Samuel G. Benkelman

1857 - 1940  (83 years)

• Name	Samuel G. Benkelman  [1, 2, 3]
  Birth	26 Aug 1857	Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York   [2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Death	22 Dec 1940	Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan   [2, 3, 4, 5]
  Burial	25 Dec 1940	Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan   [2]
  Notes	Bonnie-Margaret Jacobs wrote that "Sam Benkelman, brother of Little George, John and Ben, also came west in 1880 for the wedding of Little George. He took one look at Kansas and high tailed it back to Denver where he spent two years as a carpenter for the D&RG railroad...then returned to Cass City where he devoted his life to residential construction. He apparently built most of the homes of all of our relatives there. " Cass City Chronicle August 18, 1899 Chroniclings, page 8 Sam Benkelman is travelling in the interest of the Wettlaufer & Ratz Manufacturing Company, and will visit Saginaw, Mt. Pleasant and other points. Cass City Enterprise April 3, 1902 Local Happenings, Page 1 S.G. Benkelman is now manager at the Cass City Foundry, the former manager, Ed Brotherton, being engaged in putting in the new machinery for the Cass City Brick and Tile Co. Cass City Chronicle August 28, 1936 Page 4 Samuel G. Benkelman experienced a genuine surprise Wednesday evening when a number of relatives and friends came to his home on East Third Street to celebrate his 79th birthday. A potluck supper and euchre were enjoyed. Mr. Benkelman received many nice gifts. Cass City Chronicle Friday, December 27, 1940 Death Called Two Well Known Citizens Sunday-Chas. D. Striffler and Samuel G. Benkelman Have Long Resided in Elkland Samuel G. Benkelman, who had been a resident of Elkland Township for 73 years, died at his home on East Third Street. Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Angus McPhall residence. Rev. Paul J. Allured of Kinde, former pastor of the Cass City Presbyterian Church, officiated. Burial was in Elkland Cemetery. Samuel G. Benkelman was born in Bowmansville, New York, August 26, 1857, and came to Elkland Township with his parents, Adam and Catherine Benkelman, in 1865. Since that time with the exception of two years spent in Colorado, he has lived in this township. During 1882 and 1883, he was employed in railroad construction on the line from Pueblo, Colorado, to New Mexico. For many years he was engaged in farming on the Elkland-Greenleaf town line and on a farm one-half mile north of Elkland Cemetery. In 1913, he constructed a comfortable residence on East Third Street and since that time he and Mrs. Benkelman have resided in Cass City. He spent several years in working at the carpenter trade and there are many pieces of woodwork such as lamps, candlesticks and checkerboards in his home which are truly a work of art. They were a hobby of his for years. When Mr. Benkelman retired about seven years ago, he decided to keep himself busy by making things out of wood that he had never before found time to make. For some time he was manager and part owner of a foundry here. Mr. Benkelman was of a quiet, reserved nature, and although he never sought office, he was elected to the position of village trustee and as chief of fire department. Mr. Benkelman's first wife, the former Lydia STRIFFLER, passed away in 1887. Their son, Benjamin, died in infancy and their daughter, Mrs. Bertha WILLIAMS, May 16, 1929. He was married to Miss Mary STRIFFLER in 1888. Besides his widow, he is survived by two sons, Joseph and Ward BENKELMAN, and two brothers, John A. and Benjamin F. BENKELMAN, all of Cass City. Both brothers are spending the winter in Florida. (Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong) (Research):Census Information: 1900 Census Michigan, Tuscola County, Cass City Enumerated 9 Jun 1900 A.D. Gillis SD 8 ED 111 Sheet 5B HH 109-112 Adam (b. 1861 NY) and Susan MUCK (b. 1862, NY) HH 110-113 Bankleman, Samuel Hd W M August 1857 42 M 18 NY Germany Ger many Bankleman, Mary Wife W F Dec 1861 48 M 18 3/3 Mo Germany Germany Bankleman, Bertha Dtr W F August 1883 16 S Mich NY Mich Bankleman, Joseph Son W M Oct 1889 10 S Micg NY Mo Bankleman, Ward Son W M Feb 1894 6 S Mich NY Mo Striffer, Joseph F in Law W M Spet 1826 73 W 40 Mich (sic) NY (sic) Mo (sic)
  Person ID	I844	Strong Family Tree
  Last Modified	19 Jan 2021

  
  

