Karl Strefling (1844 - 1920)

Born 6 Feb 1844 in Zhitomir, Zhytomyr, Ukraine

Descendants

Died 1 Apr 1920 at age 76 in Kenosha, Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States

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Biography

Karl was born in 1844. He passed away in 1920.

Strefling family history as told by Alfred Strefling (Karl's grandson):

I, Alfred Strefling having had several requests to write the history of our ancestors will yield to those requests and on this day, December 29, 2003 begin the task. It is my intention to place this information on paper to the best of my ability as I remember it from some research and conversation from the previous generation. It is dedicated especially to the grandchildren, nieces, and nephews that expressed such great interest. First I would like to begin with the Strefling relationship. The setting takes us to the Ukraine of Russia in the province of Volhynia but the nearest town to their residence has escaped my memory. According to the maps of that day, 1840 to 1900, it was said they were but 19 miles from the Romanian border and about 80 miles from the capital of Ukraine, which is Kiev. There they lived on a farm and had cattle to milk and some crops and gardens for produce for home consumption. It was the customary there to build a house and barn together as one unit. The cows were herded on an open range and was generally done by the youngsters in the family. My father, Adolph tells how his next older brother, Michael would trick him into doing the herding by telling him some fictional made up story if he were diligent in herding duties. Because they were of German descent, they could not buy the lands but were compelled to clear one area of new ground each year as payment to occupy the ground. The Russians had vast areas of woods that they wanted to turn into tillable soil. The living conditions were most primitive at best. Our dad, Adolph, told us that many people had no shoes as we know them but instead wrapped burlap cloth around their feet and tied the bark from the trees underneath. That was the footwear. Grandpa Karl Strefling was born on February 6, 1844 and about 1868 he was married to Rosalee Giesbrecht (or Yiesbrecht) and to them was born 8 children. The first born was Amalia in 1869, Pauline in 1871, Karl (nicknamed "Afrom") in 1873, Reinhold in 1881, Christian in 1876, Anna in 1879, Michael in 1883, and Adolphin 1887. Grandma Rosalee died when Adolph was very young Some said it was from childbirth complications but we can't be sure. As the years passed and it was nearing the end of the century, the conversation within their home was directed more toward migrating to America. It was called the land of milk and honey. Then finally in March 1901 they took the plunge and applied for visas for Grandpa Karl, Karl, Reinhold, Christian, Michael, and Adolph. Then when they appeared for their physical exam they were told that Grandpa Kari had eyelids that were granulated (small pimples underneath the lids). So Grandpa Karl encouraged all others to proceed but he and Adolph would return because Adolph was only 14 years old. But the eldest son Karl said he must return as Grandpa could not look after Adolph alone. At that time only Reinhold, Christian, and Michael left for America while the others returned to Volhynia Meanwhile back in Volhynia, Grandpa had decided to abandon the idea of going to America, but the eldest son Karl took a dim view of that conversation saying now you have half of the family here and half there and that it is our desire to become united as a family one more. The eldest daughter had amassed a considerable sum in assets, that is Amalia, and she did not want to part with it, so she definitely would stay. After a year of deliberation and research it was learned that the entry into Canada had few restrictions, so the decision was final and application was made in 1902 to go to Canada. Left behind was Amalia and her family, which we later learn was a fatal mistake. Anna was married and she and her family went to Bruce Crossing, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula Upon crossing the Atlantic Ocean and arriving in Canada they took a train to Winnipeg, Manitoba. While on the boat they were quite deep down in the hold because it was cheaper there, but the food was totally inadequate. Dad, Adolph said, was so hungry that when he got to land that they brought some sausage and he ate so heartily and such amounts that he did become sick. But the hunger was satisfied The three sons crossed the Atlantic and landed on Ellis Island in New York. As they landed they heard the newspaper boy shouting, extra, extra, President McKinley has been shot. While they were fluent in three languages, Russian, German, and, Yiddish, nevertheless, they knew no English. So Reinhold, Christian, and Michael took a train to the midwest, When they got near Toledo, Ohio, they were talking to the conductor, as he could speak German. The conductor said I will stop the train at the next crossroad and you go to the house and tell them I sent you and you want work. His name was Mr. Ruess, a compassionate man, and he did hire them. In the spring of 1902 they left and went to Sodus, Michigan, just south of Benton Harbor. Many people from Volhynia came to Sodus to settle and all could speak German. They settled in there and labored for several farmers. At the same time communication with the other relatives was established after they reached Winnipeg. The relatives were in Canada no more than two years. They wanted to enter the United States so all of the relatives could be closer. Pauline was married to a Julius Kugler and Karl was married to an Emma Kugler. So you can readily see they were thoroughly related. In Kenosha, Wisconsin, lived a brother to these same Kuglers. That seemed to be an attraction to them to move there. Upon arriving in Kenosha, it was then possible that the relatives from Kenosha