Our 3rd Generation in America- Mary and Catherine Shedenhelm

      In 1766, Frederick Schittenhelm and his wife emigrated from Germany to America, where they built a life together in Maryland and reared four children: Jacob, George, Catherine, and Elizabeth. These four people comprised the 2nd generation of our particular branch of the Shedenhelm family tree in America. Their journey began in Aach, Germany. They settled in Frederick County, Maryland and many of them stayed there. Others, however, continued to moved west and migrated to Ohio, where land prices were attractive.
      Jacob and his wife, Mary Walter, had five children (three of whom married into the Lease family- Mary, Thomas, Catherine, Delilah, and Reuben, George and his wife, Catherine Lease, had six children: Levi, Elizabeth, Henry, Grafton, Mary, and Barbara. Elizabeth and her husband, Nathan Brasher, Jr. had ten children: Freeman, Barbara, Nancy, Owen, Esther, Solomon, Catherine, Elizabeth, Hiram, and Perry. Catherine and her husband, Anthony Elkhart also had ten children: Betsy, Susan, Barbara, Catherine, Levina, Lewis, Eden, Polly, Grafton and John.
      Taken together, thus first group of cousins represents the 3rd generation of Shedenhelms in America. Jacob's children were Sheetenhelms, George's children were Shedenhelms (except Barbara), Elizabeth's children were Brashears, and Catherine's children were Eckharts.... but they were family. By 1840, many of them had migrated to Ohio, and by 1855, many more had moved to Iowa. Grafton's son, Frances (Frank) relocated to Michigan and embraced the surname, Shetenhelm, which is the most dominant form of our name in Michigan to this day. One branch of our family found their way to Oregon, another to California, and yet another made Illinois their home. We may encounter some of these people as we move along, but in the beginning... the 3rd generation of our family in America consisted of 31 people.
      As I approach 70, I know that time will not allow me to experience the joy of discovering the rich lives that most of these relatives lived. We will encounter some of them from time to time... but my primary focus will be on George Shedenhelm, my 3x great-grandfather, and his descendants- and most especially on Grafton Shedenhelm, my 2x great-grandfather and his many children. Since we have already discussed two of George's sons- Levi Adam and Henry- I will offer a few comments about his daughters before I move on to Grafton.  Catherine Sheatenhelm married Anthony Eckhart and they had 11 children together. Like many others in our family, Catherine and Anthony migrated to Ohio and, in 1860, they were farming in Falls Township in Hocking County, Ohio. Indeed, in 1860, Anthony owned property valued at $3000 and the record also shows that his son, Eden, farmed nearby at that time. Finally, Catherine;s sister, Elizabeth, married Nathan Brashear, Jr, who belonged to a well-established American family. In fact, according to the 1790 Federal census 25 Brashears/Brashares were identified as "heads of households."

"SHEDENHELM" GRAVES IN AMERICA

      As I travel around the country, I like to visit family graves because it allows me to connect with lives that were lived not so long ago. I suspect that most people have more compelling interests, but if you're a little bit like me, I am presenting a list of where our family members are resting in peace. This list is drawn from Find A Grave as of 12-12-2015.

SHEDENHELMS- ILLINOIS

Danville National
Paul James Shedenhelm 1915-2000
Betty Shedenhelm 1917-2003

SHEDENHELMS- IOWA

Oak Hill Cemetery (Belle Plaine)
Ruth Ann Shedenhelm 1940-2004

IOOF Cemetery (Marengo)
Phyllis Kibler Shedenhelm  1927-
Alice Slaymaker Shedenhelm 1873-1926
Oliver F. Shedenhelm 1873-1976
Grafton Wm Shedenhelm 1876-1940
Phoebe Yearian Shedenhelm 1879-1946
Harold "Busty" Shedenhelm 1911-2000
Vivian W Shedenhelm 1913-1998
Jacob Wm Shedenhelm 1910-1937
Lois Shedenhelm 1914-1914
Russell Grafton Shedenhelm 1916-2000
Levi Jacob Shedenhelm 1843-1912
Martha Wood Shedenhelm 1847-1915
Maxine Burrell Shedenhelm 1922-2013
Martha Shedenhelm-Slaymaker 1846-1918
Duane Dean Shedenhelm 1924-2015

Grandview Cemetery (Grandview)
Lovell Shedenhelm Gast 1907-1994

Cedar Rapids Memorial (Cedar Rapids)
Ray F Shedenhelm 1924-2012

Dobson Cemetery (Garwin)
Cecil Mervin Shedenhelm  1914-2007
Maxine Shedenhelm           1915-2012

Guernsey Cemetery (Guernsey)
Ray Clarence                  1899-1979
Cecelia M Shedenhelm  1910-1985

Highland Memorial Gardens (Des Moines)
Lt. Gale A Shedenhelm                1921-1977
Stella Sylvester Shedenhelm        1924-2015

