SIXTH GENERATION

48. Friedrich Wilhelm DAHLEM ⁽³⁵⁾ was born on 16 Sep 1835 in St. Wendel, Germany.⁽³⁶⁾ He was a miller before 1890 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽³⁷⁾

Friedrich Dahlem inherited the family mill. The mill had originally been the property of the Count of Leyen but passed to the Dahlems around the time of the French Revolution.

Methods of milling were changing due to the industrial revolution and other social /economic changes. The mill failed. Friedrich and Catharina (the Grossmama) and children had to leave the mill, and they moved into a nearby village where they lived above a inn where Friedrich worked.

The extended Dahlem family was not happy about the loss of the family patrimony. It was an embarrassing time for Grossmama and Grosspapa and children. The mill complex was really very palatial. They had been a wealthy family, but now they were poor and hungry. Soon after their oldest son, Fred, began the emigration to America.

He was a farmer between 1893 and 1925 in Wakita, Grant Co., Oklahoma. He died on 13 Apr 1925 in Jefferson, Grant Co., Oklahoma. ⁽³⁸⁾

Obituary

DAHLEM--Fred Dahlem, Sr. 89 years old, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Schuermann, Saturday, April 13. He had been in ill health for some time, due to his mature age.

He was born September 15, 1835, in Germany. Funeral services were held at the Liberty church Monday afternoon, April 20, conducted by Rev. C.H. Schuermann.

He was buried on 20 Apr 1925 in Liberty Cemetery, Grant Co., Oklahoma. ^(2)(39) He has reference number 48. He was remembered by Art Ciskowski like this. ⁽¹⁰⁾
"Old Grandpa (Fred) Dahlem and my Grandpa (John) Ciskowski became very close friends, they just lived a mile and a half apart, both had a German background. They both spoke German much more fluent than they did English. They loved to play cards together. I've heard this many times, they used to play a game called "66", it is kind of a rough game. I don't know who was the best player, but I think whoever could hit the table the hardest, when they played the card, probably thought he was the best. When the Dahlem kids would play cards, they would hit the table and go "Duh!" That was carry over from the Grandpas. It was quite a cut throat game."

He was remembered by Art Ciskowski like this. ⁽¹⁰⁾
"Dorothy Breen was telling this little story not too long ago. My Grandpa Ciskowski was plowing along the road and Grandpa Dahlem, that is the old Grandpa Dahlem, came along and they stopped to visit. My Grandpa Ciskowski was plowing with two horses and a mule, with the mule in the center. Of course they stopped and grandpa turned around on the seat facing backwards. Grandpa Dahlem sat on the ground facing him. I guess after quite a long time, this mule in the center turned completely around. He must have been rather loosely hitched in there and he was facing the plow. Grandpa Dahlem said, 'John, is that the way you work them, that mule has to back up all the time?' Grandpa Ciskowski looked around and saw what was happening and said 'Fred, it's time for you to go home.'"

He was remembered by Lorena Biby like this.⁽⁴⁰⁾ "When Grandpa & Uncle Jake quit farming, they built their little house across the driveway from our house, in our yard. They must have moved there in 1917, because I know they were there when the First World War ended in 1918. Mamma had been at their house that night, and when she came home, she heard bells ringing and guns being fired in Jefferson, so the Armistice must have been signed, she said.
Grandpa always had candy in the drawer of his desk. He had a big brown leather rocking chair. And when he didn't feel good, he always wanted sugar water."
He was also known as the Grosspapa. He was married to Catharina KUNKEL on 14 Aug 1865.⁽⁴¹⁾

49. Catharina KUNKEL was born on 10 Nov 1844 in Wolfersheim, Trolus, Germany.⁽⁴²⁾
Catherine's birth certificate and marriage license shows her last name as KUNCKEL.
She died on 3 Jul 1923 in Jefferson, Grant Co., Oklahoma.
Obituary

Mrs. Frederick Dahlem nee Catharine Kimbel, was born in Rhenis, Bavaria, November 10th, 1844, and died at her home July 2nd, 1923. In August, 1865 she was united in marriage to Frederick Dahlem, her now bereaved husband. Their marriage union was favored with 10 children two of which died in infancy. She was a devoted mother and her devotion may well be cherished as a sacred and precious memory. She with her family came to this country in 1889. They settled in Gage county, Nebraska and then to Clyde, Okla. at the opening of the strip in 1894. About four years ago she and her aged husband made their home with their daughter, Lena, Mrs. H.W. Schuermann. She was converted at a camp meeting in Nebraska and ever since led a faithful and earnest Christian life. During her last illness she was resigned to God's will and on different occasions declared her readiness to meet him. In 1915 she celebrated with her husband her Golden Wedding and leaves besides him to mourn her loss six sons, two daughters and 23 grandchildren. Three of her sons, Fred, Carl and Henry live at Clyde. William is a minister and is stationed at Bland, Mo., Jacob and her daughter Louise, Mrs. H.W. Schlingmann, live in Tulsa and her daughter, Mrs. H.W. Schuermann and John, her youngest son reside near Jefferson. Rev. J.A. Rinkel from Northfield, Minn., an old friend of the family conducted the funeral services.

