Cheyenne County was established in the year 1876, but there were no really permanent settlements made for several years after that. These facts give interesting prominence to the career of George A. Benkelman, a well known business man and citizen of St. Francis, who by every right and propriety may be regarded as the real pioneer and first permanent settler of the county, since he was herding cattle on the range in this northwestern corner of Kansas in the year 1876. At that time the frontier was exposed to danger from Indians, who were still numerous and many of them hostile, and there were many more buffaloes to be seen on the prairies than native cattle. Few men still living have had more intimate contact with the life and times of the old West than George Adam Benkelman. He was born at Lancaster in Erie County, New York, September 7, 1851. His father, Adam Benkelman, was born in Wuertemberg, Germany, in 1830, grew up and married in that kingdom, learned the trade of cooper, and in 1851 brought his family to the United States and settled at Bowmansville, New York. He was a cooper there and in 1865 went to Michigan, where he was both a cooper and farmer. He died at Cass City, Michigan, in 1901. On getting his first papers as an American citizen he affiliated with the democratic party but became a republican later through his admiration of President Lincoln. He was a member of the German Lutheran Church. Adam Benkelman married Christina Schifely, who was born in Wuertemberg in 1826 and died at Cass City, Michigan, in 1910. George Adam was the oldest of their children; Louise is still living in Cass City, Michigan, widow of Andrew Schwegler, who was a farmer there; John also lives on a farm in Cass City; S. G. is a carpenter and farmer at Cass City; W. F. is bookkeeper for a lumber firm in Detroit; and B. F. is a general merchant at Cass City. Thus of all the family George Adam Benkelman has shown the most enterprise in breaking away from home ties and discovering new fields of conquest in remote districts. He got his education in the public schools of Cass City but at the age of nineteen started out to make his own way in the world. His journeyings soon brought him into the far West and he had an extensive experience as a cowboy in Colorado and along the Western Kansas line. When he was in Cheyenne County in 1876 he had no neighbor nearer than Fort Wallace, seventy-five miles away. He ran his herd of cattle over a domain of country unvexed by wire fence or any other civilized obstruction and made no attempt to secure a more permanent location until the spring of 1888, when he took advantage of the homestead laws and filed upon a quarter section and also a timber claim. The homestead was his place of residence and center of operations until the spring of 1894. Some years later he sold that quarter section. In the fall of 1893 Mr. Benkelman was elected county clerk of Cheyenne County, and his official duties brought him to St. Francis. He was county clerk for eleven consecutive years. In 1905 President Roosevelt appointed him postmaster of St. Francis, and that office kept him as its incumbent by successive appointments until July, 1915. In the meantime he was identified with all the progressive movements for the upbuilding of his home town. For several years he clerked in a general merchandise store in St. Francis and also owns a farm of 160 acres near St. Francis and thirty-three acres adjoining the town. He is president of the Herald Publishing Company. Mr. Benkelman's home is a modern residence remodeled in 1905, and it stands upon a considerable plat of ground. Politically he is a republican and is a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has also served as noble grand of Rising Star Lodge of Odd Fellows, and is a past master workman of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at St. Francis. In January, 1880, at Denver, Colorado, Mr. Benkelman married Miss Mary B. Rommel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Rommel, both now deceased. To their marriage were born four children: Lottie C., a graduate of the Cheyenne County High School and of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, and is at home with her parents; Frank B. is a graduate of the County High School and of the School of Pharmacy of Kansas City, Missouri, and is a registered pharmacist at Kansas City; Charles A. graduated in pharmacy in the Kansas University and is connected with a general store at McDonald, Kansas; George A., Jr., is a dentist, a graduate of the Western Dental College of Kansas City, Missouri, and while his home and professional office are at St. Francis, he was with the United States Army on professional duty at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. " Cass City Chronicle July 15, 1927 Mr. and Mrs. George Benkelman, Miss Lottie Benkelman, and Dr. and Mrs. Albert Benkelman, all of St. Francis, Kansas, are guests at the Benjamin F. Benkelman home and are also visiting other relatives in this community. George Benkelman is a brother of John, Samuel and Benjamin Benkelman and lived in Elkland Township when a lad in the late sixties. He left her in 1870 for the West and has spent most of the years since that date in Kansas. |
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| 1649 | I841 | Benkelman | George Adam "Little George" | 7 Sep 1851 | 10 Feb 1929 | 0 | (Research):Cemetery Records: Benjamin, Orvil B., 12 May 1897--02 Aug 1969, s/o Alvin Benjamin and Gertrude ROSHONG Benkelman, George Adam, 07 Sept 1851--10 Feb 1929, h/o Mary B. ROMMEL, s/o Adam Benkelman and Catherine SCHEULFE Benkelman, George Albert, 13 Oct 1890--23 Dec 1973, h/o Ruth M. LOCKWOOD, s/o George A. Benkelman and Mary B. ROMMEL Benkelman, Lottie Christine, 24 Oct 1880--01 Jun 1956, w/o Farmer L. Shields and William M. Ball, d/o George A. Benkelman and Maria B. ROMMEL ?u? St.Francis Cemetery Submitted & ? 2003 by: Marilyn Holzwarth |
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| 1650 | I1974 | Benkelman | George Albert | 13 Oct 1890 | 23 Dec 1973 | 0 | The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, dated September 1, 1947, had note in the "Vacations" section that read: "We are certainly looking forward to meeting Mrs. F.L. Shields of St. Francis, Kansas and Dr. and Mrs. Albert Benkelman and daughters, Barbara and Bonnie at the 1947 reunion. We hope that many more will plan their vacations so they meet with the rest of us at Uncle John's Woods on Labor Day." Volume 22 of the same periodical, dated September 7, 1959, reported that Albert and Ruth Benkelman attended his Fiftieth graduating class reunion at St. Francis, Kansas. Six of his classmates were present. A dentist in St. Francis, Kansas, he retired to Denver in 1947. |
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| 1651 | I1974 | Benkelman | George Albert | 13 Oct 1890 | 23 Dec 1973 | 0 | (Research):Census Listings: 1930 Census Kansas, Cheyenne County, Wano, St. Francis City ED 12-18 SD 1 Sheet 10A Stamped 300 79-84 Benkelman, George A Hd O $6000 M W 39 M 27 Kansas NY German y Physician Benkelman, Ruth L Wf F W 38 M 26 Kansas Illinois Illinois Benkelman, Mary B Adopted Dtr F W 3 6/12 S Neb US US Benkelman, Bonnie J Adopted Dtr F W 2 1/12 S Neb US US 82-8? Shields, Farmer L Hd O $12,000 M W 51 M21 Iowa Ill Iowa President Commercial Bank Shiels, Lottie B Wf F W 49 M 48 Colorado NY Germany |
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| 1652 | I1966 | Benkelman | George W. "Denver George" | 23 Sep 1862 | 28 Dec 1925 | 0 | Known as "Denver George." He founded the Finance Service Corporation and the Merchants Biscuit Company. He served as secretary to the Colorado Packing and Provision Company. His father had founded the company, but the younger George managed it until its merger in 1913 with the National Packing Company. He tore down the Benkelman residence and built the Benkelman Block at 18th and California. There was housed the Finance Service Corporation. BonnieMargaret transcribed his obituary from the Rocky Mountain News as follows: "George W. Benkelman, founder and vice president of the Merchants' Biscuit company and the last of a long line of pioneer settlers in the West, fell dead early last evening at the Denver Athletic Club following an acute heart attack. Mr. Benkelman at the time was chatting with friends at the club and until he suddenly dropped forward in his chair, he gave no indication of the sudden seizure of heart disease which caused his almost instant death. Having for many years been closely identified with mining, manufacturing and cattle interests, Mr. Benkelman occupied a prominent position in the financial and industrial life of the city and state." (Jacobs, p. 122 and 123). BonnieMargaret also wrote, in a separate paper about the Kansas Benkelmans, that one of his honorary pallbearers was William Buck, a Cheyenne County Rancher, who was located 4 miles north of St. Francis. George was unmarried and had no heirs. An item in his will left property in Trust with The Denver National Bank. The will provided that at the end of five years, the bank, as trustee, would convey title to the property to a corporation and one-tenth of the capital stock should be given to Mrs. Mary M. (Lena Benkelman) Schwegler or her heirs. Lena died childless, and before the expiration of the trust. Her heirs were the descendants of her brothers and sisters, as they also had predeceased her. This Decree, dated September 2, 1931 by the District Court of Denver, Colorado, is an important genealogical document. The Bank had to locate and identify 60 widely scattered Benkelman heirs to share in this inheritance. BonnieMargaret references this as Court docket No. 111060, filed on June 12, 1931 in the District Couty, State of Colorado, City and County of Denver. Bonnie notes that the Denver branch of the Benkelman family were all originally buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Denver, but reinterred to the Fairmount Cemetery on October 14, 1920 by George W. |