Memorial Lawm Cemetery (Ottumwa)
Violet Scott Shedenhelm 1918-2001

Mt. Moriah Cemetery (Douds)
Anna Maude Shedenhelm  1873-1950

Ohio Cemetery (Ladora)
Ann Shaull Shedenhelm   1842-1926
John N. Shedenhelm         1836-1909
Cora B Shedenhelm 1871-1946
William T Shedenhelm 1866-1937
Mary Shedenhelm Bricker 1838-
Ruth Shedenhelm Carlson 1842-1926
Reuben Wm. Shedenhelm 1839-1904
James Shedenhelm    1861-1927
Eliza Shedenhelm      1832-1908
Harry E Shedenhelm     1896-1992
Leona D. Shedenhelm   1880-1977
Robert Shedenhelm             1871-1949
Levi Adam Shedenhelm      1806-1875
Marg Rosenberger Shedenhelm   1815-1868
Luzena Shedenhelm                     1859-1935
Oscar S. Shedenhelm                   1868-1931
Estella Slaymaker Shedenhelm    1882-1955
Katherine    "            "      "      1843-1910
Glenn Shedenhelm                           -1938
Plus 57 SHAULLS and 52 ROSENBERGERS

Schall Cemetery (Ottumwa)
Treva Shedenhelm Adler              1907-1970
Rachell Shedenhelm Edgington    1918-1986
Eva Shedenhelm Rounceville       1912-1989
Austin Shedenhelm                        Infant
Barbara Paxson Shedenhelm         1934-1987
Melvin C Shedenhelm          1887-1962
Bertha Cheney Shedenhelm 1888-1972
Billy Shedenhelm                     Infant
Clifford Shedenhelm                Infant
Donald Lee Shedenhelm           Infant
Glenn Shedenhelm           -1938
Joshua McClellan Shedenhelm   1861-1926
Mary E Johnson Shedenhelm      1857-1942
Kenneth Lloyd Shedenhelm     1926-1989
Leo E. Shedenhelm     1908-1934

Turner Cemetery (Garwin)
Clarence McClellan Shedenhelm   1883-1953
Myrene Simmons Shedenhelm  1887-1982
Marjorie Helen Shedenhelm      1916-1923

SHEDENHELMS- IDAHO

Riverview Cemetery (Coeur d'Alene)
Agnes J. Shedenhelm    1913-1972
Laurel J Shedenhelm     1908-1997
John A. Shedenhelm      1946-2009

Forest Cemetery (Coeur d'Alene)
James Allen Shedenhelm    1951-1979

SHEDENHELMS- OHIO

Benton Cemetery (Benton)
James M Shedenhelm          Infant
Russell M. Shedenhelm  1895-1977
Zelma M. Shedenhelm           -1977

Bradner (Wood City)
Dale R. Shedenhelm
Cleo Shedenhelm Hasselkus
Harriet L Shedenhelm  1875-1938
Helen M Shedenhelm   1911-2000
Marguerite Shedenhelm Haas 1896-1957
Ulysses E Shedenhelm 1867-1943

Bretz (Sycamore)
John Grafton Shedenhelm  1852-1926
Laura Adams Shedenhelm  1881-1974
Lucy Ross Shedenhelm     1858-1901
Wm. Grafton Shedenhelm 1874-1934

Bunker Hill (Seneca County)
Grafton McClellan Shedenhelm   1813-1882
Mary E. Schall Shedenhelm    1817-1849
Catherine Schall Shedenhelm  1825-1880
Ida Shedenhelm Farver   1859-1886
Clinton S Shedenhelm        Infant
Samuel Shedenhelm           Infant

Fairmont (Tiffin)
Doris Shedenhelm Harper   1901-1971
Barbara Shedenhelm Shuall 1821-1867
Daisy Blanche Shedenhelm  1891-1963
Hershall H Shedenhelm      1885-1960
Russell Eugene Shedenhelm 1909-1991

Green Springs Cemetery (Sandusky)
Catherine Shedenhelm Dietzel  1880-1970
Benjamin H. Shedenhelm  1892-1918
Gertrude Myers Shedenhelm   1880-1916
Charles H Shedenhelm    1878-1960
George J Shedenhelm      1921-1992
George Jacob Shedenhelm     1850-1925
Laura A Sheets Shedenhelm   1854-1929
Thomas Monroe Shedenhelm     1846-1940
Mary J Shedenhelm-Slaymaker  1844-1918
Maude Shedenhelm Warren        1883-1911

Pleasant Ridge (Tiffin)
Henry Shedenhelm  1810-1882
Mary Myers Shedenhelm 1832-1890
Janet E Shedenhelm    1870-1946
Rufus E Shedenhelm   1864-1934
Wm. Henry Shedenhelm 1859-1862
Wm. Jack Shedenhelm  1915-2009

Pleasant Union Old Fort (Seneca County)
Bernhard H Shedenhelm  1895-1905
Camelia Shedenhelm        1871-1939
Elvira Parker Shedenhelm  1854-1926
Henry David Shedenhelm  1838-1923
Paul LeRoy Shedenhelm  1899-1976
Mary Jane Lavely Shedenhelm  1908-1997
Lawrence David Shedenhelm 1863-1935

