Samuel G. Benkelman

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)

Samuel married Lydia Striffler on 17 Oct 1882 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Lydia (daughter of Christian Striffler and Anna Maria "Mary Anna" Rommel) was born in Jan 1859 in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan; died on 16 May 1887 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Samuel married Mary Striffler on 28 Nov 1888. Mary (daughter of Joseph Striffler and Rosina Margaretha Ballbach) was born on 8 Dec 1860 in Madison, Monroe County, Missouri; died on 5 Aug 1952 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

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


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


Cass City Chronicle
Friday, May 24, 1929
Obituaries

Mrs. Bruce Williams

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

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

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

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

(Research):
Census Information

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

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

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

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

Notes:

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)

Joseph married Esther Selma Ackerman on 10 Jun 1911 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Esther (daughter of William Akerman and Marie Wittwer) was born on 12 Feb 1888 in Minden City, Sanilac County, Michigan; died on 9 Feb 1980 in Caro, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Wednesday, February 8, 1989
Cass City Michigan
Page Four

Ward Benkelman

Ward William Benkelman, 94, lifelong resident of Cass City, died Friday, Feb. 3, at Hills and Dales General Hospital after a short illness.

He was born Feb. 15, 1894, in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, as son of Samuel and Mary (Striffler) Benkelman.

He married Miss Anna STEINMAN Dec. 8, 1925, in Cass City. He was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church of Cass City, and had served in World War I with the United States Army.

He is survived by his wife, Anna, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held Monday at Little's Funeral Home, Cass City, with Rev. Clare Patton, pastor the Salem United Methodist church, officiating.

Interment was in Elkland Cemetery, Cass City.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Ward married Anna Steinman on 8 Dec 1925 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Anna was born on 8 Sep 1899 in Chandler Township, Huron County, Michigan; died on 20 Feb 1996 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
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)