could visit those in Sodus and vice versa by train Lest I forget I want to return to the Ukraine and the eldest daughter of Grandpa Karl. In 1917 during the latter days of WWI the Czarist government was overthrown and communism was installed with Lenin as its leader. After Lenin died. Stalin became its leader and he was a ruthless tyrant. He instituted a system called collective farming Private farming was eliminated and all farmers would work for that state. In the Ukraine, he emptied all of the granaries and took away all the horses so they could not till the soil. He confiscated the cattle, their mainstay for food, and left them totally destitute. Now there was no food and no means getting any. In addition there was a worldwide depression during the 1930's. Each day a wagon pulled through the countryside with horses and would inquire "Any dead people here today?" The last letter that Amalia wrote she stated they were gathering certain weeds along the roads, boiling them in the hope that they might receive some nourishment from them. Starvation in the Ukraine was rampant. History tells us between nine and ten million starved in the Ukraine. Thereafter there was total silence from there. Michael Strefling, always an adventurer, took horse and buggy from Sodus and rode into the unknown seeking he knew not what. About 4.5 miles northwest of Galien, he found some 44 acres for sale. The year was 1906 at this time, and both he and Christian were married. He would like to buy it in partnership with his brothers. Then he remembered Adolph was working in the woodshop in Kenosha for ten cents and hour and may have accumulated something for a down payment. It was learned Adolph had 200 dollars in savings, which was used as a downpayment to cement the deal. Now, Michael, Christian, and Adolph were proud owners of some real estate. The 44 acres went to an open ditch and north of this open ditch was another 26 acres. During 1908 Adolph met and married Julia Kluge, who lived in St. Joseph and worked in a stocking factory called Cooper Wells Co. making women's hose long before nylons were invented. The house on 44 acres was occupied by the families of Christian and Michael. After Adolph and Julia married, they too moved into that same house, Reinhold vacated the area and went to Kenosha to live with Pauline and her family. He never married, as he was afflicted with seizures from time to time. It was told some gypsies put the hex on him in the old country Naturally we can't imagine the crowded conditions. So by 1912 or 1913 the search was on for additional elbow room. Michael went down the Warren Woods Road about a half mile and bought 80 acres. Adolph owned about 11 acres, just south of the open ditch, so he bought the 26 acres north of the open ditch for a total of 37 acres. Neighbor George Luther built a two room home on it. One room was used as a bedroom, and the other served as kitchen, dining, and living room. There was barely enough room at first with three children. The three children were William, Alvina, and Otto. It was said Otto was the last to be born on the 44 acres All too soon tragedy would strike in their new home. The parents were around the yard doing chores and the children were inside alone. A cookstove that burned wood was used for heating as well as preparing meals. The girl Alvina, about 2.5 years of age, messing with the stove, got some hot embers on her leg and burned a deep hole. The home doctoring proved to be futile and she left the family. Burial took place in Galien Cemetery on the Michael Shimming lot. Near the same time, Mother was expecting and delivered a son called Ernest. The child lived only 4 days and cried continuously during that time and then joined his sister in heaven. It was said he had insufficient lung growth. So now there were only two children left. But soon in January 1915, Henry was born, in March 1916, Julius, then in 1917, Alfred. So in 1917 a two story section was built onto the original building. A brother in law to Michael Strefling named Fred Ratz, who was a close and dear friend to Adolph, did the building On the first floor was a bedroom and a living room. On the upper floor was room for a limited number of beds. It was in the downstairs bedroom that the remainder of the children were born: Albert in January 1920, Marguerite in May 1921, Edna in August 1922, Clarence in March 1924, Robert In August 1925, and finally Adeline, the youngest, in March 1927. The livestock for the most part consisted of two horses, two cows, about five hogs, and about 100-125 chickens. The horses to till the soil, the cows for the milk, cottage cheese, and the butter. The butter was churned in a one gallon container from the cream. Sometimes the churning would go on indefinitely if the cream failed the proper temperature. The chickens were serving many purposes. Of course the eggs were most important, then there was an occasional chicken dinner, and at times when money was desperately needed, they took six or eight chickens to sell at the butcher shop in Three Oaks. Because the rural area had no electric in those days, the hogs were generally butchered in the cold weather between Christmas and New Year's. It was cut into bacon slabs, hams, and also lean meats. The head and other odd parts were used to make sausage. With twigs they squeezed the waste from the intestines, then turned them inside out, washed them thoroughly, then used them to encase the sausage. A barrel with salt brine sufficient to float a potato was prepared to cure the bacon and ham. Then later it was smoked with corn cobs. We had porcelain crocks that varied in size, five, ten, and twenty gallons. The lean meats were fried down and dumped into the crocks, then covered with lard so no insects could get in the meat. The head and other odd ends were ground up, grits and spices were added to make a sausage. This too was placed in crocks and covered with lard. During the berry picking time, these