Shelby-Oakland (Shelby)
Vera Keller Shedenhelm 1919-2013

St. Joseph Catholic (Fremont)
Irene Shedenhelm   1902-1984

SHEDENHELMS- ALABAMA

Southern Heritage (Pelham)
Randall Lee Shedenhelm  1950-1994

SHEDENHELMS- ARKANSAS

Oakland (Baxter City)
Dale E Shedenhelm       1924-1984
Harley C Shedenhelm    1914-1977

Salem
Donald Levi Shedenhelm 1906-1991

SHEDENHELMS- CALIFORNIA

Forest Lawn Memorial (Glendale)
Charles Walter Shedenhelm  1904-1979
Mabel Shedenhelm  1885-1938
Vera Shedenhelm     1905-1967
Mary Elizabeth Shedenhelm 1907-1964

Irvington Memorial Garden (Fremont)
Christopher A Shedenhelm  1963-1994

Garden of Memorial (Salinas)
Florence Shedenhelm 1904-1998

Sierra Hills Memorial (Sacramento)
Tim Arthur Shedenhelm 1955-1996

SHEDENHELMS- KENTUCKY

Fairmont (Henderson City)
Martha Blue Shedenhelm 1920-2005

SHEDENHELMS-MICHIGAN

Esmond Evergreen (Hale)
Ralph Henry Shedenhelm 1922-2011
Glen Joseph  Shedenhelm 1893-1960
Gwendolyn Shedenhelm    1930-1996
Lester Lee Shedenhelm      1938-2005
Mary Shedenhelm               1914-1981

SHEDENHELMS- OKLAHOMA

Memorial Park (Oklahoma City)
Bertha Miller Shedenhelm    1898-1982
Lawrence E Shedenhlm         1897-1973
Mary J Hoover Shedenhelm  1841-1879

SHEDENHELMS-TENNESSEE

Fairview (Corryton)
Mary Taylor Shedenhelm 1886-1958

Greenwood (Knoxville)
McKinley Albert Shedenhelm  1893-1975

SHEDENHELMS- TEXAS

Memorial Park (Armadillo)
Lawrence E Shedenhelm     1897-1973
Lu Brandon Shedenhelm     1932-2012

Restwood Memorial
Luther H. Shedenhelm  1910-1983
Nettie Shedenhelm        1912-1987

SHETENHELMS- OHIO

Green Springs (Sandusky)
James Washington Shetenhelm   1841-1924
Josephine Hoover Shetenhelm    1845-1896
William P Shetenhelm                 1874-1919

New Carlisle (New Carlisle)
Alice Rust Shetenhelm  1859-1935
Charles Shetenhelm       1855-1931

McGormley (Fremont)
Emmet Shetenhelm   1858-1926
Josephine Fabing Shetenhelm  1860-1930

Oakwood (Fremont)
Grace Elizabeth Shetenhelm   1920-2006
Harry Shetenhelm  1883-1961
Kathryn Silverwood Shetenhelm   1914-1984
Minerva Hoppes Shetenhelm  1880-1961
William Cecil Shetenhelm 1916-1990

Toledo Memorial (Sylvania)
Frida Meyer Shetenhelm 1878-1970
LeRoy Shetenhelm 1868-1931

St Joseph Catholic (Tiffin)
Mary P Shedenhelm  1866-1931

SHETENHELMS- MICHIGAN

Benton Township (Potterville)
Frances L Shetenhelm 1918-1987

Lake City (Lake City)
Audrey Steinhaus Shetenhelm  1921-2002
Austin Shetenhelm 1911-1932
Benjamin E Shetenhelm  1886-1961
Carolee Shetenhelm                  1948
Clifton E Shetenhelm  1920-2010
Janet E Shetenhelm     1950-1997
Marion G Shetenhelm         -1929
Olive Randall Shetenhelm  1886-1958

Maple Hill (Charlotte)
Tina Dawn Shetenhelm       Infant

Woodlawn (Vermontville)
Allen Shetenhelm   1891-1974
Arthur Shetenhelm  1899-1980
Earl C Shetenhelm   1905-1975
Francis E Shetenhelm  1910-2004
Francis M Shetenhelm  1892-1979
Francis Marion Shetenhelm   1858-1926
Lena Shetenhelm                    1891-1964
Mabel A Shetenhelm              1908-1992
Mary C Friderici-Shetenhelm 1866-1931

SHETENHELMS-FLORIDA

Florida National (Bushnell)
Bernard E Shetenhelm      1923-2002

SHEETENHELMS- OHIO

Woods Cemetery
Albert Sheetenhelm      1875-1898
Caroline Sheetenhelm   1846-1945
John C Sheetenhelm      1844-1917

Maple Grove (Mechanicsburg)
Florence R Sheetenhelm    1863-1949

SHEETENHELMS- MARYLAND

Central (New London)
Amanda Snook Sheetenhelm  1851-1885
John Cllinton Sheetenhelm     1845-1897

Mt. Zion (McKaig)
Ann Elizabeth Sheetenhelm  1879-
Charles Sheetenhelm    1885-1952
Clyde L Sheetenhelm    1896-1983
Deborah Brengle Sheetenhelm  1849-1931
Ella Starr Sheetenhelm   1862-1929
Ezra Sheetenhelm           1881-1946

