Rev. G.W. Syfert, 1861-1942

 My church has a very well documented history.  We date back to 1865, when the members met in a log cabin.  I have been on the Historical Committee off and on for over a decade now, and am always looking for new things to showcase for our current members to see.

A year or so ago, I started a family tree for each of our early pastors.  I didn't go into many details at the time... just got the basics going.  I try to change the history display case once a month... and for this month, I chose to tell the story of one of our pastors.  I chose our 12th pastor, Rev. G.W. Syfert... here is his story (or at least the parts that I was able to find).

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Rev. George William (G.W.) Syfert

Born: June 6, 1861 in Beecher City, IL

Died: September 11, 1942 in Herrin, IL

Buried: Herrin City Cemetery

12th Pastor of Herrin FBC: 1901-1906

Rev. G.W. Syfert, thought to be around 1903-04

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G.W. Syfert grew up on a farm near Shelbyville, IL. His father owned 40 acres, with 3 horses, 4 milk cows, 10 sheep, and 19 pigs.  They grew wheat, rye, corn, Indian corn, oats, peas, beans, and Irish potatoes.  They also had an orchard. His parents were Nathan and Mary Ann (Dunaway) Syfert, both born in Ohio.

We don’t know when or where he first began his ministry work.  He appears in 4 census records as a Clergyman, Baptist Minister, Preacher and Minister.  His obituary states he was a Baptist minister for 20 years, and that he served part of that time in Herrin, Salem, Vandalia and Villa Grove.  In research, we learned that he also served at the Woodlawn FBC, Watson FBC, and at the Paradise White Church in Perry County, IL.  We do not know how long he spent at most of these churches.

In 1883, at the age of 21, he married Laura Jones, in Fayette County, IL.  They had one child, Walter.  Laura passed away in 1939, and G.W. married Anna Wilson in 1940.

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Sept. 26, 1903
From “The Standard”, a Baptist newspaper

"Herrin is a city of 5,000 people and is but a few years old. It is a great coal mining town.

The Baptists have had a country church there for fifty years and the city has grown entirely around the meeting house lot of six acres. It has sold half the land for a ward school and sold the old meeting house to the Methodists and has built a new church and parsonage.

Rev GW Syfert became pastor of this church about three years ago. Since that time he has added about 400 members to the church. One year he baptized more converts than any other pastor in the state. The church seats about 500 people and is almost always overcrowded. Bro Syfert does his own evangelistic work.

Both this church and Marion have raised more than double their apportionment this year for state missions."

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Church dedication program, 1903

Some important things that happened while Rev. G.W. Syfert was at our church: -- Held one of the greatest revivals in the history of our church in 1901. There were 140 conversions, 108 accepted for baptism, and 13 received by letter.

-- The church outgrew the building. Land was purchased and a new church was built in 1902. The name of the church was changed to First Baptist Church on January 18, 1902.

-- In January of 1903, the Sunday School was reorganized and all of the classes were graded for the first time.

-- In June of 1903, there was a small-pox epidemic. The church was closed for 3 months.

-- In 1905, the first music committee was appointed. A new addition and a baptistry were added to the church. Membership had grown to 675.

Wilhelm Henry Offerman 1868-1894

Wilhelm Henry (or William) was born in Otto Township, in Kankakee county, Illinois (possibly in Chebanse) on December 24, 1868.  He was the first child born to Heinrich Christian and Maria Sophia (Doscher) Offerman.  His brother John is my Great Grandfather.

Heinrich Offerman family, circa 1898 (William Henry is in the portrait)

Both the 1870 and 1880 census records list this Offerman family in Otto Township. Heinrich was a prominent farmer.  He and wife Maria Sophia were born in Germany and had come to America in 1867.  So William grew up farming, but at some point he learned how to operate a traction engine.  The article about his death calls him a Traction Engineer.

I looked it up… a Traction Engine, was a steam engine that could move on it’s own (not pulled by horses or oxen).  A real benefit on big farms!  One thing I read stated… “The steam engineer was a trained and skilled professional of the simpler unmechanized times.  The engineer was a breed of proud, strong and very important men who loved their work.”

Example of a Traction Engine, 1894

Sadly, the only other thing known to tell about William’s life… is how he died.  