  Father	Johann Adam Benkelman,   b. 13 Feb 1825, Waldhausen Parish, Welzheim, Jagstkreis, W?rttemberg, Germany d. 30 Dec 1897, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 72 years)
  Mother	Anna Catharina Schaufele,   b. 23 Aug 1823, B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany d. 23 Dec 1906, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 83 years)
  Marriage	24 Feb 1851	B?rtlingen, G?ppingen, Donaukreis, W?rttemberg, Germany   [6]
  	Catharina and Adam were married in B?rtlingen. On May 16, 2002, Ingolf Vogel noted that "The Kingdom of W?rttemberg was made up of four Kreises - the Neckarkreis, the Schwarzwaldkreis, the Jagstkreis and the Donaukreis. These Kreises were much larger than today's Kreises. Each of them was divided into so-called Ober?mter which are more similar in size to today's Kreises. The Oberamt for B?rtlingen was Kirchheim.. Incidently the Oberamt Kirchheim was the only Oberamt of the Donaukreis west of the Schw?bische Alb (a mountain range). B?rtlingen (today Kreis G?ppingen) has only 745 people listed in it's telephone directory, so it probably doesn't have more than 2000-3000 inhabitants. Adam and Catharina were married in February, 1851, and in June, 1851 they were formally released from the Kingdom of W?rttemberg and would be free to emigrate.
  Documents		B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg Founded 1202 B?rtlingen is a small German village founded in 1202. It is in southwest of Germany in the Schwabish Alps, a few miles outside of G?ppingen. The church on the bottom left of the card is the Evangelische Johanneskirche, the same church in which Catherine and Adam Benkelmann were married before departing for America.
  		B?rtlingen, W?rttemberg, Evangelische Johanneskirche, Summer 2006 Evangelische Johanneskirche in 2006. This is the same church in which Adam Benkelman and Catherine Schaufele were married in in 1851.
  Family ID	F28	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	Lydia Striffler,   b. Jan 1859, Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan d. 16 May 1887, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 28 years)
  Marriage	17 Oct 1882	Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan   [2, 3, 4, 7]
  Children	1. Bertha C. Benkelman,   b. 1 Aug 1883, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan d. 16 May 1929, Almena, Norton County, Kansas (Age 45 years)   2. Benjamin Frederick Benkelman,   b. 12 Apr 1885, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan d. 28 Sep 1885, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 0 years)
  Family ID	F618	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Jul 2013

  
  

  Family 2	Mary Striffler,   b. 8 Dec 1860, Madison, Monroe County, Missouri d. 5 Aug 1952, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 91 years)
  Marriage	28 Nov 1888  [2, 3, 4]
  	Lorraine Smith Benkelman transcribed the following letters from Salome to her brother, George Albert November 29, 1888 Today is Sam and Mary's wedding day. Rev. N. Wienderlich performs the ceremony. I was not invited....
  Children	1. Joseph A. Benkelman,   b. 5 Oct 1889, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan d. 11 Jun 1968, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 78 years)   2. Ward William Benkelman,   b. 15 Feb 1894, Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan d. 3 Feb 1989, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan (Age 94 years)
  Family ID	F619	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	3 Jul 2013

  
  

