SHEDENHELMS LIVING IN IOWA- 1940

SHEDENHELMS IN IOWA- 1940 CENSUS

If I publish this in our book, it will be in better form. Please remember that this was 1940, not long after the great depression and before most of were born. Later, our numbers will be much higher. Also, please help me fill in any names of Shedenhelms who had a new surname after marriage. I cannot find Madison or Hilton, Iowa.

Myrene Shedenhelm  52  Head of household  Madison, Iowa  monthly rent-$25

Gale Shedenhelm  18  (with Myrene in Madison)

Duane Shedenhelm 15 (see above)

Betty Shedenhelm 14 (see above)

Clarence Shedenhelm  56  Center, Iowa

Don Shedenhelm 34  Head of Household Hilton, IA  Farmer  Home Value-3,000

Leona Shedenhelm 35  (see above)

Lorraine Shedenhelm 10 (with parents)

Shirley Shedenhelm  2 (see above)

Lizzie Shedenhelm  74  widowed  578 Court Ave. Marengo

O.F. Shedenhelm  66  Head of Household 358 W. Pine St. Marengo  Home Value-4,000

Alice Shedenhelm 67  (see above)

Mary Glene Shedenhelm Yetley  33  spouse  Green Mountain, Iowa

Madeline Myrene Yetley  11  (with parents)

Darlene Marjane Yetley  8  (see above)

Meradean Yetley  6  (see above)

Juanita Shedenhelm Fisher  31  spouse  Carlton Iowa

Kenneth Fisher (listed Fiskar) 33  Carlton  Farmer  HV- 2,000

Marjorie Fisher  9  (with parents)

Cheryl Fisher  7  (see above)

Elaine Fisher  4  (see above)

Evalyn Shedenhelm Nace  19  Hartford  Husband, farmhand, 1939 Income $300

Robert Shedenhelm  68  Head of household 1014 Pearl St., Grinnell  Mechanic  HV- 2800

Leona A. Shedenhelm 60  (see above)

Leona L. Shedenhelm 16

Cora Shedenhelm  68  Widowed  Ladora  Home Value-1500

Harry Shedenhelm 43  Single   Ladora  Laborer

Ray Shedenhelm 34  Warren  Farmer

Cecilia Shedenhelm  30 (see above)

Harry Shedenhelm  43  Ladora  Laborer

Robert Shedenhelm 19  Ladora  Mechanic  1939 earnings- $710

Melvin Shedenhelm (listed Sheldenhill) 53  34 Graves St., Ottumwa  HV- 1800

Bertha Shedenhelm 51  spouse

Eugene Shedenhelm 19

Dale Shedenhelm  16

Kenneth Shedenhelm  13

Phoeba Shedenhelm  60  Hilton, Iowa

Russell Shedenhelm  24  son Hilton  Farmer

Ray Shedenhelm  15

Harold Shedenhelm  28  Summer, Iowa  Farmer  Income in 1939- $600

Vivian Shedenhelm  26

Mary Elizabeth Shedenhelm  82  Grandmother  rural Marengo

Cecil Shedenhelm  25  grandson  Farmer  (same address)

Maxine Shedenhelm  24

Terry Shedenhelm  1

Treva Shedenhelm Adler  33  Spouse  Ottumwa, Iowa
Ray Adler  38  Head of Household  Ottumwa  Laborer  HV 1500, income in 1939- 1200

Eva Shedenhelm Rounceville  28  Spouse  Ottumwa, Iowa
Frank Rouceville 32  Head of Household  Ottumwa Laborer  HV 1500,  Income in 1939- 1500

Leona Shedenhelm Morehouse 30  Spouse
Howard Morehouse  27  Head of household 114 Caldwell St., Ottumwa  Laborer 1,000 income
Betty Morehouse  6
Shirley Morehouse 5

SHEDENHELMS IN NEWSPAPERS

      As part of my genealogy work, I subscribe to Newspapers.com... to gather information for the book I am writing... and because I simply enjoy reading newspaper articles and announcements about "Shedenhelms" (in its many variations). Weddings and funerals are frequently cited and there are all sorts of sports stories (e.g. Kurt and Kevin Shedenhelm wrestled in Iowa and Hunter Shedenhelm plays basketball in Ohio). If you read the news accounts about our family, it becomes clear that many of them were successful farmers and more than a few were successful in other fields of endeavor. I found a few stories that I was't particularly proud of (e.g. one of our relatives was jailed for stealing pigs), but in the main, I was again reminded that our family consists of the very people who made America great! 
      A full account of news stories pertaining to our family is well beyond the scope of this article, but I have decided to share a small segment of the public record concerning "Shedenhelms." PLEASE CONTRIBUTE WITH PHOTOS AND STORIES IF YOU CAN.