Here’s what the Kankakee Daily Republican newspaper had to say…  “William Offerman, a young engineer, met his death in a horrible manner on a traction engine at 3 o’clock this afternoon in Otto Township.  The engine was hauling a corn sheller from one farm to another.  William Offerman was standing between the engine and the water tank running it, unsuspicious of the horrible fate in store for him.  The engine had reached the center of a wooden bridge across one of the small creeks in Otto, when the structure suddenly parted in the center.  The engine and water tank came together and the life of the young engineer was crushed out.  Death occurred instantly.  The men who assist in running the engine and corn sheller say that Offerman never uttered a cry.  His body is horribly mangled and still remained between the engine and the water tank when news of the shocking accident was brought to this city.  It was impossible to pull the machinery of the engine apart to extricate the mutilated remains of the unfortunate engineer without the assistance of a derrick or a large force of men.  Leon Hay brought the news to this city.  He notified the coroner, Jacob Willman, who immediately left for the scene of the accident.  The dead engineer is well known in Otto Township where his parents live.  He was 26 years old and unmarried.”

Technically he was 10 days shy of turning 26 years old.  William is buried in Mound Grove Cemetery, in Kankakee.

Elizabeth Shoemaker 1788-1863

 160 years ago last week, one of my 4th Great Grandmothers passed away.  

Elizabeth Ann Shoemaker was born in 1788, in Fincastle (Botetourt County), Virginia.  Her parents were believed to have been William and Elizabeth (some say Woodrum, some say Hogg for her mother’s maiden name) Shoemaker.  Fincastle still exists today, and in the 2020 census, was a town of 755 people.

built around 1783, Fincastle VA

built around 1791, Fincastle VA

In May of 1807, Elizabeth (age 22) married George Lavender (age 25).  They were married in Botetourt County.  They would go on to have 7 known children, daughter Elizabeth being my 3rd Great Grandmother.  The young couple remained in Botetourt County for a while, appearing there in the 1810 census.  George served in the Virginia Militia during the War of 1812.  Sometime between 1812 and 1820, they packed up and moved into Kentucky.  In the 1820 census, they were living in a place called Darnell's Parish, in Caldwell County, Kentucky.  I have tried to find out where Darnell's Parish was...but have had no luck.

1807 marriage record

Around 1828, the family moved up into Illinois.  In the 1830 census, they were in Pope County, and after that they lived out the rest of their lives in Hardin County.  George Lavender died in 1856, and is buried in Lavender Cemetery (where I visit every Spring), land donated by the family to be the cemetery.  Elizabeth was living with her son George and his family in the 1860 census.  She died on December 6, 1863.  Although her burial information is unknown, it’s likely that she rests beside her husband in an unmarked grave at Lavender Cemetery.

Stephen Burton, 1829-1905

 My 2nd Great-GrandUncle, Stephen Burton passed away 118 years ago, on November 16, 1905, in Murphysboro IL. He was 76 years old, and as a Civil War Vet, probably felt as if he’d lived several lifetimes.

Stephen was the oldest child of Jabez and Sarah/Sally (Pate) Burton. He was born in October of 1829, in rural Smith County TN. His little sister Luvisa, is my 2nd Great Grandmother. They were 19 years apart. The Burton’s left middle TN for Southern IL some time between 1840 and 1848. They were still in Smith County for the 1840 census, but we know that Luvisa (the last child) was born in Golconda IL, in June of 1848. In the 1850 census, they were farming and living in rural Hardin County IL.

On August 15, 1853, 23 year old Stephen married 15 year old Nancy Elizabeth Fletcher in Saline County IL. She had been born and raised there. They would go on to have 7 children, but only 4 would survive to adulthood.

In 1860, the family was living in Mulkeytown IL (Franklin County), and farming. That all changed when Stephen enlisted in the Union Army on August 13, 1862. He served as a Private in Company B and D of the 89th IL Infantry. He’s noted as being 5’8” tall, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a fair complexion.