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| 1653 | I1966 | Benkelman | George W. "Denver George" | 23 Sep 1862 | 28 Dec 1925 | 0 | (Research): Census Listings: 1910 Census Colorado, Denver County, Denver Ward 9 Enumerated 21 Apr 1910 Twenty First Street 523-91-146 Benkelman, George W Head M W 47 S Co Germany/German Germany/German Office Beef and Pork Packer Benkelman, Charlie A Brother M W 44 m1 1 Colorado Germany/German Germany/German President Oil and Gas co Benkelman, Florence E Sister in Law F W 35 m1 1 England/English England/English England/English 1891 None Benkelman, Harry J Brother M W 42 S Colorado Germany/German Germany/German Own Income 1920 Census Colorado, Denver County, Denver City Enumerated 3 Jan 1920 SD 1 ED 262 Sheet 2B 1080-40-41 Dronn (or Drown), Linnaeus Head M W 46 m Oh Pa Oh Surgeon General Practice Dronn(or Drown), Cora M Wf F W 45 m Oh Pa Oh Benkelman, George W Lodger M W 57 S Co Germany/English Germany/English Mining Mine |
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| 1654 | I849 | Benkelman | Glen Frederick | 20 Jan 1891 | 26 Dec 1970 | 0 | Glen Frederick Benkelman received his B.S. in Engineering from Purdue University in 1914. Cass City Chronicle Thursday, December 31, 1976 Page One Train-car crash fatal for Glen Benkelmans Glen F. Benkelman, 80, a brother of Dorus Benkelman of Cass City, and his wife, Maud, 80, were fatally injured in a train-car crash and died Saturday, December 26, at Lakewood, Ohio. Funeral services were held Tuesday, December 29, at the Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Lakewood where the Benkelmans were members. Burial will be in Elkland township cemetery, Wednesday, December 30. Among the survivors are: a daughter, Mrs. Ruth SIMMELINK of Cleveland; a son, William, of Lakewood; a brother of Mrs. Benkelman who lives in Detroit, and of Mr. Benkelman, a sister, Marie BROWN of Pigeon; two brothers, Dorus, of Cass City, and Alvin, of Elk Creek, Virginia. |
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| 1655 | I849 | Benkelman | Glen Frederick | 20 Jan 1891 | 26 Dec 1970 | 0 | (Research): Census Listings: 1930 Census Ohio, Cuyahoga County, Cleveland City Enumerated April 14, 1930 ED 18-276 SD 6 Sheet 23A Stamed 233 3813-19-29 Benkelman, Glen Head m W 39 M 30 Mich Mich Iowa Engineer Structural, Carbon Plant Benkelman, Maud Wf F W 38 M 29 EnglishCanada EnglishCanada EnglishCanada Benkelman, Glen Son M W 6 S Ohio Mich EnglishCanada Benkelman, Ruth Dtr F W 4 S Ohio Mich EnglishCanada McFadden, Sarah Mother-in-law F W 70 Wd CanadaEnglish CanadaEnglish CanadaEnglish |
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| 1657 | I35 | Benkelman | Harold "Sime" Leroy | 27 Nov 1897 | 8 Apr 1981 | 0 | Ben Benkelman reported that after seing a production of Uncle Tom's Cabin, his brother, Harold, was nicknamed "Sime" by his siblings, who considered him as mean as Simon Legree. The January 17, 1908 Cass City Chronicle had a brief mention of the upcoming "Mason Brother's Uncle Tom's Cabin company at the Opera House," most likely this was the production that inspired Sime's lifelong nickname. Harold would have been around age 11 at the time. He played basketball in High School. Bob Benkelman wrote that his father was drafted into the army signal corps, where he worked as an airplane mechanic, and was stationed at Rockwell Field near San Diego. According to Wikipedia, the Signal Corps Aviation School was named Rockwell Field, on July 20, 1917, in honor of Second Lt. Lewis C. Rockwell, killed in a crash at College Park in 1912. Also in July, the United States Congress authorized the President to proceed with the taking of North Island for Army and Navy aviation schools. There was a need for trained military pilots as the United States had entered World War I earlier in the year. President Woodrow Wilson signed an Executive Order in August 1917 for condemnation of the land, which was still privately owned. The Army turned over the north end of the island to the Navy and relocated to the south end of North Island, the location of the Rockwell Field Historic District. The Navy's first occupancy of North Island occurred on September 8, 1917, but Congress did not authorize the purchase of North Island, for $6,098,333, until July 1919. The Army selected well-known Detroit industrial architect, Albert Kahn, to develop a site and building designs. Permanent construction of Kahn's design began in mid-1918. During World War I, Rockwell Field provided training for many of the pilots and crews sent to France. It also was the source of men and aircraft for the Sixth and Seventh Aero Squadrons, which established the first military aviation presence in Hawaii and the Panama Canal Zone, respectively. After his military service, Sime was a Studebaker dealer, and later worked for E.B. Schwaderer, a contractor who built highways throughout the state, and constructed airports all over the midwest during World War II. Before retirement, Harold, worked as head of maintenance of all of the road equipment for the Tuscola County Road Commission. Cass City Chronicle Friday, November 24, 1933 Local Happenings Page Four Mr. and Mrs. Harold Benkelman and Mrs. Curtis Hung spent a few days last week hunting at Fairview. The 1941 issue of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast showed that Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Benkelman and sons had spent the winter holidays in Florida. Cass City Chronicle Thursday, April 16, 1981 Benkelman Funeral Held Harold Leroy (Sime) Benkelman, 83, of Cass City died Wednesday, April 8, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Pontiac. He was born Nov. 27, 1897, in St. Francis, Kansas, the son of Benjamin F. and Minnie (Jesse) Benkelman. He returned to Cass City as a small child with his parents. They made their home on the family homestead farm. He married Isabel Fletcher Sept. 14, 1918 in Detroit. Following their marriage, they made their home in Sandusky where he was an auto dealer. They later lived in Cass City, where he was employed as equipment supervisor by the E.B. Schwaderer Construction Company and then Tuscola County Road Commission until his retirement. He servied with the Army Air Corps during World War I. He was a member of the Salem United Methodist church of Cass City and a life member of Custer Lodge No. 393, F and AM, Sandusky. Benkelman is survived by his wife; two sons, Bill Benkelman of Bloomfield Hills and Robert Benkelman of Caro; six grandchildren, three great grandchildren; one brother, Benjamin Benkelman of Clearwater, Fla. (sic) and two sisters, Mrs. Eustis Ball of Clearwater, and Mrs. Lois Pease of Pompano Beach, Fla. One sister, Ruth, preceded him in death. Funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon at Little's Funeral Home, Cass City, with Rev. Eldred Kelley of the Salem United Methodist church officiating. Burial was in Elkland Cemetery. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007) He was one the family members BonnieMargaret Jacobs personally interviewed when preparing her history of the Benkelman family. |
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| 1658 | I1967 | Benkelman | Henry J. "Harry" | 6 Nov 1867 | 11 Dec 1915 | 0 | He was an officer in State National Bank. He and his brother George lived in their family home at 523 Twenty-First Street in Denver, along with brother Charles and his wife. (Art Peck). BonnieMargaret, in her 1981 manuscript, wrote that "Harry began his work experience as a deputy city clerk, was eventually absorbed within the Colorado Packing and Provision Company as a clerk and ultimately became a branch manager of this family enterprise. Harry's obituary described him as "generous and liberal, perhaps to a fault" and he eventually died in a Denver sanitarium, hospitalized 7 years with an alcohol problem he was not able to overcome." |
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| 1659 | I853 | Benkelman | Ida Catherine | 15 Nov 1902 | 11 Jul 1915 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle Friday, July 2, 1915 Local Items Page Four Miss Ida Benkelman, eleven year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John A. Benkelman, who has been ill with blood poisoning was taken to the hospital Sunday. She underwent an operation Monday and although still very seriously ill her condition is slightly more hopeful. Glen Benkelman of Wilkinsburg, Pa. and Dorus Benkelman of Mackinac Island, were called home by the illness of their sister. Cass City Chronicle Friday July 9, 1915 Local Items Page Four Miss Ida Benkelman is still very seriously ill at the hospital. Cass City Chronicle Friday July 16, 1915 Ida Benkelman Young Girl, Suffering from Blood Poisoning, Died Sunday Evening Ida Catherine, younger daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Benkelman, died in a local hospital Sunday evening after several weeks of patient suffering from blood poisoning. No one can explain why a young girl such as Ida was called from this life at twelve. She was the light of a good company of relatives and friends, and bright, happy and cheerful, she carried sunshine wherever she went. Not only in her home, but in the public and the Sabbath schools, where she was a regular and faithful attendant, will she be greatly missed. Death is a hard master. He would take the brightest and best, but he cannot even mar memory. It will serve as a balm to wounded hearts. Funeral services were held at the residence on Seeger Street Wednesday afternoon, Rev. D. J. Feather officiating. Interment was made in Elkland cemetery. Besides the parents, there are left to mourn four brothers, Glen of Wilkinsburg, Pa., Dorus of Mackinac Island and Alvin and John, and one sister, Marie. |
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| 1662 | I39 | Benkelman | Johann Adam | 13 Feb 1825 | 30 Dec 1897 | 0 | 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. |
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| 1663 | I39 | Benkelman | Johann Adam | 13 Feb 1825 | 30 Dec 1897 | 0 | (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 |