She was buried in Liberty Cemetery, Grant Co., Oklahoma. ⁽²⁾ She has reference number 49. She was remembered by Lorena Biby like this.⁽⁴³⁾
"Grandma & Grandpa always had Sunday dinner with us. I remember I could never cut noodles thin enough to suit grandma so she'd take the knife from me and cut them herself." Children were:

i. Catherine DAHLEM was born in 1867. She died in 1868 in Germany.
ii. Frederick Wilhelm "Fred" DAHLEM was born on 28 Jun 1869 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽³⁶⁾ He emigrated in 1890 from Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ^{(44)(45) (46)(47) (48) (49)}
Fred's uncle, Johann (the Grosspapa's brother), sent a letter to the family. Johann (Uncle John) lived in Nebraska and offered to send a ticket for one of Friedrich and Catherina’s children to come to the US. Grosspapa and Grossmama discussed it and decided that they could not part with any of their children. They wrote a letter to Uncle John telling him not to send the money. They gave the letter to their daughter Carolina (Lena) to mail. Grosspapa and Grossmama’s oldest son Friedrich Wilhelm (Fred) stopped Lena on her way to mail the letter and offered to mail it for her. Once the letter was in his possession, Fred opened it and added his own letter. In his letter Fred told his Uncle John about the dire straits the family was in. He asked Uncle John to send the ticket despite his parents’ request to the contrary promising that he would take care of his folks when the ticket arrived.

Uncle John did send the passage and when Grossmama and Grosspapa got the letter, they were furious and thrashed Fred. Grosspapa put the envelope with the ticket behind the clock on the mantelpiece. He planned to send the ticket back to his brother the next day.

That night, after the Grosspapa and Grossmama went to bed, Fred crept to the fireplace, took the ticket, and left. He made his way to the coast where used the ticket to board a ship to America. Once in America, he made his way across country to his Uncle John in Gage County, Nebraska. He and his uncle saved what they made until Fred was able to send money to bring over his brothers Karl and Henry* to Nebraska. The four men were able to save enough to bring over the rest of the family in 1889.

In 1893 when the Cherokee Outlet was opened for settlement, the Grosspapa and his sons, Fred and Karl made the land run. All three took claims in the Jarvis township of what would become Grant County near present day Wakita.

He immigrated in 1890 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. He died on 27 Jan 1945. ⁽⁵⁰⁾ He was buried in Liberty Cemetery, Grant Co., Oklahoma. He was described as 6' 2" and broad-shouldered. He was an original pioneer of Grant County, Oklahoma.. He made the Cherokee Strip Land Run, Sept. 16, 1893.

24 iii. Karl Frederick "Charles" DAHLEM.
iv. Heinrich Wilhelm "Henry" DAHLEM was born on 12 Mar 1872 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽⁵¹⁾ He emigrated in 1889 from Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽⁵²⁾ Catharina did not want to send Karl to America alone, so she sent Henry (who was 16 at the time) to accompany him. He immigrated in 1889 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. He died on 22 Nov 1942 in Veterans Hospital, Wichita, Sedgewick County, KS. ⁽⁵³⁾ He served in the military 9 May 1898 to 4 Oct 1898 in Chickamauga Camp, Chattanooga, TN.⁽⁵⁴⁾ Henry enlisted in the U.S. Army during the Spanish American War. He was in Company E, Second Regiment or the Nebraska Volunteers. He contracted typhoid fever and was critically ill in an Omaha, Nebraska hospital. His regiment was mustered out of service in October 1898. He was buried in Rosemound Cemetery, Medford, Grant Co., Oklahoma. ⁽²⁾ He owned land near Minco, Oklahoma. ⁽⁵⁵⁾ As related by his daughter Katherine:

I do not know the details or the dates involved, but I think he was possibly there at the time of the Cherokee Strip run.

He was a farmer in Renfrow, Grant County, OK. ⁽⁵⁶⁾
v. Wilhelm August "Will" DAHLEM⁽⁵⁷⁾ was born on 21 Jul 1874 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽⁵⁸⁾ He emigrated in 1889.⁽⁵⁹⁾ He immigrated in 1889 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. He retired in 1945. He died on 8 Feb 1964 in Etna, Missouri.⁽⁶⁰⁾
Obituary

Rev. W. A. Dahlem, Dies; Minister For 41 Years

Memphis, Mo., Feb. 10. - The Rev. W. A. Dahlem, 89, a Methodist minister for 41 years and an active resident of Methodist Sunset home at Quincy, Ill., since 1956, died Saturday night at 11:15 in Blessing hospital at Quincy. He had been a patient since Jan. 16.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 in the Etna Methodist church southeast of here. Dr. Victor H. Roberts of Sunset home and the Rev. J. Frederick Lawson of Memphis will officiate. Burial will be in Etna cemetery.

