Recently, a relative asked me if we had any blacksmiths in our family tree, and I couldn't answer the question without doing a little research. So I reread Wilson's wonderful book on the "Descendants of Haincz Schutenhelm" and reviewed my own records in search of a blacksmith. Here is a summary of what I found about the jobs that the Schuttenhelms/Schittenhelms/Shedenhelms have held and the vocations that they have followed... since 1400.
Heinrich...SCHNEIDER (TAILOR)
Cunz...MAHLER (PAINTER-ARTIST)
Heinrich...MAHLER AND BAUMEISTER (MASTER BUILDER)
Peter...MAHLER
Hans...MAHLER
Caspar...GOLDSCHMIED (GOLDSMITH)
Nordlingen was a center of trade in its day and many of our earliest ancestors (cited above) were involved in it.
Heinricus...OBERRICHTER (SENIOR JUDGE)
Burkhard...BAUER/FARMER
Heinrich...MULLER (MILLER) AND GROSSHANDEL (MAYOR)
Wilhelm...BAUER
Wendell...RICHTER (JUDGE)
Matthias...BAUER
Philipp...MAYOR OF AACH
Michael...BAUER AND MULLER
Philipp...MAYOR AND JUDGE
Adam...BAUER
Cyriacus...BAUER
By the 1600s the most popular variation of our surname became Schittenhelm. Also, during this same time period, most of our ancestors were farmers- which held the top place among our family's chosen occupation until quite recently (and it still might). Also, please notice our family's involvement in civic service. They were mayors, city officials, and judges for generations in Germany and they continued to be involved in local government in places like Tiffin, Ohio and Ladora, Iowa. Finally, it is plain to see that many of our ancestors held two jobs or more.
Heinrich... METZGER (BUTCHER) AND MAYOR
Hann der Beck... BACKER (BAKER)
Johannes...BAUER AND KIRCHENPFLEGER (CHURCH CARETAKER)
Johannes W....WEBER (WEAVER)
Johannes...SAGER (SAWYER/LUMBERJACK)
Georg...SCHUHMACHER (SHOEMAKER)
Michael... FLOSSER (RAFTSMAN)
Cyriacus...WAGNER (COACH BUILDER AND WHEEL MAKER)
Johann Ludwig...WEINGARTNER (VINE PRESSER)
Johann Jacob...FORSTER (FOREST RANGER)
Adam...RESTAURATEUR (RESTAURANT MANAGER)
Jerg...BAUER UND GASTWIRTH (INNKEEPER)
Johann...ARBEITER (LABORER)
Jakob...ERBLEHENSBESTANDER (OVERSEER OF CASTLE PROPERTY)
Matthias...ERBPACHTER (HEREDITARY TENANT)
Friedrich...BAUER AND FLOSSER
David...FLOSSER, SACKWALTER (LAWYER), ZIMMERMANN (CARPENTER)
A lot of research. Hundreds, even thousands, of names... but not a single blacksmith! Finally, I came to our family in America and I had better luck. The Shedenhelms/Sheetenhelms/Shetenhelms have been predominantly farmers since they arrived in America- in Maryland, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, and wherever they have been. They pursued farming as a vocation, but in recent years, that has changed. Many of our family members have pursued careers as teachers, counselors, store managers, and businessmen and women. Others have become artists, musicians, publishers, entrepreneurs, computer wizards, and even ministers. Our vocations are as diverse as the workplace itself... and the record shows that we have two members of our family tree who were (at least part-time) blacksmiths! One of these was John Sheetenhelm, grandson of Jakob Sheetenhelm, George Shedenhelm's older brother. The other is Grafton Shedenhelm's older brother, Levi Adam, who joined the Rosenberger wagon train... as they moved from Ohio to Ladora, Iowa in 1853. Once he had settled in Ladora, the record shows that Levi Adam was a farmer, teacher, storekeeper, stagecoach station manager... and a BLACKSMITH. Can I get an "amen!"
amen
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