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| 1664 | I11977 | Benkelman | Johann Friedrich "Fredrick" | 6 Jan 1822 | 28 Aug 1897 | 0 | The family register for the family of Friedrich's maternal grandparents, Georg Friedrich St?hle and wife, Anna Maria Leins, shows that Maria Dorothea St?hle was the fifth of their 15 children. She was married at the Schneiderhof on 20 Nov 1822 to Leonhard Benkelmann. Dot Williams, a Benkelman descendant, visited with a specialist in the old German script at the LDS library at Salt Lake City, where they helped her translate the information on the scans of the actual St?hle family register. They indicated that the writing to the right of Maria Dorothea's name, as well as two of her sisters, said they each had an illegitimate child. Maria Dorothea's child was Johann Friedrich, "who was raised as the eldest of the Leonhard Benkelmann family." It was not indicated one way or the other if he was also Leonhard's biological son. Johann Friedrich was born on 6 Feb 1822, approximately 10 months prior to the marriage of Leonard Benkelmann and Dorothea St?hle. Freidrich apprenticed with Leonhard as a bricklayer and stonemason. (Jacobs, p. 73) The oldest of the Benkelman children, he was the last to emigrate to America. He was already established as a stone mason in W?rttemberg when his younger siblings began to emigrate. Over the years, he received many letters from members of the family in America, telling him of the opportunities in the new land. Thus he eventually decided to join them. When he left Germany early in 1873, he was travelling with his wife Christine Stadelmaier, daughter Catherine and son-in-law Friedrich Buerk, granddaughter Catherine Buerk, daughter Christine and her husband George Jaus, and daughters Rosine and Mary, along with Fred's mother, Christina Buerk. German Parish records show "Marz 1873 mit Familie nach Nordamerika." They sailed from Bremen, Germany on the steam ship "Ohio," and arrived in Baltimore on 5 April 1873, as the vessel was powered by steam, their entire journey took only 15 days. The earlier emigrants had traveled in sailing ships, and thus their journeys had been much longer. Friedrich and his family then traveled by train to Saginaw, Michigan where they were met by Adam, who took them by horse and wagon to Cass City. Adam, helped by his brothers, had constructed a building for them on his land where they stayed. Through hard work and frugal living, Friedrich was later able to purchase land a few miles northeast of Cass City, upon which he built his own home and farm. At a Benkelman/Striffler reunion, Mary Striffler Benkelman recalled that "Uncle Fred was the oldest and Jolliest of the bunch, I can see him yet a large man of straight build, starting to town a distance of three and a half miles, with a basket of eggs perched on his head and a pail in one arm, marching straight as when he served in the German army but in after years when he became old and feeble he would say "When I think I am going to fall I am already lying on the ground." Later in life, Frederick became lame from rheumatism and used crutches to get about. (Jacobs, pp. 82, 83, 161, as well various correspondence from BonnieMargaretJacobs, and issues of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcasts) These are the tombstone inscriptions of he and his wife: Benkelman, Christina,d. 18 Aug 1897, 74y 3m 25d Benkelman, Frederick,d. 28 Aug 1897, 75y 7m 22d http://www.interment.net/data/us/mi/tuscola/casscity/index.htm A brief mention of his funeral was on the front page of the September 2, 1897 Cass City Enterprise, in the "Home Happenings" column: "The funeral services of Frederick Benkelman were held at the Evangelical Church on Sunday afternoon, Rev. C.Y. Schneider officiating. As previously mentioned, Mr. Benkelman has been in poor health for some time. He was nearly seventy six years old and has resided in this vicinity for many years." A copy of his actual Michigan Death Certificate can be viewed here: http://seekingmichigan.org/ Indexed as Fredrick Benkelman It was noted under this cause of death that a contributory factor was the death of his wife one week previously. He was shown as 75 years, 7 months, and 22 days of age at the time of his death. |
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| 1665 | I11977 | Benkelman | Johann Friedrich "Fredrick" | 6 Jan 1822 | 28 Aug 1897 | 0 | (Research):Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Source:FHL Film 1254607 National Archives Film T9-0607 Page 96C RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace Fredrick BENKELMAN Self M M W 58 WERTENBERG Occ: Stone Mason Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG Christina BENKELMAN Wife F M W 57 WERTENBERG Occ:Keeping House Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG |
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| 1666 | I1964 | Benkelman | Johann Georg "George" | 25 Jun 1830 | 16 Jan 1908 | 0 | Johann Georg Benkelmann was referenced as applying to emigrate to North America in 1850 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 him in this index were Johann Adam and Catharine Benkelman (1851) and Johannes Benkelman (1851). German Parish records show "ist 1850 Ausgewander." his actual emigration occuring in the same year he applied. Hilda Stickley Benkelman wrote that "George came from Germany in a sailboat about 1852. He first went to Lancaster, New York, and worked in a sawmill for 25 cents a day. Then he and three friends bought a span of oxen and a covered wagon and started for California around 1854. They worked in the fields or anywhere they could find work to pay their expenses. They arrived in California during the Gold Rush, and found work in the mines for $10 a day. George saved his earnings, and staked his own claim. He lost all his money, and returned to work for other miners. BonnieMargaret Jacobs, in her 1981 manuscript said that George "had an exquisite little brooch made of all the gold he had ever found its natural state. It is not large! But he laughed as he displayed the net results of his mining attempts....as my father gave the broach to me, he would laugh as heartily at the story of George scratching the earth all that time for no more glad than that!" (Jacobs, p. 117). He was called "Big George," while his nephew and associate in the cattle business was "Little George." (Ibid, p. 119) He married Christine Rommel, and they moved to Iowa where they bought a herd of cattle. Christine drove the Oxen in a wagon, and George walked beside the cattle. Later they returned west, to Leadville, Colorado. Here he opened a store to service the miners. He also worked as a butcher. Their customers paid them in gold dust, which George and Christine took to the mint in Denver. They later sold their store, and bought a ranch in St. Francis, Kansas. Eventually he owned a hotel in Denver, which was named for him. This was sold by his heirs in 1952. (Stickley) BonnieMargaret Jacob's states that on 27 Aug 1868, "The Rocky Mounty News" published a deposition of J. G. Benkelman in regards to the inquest of the death of the pregnant Mrs. Henrietta Dietermann and son. She had been captured and killed in a ambush by Indians in Douglas county, Colorado Territory. John was a resident of Central City, Colorada at the time, working as a butcher. At the time of the ambush, however, he and a small group men were tending to cattle at the time, about 45 miles southeast of Denver. (Jacobs, p. 118). In a separate history she prepared about the Colorado and Nebraska Benkelman's, BonnieMargaret wrote: "The gold and silver strikes in the Rocky Mountains made Denver City a most desirable place for a young man to seek his fortune. John George Benkelman with his wife Christine Rommel Benkelman set out for Denver in 1862. After arriving in Denver, the couple spent the next few days tramping around Denver surveying the possibilities for livelihood. It was apparent that the miners needed supplies brought to them. John George felt like he could handle that chore. Among his many interests were a butcher shop and a shoe shop. By 1868, George had amassed sufficient funds to consider entering into the cattle business. His headquarters were located at Running Water just east of Denver. The sheep ranchers were taking more and more of the range, so Big George decided to move further east. His first order of business was to contact George Adam Benkelman, his 19 year old nephew in Cass City, Michigan, to see if he was interested in going into the cattle business with him. In 1870, Big George had purchased two lots in Denver from William Barth at 18th and California Street, for $800. He bought two additional lots for less. He built the Benkelman family residence on his block of land in 1871. Christine and the four boys were at home here. At the time, it was on the outskirts of Denver. After operating over 30 years, the Benkelman Ranch was sold in 1903. The east half went to Josiah Crosby. This was later sold to Quinn and Martin of Oberlin. Jake Holzwarth leased this land for many years. The west half of the ranch was sold to Reinholt and Puderbough. They sold their portion to J.G. McCall in 1917. In 1941, Frank R. Douthit purchased the ranch and turned it over Thad Douthit, Sr. Thad was able to regain most of the Benkelman holdings, and used the land to raise Registered Herefords. Thad Sr. died September 23, 1978, and the ranch was once again split up, this time between his son and son-in-law (Thad Douthit Jr and Roger Faulkender). These ranches were still operating as of 1987. The original headquarters of the old JC Ranch was purchased by A.J. Sheldon, and later sold to Peter O'Brien. It is still a portion of the O'Brien Ranch, operated by Dean and Neal O'Brien. In her 1981 manuscript, BonnieMargaret noted that George also invested wisely in real estate in Denver. He at one time owned most of what would become California street, from 16th to 18th street. His home was at 1725 California, which would soon become the heart of the banking area of Denver. He also owned a block on Curtis Street, this too in the heart of the commericial downtown area. (Jacobs, p. 121). A notice of George's death appeared in the January 24, 1908 issue of the Cass City Chronicle, in "Local Items", page 4: Mrs. John Striffler and Mrs. Louise Striffler received the news of the death of their brother, George Benkelman, on Jan 16, at his home in Denver, Colorado. Mr. M.M. Schwegler, another sister, who left Cass City last fall, to assist in caring for Mr. Benkelman, is expected by her friends to return to this place within a few months. |