Mr. Dahlem was born in Germany July 21, 1874, a son of Frederick and Katherine Kunkel Dahlem. He came to the United States in 1884 and had resided most of the time since then in Scotland county.

His first charge was the Etna Methodist church. He was married to Lena Mohr of Arbela, Oct 9, 1907. She died Jan. 14, 1961. He was a member of the Masonic lodge.
Mr. Dahlem served several years as trustee of the Sunset home and since residing there had been active on various committees.

After serving at Etna, Mr. Dahlem was minister at Burlington and Des Moines, Ia., Mt. Olive, III., and Mansfield, Dalton, Corder, De Soto, Bland and Truxton, Mo.

Surviving are two sons, Otto H. of Atlanta, Ga and Karl W. of Scarsdale, N.Y.; two daughters, Mrs. Charlotte Diestelkamp of Mobile, Ala., and Mrs. Louella Jander of Kirkwood; a brother; John, of Jefferson, Okla., and seven grandchildren. Mrs. Otto Mohr of Memphis is a sister-in-law and Louie Miller of Burlington, is a brother-in-law.


He was a Methodist minister. He was buried in Methodist Cemetary - Etna, Scotland Co., Missouri.⁽⁶¹⁾ He was remembered by his daughter Charlotte this way.⁽⁵⁸⁾

As a child of 8 and 9 years, my father had been very ill on two separate occasions. During the periods of recuperation his interest was drawn to reading the Protestant Bible and other religious writings. All his life he remembered those days. Ever a mystic, he believed that it was in that way that God had called him to his work.

Central Wesleyan College had been founded by German Methodists in Warrenton, Missouri in 1850. The school had recently established a theological seminary and it was to that school that my father set his sights. Through some almost unbelievable ways, chance contacts and financial help from "almost strangers", he enrolled there in 1904. In 6 years he overcame his deficiency in English, could read both Greek and Hebrew to a limited degree, had earned B.A. and B.D. degrees and was the school's first ministerial graduate in 1900. By working as a janitor at the school and on farms during the summers and with the help mentioned above, he was only $380 in debt.

He served for a while as pastor of a small congregation in Missouri and was accepted into the Methodist Conference. He was sent to Des Moines, Iowa in 1903. Aunt Louise joined him there in 1905.

In 1906, he was transferred to the Etna Methodist Church in Scotland County, Missouri. During his first sermon he spotted my mother in the congregation and, I quote, "It was love at first sight" and as it turned out, the feeling was mutual. My mother was the daughter of Henry Mohr a prosperous local farmer. She was also the granddaughter of Rev. J. C. Bridenstein who had built the church in 1865 when he was pastor there.

My parent's courtship was not of long duration. They were married on October 9, 1907. Grandfather came from Oklahoma for the wedding and also joined them as they went by train to Oklahoma so that my mother could meet my grandmother and the others of her new family. My father wrote in his memoirs that she was most cordially welcomed by everyone and especially by Uncle Fred with a hug.

It was not too easy for my mother to adjust to her new role as wife of the pastor in the church that she had attended all of her life. But they continued there for three more years during which time my brother Otto Henry (Dutch) was born April 8, 1909.

My parents served a number of churches in Missouri and Illinois and were most happy and successful in those with a German background. In due course the others of us were born. Karl William was born September 16, 1912 in Burlington, Iowa. Charlotte Kathryn was next on February 7, 1916 in Mount Olive, Illinois and Martha Luella on March 28, 1918 in Truxton, Missouri.

In l945, after 45 years in the ministry, my father retired. In full circle, it would seem, they returned to the Etna community in Missouri and purchased the parsonage in which they had begun their marriage. The house was no longer being used by the church which was being served by a minister from another congregation. My parents lived in Etna until l956 when my mother's failing health prompted a move to a Methodist retirement home in Quincy, Illinois on whose board my father had once served.

Upon their deaths, they returned once again to Etna and are buried in the church cemetery where my mother's parents and grandparents are also buried. My brother Dutch joined them there in 1980.

My parents made a happy home for us children. We always knew that we were loved and we loved each other. In his memoirs, my father's last request was that our relationship never change or be broken.

We granted that wish.


vi. Carolina Augusta "Lena" DAHLEM⁽⁶²⁾ was born on 1 Aug 1876 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽⁶³⁾ She emigrated in 1889 from Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽⁶³⁾ She immigrated in 1889 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. She died on 5 Nov 1934 in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma. ⁽⁶³⁾
Obituary

Lena Augusta, daughter of Fred and Katherine Dahlem, was born in Saar Valley, Germany, on August 1, 1876 and died at the General hospital at Enid, Okla, on November 5, 1934, at the age of 58 years, 3 months and 5 days.

At the age of twelve years she came to this country and lived with her parents near Beatrice, Nebraska, later moving to Oklahoma, where they resided five miles east of Wakita. On March 13, 1902 she was united in marriage with Henry W. Schuermann, of Jefferson, and to this union four children were born.

Early in childhood she was united with the Methodist church living in this faith the remainder of her life.