1. August 29, 1872 (The Tiffin Tribune)
      "A colt was stolen from the "Shedenhelm" farm, 3 miles NW of Tiffin. A liberal reward will be given."

2. May 30, 1878 (The Tiffin Tribune)
      "George N. Shetenhelm sold 45 acres to N. Litter, Liberty Township (for) $4005,"

3. November 16, 1878 (The Tiffin Tribune)
      "G.N/ Shetenhelm sold 80 acres to G. Shedenhelm, Pleasant Township (for) $2700."

4. Sept. 22, 1892 (The News-Frederick, MD)
      "Some little excitement was caused last Saturday night by a horse attached to an empty cart, dashing down main street at a lively rate." On the way into town, the horse was startled and threw Simon Lighter and Charles Sheetenhelm out of the cart. The news article ends simply by saying, "Mr. Sheetenhelm has his pants badly torn."

5. March 13, 1894 (The Weekly News- Frederick, MD)

      "John C. Sheetenhelm, et. al., to Robert Lease, 194 acres of land, $9721.68."

6. August 25, 1916 (The Des Moines Register)
      " After an eight-year fight to secure patents to protect their rights.... Robert Shedenhelm, a farmer residing near Ladora, Iowa, and H.S. Butler, Vice-President of Iowa National Bank, are beginning to reap the benefits of a patented road grader and filler. The new road machine will be manufactured in Grinnell.

7. March 9, 1935 (The Daily Mail- Hagerstown, MD)
      This story notes that an "Anne Arundel County magistrate" claimed that he was "pressured" to make favorable decisions "by the county Sheriff and by Deputy Murray Sheetenhelm."

8. March 29, 1937 (The Daily Mail- Hagerstown, MD)

      'Nine horses and a number of chickens and calves perished in a fire that destroyed a barn and five outbuildings on the farm of Ezra Sheetenhelm, near McKaig. The damages were valued at $8,000.

9.  November 18, 1938 (The Sandusky Reporter)

      Concerning the dogs that have been attacking animals in our area, "one of them was a ewe, valued at $8, on the farm of Paul Shedenhelm, in Adams Township.

10. April 28, 1940 (The Sandusky Register)
      "Thomas N. Shedenhelm, 94, oldest resident of this vicinity and last Civil War Veteran of Green Spirings. He was born April 21, 1846 in Pleasant Township. He was the son of Granton (sic) and Mary Elizabeth Schull (sic). He was a retired farmer.

11.  May 2, 1940 (The Williamsburg Shopper)
      "O.F. Shedenhelm, of Marengo, has declared his candidacy for County Supervisor." He has held this position previously and record shows that he has never been "assailed as being in contravention of fairness and equity.

12. Feb. 26, 1943 (Lansing State Journal)

      "When Arthur Shetenhelm, a veteran of WW1, was released from army service this week to return home to work on his farm in Vermontville, wisdom was shown."  

13. February 5, 1944 (The Sandusky Register-Ohio)
      "A heart ailment was fatal to Charles Shedenhelm, 61, prominent in Fremont civic affairs. Mr. Shetenhelm was a director of the National Bank of Fremont and an active member of the Fremont Yacht Club."

14. March 19, 1944 (The News-Frederick, MD)
      "Sheetenhelm's Sale, March 20. This is a big sale of excellent live stock and equipment, Two miles from Frederick, Smith Farm, Bellinger Pike"

15. July 8, 1944 (The News)

      "For the second time in a little more than a year, Staff Serge. Harry Gordon Sheetenhelm, was reported wounded in action by the War Department." 

16. January 14, 1946 (The News-Frederick)
      "Reuben Sheetenhelm Lease" died at his home in Hansonville. "He was the son of Robert E. and Mary Sheetenhelm Lease (and for awhile) "he owned the Lease farm one mile east of Frederick."

17. I must mention Clark Sheetenhelm, who was frequently mentioned in news accounts throughout the 1940s and 50's... because his orchestra (Clark Sheetenhelm & His Orchestra) was quite popular.