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| 1667 | I1964 | Benkelman | Johann Georg "George" | 25 Jun 1830 | 16 Jan 1908 | 0 | (Research): Census Information: 1880 Census Census Place:Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado Source:FHL Film 125 4088 National Archives Film T9-0088 Page 25 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace John G. BENKELMAN Self M M W 49 WURTEMBERG Occ: Live Stock Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Christina BENKELMAN Wife F M W 48 WURTEMBERG Occ: Keeps House Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG George W. BENKELMAN Son M S W 17 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Charles A. BENKELMAN Son M S W 14 CO Occ: Schoo lFa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Henry J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 12 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG George A. BENKEMAN Other [Nephew] M M W 28 NY Occ: Cattle Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Barbara BENKEMAN Other [Wife of Nephew AND sister-in-law] F M W 27 WURTEMBERG Occ: None Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Mary DEVERNES Other [Sister] F S W 36 WURTEMBERG Occ: Seamstress Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG |
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| 1668 | I11980 | Benkelman | Johann Leonhard "Leonard" | 5 Jul 1828 | 25 May 1913 | 0 | Leonhard, named for his father, was the trailblazer of the family. Parish records in Waldhausen show "ist 1849 Ausgewandert," meaning he emigrated in 1849. This makes him the first of the ten children [who lived into maturity] of Leonhard and Dorothea Benkelmann to leave Germany for America. Every one of his siblings eventually followed him. BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that "as in all areas of German life, there were strict requirements to be met in order to be free to leave. The emigrant had to obtain certificates from the tax collector, the pastor and from school officials that he was free from taxes, tithes of other debts. The emigrant also had to renounce their citizenship, and have a specified amount of money to sustain them in their new country until they could establish themselves." (p. 80) Leonard settled first in Lancaster, New York, but sometime after 1851 moved to Wisconsin, taking his newly arrived younger brother Johannes with him west. They lived first in Milwaukee, and later Leonard alone moved to Manitowac county, where he spent the rest of his life. BonnieMargaret wrote that "pamphlets about Wisconsin had been prepared to be circulated amoung the villages back home in Germany. The Wisconsin Germans were anxious to create a German community with a German culture and they aggresively recruited immigrants to their area...The early settlers in Manitowac were primarily German, Swiss and Irish. They brought with them their cheese making skills and turned Wisconsin into the dairyland of the nation. But manufacture and shipbuilding developed quickly in Manitowoc, with its access through the Great Lakes to endless markets." (Jacobs, p. 1022) Leonard was a veteran of the Civil War, enlisting on 8 Sept 1861 for 3 years as a private in Company A, 1st Regiment, Mechanics Fusileers, though the company disbanded, and he was and discharged on 28 Jan 1862 at Camp Douglas, Illinois. BonnieMargaret Jacobs states that at the time of his enlistment, his occupation was listed as weaver. He reenlisted in 1865 for 1 year in Company D, 48th Regiment of the Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and mustered out 19 February 1866 at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. BonnieMargaret Jacobs cites his Civil War Pension record as No. 696589, filed on 9 Oct 1890. His war record showed him as an engineer. The 1880 city directory listed him as the same. Leonhard appears to have remained in close contact with his family. The Cass City, Michigan paper had several articles over the years mentioning his visits. This brief article appeared one week after the death of Adam Benkelman. "Leonard Benkelman, from Wisconsin, brother of the late Adam Benkelman, is in town and will remain for some time." (Cass City Enterprise Published in Cass City, Mich., Jan. 6, 1898). A few years later, these articles also mention Leonard: Cass City Chronicle November 8, 1901 Local Mentions A farewell party was given at Mrs. J. Schwegler's Monday evening in honor of her brother, Leonard and his niece Miss Cora Benkelman [daughter of Johannes Benkelman], who left for their respective homes in Manitowoc and Portage, Wisconisn, Tuesday. Cass City Chronicle October 30, 1908 Local Mentions Leonard Benkelman of Manitowoc, Wis., is the guest of his sisters, Mrs. Louisa Striffler and Mrs. John Striffler and other relatives. A notice of his death was in the Friday, May 30, 1913 issue of the Cass City Chronicle: "Word has been received of the death of Leonard Benkelman, residing at Manitowoc, Wisconsin. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clark* [nee Mary Jane Clancey] Sunday morning and was buried Wednesday. Mr. Benkelman was a brother of Mrs. M.M. Schwegler and the late Mrs. John Striffler and has visited Cass City a number of times. *It appears from the obituary published in the Manitowoc paper that Leonard actually died in the home of his other daughter, Ella Benkelman Bodwin. Leonhard's step-granddaughter also ended up in Cass City. Cora Horn (daughter of Mary Jane Clancey Horn Clark) married George Albert Striffler, a nephew of Leonhard's. Jane Zimmerman provided the following obituary of Leonard, published in the Manitowoc Daily Herald on May 30, 1913. Leonard Benkelman Manitowoc Citizen Well Known Among German Citizens here From Manitowoc (Wis.) Daily Herald While his comrades, assembled throughout the land for memorial services Sunday, listened to tributes to their deeds of valor, Leonard Benkelman, one of the best known veterans of the county, heard taps sounded and passed on, his death occuring at the home of his daughter, Mrs. John Bodwin at Kings Bridge, due to infirmaties of age. Mr. Benkelman had been looking forward to the Memorial day services in which he had been a participant for years and the keenest disappointment shadowed his last hours when he realized that he could not survive to join with his comrades another year. Mr. Benkelman was born at Brech, Wuertenberg [BonnieMargaret Jacob's writes that Breech was just down and across the road from the Schneiderhof, both near B?rtlingen], Germany, July 5, 1828, and in 1848 came to America, locating at Lancaster, N.Y. where he remained two years and then came to this city where he has since resided. When the civil war broke out Mr. Benkelman responded to the call for volunteers and enlisted in what was known as the First regiment, Mechanic Fussillers, attached to Co. A of which Capt. W. Bates, a Manitowoc man, was in command. Later, after being honorably discharged, Mr. Benkelman enlisted with Co. D, Forty-eighth Wisconsin, and served with the comman in trying experiences on the western plains. He returned here after the war to make his home. Mr. Benkelman is survived by three children, Mrs. William Clark, of this city; William Benkelman, Marion, Wis., and Mrs. J. Bodwin, of Kings Bridge, sixteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. A brother, John Benkelman, Portage, and one sister, Mrs. M. M. Schwegler, Cass City, Mich. also survive. One sister preceded him just two weeks ago. Decedent was well known in the county and was universally esteemed. Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon from the Clark home, 410 Park Street, to St. James Episcopal church and interment will be at Evergreen. Cemetery records, from the Manitowoc County, Wisconsin Genealogy website: BENKLEMAN: [W2-150-3]-[Leonard Benkelman/bur. 05-27-1913/cause: adetic [aortic?] insufficiency/bur. on John Horn lot] (William/d. 25 May 1913/age 85/cause: arterial schlorosis/bur. Evergreen 28 May 1913/from record of St. James Epis. ch., Manitowoc) BENKELMANN: Jane............Aug. 23, 1894 Cem.#44, same name, same year *same, vol.4, p.234 BENKELMANN: Leonard Benkelmann/Co. D. 48th Wis. Inf., ossw: Jane Benkelmann/1830-1894 ossw: CLARKE/HORNE, next to: L. Benkelmann/Co. D/48 Wis. Inf. |
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| 1669 | I11980 | Benkelman | Johann Leonhard "Leonard" | 5 Jul 1828 | 25 May 1913 | 0 | (Research):Census Information: 1860 Census Wisconsin, Manitowoc County, First Ward 8 June 1860 Page 49 (bottom)/Page 50 (top) 389-390 Leonard Brinkleman 30 M Weaver Wurtemburgh Jane Brinkleman 29 F Ireland William Brinkleman 11 M Illinois Mary Brinkleman 8 F Wisc Frederick Brinkleman 3 M Wisc Emma Brinkleman 1 F Wisc Note: William and Mary are Jane's children from her first marriage 1870 Census Wisconsin, Manitowac, First Ward 17 June 1870, Stamped 192 107-117 Bingleman, Leonard 42 M W Carpenter Ireland (sic) Bingleman, Jane 40 F Keeping House Ireland Bingleman, William 21 M Grocery Store Ill Bingleman, Fred 15 M Wisc Bingleman, Emma 11 F Wisc Mary, age 18 is no longer living with her parents. It is possible that she moved to Brown County, Wisconsin, as this is where her daughter, Cora Horn, was born in 1871. On the 1870 Brown County, Wisconsin census, a 19 year old Mary HORAN, House Servant, born in Wisconsin, can be found. This may be Mary Clancey Benkelman, already married but living apart from her husband? Or it may be someone else entirely. Living two households away is a 25 year old George McCORMICK, a teamster from Ireland. McCORMICK is the maiden name of Mary's mother, also born in Ireland. However Jane Zimmerman, a descendant of Leonard and Jane Benkelman, notes that McCORMICK was/is a fairly common name, and she does not know of a connection between Jane McCormick Benkelman and George McCormick. 1880 Census 1st Ward, Manitowoc, Manitowoc, Wisconsin FHL Film 1255434 National Archives Film T9-1434 Page 17 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace Leonhard BINGELMAN Self M M W 52 WURTEMBERG Occ: Engineer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Jane BINGELMAN Wife F M W 50 IRE Occ: Keeping House Fa: IRE Mo: IRE 1900 Census Wisconsin, Manitowoc, Manitowoc Ward 2 9 June 1900 SD 3 ED 72 Sheet 12B 412-227-264 Clark, William Hd W M May 1846 54 M18 NY England England Horse shoer Clark, Mary Wf W F Feb 1852 48 M18 4/3 Wisc Germ Ireland Clark, Cora Dtr W F Feb 1871 29 S Wisc Ny Wisc Clark, Walter Son W M Sept 1883 17 S Wisc Ny Wisc At School Clark, Warren Son W M June 1885 15 S Wisc NY Wisc At School Bingleman, Leonard Father In Law W M July 1828 72 Wd Germ Germ Germ Retired |