She was a member of the Liberty Methodist church east of Jefferson. Mrs. Schuermann is survived by her husband, Henry W. Schuermann, two sons, Fritz C., of Medford, and Laverne, Of the home; two daughters, Mrs. Lorena Biby, of Gentry, Ark., and Mrs. Millicent Hime, of Medford. Also four step-children, Mrs. Gertrude Berg, of Helena, Okla., Edgar, of Jefferson, Henry A., of Pond Creek and W. C., of Medford. One sister, Mrs. Louise Schlingmann, of Tulsa, and six brothers, Fred, Chas. F. and Henry Dahlem, all of Wakita; Rev. Wm. A. Dahlem, of Berger, Missouri; John Dahlem, of Jefferson; Jake Dahlem, of Tulsa and six grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon, November 7, at the Liberty M. E. church and interment was made in the Liberty cemetery. Rev. G.A. Strouse was assisted by Rev. J? and Rev. Butler, of Pond Creek in the services.
She was buried on 7 Nov 1934 in Liberty Cemetery, Grant Co., Oklahoma. ⁽⁶³⁾ She was Methodist in Liberty M.E., Medford, Grant Co., Oklahoma.⁽⁶³⁾ As remembered by her daughter Lorena Biby:

My mother was a farmer's wife. She married my Dad who had five children. The oldest - a girl - was only ten years younger than she was. My Dad's wife died in 1900 when my brother Bill was born on Feb 2, 1900. My parents were married March 13, 1902, but I don't know when they brought Bill home. A middle-aged couple took him when his mother died, who lived near by. Dad's mother-in-law lived with him & cared for the other kids. Then when my parents were married, she lived there with them. My mother was a quiet person, worked hard, keeping house, gardening, canning, baking bread and, of course, washing & ironing. My Dad had the five kids and there were four of us, but you never heard the word "step" in our family. We were just brothers & sisters. I'm sure they loved her. I can remember when Edgar got married, he lived a mile away, but I can remember him coming down & sitting in the kitchen visiting with Mamma while she was doing something or other. And after horse & buggy days when we had a car, it was always Henry who drove Mamma to town.
My mother died too young, only 58 years old, following surgery.
vii. Louise DAHLEM was born on 19 Jan 1879 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. She emigrated in 1889 from Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. She immigrated in 1889 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. She resided in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was remembered by Art Ciskowski like this.⁽¹⁰⁾
"In the early days she was a school teacher, in fact, she was my sister's first schol teacher. I think she was a pretty strict teacher, anyway, Frances was afraid of her. Of course, in those days there were some boys still attending grade school that were probably 19 or 20 years old. It took a pretty strict teacher to keep them under control and I guess she was able to do it."

She was remembered by Lorena Biby like this.⁽⁶⁴⁾
"Uncle Will & Aunt Louise lived 2 miles from us, but she wouldn't stay there, so she died in our home. I think she died before I was born, I'm not sure."

She was remembered by her daughter Wilhelmena (Carol) like this. ⁽⁶⁵⁾
My mother related many stories about how beautiful her birthplace was—rolling hills and an 80 acre lake. She almost drowned in this lake, but the good townspeople saved her. Her oldest brother, Fred, played many a "trick on her. She and her younger brother, Jake, became very close and this closeness continued all their lives. The Dahlem water mill, lake, surrounding building, and houses were quite a spread at one time—purchased from the estate of the Count of Leyen. The Industrial Revolution changed the Dahlem’s economic status. The nearby DuPonts went into ammunition; the Dahlems did not.

At one point, the large Dahlem family lost everything. Mother related how very poor they became; they were almost an embarrassment to some relatives. One day Mother was on her way home from school and a cousin asked her in. She gave my mother a piece of bread with cheese. Mother said that was "the best food I’d had in days." She never forgot this as evidenced throughout her life—no one ever came to our door for food and left hungry—even during the depression.

Anne, my oldest sister, believed Grossmama was a Mennonite in this all Catholic town. In fact, Mother told me they were the only Protestants there and were constantly told they were "going to h---" if they didn’t convert.

Grosspapa’s brother, John had immigrated to America and settled in Nebraska. Uncle Fred had come to Nebraska in 1883, Uncle Henry and Uncle Charlie followed, 1888. They worked to save money to bring the family in 1890. In 1893 they made the Run into the Cherokee Outlet. Mother said times were very hard. The family lived in a dugout (as did many families in those days) and that first year they survived on potatoes. Anne & I realized later Mother had rickets, because of lack of vitamins as a child. She and Dad later sent boxes of vitamins to Germany (after WWII) because they so desperately needed them.

I don’t know when Mother’s "heart was strangely warmed" (as John Wesley said), but I do know Mother had a "direct line" to God and have been told by many people, including many ministers, that she "lived her faith every day of her life."

Mother had two burning ambitions: to seek God’s guidance in everything she did, and to get an education. She was a "missionary" in both areas. Did I mention #3 cleanliness?!? After the "run" into Oklahoma, Grosspapa and Grossmama lived in a small house on their homestead. Mother said she cooked and washed overalls for a large group—they all worked hard. When she was in her late teens she felt, "I will prepare myself and in due time my turn will come." Mother had large calluses in the palms of both hands. Uncle John once told me it was from pitching hay at $0.25 per day.

