"SHEDENHELMS" IN AMERICA

      I am anxious to begin a comprehensive study of the "Shedenhelm" family in America, knowing full well that it began with my direct ancestor, Frederick Schittenhelm, who emigrated from Aach, Germany in 1766. However, I would love to have your partnership because there are a lot of Shedenhelm's in America... by several different surnames!
      I searched the 1800 US census and found 2 "Shedenhelm"- Frederick Shettenhelm (whom we know as Schittenhelm) and Jacob Shettenhelm, both living in Liberty, Maryland.
      By 1840, our census listed the following family members: John Shitenhelm of Washtenaw, MI., Grafton Shetenhelm of Seneca, OH. (whom we've always considered "Shedenhelm"), Thomas Sheetenhelm of Frederick, MD., Levi Shedenhelm (Grafton's son), George Shedenhelm/ Schidenhelm (Grafton's father), and Reuben Sheetenhelm of New Market, MD. At this point in time, it's beginning to look like the family who stayed in Maryland have settled on the surname, "Sheetenhelm," whereas the predominant surname among our Michigan branch is "Shetenhelm."
      By 1860, the census listed 51 people with our surname, including Ludwig, John, and Jacob Schutenhelm of St. Louis, Lissy Schutenhelm of Hanilton, OH, Sophia Schuettenhelm of Washtenaw, MI; Fred, Jacob, and Jaobina Schittenhelm of Hamilton, OH., Matilda Shedenhelm of Pleasant Township, OH., Elizer, Reuben, and James Shedenhelm of Hartford Township, IA, and Mary Sheitenhelm of Indiana.
      In 1870, the following family names, among others, appear: Elizabeth Shettenhelm of Ohio; , Theodore, John, Fred, Simond, and Edmund Schettenhelm of PA; Frederick Schittenhelm of PA; George, Orpha, Emil, and Minerva Shetenkelm of OH; Denia Scheittenhelan of NY; Martin and Josephine Schatenhellien of OH; Oscar, John N., Susanna, Mary E., William T Shedenhelm of IA; Auther and Anna Sheetenhelm of MD; Louis, John, Margaretta, Charles, and Christian Scheidenhelm of IL; and William Schuttenhelm of NY..
      As the 19th century unfolded, surnames became fixed- even sacred- but until then, census takers, employers, church administrators, and bill collectors spelled them as they thought they heard them.
      I will do my best to work on this porject in the months ahead, but if you have any stories, photos, or names, please share them with me at RevKen104@gmail.com. Thanks.  PS. Even a cursory Internet search will reveal what important work our ancestors (ie. Schittenhelm/Schuttenhelm) are still doing in Germany!

A MATTER OF TIME

      Based on a timeline developed by Laurence M. Wilson (The Descendants of Haincz Schutenhelm), I am presenting a short timeline of my own... to put our family events is perspective.

9 AD          Romans control land west of the Rhine
800AD      Charlemagne (who is related to some of us) crowned 1st Holy Roman Emperor
1000          Leif Ericson discovers North America
1099          Crusaders take Jerusalem
1187          Muslims retake Jerusalem
1348-65     Black Death kills 25 million Europeans
c 1380       Family patriarch, Haincz Schutenhelm is born
c 1440       Gutenberg invents the printing press
1477          University founded at Tubingen, Wurttemberg
1482          Judge Heinricus Schuttenhelm knighted in Stuttgart
1492          Columbus "discovers" America
c 1530       Progenitor of Schwarzwald line of family- HannB Schuttenhelm- born
1534          Martin Luther posts "95 Theses"
1555          Lutheran states receive equal rights with Catholic states
1608          1st Germans- carpenters and glass makers- arrive at Jamestown
1618-48    30 Years War devastates Germany
1683          1st prominent German settlement in Pennsylvania
1709-11     Thousands of Palatines emigrate to Hudson River valley and Pennsylvania
1727           German population reaches 20,000 in Pennsylvania
1766           Friedrich Schittenhelm emigrated to America from Aach
1774           Jacob Schittenhelm inherited Sterneck Castle and estate
1775-83     German Hessians and other mercenaries fight in American Revolution
1806-13     Bavaria and Wurttemberg elevated to status of kingdoms
1815          Napolean defeated at Waterloo
1836          Battle of Alamo
1844          Jacob Sheathelm emigrates from Dornstetten to Michigan
1843-59     Large wave of German emigration
1854          Matthias Schittenhelm emigrated to America
1861          Ludwig Scheidenhelm emigrated to America
1861-65    American Civil War- 23% of Union soldiers German-Americans
1871          Germany formed- King William 1 became Kaiser
1884          Gottfried Schittenhelm emigrated to America