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| 1670 | I11982 | Benkelman | Johannes "John" | 3 Apr 1836 | 18 Jan 1917 | 0 | Johannes Benkelmann was referenced as applying to emigrate to North America in 1850 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 indexed with hims were Johann Adam and Catharine Benkelman (1851) and Johan Georg Benkelman (1850). Census records indicate he emigrated in 1852, though German church records show that actually "ist 1851 ausgewandert." BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Johannes, at the age of 15, made the journey to America with his older brother, Adam, and Adam's new wife, Catharina Schaufele. When the three of them left, they not only had to receive a release from the authorities that they had no outstanding debts, they also were required to have someone remaining in Germany to act as guarantor for any unknown debts that might later be discovered. Eldest brother Friedrich act as guarantor for Adam, whereas Johann Georg Stager, a citizen and farmer in B?rtlingen, was the guarantor of Johannes. Johannes arrived in Hamburg to depart for the United States a few days later than Adam and Catherine, June 23, 1851 versus June 19, but BonnieMargaret assumed they travelled on the same ship, (p. 81). He is said to have stayed in New York for some period, presumably with Adam and Catherine, before later leaving for Milwaukee, Wisconsin with another brother, Leonard. Leonard later moved to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, whereas Johannes remained near Milwaukee, in Rock County. It was here that John was married in 1857, and from census records it is apparent he and Sarah moved to several other states before returning to Wisconsin. He was a Private in Captain John Hauser's Company D, 48th Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry from February 1865 to November 1865. His declaration for pension dated February 22, 1907 describes him as 6 feet an one-half inches tall, light complexion, gray eyes and brown hair. His occupation was shown as blacksmith. BonnieMargaret writes that John and Sarah moved from Rock County sometime after the birth of daughter Minnie, going northwest to Columbia County where they were live out the rest of their lives, settling first in Marsalla and later in Lewiston. After John could not longer farm, due to rheumatism, they retired to the town of Portage. (p. 108). The following article appeared in the Cass City Chronicle four months before John's death. An obituary was not located, however. Cass City Chronicle Friday, September 29, 1916 Mrs. M.M. Schwegler left Tuesday for Portage, Wisconsin to visit her brother, John Benkelman, who is in feeble health. Mrs. Schwegler is expected to remain there two weeks. |
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| 1671 | I11982 | Benkelman | Johannes "John" | 3 Apr 1836 | 18 Jan 1917 | 0 | (Research): Census Information: 1860 Census Illinois, Wayne County, DuPage, P.O. Wayne Station Page 358 2630 2681 John Binkleman 24 M Blacksmith $2000 $300 Wittemberg Sarah Binkleman 26 F Penn Emma Binkleman 2 F Ohio Louisa Binkleman 1 F Ohio Wm. Keech 24 M Blacksmith Penn 1870 Federal Census Wisconsin, Columbia County, Marcellon, P.O. Randolph Enumerated 1 June 1870 Page 21, Stamped 213 166-172 Benkelman, John 34 M W Farmer $1000 $428 Wertemburg Benkelman, Sarah 36 F W Keeping House Pennsylvania Benkelman, Franklin 6 M W At home Iowa Benkelman, Minnie A 4 At Home Wisconsin Divina, Mary 25 F W At Home Wertemburg 1880 Federal Census Census Place:Marcellon, Columbia, Wisconsin Source:FHL Film 1255420 National Archives Film T9-1420 Page 17 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace John BENKELMAN Self M M W 44 W?rttemberg Occ: Blacksmith And Farmer Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: W?rttemberg Sarah J. BENKELMAN Wife F M W 45 PA Occ: Keeping House Fa: PA Mo: PA Franklin BENKELMAN Son M S W 16 IA Occ: At Home Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA Minne BENKELMAN Dau F S W 13 WI Occ: At Home Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA Leonard J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 7 WI Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA Cora E. BENKELMAN Dau F S W 3 WI Fa: W?rttemberg Mo: PA 1910 Census Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 1 Enumerated 18 Apr 1910 SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 4B 220-37-38 Benkelmann, John Hd M W 74 m1 52 Ger-German Ger-German Ger-German Benkelmann, Sarah Wf F W 75 m1 52 7/2 Pa Pa Pa Benkelmann, Frank Son M W 46 S Iowa Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs Benkelmann, Lenard Son m W 45 Wd Wisc Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs Benkelman, John Jr Grandson M W 14 S Wisc Wisc Wisc Benkelman, Myrtle Granddtr F W 10 S Wisc Wisc Wisc |
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| 1672 | I843 | Benkelman | John Adam | 26 Apr 1856 | 8 Aug 1952 | 0 | The following biographical information about John was excerpted from the MEMOIRS OF JOHN A. BENKELMAN (By Hilda Jane Stickley, 1966) John said "I went to school in New York State and learned my A B C 's. When we moved to Michigan I was nine years old, the nearest school was too far to walk back and forth each day. I went to the Bird school when I was 12 years old and stayed with a Mrs. Myers who lived near the school and whose husband worked in the lumber woods. Mr Myers did not want his wife (they had no children) to stay alone and so Father said that I could go and stay with her while going to school. I did the chores--brought in the water, cut the wood for cooking and heating. I attended school along with a few other children. During the winter the teacher planned a spelldown with another school near Gagetown. I remember that I was a good speller and got ready for the spelldown by learning to spell all the words in the two books that the teacher let me take home to study after my chores were done." He was spelled down with the name Zachariah, however, taken from a book he had not studied. Wild game was abundant near John's home. John remembered one time when a swarm of wild passenger pigeons nesting in trees all through the nearby swamps. Nor was it unusual for bears to prowl around their log home at night. John related that his father "had bought an old Civil War army musket from a returned soldier and had loaded it ready for use if a bear appeared. He had warned us boys that the gun was loaded and for us not to dare to touch it. One day soon afterwards, I looked across a small field of wheat on John Striffler's farm and saw two deer grazing in the wheat. Mother and Father were away, so I though 'This is my chance!' I sneaked the musket out and went back through the woods on the windward side. When I was in sight of the deer still feeding, I laid down behind a big log and took good aim, pulled down on the trigger. The gun went off with a loud bang, knocking me backwards behind the log, knocking the wind out of me and giving me a few bruises. When I got up I looked over where the deer had been. There was a big buck kicking his last. His horns were so big I was afraid to go near him, so turned and ran for home fast as I could. Mother had just returned, and I told her what I had done. She said 'Your Father will give you punishment for this!' When Father came home we had our supper, but I did not eat much as I was afraid of what he would say or do to me. After a while, Mother said 'John, you tell your Father what you did.' He looked mighty cross after I told him, but did not say a word, but went and got a latern, lighted it and said, 'Come on John, show me where the deer is.' We dragged it home, dressed it out and cut it up. Father made me carry a quarter to Jake Striffler and one to John Striffler the next day. The other half, father cut up in pieces and mother preserved some in a salt brine and the rest was hung in the cold shed to keep for later use. Father never scolded me, but he never loaded the gun again, unless he was taking it to the woods to hunt himself. And I did not have a desire to shoot that old kicking musket off again." John helped his father on the farm, and at the age of 15 he was "a chore boy in a typical Michigan lumber camp of those early days. The camp was about 15 miles North and East of Cass City. The forest extended for miles around us containing all sorts of trees, but the lumbermen were just interested in the pines...I took care of the horses, kept the woodboxes full and helped Kitty Kelley, the cook." The work of the lumbermen apparently impressed John greatly. He related that often he would "steal away from my chores, walk along the pine-fragrant trail and join the men and the excitement of cutting down the big pines. By the time spring came and the ice had thawed in the river, the logs were piled sky high along the bank to be floated down with the swift current to the saw mills in Saginaw. The job of floating the logs down the river was a dangerous one and called for experience and team work. A special crew of men handled this job. They had a river raft which floated along behind the workmen and could be tied to trees along the bank at any time they wanted to stop for the night...(it) was about 100 feet long. Several men followed along the river bank on each side and dislodged the logs that got stuck along the bank and jammed up the current. Then the men walked out on the logs with long poles and pryed them loose. This was dangerous work and some men lost their lives. One day I was supposed to help the men and was trying to loosen some logs with a pole. I lost my footing and fell in the river. The men helped me out. While waiting for my clothes to dry, I decided that was too big a job for a 15 year old boy to do. By this time I had enough of that winter work and told the cook that I was going home. The crew was very sorry to see me leave and I walked back to the farm. Father and Mother were glad to have me home again as well as I was to be there." John met his first wife, Rosina, while on a visit to New York. They were married in 1879. They can be found in the 1880 census. Living with them is 18 year old Christoph Seeger. After the death of Rosina, John moved from Cass City to Kansas, and worked on the ranch of his Uncle George, alongside his brothers George and Ben. He lived there almost 4 years, working for $30 a month. He also was homesteading 200 acres of land adjoining his uncles. He returned to Cass City in 1889. He married for a second time to Augusta Krehl in the spring of 1890. They went on honeymoon to Traverse City, and by boat to Milwakee to see Augusta's father (Frederick Krehl), who was in the Old Soldier's home there. Mr. Krehl gave John power of attorney so he could sell some property he owned in Davenport, Iowa. John took Augusta back home, and later traveled to Iowa to sell the property. He gave her the $1200 proceeds. 