With a few meager dollars Grossmama gave her, Mother set out for Enid and high school. She prayed her way into the Methodist parsonage and did the ironing and cooking. She never wanted Anne or me to have to "work as hard in a kitchen" as she had done. When I went to Oklahoma State University (Summer 1941) just on a fluke (I’d been home and at Tulsa University 3 years), Mother said I could work anywhere but in a kitchen. Guess what? The first Sunday Mom and Dad surprised me. I was in the cellar (Murry’s kitchen) cutting butter and tasting all the cream pitchers! What a COOL job that was in July-August in Oklahoma!

She finished high school at 21 and the president of Fort Worth University (Methodist) visited this parsonage. Mother prayed!! She packed her bags and informed the president that God had told her to go with him to Ft. Worth and start college. He took her, at God’s request. I have many fine essays mother wrote for her English classes.

At Ft. Worth a professor called on "Louise" one day and Mother stood up. The professor, thinking another woman was Louise said, "Sit down! Sit down! You don’t even know your own name!"

Mother, of course, started a Wednesday night prayer group. There was a younger man that attended some meetings. His name was Jacob Payton. When he’d miss, mother would inform him they had prayed for him. One night, she caught him climbing at tree to get into the boy’s dorm. For years Mother read the Advocate each month and several times she’d say , "Maybe this editorial is by the same Jacob Payton I knew at Fort Worth University. Well, sixty years later I looked this Jacob S. Payton up in Washington, DC and Mother called.
All she said was "Jacob Payton?"
He said "Louise Dahlem!"
Mother said. "Jacob, how in the world would you remember my voice after all these years?"
Jacob answered, "Why, Louise, I’d recognize your voice in Heaven!"
We met and ate with him and his wife several times during our four year stay in DC. He told me, he’d never met a woman as devoted a Christian as mother, and she was the reason he became a minister and later an assistant editor of the "Christian Advocate." Jacob wrote a book on Methodism, Our Fathers Have Told Us, and gave it to Mother. Both he and Mother had come from somewhat similar backgrounds (Indian Territory).

When Mother died Jacob wrote me a lovely letter of earlier days at Ft. Worth U.:

"Your mother was a ‘saint.’ She used to have misgivings about what would become of me. She possessed ‘experimental religion’ rather than the second-hand variety., With that went a sense of humor that led her to laugh easily and carried her joyously above theological bickerings. I feel that you for whom she prayed unceasingly will fulfill every hope she held for you."

WOW—it’s hard to live up to those expectations—but I did get Mother’s sense of humor. I’m not sure everyone knew she had one!

Meanwhile, Uncle Will was attending Central Wesleyan College at Warrenton, Mo. Uncle Will wanted Mother to transfer there, which she did. Again, she organized a Young Women’s Christian Group (10-3) and was chosen president. During this time he had been student preacher, but his first full-time church as at Etna, MO. When Uncle Will graduated (as the first seminary student), he asked mother to be his hostess at the parsonage. They lived together there next to the church. She never returned to complete her final year of college. Of course, Mother started a Sunday School and helped with prayer meetings. Isn’t that what everyone does in a new place?

Uncle Will married Aunt Lena Mohr, and meanwhile "back at the farm" several brothers and Aunt Lena had married, so mother returned to the homestead. Mr. Walter Dial gave her a job teaching at a one-room school in Clyde. In one of the Grant County books someone thanks Mother for stopping to pick her up each day for school in a horse drawn buggy. I just can’t visualize Mother in a little buggy!

Anyway, some of the older boys had run two or three teachers out of this school—but not my mother! She stayed there until she married Dad. It seems that one large boy was quite a troublemaker. On Mother’s first day or so he came in chewing tobacco and refused to spit it out. Mother’s "buggy whip" was handy and in some way she just happened to wrap it around his neck. He then swallowed the tobacco—one sick guy—but no more trouble with the boys in that school. (The boy’s dad thanked Mother later!)

Mother used to love to tell me stories about life on that farm: about scrubbing the porch with soap and water each Saturday and keeping that evergreen tree watered that she had planted. For years that was a landmark! It stood in the field after the homestead was torn down and new owners planted around it.

She often (all the time) said, "Cleanliness is next to Godliness," and how she was organized and clean. I think we might call it compulsive behavior now (as my two kids often said of me. Nuts don’t fall far from the tree—or is that apples?). Mother used to say "Everything has a place and everything in it’s place. Well, we’d have never been able to live in that one-bedroom apartment with one closet if she hadn’t practiced what she preached. She also had an uncanny way of giving everything away that wasn’t nailed down, or that we weren’t playing with at the moment or wearing—at least it seemed that way to me. We often visited our one oil well (near Okmulgee) that pumped 1 barrel per day. The man who took care of it had many children who had few clothes or toys. I still want my large oilcloth cat back—I wasn’t through with it.

