BENEDICT STIMBERT

1832-1911

GERMANY

Benedict Stimbert was born in the small town of Hochspeyer which is located about 6km East of the modern day city of Kaiserslautern, Germany. The town is an ancient one, first mentioned by name in about 1195. It's located in an area that historically has been ravaged by wars and at one time was deserted for 15 years. Benedict was born into a time of 'landlords',  Governor's, and classes. The landlords pretty much controlled their lives including whom they could marry. Many people left the area for Hungary, Russia or America during this time due to the oppressive conditions and the inability to increase their status in life. Instead of re-writing here what others have already done I'd like to refer the reader to a  web site that contains a  brief history of Hochspeyer (translated page) and another entitled; "A Brief Description of a Typical Southern German Village in the Past Centuries." The latter is a must read for anyone trying to understand their German ancestors and how they might have lived. 

In 1830 his father purchased a piece of land in the nearby town of Fischbach.  They may have still lived in Hochspeyer or on their land at the time Benedict was born.  His siblings and himself were all christened in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hochspeyer. Maybe life wasn't as rough for his family as it was for many others. His father and many siblings never came to America. To date it appears that only three of the brothers emigrated; Theobald, Benedict, and Jacob.

AMERICA

At this time I think that Benedict came to America on May 14, 1852 on the boat Altana. He sailed from Liverpool to New York City at the brave age of 19. He seems to be alone. There doesn't appear to be any other family members on the boat with him according to the ships log. His older brother Theobald and possibly another family member were already in America when he came. The 1900 Census shows Benedict as having come to the USA in 1850. After having looked through many Census records and finding several errors I'm more inclined to believe the ships log. The log has the right age and the town of Rhenish that's mentioned isn't far from Hochspeyer. Rhenish is also a town that many of the young men from Hochspeyer worked in.

The next time I find Benedict is when he is married to Maria in 1856 in New York City. This piece of information conflict's with family history which says their oldest son Daniel was born on 'the boat' in New York Harbor in 1857.  Daniel was born in New York according to several Census records. 

ILLINOIS

In 1860 Benedict is living with his wife and two oldest sons in Linn Twp, Woodford Co. Illinois. He is living next door to his older brother Theobald and his family. What they did for the years in between I do not know. There is one unverified record that has his second son as being born in Chicago in 1859. Also in 1860 their younger brother Jacob was married in the same church in New York that Benedict and Maria were. 

In 1868 Benedict purchased 80 acres of land in Clayton Twp. Woodford Co. Illinois. His older brother Theobald bought land there in 1867. Of interest they are both named Stimbert on the 1873 Clayton Twp. Platt Map. I have yet to find Benedict in an 1870 Census in Woodford Co. Illinois. He's not living on his land in Clayton Twp. it seems although his brother Theobald is. I'd love to know where I could find him in 1870 if anyone has that information.  Throughout their time in Illinois their children Theobald (David), Louisa, Jacob, Magaretta, Mary, Benedict Jr, and Catherina were born.

NEBRASKA

According to his son Theobald's ( David) obituary they came to Nebraska on February 12, 1875. Their youngest son John was born in Nebraska in 1876. In 1880 he's in the Scott Precinct ( Inland), Clay Co. Nebraska Census. His oldest son Daniel has moved out and was married in December of this year.

In 1883 his wife Maria passed away. There's an 'old style' headstone for her in the S. Inland Cemetery that has German writing on it. He re-married to the widow, Mrs. Karolina (Bender) Slegal on April 27, 1885. She was also from Germany. In the 1885 Nebraska Census Index he is living on his farm in Inland, Clay Co. Nebraska. In the 1890-1891 Nebraska State Gazetteer of Inland County listed under farmers is a  Ben Stimbert which is probably him.

In 1900 he's still living in  Inland with Karolina. His son Benedict Jr. is listed as the next family. By 1910 he's retired, widowed again and living in the household of his oldest son Daniel. A family member told me that Benedict donated the land during this time period for that is now the S. Inland Cemetery. The cemetery is located where his farm was. I've not found any record to verify  the information though.

DEATH

In November of 1911 Benedict passed away at the age of 78, 11 months. He is buried in the S. Inland Cemetery alongside his first wife Maria. There's a newer headstone that has been placed that has both of their names on it near Maria's original headstone.

Hastings Daily Tribune Monday November 13 1911 pg 6
        DEATH CALLS MR. STIMBERT
  Special to Hastings Daily Tribune:   Inland. Nebr. Nov 13 –  Benedict Stimbert, Sr. died here at his residence Saturday afternoon about 5 o’clock.   The funeral service will be conducted at 1 o’clock Tuesday afternoon by the Rev. Mr. Aments of the German Congregational church at Hastings. The Misses Amelia Eckhardt and Marie Bauer, of Hastings will sing at the service.   Miss Julia Eckhardt also of Hastings, playing the organ.
  Mr. Stimbert had been a resident of this community for many years, and had won a large number of friends.   He was 82 years old at the time of his death.

I'd like to conclude with a family story told by Fred Meissner about the distribution of Benedict's estate after his death.

"My mother told me the following story re: Benedict Stimbert Sr.  He was apparently quite wealthy and didn't believe in banks.  He kept all of his money as gold coins in leather bags -one for each of his children-under his  bed.  When he died in 1911, my GF Fred Meissner & his wife Mary Stimbert Meissner went to Nebraska to pick up her inheritance. After they returned to Utah, my Grandfather's family changed their lifestyle. He essentially quit working and became an investor and entrepreneur. He managed to take his whole family back to Germany for a visit in 1912-13. There must have been a fair amount of money in Mary's leather sack!"

Thanks for you interest,

Darla Stimbert

(references to be added at a later date)

© Darla Stimbert 2002