18. Dec. 10, 1960 (Daily Press- Newport News, Va."

      "Capt. Philip E Shetenhelm succeeds Paul Pfingstag as Shipyard's Naval Supervisor"

19. May 22, 1965 (The News-Messenger- Fremont, OH)

       "Bob Shetenhelm threw a one-hitter Friday afternoon (but his team lost 3-1) in the opening game of the regional tournament."

20. December 19, 1966 (Traverse City Record-Eagle)
      "A Cadillac man was saved after falling through the ice while fishing in the Cadillac river." The man was saved by John Thompson and Gerry Shetenhelm, 22, who were fishing nearby.

21. May 7, 1989 (Lansing State Journal)

      "Joe Shetenhelm is the Lansing State Journal's Carrier of the Month. He's a junior at Charlotte High and enjoys algebra, chemistry, and history, Joe was also an all-conference football player... "

22. May 21, 1994 (Lansing State Journal)

      Charlotte completed a perfect Capital Circuit softball season, with six runs in the 7th inning, sparked by Anna O'Connell's double and Holly Shetenhelm's run-scoring triple..."

23. March 13, 2019 (Columbus Dispatch)

      Newark stayed close against Pickerington North in a Division I boys basketball regional semifinal — but then the Wildcats were hit by an unbelievable shooting display from Hunter Shedenhelm in the third quarter. Shedenhelm made all four of his three-point attempts in the quarter, scoring 16 of his 28 points and leading the Panthers to a 61-46 win.     

OUR 3rd GENERATION IN AMERICA, part 2 G- GRAFTON M SHEDENHELM

      George and Catherine Lease Shedenhelm's youngest son was named Grafton McClellan, He was born in Apple Ridge, Maryland in 1813 and he accompanied his parents when they moved to Ohio. Grafton is my 2x great-grandfather... and he may well be one of your great-grandparents too because he gave birth to many Shedenhelms/Shetenhelms in America.                              

Grafton Shedenhelm

      The record shows that Grafton bought 80 acres of land in Seneca County, Ohio in 1834 and another 40 acres in 1835. Indeed, he purchased a considerable amount of wooded land and instead of clearing it for farming, he built his own saw-mill, which he operated for decades. In a section entitled "Shedenhelm Crossing," Warner, Beers & Co. (1866) noted that "Grafton Shedenhelm established a saw-mill about 35 years ago which he has carried on to this day. The capacity is about 5,000 feet per day." (History of Seneca County, pg. 637) It is apparent, then, that Grafton was a entrepreneur who took advantage of the trees that covered his land. According to the 1850 Federal census, Grafton owned property already valued at $3000... and this was before his saw-mill became all that it would become. We also know that he built one of the first brick homes in the county.

Mary Elizabeth Shaull

In 1834, Grafton married Mary Elizabeth Shaull/Schall, who was the daughter of John David Schall and Elizabeth Kime. They had 10 children; George Nicholas (1836-1913), Henry David (1838-1923), Reuben Wm. (1839-1904), James Washington (1841-1924), Elizabeth Jane (1842-1903), Catherine Malinda (1843-1910), Thomas Monroe (1846-1940), and Levi Jacob (1848-1912).
      On August 9, 1849, Mary Elizabeth died and on September 5, 1850, Grafton married her half-sister, Catherine Malinda Schall, who was born to John David Schall and Jane Margaret Blue. Grafton and Catherine Malinda had 11 children together: John Grafton (1852-1926), Samuel Scott (1854-54), Rebecca Ellen (1855-1911), Margaret (1856-1925), Frances (Frank) Marion (1858-1926), Ida (1860-1885), Elizabeth (1860-1921), Joshua McClellan (1861-1926), Mary Lucinda (1863-1933), Clinton (1865-65), and Winfield Scott.

Catherine Malinda Schall Shedenhelm

      Grafton would marry one more time, but he reared all of his children with one of the Schall "sisters." We will turn our attention to Grafton's family when we consider our next generation, but it is clear that if you are related to anyone of the men cited above, or to the Tuman's. Neville', Farver's, Culver's, or Slaymaker's (who married Grafton's girls)... you are related to me and scores and scores of other Shedenhelms in America. Joshua McClellan is my great-grandfather and I am in communication with several Shetenhelm's who direct ancestor is Joshua's older brother, Frank.