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." Cass City Chronicle December 4, 1908 Notice to Taxpayers I will be at B. F. Benkelman's store Cass City, to collect the taxes of Elkland township on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. J. A. BENKELMAN, Treas. Cass City Chronicle November 20, 1908 Local Items The quartet of hunters returned from Hubbard Lake Wednesday evening. They report plenty of game and a good time. Wm. Ball brought home two deer and John Ball one, while they and the other two hunters, J. A. Benkelman and J. C. Lauderbach, exhibited a nice bunch of whiskers which greatly improved (?) their appearance. All of them had great luck in shooting birds-the men, not the whiskers. Cass City Chronicle February 20, 1931 John A. Benkelman published a notice on the first page of the paper to the Elkland Township voters, seeking their support in his candidacy for supervisor of the Republican caucus. His obituary follows: Cass City Chronicle Friday, August 15, 1952 Vol 47, No 16 John Benkelman, 96, Dies in Hospital Friday Afternoon John Adam Benkelman, 96, well-known Cass City businessman and civic leader, died late Friday afternoon, August 8, after spending six days in the Cass City Hospital. The pioneer resident of Cass City had been in failing health for nearly a year. Mr. Benkelman spent eight years as a partner in the Young and Benkelman meat market in Cass City and served over 10 years as a supervisor for Elkland Township. His varied business career also included farming an work in the implement business. He was regarded as an authority on early Cass City area history and was noted for his memory of incidents that occurred during pioneer days in this community. Mr. Benkelman was one of the few men in the entire nation who could remember the hour of Abraham Lincoln's death and the funeral that followed. He was born in Bowmansville, New York, April 26, 1856, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Adam Benkelman. Together with his parents, he moved to a farm in this community when nine years old. Mr. Benkelman married Miss Augusta Krehl in Cass City in the fall of 1890. The couple made their home int he area until Mrs. Benkelman died in 1935. Survivors are: one daughter, Mrs. Marie BROWN of Pigeon; four sons, Glenn of Lakewood, Ohio, Dorus of Cass City, Alvin of Alexandria, Virginia, and John of Detroit; six granchildren; one great-granchild; and one brother, Ben Benkelman of Cass City. One daughter, three brothers, and one sister died before him. Burial was in the family lot in Elkland cemetery. |
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| 1673 | I843 | Benkelman | John Adam | 26 Apr 1856 | 8 Aug 1952 | 0 | (Research):Census Information: 1880 Census Census Place:Elkland, Tuscola, Michigan Source:FHL Film 125 4607 National Archives Film T9-0607 Page 95B RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace John BENKELMAN Self M M W 24 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG Rosa BENKELMAN Wife F M W 22 WERTENBURG Occ:Keeping House Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG Christoph SEEGER Other M S W 18 NY Occ: Farmer Fa: WERTENBURG Mo: WERTENBURG 1920 Census Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Enumerated 21 January 1920 SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 6A FM 123-126 Striffler, William D Fm 124-127 Jaus, John and Maud Fm 125-128 John A. Benkelman Hd M W 63 New York Wurtemberg Germany Wurtemberg Germany Farmer Benkelman, Augusta Wf F W 49 M Iowa Wurtemberg Germany/German Germany/German Benkelman, Dorus Son M W 27 S Mich New York Iowa Clerk in Bank Benkelman, John Son M W 12 S Mich New York Iowa |
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| 1674 | I888 | Benkelman | John Frank | 16 Mar 1920 | 17 Jul 1998 | 0 | Postmaster of San Jose, California. | STR06 |
| 1675 | I12019 | Benkelman | John Frank "Jack" | 19 Jul 1905 | 5 Mar 1989 | 0 | The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, dated September 1, 1947, reported that John started a new agency, Orchestra House, Inc. in 1947. In Volume 16 of the same periodical it was reported that he had been acting in Commercial pictures for Jam Handy and Wilding Productions in addition to continuing his entertainment agency and speech classes in Detroit. Billboard magazine December 24, 1949 Page 39 Music-As Written Detroit: Jack Benkelman, partner in Orchetra House, Detroit booking office, has written the lyrics for "Harvest Hoedown," musical version of "Apple of his Eye." Benkelman expects to have some of the numbers interpolated in the Detroit Civic Light Opera season under the direction of Barrie O'Daniels, opening Christmas day. BonnieMargaret Jacobs referred to him as "Detroit John (Jack)." He was one the family members she personally interviewed when preparing her history of the Benkelman family. |
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| 1676 | I5743 | Benkelman | John Leonard | 25 Oct 1895 | 29 Jan 1947 | 0 | BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that he enlisted in the US Army on 28 Jun 1917, and served as a corporal in Company F, 128th infantry in Alsace, Meuse-Argonne and from July 1918 to April 1919 in the Army of Occupation. He was honorably discharged on May 18, 1919 to return to Portage and pick up his former occupation, which he had listed as farming and butchering. He died in a Veteran's Administration hospital, in Wood County, Wisconsin of advanced pulmonary tuberculosis. Not one attended his burial service, and the flag that draped his casket was sent to his father Leonard in Portage, care of general delivery (pp. 111 and 112, citing WW I service record, serial number 285761, provided courtesy of Harry M. Jackson, Director, Administrative Services of the Veterans Administration) |
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| 1677 | I12013 | Benkelman | Joseph A. | 5 Oct 1889 | 11 Jun 1968 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle January 8, 1909 Local Items, Page 4 Ernest Schwader, Joseph Benkelman, Philip Much and Herbert Wood returned to college at Lansing Monday after spending several days at their parental homes here. Cass City Chronicle October 6, 1933 Local Happenings, Page Four Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benkelman and William Ackerman spend Sunday afternoon at the Adolph Wahl home near Bad Axe. Cass City Chronicle January 21, 1949 Local News, Page 4 Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Benkelman visited with Mr. and Mrs. Adolph WAHL near Bad Axe Sunday afternoon. Cass City Chronicle Thursday, June 20, 1968 Page Four Benkelman rites held Friday Joseph Benkelman, lifelong resident of this area, died Tuesday, June 11, at Hills and Dale General Hospital. Mr. Benkelman, retired farmer, was 78. He had been a patient at Hills and Dale for one day. Mr. Benkelman was born October 5, 1889 in Elkland Township. He and Miss Esther Ackerman were married June 10, 1911 in Cass City. Survivors are his widow and a brother, Ward, of Cass City. Services were conducted at 2 p.m., Friday, by Rev. Ira Wood, pastor of Salem United Methodist Church, and Rev. Stanley P. Kirn, retired pastor. Burial was in Elkland Cemetery. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007) |
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| 1678 | I12675 | Benkelman | Leonard Josiah | 12 Oct 1872 | 8 Feb 1952 | 0 | On his registration card for World War I, he was listed as Leonard Josiah Benkelman, born October 12, 1872 and a resident of Portage, Wisconsin. He was a farmer, tall, slender build, with blue eyes and dark hair. His mother was shown as Sarah Benkelman of Portage. At the time of the 1930 Federal census, Leonard was a boarder in the home of Charles and Julia Langford in Portage, Columbia County, Wisconsin (ED 11-24, SD 9, Sheet 6A, Stamped 69). He was listed as age 58, widowed, born in Wisconsin, and a Farm Laborer. BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that he was cared for by the Dreyer family in his later years, Harold Dreyer being the son of a niece of Friedericke's. (Jacobs, p. 112). |
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| 1679 | I12675 | Benkelman | Leonard Josiah | 12 Oct 1872 | 8 Feb 1952 | 0 | (Research): Census Listings: 1900 Census Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 4 Enumerated 5 Jun 1900 SD 1 ED 21 Sheet 4B 88-92 Benkelman, Leonard Hd W M Oct 1870 29 M 6 Wisc Germany Germay Day Laborer Benkelman, Reaka Wf W F July 1866 33 M 6 2/2 Wisc Germany Germany Benkelman, John Son W M Oct 1895 4 S Wisc Wisc Wisc Benkelman, Myrtle Dtr W F Sept 1899 8/12 S Wisc Wisc Wisc 1910 Census Wisconsin, Columbia County, Portage City, Ward 1 Enumerated 18 Apr 1910 SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 4B 220-37-38 Benkelmann, John Hd M W 74 m1 52 Ger-German Ger-German Ger-German Benkelmann, Sarah Wf F W 75 m1 52 7/2 Pa Pa Pa Benkelmann, Frank Son M W 46 S Iowa Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs Benkelmann, Lenard Son m W 45 Wd Wisc Ger/German Pa Laborer Odd Jobs Benkelman, John Jr Grandson M W 14 S Wisc Wisc Wisc Benkelman, Myrtle Granddtr F W 10 S Wisc Wisc Wisc |
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| 1680 | I36 | Benkelman | Lois Jane | 18 Jan 1905 | 9 Mar 1989 | 0 | Cass City Chronicle Wednesday, March 15, 1989 Page Twelve Obituaries Lois Pease Mrs. Lois Pease, 84, of Hinsdale, Ill., formerly of Cass City, died Thursday, March 9, at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She was born Jan 18, 1905, the daughter of Benjamin and Wilhamena Jesse Benkelman Sr. She married James Pease, who died in 1979. Surviving are a brother, Benjamin F. Benkelman, Jr. of Houston, Texas, a sister, Mrs. Mae Ball of Largo, Fla., 2 nephews and 2 nieces. One brother, Harold, and one sister, Ruth, preceded her in death. Funeral services were scheduled today (Wednesday) at Little's Funeral Home, Cass City, with Rev. Clare Patton, pastor of the Salem United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment was to be in Elkland Cemetery. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer, 2007) |