• Event Map		Birth - 26 Aug 1857 - Bowmansville, Town of Lancaster, Erie County, New York Marriage - 17 Oct 1882 - Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan Death - 22 Dec 1940 - Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan Burial - 25 Dec 1940 - Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos » Slide Show		Benkelman, Samuel G. (Thought to be) This was in a grouping of tintypes originally belonging to Louisa Benkelman Schwegler. These tintypes appear to be of she and her brothers, all children of Adam and Catherine Benkelman of Cass City. Alvin Benkelman, Jr., a great grandson of of Adam and Catherine, believes this to be a photo of their son Samuel G. Benkelman. This is based on his comparsion to other photos of Sam at various ages his father's collection. PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THIS ASSUMPTION
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) ca 1878, Family Portrait TOP ROW: Identified by Marjory Schwegler Battel, granddaughter of Lousia, to be l to r, standing, Sam (age 19), Ben Sr. (age 15), John (age 22), and George (age 27) BOTTOM ROW: from left to right, seated, Will (age 17), Louisa (age 25), Catharine (55) and Adam (53). This is likely correct, however several descendants of Ben Sr instead believe he is seated next to his sister, Louisa, and elder brother Will is standing, second on the left. It was probably taken near the families farm in Tuscola County, Michigan.
  		Benkelman, Samuel G with daughter Bertha and wife Mary This photo of Sam with his daughter, Bertha, appears to have been shortly after he married his second wife, Mary Striffler, ca 1888, Cass City, Michigan.
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catharina (Schaufele) Children, after 1910 Top Row, L to R: Louisa Schwegler, John Benkelman, George Benkelman of Denver Bottom Row, L to R: Will Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Sr., Sam Benkelman Marjory Schwegler Battel indicated that she thought we had the order correct, with the possible exception of Ben Sr and John. However, descendants of both men are sure they are labeled correctly as is.
  		Benkelman, Adam and Anna Catherine (Schaufele) Descendants ca 1912 Family Reunion Back, Standing, l to r: Mae Benkelman, Kate Schwegler, John Benkelman Sr., Ester Ackerman Benkelman, Minnie Jesse Benkelman, Joe Benkelman, Augusta Krehl Benkelman, Dorus Benkelman, Will Schwegler, Ward Benkelman, Ben Schwegler, Sam Benkelman Middle Row, kneeling, l to r: Alvin Benkelman, Harold Benkelman, Ruth Benkelman, Marie Benkelman (standing), Lena Benkelman Schwegler, Barbara Rommel Benkelman, Louisa Benkelman Schwegler Bottom Row, seated, l to r: Bertha Benkelman, Glen Benkelman, Ida Benkelman, Lottie Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Sr. behind his nephew John Donald Benkelman, Lois Benkelman, Ben Benkelman Jr., Alice Ross Schwegler with her baby Edward William Schwegler, and ,facing left, Mary Striffler Benkelman (Mrs. Sam) (Legend Courtesy of Bonnie-Margaret Benkelman Jacobs)
  		Benkelman Brothers ca mid 1920's (Sons of Adam and Catherine Benkelman) Alvin Benkelman, through both memory and photo comparison, believes the brothers are standing in the following order, L to R: George, Ben Sr., John, Samuel and William. All five were sons of Adam and Catherine Benkelman of Cass City. PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THESE ASSUMPTIONS.
  		Benkelman Brothers with their wives, mid 1920's (Sons of Adam and Catherine Benkelman) Front Row, L to R: Possibly Alice McDougall Benkelman, Mary Striffler Benkelman, Augusta Krehl Benkelman, Possibly Barbara Rommel Benkelman, Minnie Jesse Benkelman and Samuel Benkelman Back Row, L To R: Thought to be George, William, John, and Ben Sr. PLEASE HELP US VERIFY THESE ASSUMPTIONS.
  		Benkelman, Samuel ca 1937, with his wife, Mary (Striffler), and other friends and family Sam and Mary at the annual Striffler-Benkelman Reunion, September 1937 L to R: John A. Benkelman, UNKNOWN, Mary (Striffler) Benkelman, Samuel G. Benkelman, Ben Benkelman, Sr. PLEASE HELP US IDENTIFY THE UNKNOWN YOUNGER MAN.
  		Benkelman, Samuel with his wife, Mary (Striffler), Berry Picking, July 1938 This photo of Samuel Benkelman and his wife Mary was taken a few years prior to Sam's death. It was labeled, apparently in error, "Sam (80 yrs) and Lydia (77 yrs) Benkelman berry picking, July 1938" Lydia was Sam's first wife, and predeceased him by many years.
  		Striffler, Charles ca 1880's and Benkelman, Sam Charles Striffler (l) with his friend Sam Benkelman (r)

  
  

• Sources

  [S337] Benkelman, Hilda Jane Stickley THE MEMOIRS OF JOHN A. BENKELMAN (Privately Published, 1966). [S653] Cass City Chronicle, P.O. Box 115, Cass City, Michigan 48726, Published continously since 1899, archived from 1899 through 2005 at http://newspapers.rawson.lib.mi.us/chronicle/, Friday, December 27, 1940 (Reliability: 3). [S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 133 (Reliability: 3). [S492] Peck, Edward Arthur THE TEN BENKELMANS WHO EMIGRATED TO AMERICA Ca. 1850s AND CERTAIN OF THEIR DESCENDANTS, 1982. [S595] Striffler-Benkelman Broadcast, (Family Publication, published sporadically to record family milestones in connection with the annual Striffler-Benkelman Family Reunions, with Vol. 1, Number 1, published Sept. 7, 1936. Issues on file at the Rawson Memorial Library in Cass City, Michigan include Vol. 5 (1941), Vol. 7 (1944) and Volumes 8 (1945) through Vol. 28 (1968). Issues published from 1961 through 1964 were not assigned volume numbers, and 1963 appears to be missing. Xeroxes of the existing issues were also made by Melinda McLemore Strong in 2007. According to a article published by the Cass City Chronicle on August 6, 1981, commemorating the Fiftieth and Final Striffler-Benkelman Reunion, the final issue of the STRIFFLER-BENKELMAN BROADCAST appears to have been Volume 28, published in 1968.), Volume 5, September 1, 1941 (Reliability: 3). [S1610] Jacobs, BonnieMargaret McDonald "The Family Benkelman" Unpublished Manuscript, 276 pages, October 1981 Version, (Copy owned by Barney Benkelman, Helena, Montana; which he xeroxed and sent to Melinda McLemore Strong in San Antonio, Texas), p. 95, 128 (Reliability: 3). [S577] Dibean, Jack & Marianne "Michigan Marriage Index" http://www.mifamilyhistory.org/dibeanindex/.