After being mustered into service, Stephen was in battles at Lawrenceburg KY, Perryville KY, and finally at the Battle of Stone’s River in Murfreesboro TN at the end of December 1862. After Stone’s River, his regiment remained at Murfreesboro until June 1863. According to his records, when the regiment roll was taken in September of 63, he’s noted as having been in a convalescent camp in Murfreesboro since June of 63. He would remain there (and in Nashville) for the rest of the War. In February 1864, he was transferred to a Veteran Reserve Corp. One reason for the transfer was due to a hernia. In his pension records, it states that he “contracted a rupture on left side”, and that “the said disease was caused by exposure while doing duty as a soldier.” They also believed that mumps contributed to the “rupture”. He was mustered out of service at Nashville, on June 30, 1865.

While Stephen may or may not have felt lucky about his circumstances and staying in one place for so long during the War… we can look back and see that his health condition may have saved his life. His regiment participated in big battles while he was trying to heal. They were at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. All are well known battles.

Upon coming home to IL, Stephen became a merchant of some sort. They still lived in Mulkeytown at that time. The 1870 census states he was a merchant with a real estate value of $1000, and a personal estate value of $2000. That’s pretty big money for that time. Listed near him on the census are doctors, a miller, carpenters, a druggist, an engineer and a blacksmith.

In the 1880 census, Stephen’s a dry goods merchant. The family had moved to Cave Township (still Franklin County) by then. In the 1900 census, they were living in Murphysboro IL. There’s no occupation for Stephen. Their home was at 1903 Pine Street, which today is where the Immanuel Lutheran School is located.

Stephen’s death certificate doesn’t give a specific location of death, just the town. It says he died at 4:35AM, with cause of death being heart disease and rheumatism. He is buried in Tower Grove Cemetery in Murphysboro.

Pictures:

1850 census

1853 marriage record

Artwork of convalescent camps around Murfreesboro TN

1875 Franklin County IL map

1899 signature on pension application

Headstone in Tower Grove Cemetery

Charles Fredrich Offerman, 1876-1931

Family history post – April 14, 2023

147 years ago today, one of my Great Grand-Uncles was born.  Charles Fredrich Offerman was born on April 14, 1876, on his parent’s farm in Otto Township in Kankakee County, Illinois.  He was the 5th known child and 5th son of Heinrich (Henry) Christian and Maria Sophia (Doscher) Offerman. At the time of his birth, his parents had left Germany and had been living in the United States for 9 years.  A few months after Charles’ birth, his father became a United States citizen.

Kankakee County map showing Otto Township

A distant cousin wrote of him… “Charles attended school for four years.  As soon as he was old enough, he was hired out as a hired hand.  He worked by the week, coming home on Sunday for clean clothes and a plug of tobacco.  He turned all his pay over to his father.  He continued to work as a hired hand until he married.”

1898 Offerman family - Charles is back row, far left

That marriage happened on October 15, 1902, in Kankakee.  His new wife was Emily Scheppler.  Charles and Emily had 7 known children, from 1903 to 1923.  The 1910 census tells us that Charles owned a farm in Otto Township.  Next door to him was his brother John (my Great Grandfather).  Three farms down the road was their brother Frank’s farm… and another four farms down was their sister Minnie’s family’s farm.

1910 census

By 1914, however, Charles had decided to get out of farming.  He moved his family into Kankakee, and into a large 2-story house (5 bedrooms, large yard and garden) at 1194 South 6th Street.  He and his brother August went into the dray business together.  Their first location was on East Water Street, on the south side of the river.  According to a distant cousin, this business prospered and they expanded into the moving and hauling business.  A new partnership was formed with Charles and August, including Charles’ brother in law, Emile Scheppler.  They moved their location to 186 North East Avenue in Kankakee (now a parking lot), and called themselves “Offerman and Company.”

1929 Kankakee City Directory

In 1918, Charles filled out a registration card for WWI.  His description was stated as… “Tall, stout, gray eyes and brown hair.”

A cousin once wrote this… “The family had a custom of getting dressed up on a Sunday afternoon and going for a ride in the big seven passenger Oldsmobile touring car.  At the end of the ride, they stopped at Kohler Drug Store on South Main Street for ice cream sodas.”

1918 7-passenger Oldsmobile... an example of what the family might have had

date unknown... wife Emily, son Victor, Victor's wife Myrtle, and Charles

Sadly, Charles died on December 28, 1931, at the age of 55.  It’s mentioned that it was a “sudden and untimely” death, however, I do not know the cause at this time.  My curiosity got the best of me, though… and I have sent off for a copy of his death certificate.  So we’ll find out when I get that back.  There are no Kankakee newspapers digitized on the newspaper website that I use, either… so I was not able to find an obituary.  I have contacted the Genealogy person at the Kankakee Library, though, in hopes that she can find one for me.