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| 1681 | I36 | Benkelman | Lois Jane | 18 Jan 1905 | 9 Mar 1989 | 0 | (Research):Census Information: 1930 Census Michigan, Muskegon County, Ravenna Village Enumerated April 3, 1930 by Norman L. Kyle ED 61-44 SD 5 Sheet 1B 28-29 Pease, James E. Hd M W 28 M 23 Mich Mich Mich Teacher Pease, Lois J Wf F W 25 M 19 Mich NY Mich Teacher Pease, Dudley A Brother M W 15 S Mich Mich Mich none Jacobs, Evelyn A Boarder F W 24 S Mich Mich Mich Teacher |
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| 1682 | I1971 | Benkelman | Lottie Christine | 24 Oct 1880 | 1 Jun 1956 | 0 | 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. A Mrs. (sic) Lottie Benkelman of Cheyenne County, Kansas was listed, along with 12 others from that county, in the State of Kansas Directory of State Officers, Boards and Commissions, Issued by J. T. Botkin, Kansas Secretary of State on October, 1915. A PDF of this books can be viewed on Google Books. Cass City Chronicle September 7, 1917 The Week's Doings, Page 4 Miss Lottie Benkelman, who was a guest of Mrs. M. M. Schwegler, returned Thursday to her home in St. Francis, Kansas. Lottie didn't marry until later in life. She had remained at home to care for her parents. She married first Farmer L. Shields and later William Maurice Ball, on 25 September 1954 in Denver, Colorado. As of the 1955 issue of the Striffler-Benkelman broadcast, she was living in Corvallis, Oregon. |
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| 1683 | I842 | Benkelman | Louisa | 9 Apr 1853 | 11 Sep 1924 | 0 | 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) |
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| 1684 | I842 | Benkelman | Louisa | 9 Apr 1853 | 11 Sep 1924 | 0 | (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 |
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| 1685 | I3026 | Benkelman | Luise "Louisa" | 14 Sep 1833 | 22 Oct 1910 | 0 | German Parish records show "ist 1852 ausgewandert" (left for America) in 1852. BonnieMargaret Jacobs wrote that Louise travelled to America at the age of 19, with no other family members to accompany her, however it was likely other villagers made the journey with her. BonnieMargaret speculated that "perhaps her brohters had already spotted one of the Striffler brothers as a likely spouse, and wanted the eligible Louisa on hand." (p. 81). At the time of the 1900 Census, she was living with her son and daughter-in-law, Samuel and Mary Striffler in Cass City. Cass City Chronicle October 28, 1910 Pioneer Lady Laid to Rest- Mrs. Louisa Striffler Passed away Saturday- One of the Pioneers of Elkland TownshipWhose Life Was a Blessing to Others- Death released from her suffering Mrs. Louise Striffler, whose illness had been mentioned several time in the past two months. Her demise occurred at the home of her son, Solomon Striffler, two miles northeast of town. Louise Benkelman was born in Oberamt Weltzheim, Wurtenberg, Germany, on Sept. 14, 1833. About 1850 she came to America and settled at Lancaster, N.Y. A few years later she was united in marriage to Jacob Striffler in that village. In the year 1850 they came to Michigan, settling in Elkland township. Mr. Striffler died 14 years ago. Mrs. Striffler was converted to the Christian faith under the labors of Rev. Henne, a pioneer minister of the Evangelical Church. She was one of the charter members of the church of that denomination at Cass City. Before the society erected a church here, they worshipped many times in the Striffler home which was thrown open with the generous hospitality of the pioneer days. Mrs. Striffler was a good and kind mother and beloved by all her aquantances. She was at home by the bedside of the sick and delighted in all kind and neighborly deeds of helpfulness. Her life was one of usefullness. In such a death there is really no cause for grief. Her life work was done, and well done, and weary of suffering and waiting, she is now at rest. The funeral service was held at the Evangelical church Tuesday afternoon, Rev. J.A. Schweitzer officiating. Interment was made in the family lot in Elkland cemetery. Deceased is survived by two sons, Solomon and Samuel of Elkland township, one daughter, Mrs. Geo. Zinnecker of Owendale, two brothers Leonard Benkelman of Manitowoc, Wisc. and John Benkelman of Portage, Wisc., and two sisters, Mrs. Jno. Striffler and Mrs. M.M. Schwegler. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Spring 2007) A copy of her actual Michigan Death certificate can be seen online here: http://seekingmichigan.org/ Indexed as Louisa Striffler |
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| 1686 | I3026 | Benkelman | Luise "Louisa" | 14 Sep 1833 | 22 Oct 1910 | 0 | (Medical):See attached sources. | STR06 |
| 1687 | I3205 | Benkelman | Margaret McDonald "Bonnie" | 18 Feb 1928 | 10 Jan 2009 | 0 | The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, reported that Bonnie Benkelman was a student at Kansas University. Volume 23 of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, dated September 7, 1963, noted that Dr. Albert Benkelman's daughter, Barbara, husband and four children moved back to Denver from Seattle during the summer. The other daughter, Bonnie, husband and two children moved from Denver to Chicago where he was employed in Montgomery Ward's office. After her death, her daughters authored a website as a place for her family and friends to share their memories of BonnieMargaret: http://rememberingbonniemargaret.wordpress.com/ Her listing on the SSDI: MARGARET M JACOBS 18 Feb 1928 10 Jan 2009 (V) 35401 (Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa, AL ) (none specified) 515-22-5894 Kansas Bonnie also noted on page 5 of her manuscript that although she "may have been Dad's bonnie lass" he never legally changed her name at the time of her adoption, and in the process of trying to get a passport to visit her Aunts in Scotland and the homeland of the Benkelman's in Germany, she decided the most practical course was to begin to use her given legal name, Margaret McDonald. To her Benkelman relatives who had know her as Bonnie growing up, she suggested they call her BonnieMargaret, or whatever they were most comfortable with. Bonnie extensively researched the origins of the Benkelman and allied families, beginning her quest after the death of her father when her cousin Bill asked: "Bonnie, what can you tell me about the family?" She began digging through old family letters and newspaper clippings, visiting relatives in various cities, and even hiring professional genealogists in Germany (Dr. Paul Edel of Aalen and Friedrich Wollmershauser of Stuttgart), and ultimately making a trip to German to view rhe records and the family homes in person. In the preface to her manuscript she said that producing a family history "is remarkably like getting your foot caught in a bear trap. You never intend to find yourself in either mess. It happens accidentally. But once you are committed to it, there is no quick and painless way out of it." Her goal was to publish in 1980, the year her Aunt Lottie would have been 100, and her father 90. She wrote several drafts of the manuscript, before the days of personal computers being widely available, so the long manuscripts were retyped each time. What appears to have been her final draft was completed around 1981. However, as BonnieMargaret was ever the perfectionist she never published or widely circulated her manuscript. Some copies were shared with various relatives, but under strict orders to not copy of disseminate information. Select chapters and drafts of chapters were shared with the family members those chapters pertained to, but the complete draft of the book remained in her possession. After her death, her daughters bequesthed the drafts of her book, along with the voluminous notes and documents used to support her research to the Kansas branch of the Benkelman family. Her history, she said was not a final version, it is a family version. She limited the history to following the Benkelman name, though added there was no Benkelman history without Strifflers, Rommels, Schweglers, Buehrlys, Kolbs, Krapfs, etc etc, and those peopel do pass across the stage, not always remaining. Barney Benkelman of Helena, Montana was kind enough share a copy of the final draft with me (Melinda McLemore Strong) in 2012. |
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| 1688 | I12664 | Benkelman | Maria "Mary" Dorothea | 23 Feb 1857 | 23 Mar 1952 | 0 | BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that Mary Dorothea met and married John Webster Crocker in Saginaw, Michigan, where she had moved to work as a Mother's helper. Cass City Chronicle Friday, March 28, 1952 Page 6 Mrs. Mary Crocker Dies in Saginaw Burial services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Salem United Brethren Church for Mrs. Mary D. Crocker, 95, who died at the home of her daughter in Saginaw Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Crocker, the former Mary Dorothy BENKELMAN, was born in Germany February 23, 1857, and moved to Cass City 75 years ago. She married John Crocker in 1877 in Saginaw. Mr. Crocker died in 1936. Mrs. Crocker was spry and active until death came suddenly. She was a resident of Cass City for many years. Mrs. Crocker was a member of the Evangelical Church in Cass City. Funeral services were held Tuesday morning at the Reitz Funeral Home, the Rev. Carol Lundbom officiationg. Mrs. Crocker leaves a daughter, Mrs. John P. GIBBS of Saginaw; four sons, Louis CROCKER of Cass City; Henry, George and Ben of Saginaw; a sister, Mrs. Rose JOOS of Cass City; 16 grandchildren and 15 great great grandchildren. The Rev. S.R. Wurtz officiated at the services in Cass City and burial was in Elkland cemetery. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong) |