OUR 3rd GENERATION IN AMERICA- PART 1G- LEVI ADAM SHEDENHELM

       As noted earlier, three of Frederick and Maria Barbara Shittenhelm's four children moved to Ohio to take advantage of the land deals that were available at the time. Jacob, was their first-born land, and he stayed in the Frederick, MD, with his wife and five children. Jacob's younger sister, Elizabeth, and her husband. Nathan Brasher, Jr., seemed to have settled in Ohio at an early date and they reared 10 children on a farm there. Elizabeth's younger sister, Catherine, also relocated to an Ohio farm with her husband, Anthony Eckhart. The children of these three siblings- the Sheetenhelms, the Brashears, and the Eckharts, constitute the 3rd generation of our family in America... along with the children that belonged to George Shedenhelm and Catherine Lease. Since George is my 3x great-grandfather, I will begin with his family.
      When George Shedenhelm and Catherine (Shedenhelm) Lease moved to a family farm near Tiffin, Ohio. they were accompanied by their sons, Grafton McClellan and his older brother, Levi Adam... who became a successful member of Hopewell Township himself. Hopewell Township was little more than wilderness when its first election was held on December 25, 1824, and it is interesting to note that Shedenhelm family associates. John Stoner and John Rosenberger, were elected as trustees at that time. Later in time, 1846-1852, Levi Shedenhelm served as a trustee in his own right. Levi might have remained in Seneca County for the rest of his life, except that he had married Margaret Elizabeth Rosenberger. It is impossible to talk about the Shedenhelm family without talking about the Rosenberger family and, for that matter, the Schall family because their lives and journeys were intertwined for decades.
     Levi's father-in-law, John Anthony Rosenberger, was a significant figure in Seneca County, Ohio, serving as Justice of the Peace for 33 years, but he was also an adventurous man who became aware that land was being sold for $1.25 an acre in Iowa. So... on September 5, 1853, he organized a team of 26 wagons and set forth from Bascom, Ohio, for Marengo, Iowa, which was 520 miles away. The wagon train from Ohio arrived in Marengo 23 days later, on September 28, 1853, but since John Anthony and his wife, Catherine Schall, were deeply religious people, they did not travel on Sundays. Land was "cheap" in Iowa at the time, and Levi Shedenhelm, who was an integral part of the team, purchased 800 acres of rich Iowa farmland over the course of time. Many of our ancestors did well in Iowa, but it wasn't easy for them. Their land had to be cleared and they had to travel to Iowa City (45 miles away) to purchase the goods and supplies they needed. In addition, the early settlers were threatened by "barn-burners," who set fire to their buildings and grain to drive them out of Iowa. Indeed, several of our ancestors returned to Ohio until the barn-burners were subdued. Nicholas Rosenberger, however, refused to leave, choosing instead to stay and defend his property. He built the first, and at the time, the only, cabin between Marengo and Millersburg, Iowa, and it was in his house that a group of settlers decided to hold a town hall meeting in Marengo, where they would resolve to stand together against the "barn-burners," and threaten retaliation against them in the future.
      In any event, the Rosenberger-Shedenhelm-Schall family made a significant contribution to both Sumner and Hartford Townships in Iowa County. When Hartford Township was originally organized, 1854/55, Anthony Rosenberger was elected as a trustee and Levi Shedenhelm was elected as the township's first clerk. The first land entries in the township belong to Alexander Reynolds and J.A. Rosenberger, and the first school, a frame building costing $500, in the township, was called the "Shedenhelm" school. The first church in the township was called the "Ohio" chapel. John Anthony Rosenberger was known as the "Bishop of Iowa County," and the original members of the church he started were: himself and his wife, Catherine; their son, Nicholas and his wife, Hannell; their son, Michael B and his wife, Lavina; John and Nancy Bair; Levi A. Shedenhelm and his wife, Martha Ellen Rosenberger; their son, John Nicholas Shedenhelm and Mary C. Shedenhelm; Daniel Broachey and his wife, Mary; Anthony Rosenberger, and Elizabeth Rosenberger.  Just as they had done in the Tiffin area of Ohio, the Shedenhelms made substantial, early contributions to Iowa as well.
      Along I-80, west of Iowa City and the Amana Colonies, there is an exit to the small town of Ladora. If you take that exit and drive toward town, you will come across the aforementioned Ohio Methodist Chapel and the Ohio Cemetery, which is the resting place of many of our family members and their cohorts who helped build this part of central Iowa before and after our Civil War. Below is a sampling of the graves that relate to us:

