As part of my genealogy work, I have subscribed to Newspapers.com from time to time... and I really enjoy reading the 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 dominated college wrestling in Iowa when the attended the University of Northern Iowa). 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."
1. 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."
2, 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.
3. 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."
4. 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"
5. January 14, 1946 (The News-Frederick)
"Reubern 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."
6. I must mention Clark Sheetenhelm, who was frequently mentioned in news accounts throughout the 1940s... because his orchestra (Clark Sheetenhelm & His Orchestra) was quite popular.
7. 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."
8. May 30, 1878 (The Tiffin Tribune)
"George N. Shetenhelm sold 45 acres to N. Litter, Liberty Township (for) $4005,"
9. November 16, 18781 (The Tiffin Tribune)
"G.N/ Shetenhelm sold 80 acres to G. Shedenhelm, Pleasant Township (for) $2700."
10. 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.
11. 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."
12, 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.
13. 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.
14. 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.
15. 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.