Mama and Papa met in Oklahoma City at the funeral of a mutual friend at a Methodist Church. They went together for many years. Papa missed the first wedding as he was in Amarillo again, building a depot and the mail didn’t get to him in time. The second one planned worked fine, Dec. 24, 1914 at the homestead.

Dad built a nice red brick home in Oklahoma City. He’d also built a 4 unit apartment building next door. Anne was born here, 11/2/1915. Dad also had an art gallery with many German lithographs (he later framed to furnsh the Auchen Apts. in Tulsa 1929 and many beautiful photographic post cards of still life—antiques now). A cyclone hit OKC and Dad said he saw about a foot of sky between the walls and the roof of part of this house. He grabbed Mother’s hand. She pulled away and reappeared carrying her wedding dress and his suit. Dad was extremely frightened of Tulsa thunder and lightening storms thereafter. When we lived in the duplex on Quincy, we used to high tail it over a wire fence to a storm cellar next door. We’d all be in this dugout together with just one candle.

I don’t know when Grosspapa and Grossmama left the homestead, but I think Aunt Lena took care of them most of the rest of their lives. I know Aunt Alma and Uncle John were involved…probably all of the relative. When we’d visit Grossmama she had her little cap on and long garments. Grosspapa wore a dark suit and had a long white beard. Mama always wanted me to kiss Grosspapa. Well, that was the last thing in the world I wanted to do! I was very young, hadn’t been around them much—and he scared the pee-wadding out of me!

Uncle Jake had followed Papa and Mama to Tulsa and they lived in a small house just north of 11th St. on Quincy. That’s where "Little Helen" was born. About 1919 Papa (with Uncle Jake’s help) built a beautiful house at 19th and Quincy. I was born in the large servant’s quarters 8/3/1920. Helen died in this house, after the flue and a bout with double pneumonia at 4 ½ years old. I was 2 ½ years old. My dear Mama never lost faith. As Helen lay dying in her arms, she said, "The lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."

Papa always claimed Anne always did what he asked. One time, when I was about 3 years old, he asked not to go near the cistern and then he ran like crazy to beat me there to make sure it was covered securely.

I consciously did not remember Helen, but two weeks after her death I was riding with Dad in the front seat of our Model T and fell out the door. I remember seeing something flash past me. It was a car. Dad could hardly get out of the car as he felt sure Id been run over.

After our first Dahlem reunion which Anne and Dorothy planned. I was upset because I couldn’t remember so many of the events Anne and you folk talked about, so I got myself hypnotized by a professor at Pomona College. I saw it all and realized I was the youngest cousin. I saw Mama and Papa as young parents, Helen and me playing, the servant’s quarters which I went into later and knew every nook and cranny (even Helen’s baby bed where I used to say, "No. Helen, Mama?" I even saw the room in the big house. I knew everyone of them. Best fifty bucks I ever spent. By the way, that house was empty and being sold when I went back to Tulsa for my 50th Central High School Reunion 1988. The real estate lady happened to come by and seeing my 2 friends and myself nosing about said, "You’re the daughter of that fine "little German man who built and decorated this house." I ever thought of my Dad as being "little." He was always a very big and fine person to me. I do remember taking many pictures in the big cement flower pots on the front porch. The three girls and then just I. I also remember Anne holding my hand to go about a block to a small grocer (the lower floor of a big apt.). I always had to watch the "one step down." Anne took good care of me.
She was the author of this letter to her brother, Will. ⁽⁶⁵⁾
Letter to Rev. W.A. Dahlem, 1350 E. 2nd St. Des Moines, Iowa, from Louise Dahlem, Clyde, OK dated Oct. 9, 1903.
Dear Brother,

...I was somewhat disappointed...Of course that will be alright. I do not want you to worry for I can spend the winter with Mama. She is in need of my presence too. I have had a good offer from the Rears. They want me to come and stay and they would pay for music lessons and the use of the piano just for my company. I could go home on Friday to help Mama.

I am glad you had another visit at the old college and your most always have a good time…

Mama has been feeling badly and we butchered so I had to fry the meat. Stella is nice and she comes and helps me every chance she has. We do get along well.

The boys are putting the wheat in next we will plaster. You were surprised to hear about me being up. Why, I peeled peaches for 16 quarts while I was sick—sat in the rocker all day.

Some way another I got over it so much quicker than the other time. A secret, Jake is calculating to go to Warrenton next year—I will help if I can—He has changed since I am home. I put a word in once in awhile indirectly… I took him to Darrows and it had a decided effect. It doth not do for me to say much so I act. I hear Glades and Carl.