Fairview (McKaig)
Charlotte Sheetenhelm           1857-1885
Edna Cramer Sheetenhelm     1914-1996
Emma V Sheetenhelm            1868-1958

Crownsville (Crownsville)
Charles M. Sheetenhelm Jr.   1943-2002

Meadowridge Memorial Park (Elkridge)
Charles Ward Sheetenhelm   1927-2011

SCHIEDENHELMS- PENNSYLVANIA

St. Peter's (Pittsburgh)
Andrew Schiedenhelm  1851-1915
August Schiedenhelm   1884-1899
Fred Schiedenhelm    1882-1928
Julia Schiedenhelm    1856-1932

SCHIEDENHELMS- NEW YORK

Long Island National (Farmingdale)
Fred A Schiedenhelm     1924-1993
Mary M Schiedenhelm   1938-2010

SCHIEDENHELMS- FLORIDA

Bavrancas Nationasl
John W Schiedenhelm   1927-2011
Marion Phyllis Schiedenhelm  1935-1983

SCHITTENHELMS- MICHIGAN

Grass Lake East
Brian "Skit" Schittenhelm   1955-1992
Gayla Schittenhelm     1939-1955
Kenneth D Schittenhelm     1948-1959
Norma M Schittenhelm       1909-1995
Oscar C Schittenhelm          1893-1951
Paul A Schittenhelm            1914-1967
Richard Schittenhelm Sr.       1933-2015
Velina Tisch Schittenhelm     1914-2008
Walter John Schittenhelm      1895-1978

Francisco (Grass Lake)
Gottfried Schittenhelm     1865-1951
Louise G. Schittenhelm    1873-1946

Bethlehem (Ann Arbor)
Christian Schittenhelm  1885-1953
Luise Schittenhelm  1887-1964

Forest Hill (Ann Arbor)
Elfie Inez Schittenhelm         1904-1995
George Henry Schittenhelm  1902-1963

Hillcrest (Jackson)
Dale John Schittenhelm  1939-2012

Green Lawn (Detroit)
Jacob Schittenhelm    1863-1925
Louisa Schittenhelm          -1878

Grand Lawn (Detroit)
Mary Hahn Schittenhelm     1867-1938
Rosine Anna Maria Schittenhelm  1837-1916
William J Schittenhelm   1899-

SCHITTENHELMS- MISSOURI

New St. Marcus (St. Louis)
Ludwig Schottenhelm
Anna Schittenhelm

Plus Anton Schittenhelm (Johnstown, PA), Louisa Schittenhelm (New Orleans, LA),
H. Georg Schittenhelm (Boone City, KY)

SCHUTTENHELMS- OHIO

St. Mary Cemetery (St. Bernard)
Andrew S Schuttenhelm 1840-1895
Henry Schuttenhelm 1864-1910
Robert Schuttenhelm 1900-1968

Spring Grove (Cincinnati)
Fred Schuttenhelm 1859-1928
Jacob Schuttenhelm 1834-1892

Vine Street Hill (Cincinnati)
Josephine Schittenhelm 1846-1916
Martin Frances Schuttenhelm 1870-1957

SCHUTTENHELMS- MISSOURI

New St. Marcus (Afton)
Anna Kast Schuttenhelm 1882-1962
Edward W Schuttenhelm 1902-1991
Elizabeth Brueggeman Schuttenhelm 1854-1936
Esther Hartman Schuttenhelm 1903-1987
John L Schuttenhelm 1852-1934
Louis J Schuttenhelm 1816-1950

Lebanon City (Lebanon)
Arthur A Schuttenhelm 1902-1985

Friedens Mausoleum (Bellfontaine)
Jacob Schuttenhelm 1834-1892
Jacob Schuttenhelm 1883-1920
Jacob M Schuttenhelm 1890-1894
Josephine Schuttenhelm  1868-1894
Christian S Schuttenhelm       -1945

Valhalla (Bel-Nor)
Edna Rose Schuttenhelm 1894-1951
John Lewis Schuttenhelm 1871-1951

Old St. Marcus (St. Louis)
Elizabeth Schuttenhelm 1840-1913
John Schuttenhelm 1874-1913

Sunset Memorial (Afton)
Katherine Karle Schuttenhelm 1850-1936

Mt Olivet (Hannibal)
Louise Schuttenhelm 1835-1915

SCHUTTENHELMS- WISCONSIN

Arlington Park (Greenfield)
Betty Schuttenhelm 1929-1979
Paul Schuttenhelm 1923-1986

Union (Milwaukee)
Mrs. E.W. Schuttenhelm 1889-1917
Fred Schuttenhelm 1861-1900
Sarah Schuttenhelm 1854-1931

Oak Grove (LaCrosse)
Elmer E Schuttenhelm 1903-1981
Stella Schuttenhelm 1904-1991

Onalaska (Onalaska)
Mary Beth Schuttenhelm 1954-1955
Wilma Schuttenhelm 1902-1984