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| 1689 | I1570 | Benkelman | Maria Catharina | 16 Aug 1831 | 9 Dec 1883 | 0 | German Parish records show "ist 1853 ausgewandert" (left for America) in 1853. On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Maria Catharina, g. d. 16t. August 1831 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof. Three of her sisters were on this journey as well. 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] ). |
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| 1690 | I11979 | Benkelman | Maria Dorothea "Dorothy" | 13 Jul 1826 | 5 Jan 1888 | 0 | 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) |
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| 1691 | I1975 | Benkelman | Maria Magdalena "Aunt Lena" | 31 Aug 1845 | 22 Jan 1926 | 0 | Lena was just eight years old when she left for America with her mother and three of her sisters to America. Tragically, her mother died on the long journey. German Parish records simply show "nach Amerika Ausgewandert." On the Oberant Welzheim Emmigrants list, 1818-1891, She is listed as Magdalena, g. d. 31t. August 1845 ledig, and travelling in a party headed by her mother, Maria Dorothea, the widow of Johann Leonhard Benkelmann, a farmer of Schneiderhof. 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] ). Upon her arrival to the United states, she first lived in Lancaster, New York. BonnieMargaret Jacobs writes that she may have moved to Wisconsion at the same time her older sisters Dora and Catharina did, around 1859. She married George Deverney, a union army soldier, in 1864. According to pension records, after the war George and Lena moved to Columbia County, Wisconsin, near Marsala, which is where her brother Johannes Benkelmann lived with his wife Sarah. By the time of the 1870 federal census, Lena was living in the home of her brother John in Marcellon, Wisconsin. She was shown as Mary Divina (Deverney), but her husband was not present in the home. George Deverney was said to have died a few months after this census (7 August 1870), so perhaps he was hospitalized, or already dead? Sometime after Lena was widowed, she moved from Wisconsin to Colorado live with her brother George, in Denver, Colorado. She can be found in his home at the time of the 1880 census. Mary M[agdelena] Deverney filed for a widows pension in Kansas, application number 424528, Certificate number 315555 on June 5, 1890. In 1891, she moved to Cass City, where she spent her remaining years. BonnieMargaret also writes that Lena was the only woman listed as a claim holder in the early land records of Cheyenne County, Kansas. Bonnie writes that "When beloved Aunt Lena re-joined the family in Cass City in 1891, Sam and John (Benkelman) build for her the first home she'd ever really had that was her own. Since she was orphaned at age 8, she'd spent her life with one or another of her brothers and sisters. At age 46, she finally had a home of her own. She married Johannes Schwegler, a widower, also from near B?rtlingen. After Catherine Benkelman was widowed from Adam, she moved in with Lena, and they remained close companions for the rest of her life. Cass City Chronicle Cass City, Michigan "Thirty-five years ago: January 24, 1896" (Published on Friday, January 23, 1931) 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. Cass City Chronicle November 8, 1901 Local Mentions A farewell party was given at Mrs. J. Schwegler's Monday evening in honor of her brother, Leonard and his niece Miss Cora Benkelman, who left for their respective homes in Manitowoc and Portage, Wisconisn, Tuesday. Cass City Chronicle June 24, 1904, page 4 Mrs. M. Schwegler and Miss Esther Striffler went to Elkton Thursday to attend the Evangelical campmeeting which is being held there this week. Cass City Chronicle Friday, September 29, 1916 Mrs. M.M. Schwegler left Tuesday for Portage, Wisconsin to visit her brother, John Benkelman, who is in feeble health. Mrs. Schwegler is expected to remain there two weeks. OBITUARY Cass City Chronicle Friday, January 29, 1926 Aunt Lena Schwegler Answers Summons- Funeral Services of Respected Citizen were held Monday- Mrs. M.M. Schwegler passed away at her home on East Main Street on Friday morning, January 22, after an illness of two weeks with heart trouble. She was 80 years of age and is the last of a family of 10, five brothers and four sisters preceding her in death. Mary Magdalena Benkelman was born in Wurttemberg, Germany, on August 24, 1845*. She sailed for America with her mother and two small sisters when she was eight years of age. They were 58 days enroute during which time the mother was buried at sea, leaving three little girls to complete the journey alone. [*BonnieMargaret Jacob's writes (p. 150) that "Lena always celebrated August 24 as her birthday, and would have loved the joke if she'd known it. Her actual birthdate, as recorded in Waldhausen parish, was August 31, 1845. As the last of 16 children, one can imagine that the entire family just threw in the towel on keeping track of birthdates.] Miss Benkelman spent her youth in New York State. From there she went to Wisconsin, and later to Denver, Colorado and Kansas. She came to Michigan in 1891 and the same year was united in marriage with John Schwegler. Mr. Schwegler passed away in 1901. Mrs. Schwegler was greatly interested in the temperance movement and for many years was a very active member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union at Cass City. She was also a member of the the Woman's Missionary Society of the Evangelical church. Mrs. Schwegler had an unusually large number of friends, and young as well as older people were made happy in her presence. The joy of her life was to be able to help others and many a person has been made happier by her expressions of love and friendship. She was called "Aunt Lena" outside of the kinship as well as by her nephews and nieces, and held in great respect by all who knew her. Funeral services were held at the Evangelical church Monday afternoon and were conducted by Rev. C. F. Smith, the pastor, and Rev. C.L. Pohly of Sebewaing, a former pastor at Cass City. Interment was made in Elkland Cemetery. Friends from out of town at the funeral included Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Craw, of Caro, Mrs. Clyde Fox, Mrs. Haist and George Klump, all of Saginaw. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong) |
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| 1692 | I1975 | Benkelman | Maria Magdalena "Aunt Lena" | 31 Aug 1845 | 22 Jan 1926 | 0 | (Research):Census Information: Census Information: 1870 Federal Census Wisconsin, Columbia County, Marcellon, P.O. Randolph Enumerated 1 June 1870 Page 21, Stamped 213 166-172 Benkelman, John 34 M W Farmer $1000 $428 Wertemburg Benkelman, Sarah 36 F W Keeping House Pennsylvania Benkelman, Franklin 6 M W At home Iowa Benkelman, Minnie A 4 At Home Wisconsin Divina, Mary 25 F W At Home Wertemburg 1880 Census Census Place:Denver, Arapahoe, Colorado Source:FHL Film 125 4088 National Archives Film T9-0088 Page 25 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace John G. BENKELMAN Self M M W 49 WURTEMBERG Occ: Live Stock Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Christina BENKELMAN Wife F M W 48 WURTEMBERG Occ: Keeps House Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG George W. BENKELMAN Son M S W 17 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Charles A. BENKELMAN Son M S W 14 CO Occ: Schoo lFa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Henry J. BENKELMAN Son M S W 12 CO Occ: School Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG George A. BENKEMAN Other M M W 28 NY Occ: Cattle Dealer Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Barbara BENKEMAN Other F M W 27 WURTEMBERG Occ: None Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG Mary DEVERNES Other F S Wd 36 WURTEMBERG Occ: Seamstress Fa: WURTEMBERG Mo: WURTEMBERG 1900 Census Michigan, Tuscola, Elkland Twp, Cass City Village Enumerated 6 Jun 1900 by A.C. Gillis SD 8 ED 111 Sheet 3B 61-61 John Schwaglurs Hd W M Aug 1834 65 M 8 Germany Germany Germany 1853 47 Na Day Laborer Mary Jun? Mary M Wife W F Aug 1845 54 N 8 Germany Germany Germany 1853 47 |
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| 1693 | I852 | Benkelman | Marie Lelia | 18 May 1899 | 25 Oct 1987 | 0 | She lived with her daughter Doris Ruth (sic), at the time of her death. | STR06 |
| 1694 | I8391 | Benkelman | Mary Barbara | 8 Oct 1926 | 9 May 2007 | 0 | The Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, Volume 10, September 1, 1947, wrote that Mary Barbara Benkelman graduated from Colorado Women's College of Denver. Volume 23 of the Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, dated September 7, 1963, noted that Dr. Albert Benkelman's daughter, Barbara, husband and four children moved back to Denver from Seattle during the summer. The other daughter, Bonnie, husband and two children moved from Denver to Chicago where he was employed in Montgomery Ward's office. She is shown on the SSDI as M. Barbara Park, with her last residence as Littleton, Colorado. |
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| 1695 | I846 | Benkelman | Mary M. | 2 Oct 1858 | 6 Jun 1874 | 0 | Benkleman, Mary M,d. 6 Jun 1874, 15y 2m 8d, d/o A & C Source: http://www.interment.net/data/us/mi/tuscola/casscity/index.htm BonnieMargaret Jacobs (p. 153) writes that she died in an outbreak of Scarlet fever in 1874, as did four of her young Striffler cousins. |
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| 1696 | I4006 | |||||||
| 1697 | I4003 | |||||||
| 1698 | I6525 | Benkelman | Myrtle | 24 Sep 1899 | Apr 1984 | 0 | At the time of the 1920 Federal Census, Myrtle was a roomer in the home of Thomas and Gladys Carey of Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin (SD 3, ED 60, Sheet 9B). She wsa listed as age 20, single, and a Telephone Operator. She and Frank were married and parents of Donald at the time of the 1930 census. Art Peck shows she died in Madison, Wisconisn, no date listed. The SSDI seems to indicated her last residence was actually Houghton, Michigan. MYRTLE MARX 24 Sep 1899 Apr 1984 49931 (Houghton, Houghton, MI ) (none specified) 388-26-9543 Wisconsin |
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| 1699 | I3993 | |||||||
| 1700 | I2773 |
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