Catherine Shaull Rosenberger 1792-1876

Elizabeth Jane Shedenhelm Bricker

       
             

John Anthony Rosenberger

Tribute to John Anthony Rosenberger & Catharine Shaull

Ann Catherine Shaull Shedehelm

"Ohio Chapel"

      Levi Adam Shedenhelm was a farmer, a blacksmith, a storekeeper, and a stage coach station manager. Tax records show that, in 1860, Levi owned 600 acres of land (80 of which had been improved) worth $7,000 in Hartford County, Iowa. In comparison, 1850 records show that he owned 160 acres (100 improved) of land worth $2,000 in Hopewell County, Ohio.

Levi Adam Shedenhelm

Margaret Elizabeth Rosenberger Shedenhelm

Pictures that you may find interesting

      Before I enter these pictures into our family tree and digital library, I will share them with you:

Kenn and Sherry Shedenhelm Wedding 1967
l-r- Gale Shedenhelm (with gun). Lutheran Pastor, me, and Randy Shedenhelm

Baby pictures of my father, Gale Shedenhelm

Grafton McClellan Shedenhelm

Larry Shedenhelm top, left and right
Larry being held by his father, Gale Shedenhelm
Botton right- Me, Larry, and Randy

Left- Gale Shedenhelm with sister, Evelyn behind tree
right- Gale with his mother, Myrene Simmons Shedenhelm and Evelyn in back

JAKOB, GEORGE, ELIZABETH, AND CATHERINE- OUR 2nd AMERICAN GENERATION

      Let me begin by reminding readers that the spelling of "Shedenhelm" varied widely from the beginning. In our time, we're prone to think that someone is not related to us if he or she spells their surname in a different way than we do. For instance, there was a time when I would not have thought that I was related to the "Shetenhelms" in Michigan, or the "Sheetenhelms" in Maryland, or the "Schiedenhelms" in Illinois...but I am! Of greater concern to researchers is the fact that spellings differed considerably for the same person, depending on the census taker's interpretation of the name. In preparing for this blog, I had trouble verifying the marriage of Frederick Shittenhelm's daughter, Catharine, to Anthony Eckhart... until I discovered that her last name was entered as "Sheetinghelm." Likewise, I had trouble finding Jabob (Jakob) Shittenhelm in the 1830 Federal census until I discovered that he was listed as "Seatenhelm." Be careful not to draw a circle that excludes relatives you may have... or even varying spellings of the ones you know you have.
      Having noted that, I will turn my attention to our 2nd generation in America. First, the record shows that they were all farmers and that three of them- George and his two sisters- relocated to Ohio when Ohio's land deals became too good to refuse. Indeed, this is exactly what many of their ancestors did when they left Ohio for Iowa and Michigan. Farmers, especially those who were not in line to inherit the family farm, moved west to claim the American dream for themselves. Thus, the record shows that George Shedenhelm purchased land in Seneca County, Ohio in 1832 and that Catherine Sheatenhelm was settled with her husband, Anthony Eckart, in Falls, Ohio by 1830.  We also know, although the details are sketchy, that Elizabeth and her husband, Anthony Brashear(s) Jr., we're settled in Ohio at an early date, but Frederick's first-born son stayed in Maryland.
      According to the 1800 Federal Census, Jacob Shettenhelm was living in Liberty, MD. at that time, and according to the 1830 census, Jacob Sheatenhelm/Seatenhelm, was living in District #9 of Frederick, MD. with his wife and three "children," one of whom was a teenage boy and two of whom were young women over 20. We know that 1) Jacob lived from June 28, 1777 to New Year's Day of 1836, and 2) he married a woman named Mary Walter. 3) with whom he had 5 children. 4) We also know that on May 11, 1807 Jacob purchased 130 acres of "Middle Plantation" from Thomas Walter for 700 English pounds ($1000 at the time), and that Jacob Sheetenhelm was our family's first miltary veteran, serving in the Maryland Militia during the War of 1812 under Captain Samuel Duvall (a 3rd cousin of mine from the Simmons' side) from August 3-Oct. 3, 1814.
      Jacob's younger brother, George Shedenhelm (my 3x great-grandfather) lived from January 10, 1782, when he was born in Frederick County, MD. to October 26, 1852, when he died in Seneca County, Ohio. We know that, 1) in May of 1832, George purchased 160 acres of land "near Wolf Creek, 3 miles north of Tiffin, Ohio," and that 2) he married Catherine Lease (1785-1875) on March 11, 1805. (Please note that some researchers believe that George married Catherine Slaymaker instead of Catherine Lease and a few others suggest that he married Ms. Slaymaker first and then Ms. Lease. These are minority opinions, however, and they are without documented proof that I have found.) George Shedenhelm was an early settler in Seneca County, Ohio and he seems to have enjoyed a successful life there. George's last Will carried his final words, and with these words, George made these things clear: 1) all funeral expenses and just debts must be paid first, 2) all of his real estate and personal property would go to his "beloved wife, Catherine;" 3) his son-in-law, Aaron Ruse, was not to receive any more of his property; 4) the grandchild who was living with him (1852) would receive $150; 4) all other assets and money should be divided equally among his heirs, except for the aforementioned Aaron Ruse; 5) after his wife, Catherine, died, all property should be equally divided among his living heirs (except Ruse), and 6) that his sons, Levi Adam, and Grafton McClellen would be co-executors of his Will. George and Catherine Shedenhelm are buried in Fravell Shaull Cemetery.