Rochester (Rochester)
Ron W Schittenhelm 1929-1993
Yahnke Schittenhelm 1931-

SCHUTTENHELMS- CALIFORNIA

Rose Hills Memorial Park (Whittier)
August Schittenhelm 1897-1964

Green Lawn Memorial Park (Bakersfield)
George Allen Schuttenhelm 1885-1943
Jeanne M Schuttenhelm 1920-1988
Margaret Schuttenhelm 1891-1987

West Side District Cemetery (Taft)
Harry Oliver Schuttenhelm 1885-1847
Martha Lucas Schuttenhelm 1870-1957

SCHUTTENHELMS- FLORIDA

Florida National (Bushnell)
Charles J Schuttenhelm 1947-1993

SCHUTTENHELMS- NEW YORK

Elmwood Hill (Troy)
Hedwig Schuttenhelm 1902-1982
Rudolph Schuttenhelm 1902-1985

SCHUTTENHELMS- ILLINOIS

Madonaville Cemetery (Madonaville)
Marily Wuertz Schuttenhelm 1935-2014

SCHUTTENHELMS- TEXAS

Plano Mutual Cemetery (Plano)
Samantha Kelley Schuttenhelm 1997-1997

CLARENCE SHEDENHELM'S FAMILY

      Joshua McClellen Shedenhelm had two sons. One of the them was Melvin, whose family I have been blessed to know much better in recent years... and the other was Clarence, who was my grandfather. For reasons unknown to me, grandfather Clarence and uncle Melvin didn't see or talk to one another, and therefore, I can't speak in depth to his children. Thanks to me cousin, Maradean, however, I can offer these little biographical bits on Clarence and Myrene's kids.
      Mary Glene, b. 1907, graduated from Garwin High School in Garwin, Iowa and attended Iowa State Teachers College (now University of Northern Iowa). She taught at a school near Wellsburg and also at the Rock Valley school. In 1928 she married Lawrence Tetley at the Brethren parsonage in Waterloo, Iowa. They farmed east of Green Mountain, IA., and had four children: Myrene, Marjane, Maradean, and Mervin.
      Juanita Myrene, b. 1909, graduated from LeGrand High School and married Kenneth Fisher in October 1928, in Ottumwa, Iowa. They farmed southwest of Garwin, Iowa and had four children: Marjorie, Elaine, Cheryl, and Dwight.
      Cecil Mervin, b. 1914, graduated from Newburgh high school and married Maxine Welton at her parent's home southwest of Garwin, Iowa. They young couple cared for Joshua's wife, Mary Elizabeth Johnson for five years on their home northwest of Marengo, while they farmed in that area and also north of Belle Plaine, Iowa. They had three children: Terry, Judy, and Rodney.
      Marjorie Helen, b. 1916, died at her home southeast of Garwin on April 17, 1923, at the age of seven, from rhumantic fever.
      Evalyn Rae, b. 1919, graduated from Toledo High School and married Emmett Patrick Nace on July 23, 1938 at St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Victor, Iowa. She taught at a country school near Brooklyn, worked at hospitals in Cedar Rapids, Grinnell and Marengo, ran Nace's Restaurant in Belle Plaine, and retired from the Amana company in Amana, Iowa. They also farmed and had five children: Patricia, Ronald, Daniel, Sharon, and Renita.
      Lieutenant Gale Allen, b. 1921, served as a Air Force pilot in the European theatre and later became the Executive Vice-President for a manufacturing company near Ankeny, Iowa. Gale and his second wife, Stella Sylvester, had three children: Ken, Larry, and Randy.
      Duane Dean, b. 1924, whose funeral service was held today (December 10), was Clarence and Myrene's youngest son. He farmed successfully in areas near Marengo, Brandon, and Lime Springs, Iowa. Duane married Maxine Burrell in 1944 and they had a son named, Jary.
      The youngest child in the family is my aunt Betty Mildred, b. 1926, who still lives by herself near Independence, Iowa. She married Eldo Carlson in April, 1945, and they had five children: Gerald, Eldon, Richard, Marilyn, and Allen.

Our 3rd Generation- Henry Shedenhelm and Margaret Myers

      My 3x great-grandfather, George, was one of the Shedenhelms who made up the 2nd generation of our family in America. He married Catherine Lease in   , and together, they left Frederick County, Maryland and relocated to Seneca County, Ohio, where they farmed and reared a family. To my knowledge, George was not involved in civic and political life, so there isn't much in the public record- other than the land he owned 3 miles north of Tiffin, his will, and his apparent dislike for one of his sons-in-law. Catherine Lease came from a prominent family in Frederick County, MD, and among the Leases who stayed in Maryland, many of them married or were married by Sheetenhelms. I am attaching a few excerpts from local newspapers to show the relationship between the Sheetenhelms and the Leases because the latter family is a big part of our own family's story.
      However, our focus now is on our 3rd generation.. and Henry Shedenhelm in particular. Our last blog focused on Henry's brother, Levi Adam, who left Tiffin, Ohio and settled in Iowa county, Iowa.
   