1920's downtown Kankakee

#52Ancestors, Week 15, "Solitude"

 #52Ancestors , Week 15

Theme:  "Solitude"

This was a HARD one to decide who to write about.  Other people were posting about an only child, a widow, an ancestor that was the end of the line, etc.

I had another ancestor that I was preparing to write about on this one...Elsie Gustin, who was born shortly after her father's death.  Then I decided to write about another ancestor, Richardson Mathews, who is buried in a forgotten cemetery.  I just wasn't happy with where their stories were going at this time, so I set out to find another ancestor.  I landed on John Miles, Sr.

It's not a long story... it's probably not even all that interesting.  But it's a common story that a lot of people have in their family trees.  One where people get forgotten more easily, because they weren't around very long.

John Miles, my 3rd Great Grandfather, was born about 1821 in Washington County, Virginia.  He was a son of Pascal and Susannah (Halfacre) Miles. At age 20, he married Miss Mary Jane Russell, in Washington County.  They had one child within a year, William, who was born there in Virginia.

Washington County, Virginia

Some time between 1842 and 1847, the Miles' family moved to northern Kentucky.  There, they had 2 more children, John in 1847, and Martha in 1849.  John Jr. is my 2nd Great Grandfather.  His obit states that he was born "near Covington".  The 1850 census shows the family in Gallatin County, Kentucky.  Covington is NOT in Gallatin County... so the story is unclear here.  Did they live in Covington first, then moved over to Gallatin County (only one county is in-between)?  Or was the memory wrong on where John Jr. was born?  I am sure I will never know the answer.

View of Cincinnati Ohio, from Covington Kentucky, 1850

In 1850, John Sr. is listed as a Laborer.  Laborer for what?  Farming, most likely.  However, living so close to the Ohio River, who knows?  Perhaps he had some kind of river job, working with boats or anything else river related?  

1850 CENSUS - Gallatin County, Kentucky

Another question I don't have a clear answer to, is what killed John?  Some time in 1851-52, John Sr. died.  He would have been about 30 years old.  Illness?  Work related injury?  Natural disaster?  One thing is for sure... it wasn't old age!

The reason I chose him for this "solitude" entry, is because of his death and location.  In September 1853, Mary Jane remarried.  Shortly after that, this newly formed family moved down river to Hardin County, Illinois, where they remained the rest of their lives.  Mary died there in 1888.

John is still in Gallatin County, Kentucky.  I hope he would have given his approval to what happened to his little family.  

#52 Ancestors, Week 14... Begins with a Vowel

 Week 14 of #52Ancestors already!  

This week's theme is "Begins with a Vowel"... which means you could essentially come up with ANYTHING for this.  First name, last name, town, country, occupations, etc.  But I went with an ancestor with a first name starting with a vowel.

Meet my 2nd Great Grandmother, Amke Feyke Sterrenberg...  Not a lot is known about her.  Nothing on a personal level, for sure.  No pictures... no physical descriptions, etc.  What we do know, is what can be found on paper.  And honestly, that's true for most ancestors... not just mine.

But today I focus on Amke.

We know she was born on November 6, 1840, in Oldendorp, Lower Saxony, Germany.  Her parents were Jan Peter and Fijke Willems (Bley) Sterrenberg.  Jan Peter passed away in 1856.

marriage record for Jaus Wubbena and Amke Sterrenberg, 1868

On July 5, 1868, at the age of 27, she married Jaus Wubbena (changed to Wabbena in America).  Shortly after they were married, they came to America with Amke's mother and four siblings (2 sisters and 2 brothers).  They arrived on the Bremen Ship Admiral at New York on September 7, 1868.  They had all marked their destination to be Illinois.

passenger list Bremen Ship Admiral, 1868

I don't know why, but Amke and Jaus wound up in Kansas.  They had two children... the first one was born in 1869, in Woodford County, IL.  The second was born in 1872, in Labette, Kansas.

Amke died at the age of 33, in Labette, Kansas, in 1873 (date and cause are unknown).  After her death, Jaus and the young children went back to Illinois.  They settled in Iroquois County.