meats were fished from crocks so as to have a hasty lunch and return to the harvest. There was always a greater need that there was money to satisfy that need. Many is the times we took the surplus eggs to town to purchase the bare necessities, such as kerosene for the lamps, salt, pepper, or coffee. Also we did take 200 pounds of wheat to the mill and came home with 100 pounds of flour. When the trousers we wore were torn, they were patched, and when the patch was torn, then a patch was placed on that patch. When the shoelaces were in pieces, a binder twine was substituted. When soles became loosened, a can rubber was used to keep it from flapping with each step I remember ever so well, it was July 4, 1930. It was a hot day with an occasional white cloud drifting overhead when it passed in front of the sun it seemed to lower the temperature 5 or 10 degrees, which was most welcome. Mother and 4 or 5 boys were hoeing in the pickles which had just put on the 3"leaf When someone stayed behind Mother would skip over to help out. The conversation was about a carnival that we were to go to in Bridgman that nights. Mother would go along to do her grocery shopping A little after midnight we started the 10 mile trip for home. In the front seat Otto was driving, Albert in middle and Henry next to the doors. In the back seat Alfred was on the left side, Mother in the middle and Julius on the right side. Someone at the carnival won a miniature telescope and handed it to me. To me it was a treasure to behold and admire. We approached the first intersection south one mile from Bridgman, someone came through a stop sign at 50 miles per hour and hit our car broadside. When, Alfred scrambled out from under the wreckage I noticed I still had the telescope in hand however it was severely damaged. All the boys emerged from the wreckage but mother could not be located. Some stranger found herit a ditch some 50 or 75 feet from point of impact. Otto said he was thrown from the car and landed on his feet and he saw most of the accident take places. Mother was to New Troy to a Dr. Corey but he could do nothing for her. William took her from there to Pawating Hospital in Niles. There she was pronounced deceased, with concussion and a broken neck. Henry and Albert were taken to Niles also with scrapes but were released immediately. Suddenly all in the family realized things could never be the same again, Adeline the youngest was only 3 years old and so many were only a little older and in need of a Mother's care. As I went about the yard the day after the happening could see tears flowing from the children. I went to the pickle patch and there the hoes all laid in zigzag fashion waiting for us to return. Mother's He too was waiting for her so she could help the kid that was most behind Dad too was depressed, discouraged, and disheartened and I can only imagine now that he wondered if he would be able to handle tomorrow. But he did have a strong faith and always said with the Lord's help we will not fall. Some people expressed an interest on adopting some of the children but Dad said with God's help we will stay together as a family In that same year 1930 the depression started in earnest. Unemployment was everywhere and the employed were scarce. Home owners started losing their homes. Soup kitchens opened up to feed the hungry and one bowl of soup daily is all they got for survival. Lots of people worked for farmers for their room and board. Sure enough we were among the poorest but we always had a home to keep warm and never went hungry. Potatoes we had in the bin, fruit was canned, meat in the smokehouse, 50 gallons of dili pickles in a barrel and a 50 gallon barrel of sauerkraut but never a dollar bill in the pocketbook. The cash crops generally grown to meet expenses were grapes, strawberries, raspberries, and cucumbers. Other crops such as hay, corn, wheat, and oats were grown to feed the livestock As was the custom in those days one room schoolhouses were built throughout the countryside so that the children would not have to walk more than 2 miles. The grades were kindergarten through the 8" grade. Most of those schools had one teacher to teach 40 students. At one end of the room was a glorified huge potbelly stove and the teacher hired some student for 5 cents per day to start the fire one hour before school would start. There were no snow plows at that time to clear the roads and at times even the teacher could not be there. One those days it was "play day" for us older boys. We would throw 22 caliber bullets into the stove to hear them pop. At other times when a stage was erected for a Christmas program, with curtains to be drawn. The boys would see who could come up with the most bizarre showing when the curtain was opened. Some nudity and exposure were the norm. Upon our arrival home the parents never were told about our escapades that day. When we graduated from the 8 grade the vast majority of students had finished their education. Only a select few went on to high school. The oldest son William married Lena Geikin 1933 and they had a reception in the "Morley House" within the neighborhood. Those were prohibition days and the spirits had to be purchased from a bootlegger who was brewing the "moonshine" as the whiskey was called. I was but 16 years old but was assigned to sit in the car to protect the liquor. As I sat there and listened to the faint music coming from within the home I Became bored and decided I could take a sip from each bottle and no one would know. After having imbibed quite generously someone came to the car and asked to use the car and I had to step out. When I got out I collapsed into a heap It was then that they knew I was protecting the whiskey for myself For entertainment during the depression years of the 1930's they had barn dances. Cousin Walter Strefling was able to make excellent music with the concertina and some farmers would lend the use of the barn. When the