 Like his brother, Levi, Henry bought land near Tiffin, Ohio. The record shows that, in 1834, Henry purchased 80 acres in township 3N, Sec. 13. We know that, on May 4, 1882, George J. and Charles Shedenhelm and Rufus Slaymaker, put down $4,000 for an Executor's bond for Henry's will and estate. We also know that Henry and his wife, Margaret Myers, who was born in West Virginia to David Myers and Elizabeth Shaull, left Ohio for Iowa and that they are buried there, in   cemetery.
      Henry Shedenhelm and his wife had six children: Mary Ellen (1846-1918), who married William Scott Slaymaker; George J. (1850-1925) who married Laura Sheets: Charles David,  who married Ida May; Catherine, who married Jacob Huber; Ann Rebecca, who married a man with the surname of "Young;" and Margaret Jane, who married Rufus H. Slaymaker.

      The record shows that Margaret Jane and Rufus Slaymaker lived and died in Ohio, where Rufus also served in our Civil War. In 1852 he enlisted in the infantry, and according to the 1860 census, he owned property valued at $500 at that time. By 1900, however, he noted that his occupation was "nothing," which meant that he must have quit farming. Catherine Shedenhelm and Jacob Huber made their way to Iowa, where Jacob died in Marengo, at the age of 30. Like many of our other relatives, he is buried in the Ladora Cemetery. As a widow, the 1870 census reveals that Catherine owned land worth $2000    


and had an additional $500 worth of assets. The record shows that she had three children under 9 years of age at that time- Marcena (8), Clarence (6), and Oliver (3).

      However, the record also shows that she remarried in September, 1873 and had two more children- Charles Henry Umbarger and Nellie Umbrage.
      Catherine's brother, George Jacob, remained in Ohio, where he farmed with his wife, Laura Sheets. According to the 1910 Federal Census, George was farming in Seneca County and owned his land. In the 1920 census, we see that George, age 69, is living with Laura, age 65, and that their son, Charles Herman, then 31, owned his own farm in the same vicinity.
      Most members of our family in the early days were farmers, which makes sense because America was an agricultural nation. However, Henry's son, Charles was an exception to the rule, showing up in the 1910 census as a real estate agent in Los Angeles, California. The same census shows that C.D. Shedenhelm was residing at #147, West 23rd Street with Ida, age 50; Mark N. age 24- who became an influential member of the Santa Monica community, Oakland, age 22- who became a railroad engineer; Velma, age 19; Charles Jr., age 17, and Lester T., who became a "braider."

Our 3rd Generation- Levi Shedenhelm & Margaret Rosenberger

      When George Shedenhelm and Catherine (Shedenhelm) Lease moved to Seneca County, Ohio and settled on what would become a family farm near Tiffin, 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. It is interesting to note that family relatives. 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 and 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. 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 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. In Sumner Township, Nicholas Rosenberger and Michael B. Rosenberger are listed among the earliest settlers. The first school house in the township was called the "Ohio" school, and the first church, which was formed by the Methodists, was called the "Ohio chapel." Indeed, John Anthony Rosenberger was known as the "Bishop of Iowa County," and the original members of the church he started were: he and his wife, Catherine; his son, Nicholas, and his wife, Hannell; his 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. It should also be noted that no one in Hartford Township was more respected that Dr. John Bricker, who set up his medical practice in 1854. John first married Mary Catherine Shedenhelm (April 6, 1856) and then Elizabeth Jane Shedenhelm (October 1, 1858). Dr. Bricker also came from Ohio and he was the first physician in the township.
      R. W. Rosenberger (b. 1841) enlisted in Company E, of Iowa's 24th Infantry (aka. "The Methodist Battalion) and so did John Nicholas Shedenhelm. Both men participated in the Battles of Port Gibson, Champion's Hill. Rosenberger also saw action at Sabine Crossroads, and he was captured on two occasions. Shedenhelm was at Black River Bridge and Vicksburg as well. After the war, the record shows that he and his wife, Ann C Schall, owned 250 acres of farmland and a 5 acre orchard. Levi Adam Shedenhelm and Margaret Rosenberger had 4 children. Private John N, and Dr. Bricker's two wives, Mary C and Elizabeth, J, among them. Their 4th child was Barbara Ellen Shedenhelm, who died at one year of age. Thus, this part of our 3rd generation settled in Iowa County, and I am proud to call them "family." It's no wonder that I feel very much at home in central Iowa.

2 GENERATION OF SHEDENHELMS-SHITTENHELMS-SCHIEDENHELMS-SHEATENHELMS IN AMERICA

      Frederick Shittenhelm was the immigrant who brought us to American. Like other Germans from the Palatinate, he sailed from Rotterdam to Philadelphia, where he took an oath of allegiance and went to work. Since there are no records of Frederick purchasing land in Pennsylvania, it seems likely that he worked off his debt (for passage to America) and then migrated to Maryland, as many other Palatines had done before him. Frederick bought 109 acres near McKaig, Maryland and called the place, "Frederick's Contentment." Thus, when he died in 1808, our ancestors had a foothold in America. In fact, they had a home and a beginning for us.