                                                                                   

Catherine, wife of George Shedenhelm

     Elizabeth Schidenhelm was born in Frederick County, MD.  on June 30, 1779. She was baptized in the German Reformed Church on August 22, and she married Nathan Brashear, Jr. in 1796. We know that they were living in Frederick when the 1800 Federal Census was taken, but it is difficult to trace their steps after that, probably because the name Brashear is listed in many different ways. However, we do know that they had 10 children and that most of them lived and farmed in Fairfield County, Ohio. There is one record suggesting that Nathan and Elizabeth relocated to Ohio as early as 1817, That seemed a bit too early to me initially, but there is no doubt that they left Maryland early on.
      Catharina/Catherine Sheatenhelm was Frederick and Maria Barbara's youngest child. She was born on September 27, 1788 in Frederick, MD, and she married (listed as Sheetinghelm) Anthony Eckhart on September 13, 1806... six miles from Frederick Town, MD. Interestingly, the record shows that Anthony also served in the War of 1812 and that he served as a Corporal under Captain Samuel Duvall (who was the same officer whom Jakob Sheetenhelm served under). Like George Shedenhelm and Nathan Brashears, Anthony Eckhart was enticed by the land deals in Ohio,... and by 1830, we know that he was living with Catherine and his children in Falls, Ohio.

      Jacob and Mary had 5 children; George and Catherine had 6 children; Elizabeth and Nathan had 10 children; and Catherine and Anthony had 10 more. Their kids are my first cousins, several times removed.  There are 31 of them... and they constitute the 3rd generation of our family in America, many of whom had moved west to Ohio.

   

FREDERICK SHITTENHELM- OUR 1st AMERICAN GENERATION

      In the fall of 1766... Frederick Schittenhelm (aka. Shittenhelm/Schittenhelm) boarded the ship "Betsey" with 153 other Palatines... and set sail for Philadelphia through Rottenberg. The Palatines hailed from SW Germany and they emigrated in large numbers for a number of reasons. Some of them were seeking peace following all the wars that had affected their lives. Some of them were seeking a more comfortable place to practice their religion, especially if they lived in places where there was a lot of Catholic-Lutheran-Calvinist tensions. Some of them were attracted by the stories they heard from relatives who had already emigrated. Some of them were simply adventurous, but most of the Palatines who immigrated to America were seeking economic opportunity. Thus, even in the face of ordinances that threatened punishments for those who left Wuerttemberg, they made the trip to Rottenberg and set sail on a long and harsh trip to America.
      Some of the passengers (1/3-1/2) were able to pay for their passage to America and, after they took an Oath of Allegiance, they were free to go about their lives in their new land. But the many immigrants who could not pay for their passage were not allowed to pursue their dreams until they had paid their debt by working for an "employer" as an indentured servant. Would-be employers met ships as they docked, hired those who could not pay for their passage, paid for their trip themselves, and then "hired" their new employees as "indentured" servants until their debt was paid. On average, those who were indentured worked for their "employers" for 4 years before they were "redeemed," but the time period varied from case to case. It was a difficult and sacrificial journey to America, and I haven't even mentioned the crowded conditions and spoiled food that the passengers endured, or the sickness and death that often occurred. For most of the immigrants it was a one-way trip because they would never see their homeland again... but even so, the men of the Palatinate came to America in great numbers. Indeed it is estimated that there were between 70,000 and 100,000 Palatines in Pennsylvania by the time of the American Revolution and, while they were respected for their work ethic and commitment to their families, a number of influential Americans became concerned about their willingness to assimilate and their loyalty to the King of England. With this in mind, a law was passed in 1727 that required all adult male immigrants from the Palatinate, whether they could pay for their passage or not, to take an oath of allegiance before they settled in America. When he arrived in Philadelphia on October 13, 1766, Frederick Shittenhelm signed an oath of allegiance and joined others in reciting this verbal oath: "We subscribers, natives and late inhabitants of the Palatinate on the Rhine... do solemnly promise... that we will be faithful and bear true allegiance to King George II and his successors."