dancers came usually they brought a couple quarts of wine or a bottle of moonshine. Even with very little money everyone could have a good time. Most of the cars at the time were Model T Fords and it was known by some that the radiator cap and the gasoline cap were interchangeable. The only difference was that the gas cap needed a vent while the radiator couldn't have one. So if someone danced with the other girlfriend and he resented it, he would go out and exchange the caps on his car. On the way home the car would come to an abrupt halt because of no vent on the gas cap As the 1930's gradually faded into history the economy began to improve only somewhat. Some of the boys found work on nurseries at nearby farms to help augment the meager income of the home at 10 cents per hour. By 1934 a mint, that is peppermint, farmers paid 15 cents per hour at Boroda. It was 1936 before we could find a job in a shop that paid 40 cents per hour Over the years there was a gradual improvement in the well being of the family. The thought of the family being scattered by this time had vanished. All through the years the family was blessed with good health and improved spirit During the year 1937 Julius married a Lydia Burke and in 1938 Albert married Edna Born in Dolton, Illinois. As for the rest of us who remained at home for entertainment we graduated from a weekly Saturday movie to a Saturday night dance. Prohibition was no longer in existence and we ingested sufficient brew so we could dance with guests. Yes our sisters and neighbor's girls were our dancing partners. Dad laid abed at home and worried that something unforeseen might happen to us. Well after midnight we trod upstairs one after another. He knew each one's footsteps and when the last one reaches home safely he would fall asleep In the surrounding neighborhood most people had large families and it was no problem to start some sort of game as plenty of players were always available. With a 10 cent sponge ball or tennis ball we could play a regular game, one o'cat or two o' cat or longball. In the fall we played touch football, in the winter basketball against the barns and finally when the ponds froze we played hockey and skated. In spite of all of the poverty we found a lot of enjoyment in life. Someone once said that the neighborhood children had more fun that many of rich people's children. We were always reasonably content with our life in the midst of poverty. In 1939 World War 2 started in Europe and most Americans wished to stay out of it. But the events of that day made it almost impossible for us to remain neutral. Finally in October 1940 we were to register for the draft which was to be for 1 year. On the first draft in June 1941, I, Alfred was on a bus headed for the military. But just before I left, in May 1941, Henry was to marry Mildred Geik. So the family began to disintegrate at a rapid rate. When I received my first furlough in November 1941, I came home to attend the wedding of Edna and Edward Geik. Then Dad said if everyone is getting married he, too, would marry. So in January 1942, he married a Mrs. Katherine Seip from Riverdale, Illinois, who once had been the housekeeper some years earlier. Then in 1942, Otto was drafted into the army. A couple years later both Clarence and Robert entered the service also. Now our family had given four sons in the defense of our nation and the scattering was almost completed Dad continued to live on the farm with his wife until 1957. On a spring day in March, in fact it was on the first day of spring, March 21, he was trimming grapes. Shortly after coming home he looked sick. He was also taken to New Troy to Dr. Corey, where he died suddenly when his heart stopped. The last thing he said "Dr.you can't help me...My heart has stopped." Katherine Seip married Dad when she was 65 years old, but now in settling the estate, she got a lawyer. She took everything the lawyer allowed which consisted of about half of the estate. None of the children mourned because of her departure from the relationship. Her arrival into the family was mostly tolerated but not admired and her contributions to the family were mostly negative from the children's viewpoint Also Marguerite was married to Donald Strange of Three Oaks in the fall of 1941. So now there were already six children married and five still single. As the war continued, Clarence and Robert were drafted into the service of their country. The global war started with Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 until the first part of September 1945. Then later it was officially called World War II. Upon our return home we noticed many dramatic changes in the family and also the neighborhood. The carefree days of our youth had left to be replaced with the serious business of establishing a home and providing for the well being of the new generation of offspring. We would get together on occasions and have a few beers and talk of the good old days when we were young carefree, and unconcerned about the future. But we realized, too, we could not return to our past, to the days of our youth. The one thing now was certain, the uncertainty of the future During the year 1947 Adeline married Arthur Geik, in November 1958 Alfred married Irene Pitcher and Otto was married to Mildred Johnson, Clarence was married to a Viola Crane in March 1949, Robert was married a couple years later to Claudia Prenker At this time the Adolph Strefling family was completely and willingly scattered. Each was laboring to provide for their own. We did get together on a regular basis to have a few beers and swap some humorous stories as well as the serious side of life. Looking back on the years of the Adolph Strefling family, I think it can be considered a success in spite of all its hardships and griefs that seemed to be our constant companion.

Sources

• 1910 United States Federal Census

Family Trees U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995