JAKOB SCHITTENHELM, THE SHEETENHELMS, & THE LEASES
      Frederick and Maria Barbara Schittenhelm had four children: Jacob Schittenhelm, George Shedenhelm, Elizabeth Schiedenhelm, and Catharine Sheatenhelm. As the oldest son, Jacob inherited at least part of his father's farm (aka "Frederick's Contentment), and we know that he also purchased 130 acres of land from Thomas Walter in May of 1807. Since Jacob was married to Mary Walter, it is likely that Thomas was his father-in-law or one of Mary's uncles. In any event, Jacob's line of the American Schittenhelm family stayed in Maryland and embraced the surname of Sheetenhelm. Indeed, Jacob and Mary had five children: Thomas Sheetenhelm, (1799-1853) who married 1) Mary Clay and 2) Elizabeth Harris; Catherine Sheetenhelm (1802-1807), who married Daniel Lease; Delilah Sheetenhelm (1805-1879), who married Charles Lease; Reuben Sheetenhelm (1811-1882), who married Mary Ann Lease; and Mary Shedenhelm, who married Washington Hammond. Jacob is my 3rd great-grand uncle, and I am proud to say that he served our country during the War of 1812. Records show that he was a Pvt. in Capt. Duvall's Company of the Maryland Militia and that he was baptized in the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Jacob is my 4th great uncle.

GEORGE SHEDENHELM AND THE MOVE TO SENECA COUNTY, OHIO
      It seems that, while other family members moved west, the Sheetenhelm's stayed in Maryland, and there are Sheetenhelm's listed in Maryland White Pages to this day. However, the connections with the LEASE family carried over to Jacob's younger brother, George, who is my 3 great-grandfather. George, who adopted the surname of Shedenhelm,  was baptized on April 21, 1782, in the German Reformed Church of Frederick, Maryland. In the course of time, he married Catherine Lease and they had six children together: Levi A. Shedenhelm (1806), who married Margaret Rosenberger, Elizabeth Shedenhelm (1807), who married Aaron Ruse; Henry Shedenhelm (1810), who married Mary Myers; Grafton Shedenhelm (1813), who married 1) Mary E. Schall and 2) Catherine M Schall; Mary S. Shedenhelm (1817), who married Barnett Freeze;  and Barbara Schendenhelm (1821), who married John Michael Schall. Since his older brother inherited his father's land and since attractive land deals were being offered in Ohio, George moved from Hagerstown, Maryland to Tiffin, Ohio in the fall of 1830. The record shows that George purchased 80 acres at the Tiffin land office on May 25, 1832, and we know that he also purchased160 acres near Wolf Creek, which is 3 miles north of Tiffin. Some researchers believe that George married Catherine Lease- others believe that he married Catherine Slaymaker- still others believe that he married both of them in succession. However, George and Catherine Lease are buried together in Tiffin, Ohio. The census of 1850 indicates that George, age 71, was living with... Catherine, age 60; Mary Ruse, age 18; and Lyhae McCracken, age 14 months. George's will was probated on November 1, 1852, and in it, he gave the following instructions:1) pay all of my funeral expenses and debts first, 2) give all of my real estate and personal property to my beloved wife, Catherine; 3) "It is my will that my son-in-law, Aaron Ruse, shall not receive any more of my property... but that his wife, Elizabeth, receive an equal portion; 4) give to the granddaughter who lives with me $150 and other specified items; 5) "It is my will that my money and interest be divided equally... with the exception of the said, Aaron Ruse; 6) after my wife dies, remaining assets should be divided equally, except for Aaron Ruse; 7) my will shall be executed by my sons, Levi and Grafton. George is my 3rd great grandfather and Catherine Lease is my 3rd great grandmother.

ELIZABETH SHIDENHELM AND NATHAN BRASHEAR JR.
      Those of us who are attached to uniformity will be frustrated with the undisciplined way in which surnames were handled in the past. Clerks wrote names as they heard them and people changed the spelling of their surnames for reasons of their own. Thus, even before we leave the 2nd generation of "Shedenhelms" in America behind us, we have already encountered Shittenhelm, Schittenhelm, Sheetenhelm, Shedenhelm, and Shidenhelm (Schiedenhelm). Soon, we we encounter a line of Shetenhelms... but now, our focus in on Frederick's daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in 1799. Elizabeth married Nathan Brasher, Jr. Nathan died at an early age in 1817, but not before he purchased a tract of land, which he named, "Nathan's Purchase," and moved to Ohio, where he died. Indeed, each of their children lived relatively short lives and lived them in Ohio. Nathan Brashear, Jr and Elizabeth Shidenhelm had the following children: Truman (1799-1849) married Elizabeth Kerns; Barbara (1801-1847) married George Seidner; Nancy Ann (1802-1847) married James Owen; Hiram (1814-1847) married Mary Cherry; Perry (1818-1847) married Elizabeth Phipps; and Catherine (1810-1833) married Nathan C Owen. Elizabeth is my 4th great aunt.