Depiction of Meeting House in Philadelphia
Arriving immigrants pledged their allegiance to the King in buildings like this

      With these words Frederick Schittenhelm was free to get about his life in America, or if he didn't have the money to pay for his fare, he would have begun his work as an indentured servant. I have not been able to determine which course he was obliged to follow, nor have I been able to determine if he traveled with, or met up with, relatives or friends from his native land. There were many Germans from the Palatinate already in Pennsylvania. Some of the lived in and around Philadelphia and it is known that they would often meet and welcome new arrivals. Whether Frederick was welcomed by someone who provided a community and a temporary home for him, or whether he had to work as an indentured servant for years, I don't know... but I do know that he "appears" on the historical/genealogical record when his eldest son, Jakob, was baptized in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Middletown, MD. on July 11, 1777. Based on other church records, we also know that Frederick and his wife were living in Frederick County, MD. when their remaining children were baptized: Elizabeth (1779); George, possibly named in response to the oath which Frederick had taken upon arrival in America, (1782); and Catharina (1789). It looks as if Frederick was settled in Frederick county, MD. when the Revolutionary War started... and he himself "showed up" on the 1790 census as a resident of that area.

Evangelical Reformed Church
Frederick, MD
1848

Evangelical Lutheran Church
Frederick, MD
1851

By 1790 Frederick, MD. had become home to many Palatine Germans, and it was also home to the Amelung Glass Co., which was founded by John Frederick Amelung in 1784.  Amelung crossed the Atlantic with enough material to build three glass factories and with 50-60 skilled tradesmen whom he had recruited for the task. Today, the only building that remains is an Old Tavern on Mt. Ephraim Road, but at it's peak, Amelung's factory and self-sufficient community covered 3000 acres along Bennet's Creek and employed nearly 500 people. Since the census of 1790 was taken by men who gathered information as they walked from neighborhood to neighborhood, we can discern people who lived next to one another... and since Frederick Shittenhelm is included among men who were known to work for Amelung, it is reasonable to assume that he worked for Amelung Glass Company at that time, especially when we remember that Frederick already lived in the area when the glass factory was hiring hundreds of men.
      We don't know much about Frederick Shittenhelm, but we know these things: 1) his father was a farmer and a flosser (rafter) back in Germany; 2) instead of following in his dad's footsteps or joining his brother in a law practice in Germany, Frederick immigrated to America in 1766, at the age of 33; 3) by 1777, Frederick had settled in Frederick county, Maryland where is children were baptized; and 4) in 1790, Frederick is listed among men who were known to be employees of the Amelung Glass Company (see Wilson's book). In addition to this, land records show that 5) under the name of Schutenhelm, Frederick purchased 103 acres of land in 1792 and 6) according to the 1800 Federal Census, Frederick and his wife were living with a female, age 10-16, in Liberty Town District, #7. Although it's not mentioned in the Census, it is almost certain that this female was their daughter, Catharina, who was born in 1788.

Depiction of Amelung Glass Factory

      Frederick (1733-1808) and Anna Barbara (1756-1820) had four children: my 4th great-uncle, Jakob (b. 1777), my 4th great-aunts, Elizabeth (1779) and Catharina (1788), and my 3x great- grandfather, George, who was born in 1778. These four people- Jakob, George, Elizabeth, and Catharina- comprise the 2nd generation of our family in America.