[Handwritten note below]
I came to see my Grosmama
Glades Dahem
A kiss from me.


viii. August DAHLEM was born on 18 Apr 1881 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. ⁽⁶⁶⁾ He died on 21 Mar 1883 in Germany. ⁽⁶⁶⁾
ix. Jacob Richard DAHLEM⁽⁶⁷⁾ was born in 1883 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. He emigrated in 1889 from Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. He immigrated in 1889 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. He died in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was an interior decorator in Tulsa, Tulsa Co., Oklahoma. He was remembered by his niece Wilhelmena (Carol) Schlingman Harper this way. ⁽⁶⁵⁾

My mother, Jake’s sister Louise, was four years, 8 months older than he. They remained extremely close all their lives. For years Uncle Jake worked on Grosspapa’s homestead, but about 1917 he moved to Tulsa about the same time Louise and William Schlingman settled there after a few years in Oklahoma City. Mother wanted Uncle Jake to finish school, but that wasn’t to be. At one time Uncle Jake was into photography. He later worked with my father, William Schlingman in construction. Dad was a contractor and an interior decorator of the Old German School. About 1919 Dad with Uncle Jakes help, built a beautiful home at 1823 S. Quincy and I was born in the large servant’s quarters 8/3/1920. That home is still shown on the "Tulsa Walk Tours" as a good example of the Mediterranean influence and by the German craftsmen movement….Schlingman’s s kill and individuality are evident in this house…" Sad to say, the man next door was to purchase this home and the day before he was to sign the papers, he was killed in an elevator shaft in downtown Tulsa. Later this home was lost because of expenses.

My sister, Helen Louise, died here June 28, 1922. I remember Mother telling me how Uncle Jake reminded her that she was neglecting Anna and me in her grief. We all made weekly visits to Helen’s gravesite. Dad didn’t mention her name for years.

Dad had a motorcycle, but after Uncle Jake broke his leg riding it, Dad got rid of it & bought a four-door Model T Ford which I was allowed to drive at 15 years & took many friends for Sunday drives! All we really had to watch for was the streetcar on Quincy. We also carried extra water for the radiator.

We soon moved to a duplex at 1327 S. Quincy. I remember these 6-7 years as happy ones, and I Uncle Jake as a "second father"…how lucky for me! I’m sure he would he would have done the same for any one of you, but I was where he was.

During those years we enjoyed many Sunday visits (with relatives and German families, Italian families, and Jewish families.) We sang songs, played games, and often went swimming at the lakes around Tulsa. Uncle Jake was handy at building things. I needed a flower box on legs, a teeter-totter, and a swing which he hung from one of our yard’s big oak trees. He also built me "one-of-a kind" sled. It was green with wooden runners edged in metal. I was the "bestest tiger in the jungle!"

Uncle Jake loved to fish and he and his buddies would often go on camping trips. That’s the only time I remember Mother cooking fish; when they were fresh out of the water! He once took a friend & me .to Missouri. Betty and I went to the outhouse with a flashlight. We heard rustling outside and stayed in a long time. We came out and there was a big cow looking us in the eye! Betty got homesick and I said, "But Uncle Jake is here." She said, "That’s your Uncle Jake, not my Uncle Jake!" In reality, he was everyone’s Uncle Jake and all my friends loved him! He once took Dennis (about 2 years old) and me to fish in some real beautiful stream. He tied a rope around Dennis’ middle and the other end around my ankle, because of the potholes. He was some kind of Uncle! Years later (1953) Uncle Jake visited us in San Antonio, TX, Lackland Air Force Base. He had never been deep-sea fishing, so BJ took him to Corpus Christi. They came home with our big metal ice chest full of fish. I never got the odor out of that and finally threw it away, but Uncle Jake was sooooo happy—it was worth it!

Uncle Jake usually took care of any overflow of relatives in Tulsa. I remember Carl (son of Karl) and Uncle Jake eating with us and staying at Uncle Jake’s. After Mother convinced him to try Tulsa. Of course, she wanted him to go to school, but he worked as a mechanic. He went back home when Uncle Charlie (Karl) died. Anyway, Carl used to tease Anne (Anna Marie Katherine Schlingman Harvey). He’d say, "Would you rather be called Anna Miraha or Linda Jane?" Anne would answer, "My name is Anna Katherine!" When Mother died, Nov. 21, 1961, we brought her body back to Tulsa and I well remember Carl crying so hard over her casket and repeating, "Aunt Louise! Aunt Louise!" Anne and I were touched.

Meanwhile, Dad was building the Auchen Apartments, 1147 S. Quaker, 1928-1939, and Karl (son of Wilhelm) came to Tulsa to help work on them. Times were hard and he needed work. Dad thought a lot of him and he and Dad often talked about his future. They agreed that airlines were going to BOOM and Karl did end up with a fantastic job with American. Karl used to talk me into sitting on a nail keg just to keep him company while he worked. Years later BJ & I were living in New Jersey. I visited Karl in his office (just across from Grand Central Station, New York). That was some beautiful office! A far cry from me sitting on a nail keg watching Karl paint.

After moving into the Auchen Apts. in 1929, we sometimes had a vacant apartment (handy) for visiting relatives—also, the people next door and across the street had big houses and loaned or rented bedrooms as needed. It seems I remember "Little Henry" (son of Henry) staying with us later. When he was small they were going down 6th Street in the Model T. Young Henry had never seen a viaduct before. It came up so fast it scared the begebers out of him. Dad told a joke—"What do do when you see cars going over your head? Vy I duck!" He also went to Okmulgee with us (to visit the Erhardts) and he got thirsty. He wanted Dad to dig a well right there.