CATHERINE SHEATENHELM AND ANTHONY ECKHART
      Little is known (by me) as this is written about Catherine Sheatenhelm and Anthony Eckhart, other than Catharina was baptized in the Evangelical Reformed Church, Anthony served in the War of 1812, and they were living in Falls, Ohio in 1860, with their children: Betsy Eckhart, who was born before 1809; Susan, born 1809; Barbara, born 1811; Catherine, born 1813; Cornelius, 1814, married Elizabeth Weaver; Polly, born 1816; Lewis A., born 1816, married Samantha White; Eden, born 1825, married Mary Weaver; Grafton D., born 1825, married Priscilla Mathias; Lovina, born 1830, married Jeremiah Stukey; and John Alexander, born 1837. Catherine is my 4th great aunt.

      These four people comprise the second generation of our family in America. However, the third generation was much larger and included thirty-two cousins: Levi Adam Shedenhelm, Henry Shedenhelm, Grafton Shedenhelm, Mary Shedenhelm, Barbara E. Shedenhelm (from George), Thomas Sheetenhelm, Catherine Sheetenhelm, Delilah Sheetenhelm, Reuben Sheetenhelm, Mary Shedenhelm (from Jakob), Betsy Eckhart, Susan Eckhart, Barbara Eckhart, Catherine Eckhart, Cornelius Eckhart, Polly Eckhart, Lewis Eckhart, Eden Eckhart, Grafton Eckhart, Lovinia Eckhart, John A. Eckhart (from Catherine), Freeman Brashear, Barbara Brashear, Truman Brasher, Owen Brasher, Solomon Brasher, Esther Brasher, Catherine Brasher, Nathan Brasher Jr., Elizabeth Brashear, Hiram Brashear, and Perry Brashear.


      
      
      
      

THE IMMIGRANT- FREDERICK SHITTENHELM

      During the 17th and 18th centuries, "Germany" was in turmoil... and the people of the Palatinate bore the blunt of it. The Palatinate lies in SW Germany and it was devastated by war and poverty. There was religious tension in the area, to be sure, but the primary source of dissatisfaction was despair and hopelessness. Most of the emigrants left Germany because they had to make a living and they left in sizable numbers. Indeed, they continued to emigrate, even though the authorities in Württemberg threatened to confiscate their property and punish them in other ways if they did. The trip was costly (5-10 pounds Sterling) and extremely difficult. Many people died en route, especially children, and most of those who died... died from illness and/or starvation. One survivor noted the food supply simply ran out when he crossed the ocean, forcing those aboard to eat rats (for which they paid 18 pence) and mice (for 6 pence). In addition, unscrupulous agents overcharged and misled many emigrants... and many others lost what little they owned because their possessions were stolen before the reached America. Finally, it should be noted that, because of the costs involved, many emigrants were forced to work as indentured servants until their cost of passage was paid.
      Most of the Palatines who emigrated to America emigrated because they had to... but there was also the promise of a better life! William Penn made several trips to Germany to entice German citizens to come to his colony, and other agents were energetically recruiting men to bring their families to "the promised land." In addition, many Germans were receiving promising reports from relatives who had already emigrated, inviting them to join them in America. There were several things that pushed the Palatines out of Germany, but many were also excited about the life that America promised. Finally, more than a few of those who emigrated to America did so simply because they had an adventurous spirit. It's impossible to know what motivated Friedrich Schittenhelm to leave Aach, Germany and emigrate to America.. But... in 1766, at the age of 33, he boarded the ship "Betsy" with 153 other passengers and set sail. He arrived in October of that year and took the oath of allegiance, which was required of all immigrants.
      As these words are written, we don't know where Frederick and his wife, Maria Barbara, went, or what they did, when they left Philadelphia, which was their port of entry. However, according to the Federal Census, Frederick (Shettenhelm) was residing in Liberty Township, District #7, Frederick County, Maryland in 1800, with his wife and one female between age 10 and 16. We also know that Frederick purchased property in Frederick County (which he later left to his eldest son Jacob,) and we know that, in the 1790 Federal Census, Frederick was listed with a number of men who were known to be employees of the Amelung Glass House. Thus, it is possible that he worked there as well. This would not have been unusual inasmuch as many of our ancestors supplemented their farming income with other employment.
      There's much we don't know about Frederick Shittenhelm's life in America... but we do know that he served in the Maryland militia as a non-commissioned officer and a fifer on November 29, 1775 and that he and his wife reared two boys and two girls: Jacob Shittenhelm, born 1777; George Shedenhelm (my 2x great-grandfather), born 1778; Elizabeth, born 1799, and Catherina. By 1800 then, the Shedenhelm-Sheetenhelm-Shetenhelm-Shiedenhelm family in America was clustered in Frederick County, Maryland. Jacob lived and died there, but his brother and sisters found their way to Ohio as the years passed. (Great) uncle Jacob married Mary Walter, (great) grandfather, George, married Catherine Lease (although many genealogists believe that he married Catherine Slaymaker and a few maintain that he married both women); (grand) aunt, Catherine, married Anthony Eckhart; and (grand) aunt, Elizabeth, married Nathan Brashear, They expanded our family numbers greatly, and as noted earlier, they followed the land and the blessings it promised ... by moving west.
      This process would be repeated by family members who later moved west to Iowa... but before we get to all of this, let's pause and congratulate Frederick Shittenhelm. He had the vision, the courage, and the resolve... to claim the American dream for all of us!