During the 1930’s we had a real depression. Mom & Dad lost an apartment and house that Dad had built Mom as a wedding present in Oklahoma City, 2 of 3 small houses in Sand Springs, and a big 8 unit apartment behind the Auchen Apartments (which we almost lost, also).

During this period, Uncle Jake did odd jobs and at one time he renovated houses repossessed by insurance companies. He had built that sled I mentioned earlier. It was stolen when we moved to the apartment and about 1937 Uncle Jake found it in the basement of a house he was working on way on the north side of Tulsa! He surprised me with it when I opened the trunk of his car.

Jake often drove Mom and me "up home." I loved getting THERE, but I hated stopping at many homes in that area just to say "hello!" Ha! I just wanted to get there. I didn’t care a hoot about the stops (well, maybe one or two). When Uncle Jake let me drive, and toot at all the telephone poles—I felt better & told him that was for stopping at every house when I was younger!

Anne & I were spending 2-3 weeks with Aunt Alma and Uncle John. Anne got a call from John H. He had just landed a job (1938) with Shell Oil in Ohio. He couldn’t take off enough time to come to Tulsa, so he and Anne wer married in St. Louis, 1938, the same church his mother & father had been married in years before. Mother was quite ill with sciatica problems and couldn’t attend the wedding. Dear Uncle Jake drove Dad and me in his car and what a great trip that was—clear to St. Louis!! I had only visited Uncle Will’s in Missouri and our closest friends the Erhardts, in Kansas City, Kansas before that.

Uncle Jake became a building contractor in the late 9130’s and early 1940’s and built several beautiful homes in a very elegant part of Tulsa. He would live in the servant’s quarters until the homes sold. My two friends and I skated out to one of these hoes one day. We found a small coin purse in the middle of the street and along came Uncle Jake. There was a Safeway ticket in the purse and he persuaded (coerced) us he took us in his car back to Safeway and, of course, they remembered the lady of the purse! We took it to her home. I think she gave us a dollar or two. That may have been a good lesson—although we weren’t too happy about it at the time! Why did Uncle Jake and my Mom have eyes in the back’s of their heads? Between the two of them they always seemed to know what I was doing or should have been doing.

Uncle Jake did date some. Mother was quite concerned about on neighbor—a beautiful full-blooded Indian girl!. She’d eyed him several times and had been married 2 or 3 times. Mother didn’t want problems for him. Anyway I think my eyes would have turned GREEN if I’d had to share him with a wife!

In my teen years Uncle Jake was another "rock" to lean on. He taught me to drive his Chevy Coupe. The "Devil made me do it" but he always left his keys in this car when he came to see us. One night I moved the car! Sorry, Uncle Jake! Once in awhile, when he would say to me, "Wilhelmina, let’s take a little ride," I know I’d probably done something that displeased my mother, but he was never judgmental—just tried to steer me in the right direction. He also made sure BJ made our wedding (6/9/1944). He stayed with him and gave him moral support as none of BJ’s family could make the trip (WWII and transportation). I was too involved with "my stuff" and they never consulted me!

Dad went back to visit Germany May 1950. He had run away at age 21 years. He still had a brother and older sister living there. He, also, met his oldest brother’s (Henry) daughter, Johanna Wilhelmina Schlingmann Knigge, and her family. Dad stayed with them about three months. The oldest son, Werner, enticed by Dad’s account of America decided he wanted to come here and go to Tulsa University. These were very meager times in Germany—many rations and must destruction. Rainer Werner’s brother stayed in Germany and now is president of the University of Berlin (East).

Dad died suddenly May 3, 1951, and Uncle Jake moved in with Mother and took care of her and the apartments. What godsend that was, and it gave him a nice home and both had each other’s company. About that time one real estate friend thought she had a good chance of selling the Auchen at a good price. I mentioned this to Uncle Jake. I wanted to sell the apartments and have Mom and Uncle Jake move in to my 2 bedroom house at 35th and Peoria, but Uncle Jake convinced me this was Mother’s home, with many memories and neighborhood friends and her church was so close. Good judgment and advice on his part!

Uncle Jake loved to surprise BJ and me. Just before we left Knoxville 1951, Uncle Jake visited. He’d never seen a bear in the wild, so we took him to the Smoky Mountains. One could always see wild bears there—also lots of Puddie Cats!" We saw bears and one chased Uncle Jake in to our car. I have a picture of the bear string at Uncle Jake, through the windshield, and believe you me, Uncle Jake was staring back!

Uncle Jake took Uncle John on a trip to Yellowstone Park, Colorado Springs, etc. They surprised us in Wichita Falls, TX (where we lived when we first left Knoxville). They had been al over the country together, and had such a great time. Later there were many surprised visits back and forth between Texas (Wichita Falls & San Antonio) and Uncle Jake visited often and vice versa and Dennis, Susan, and I even lived in one of the empty apartments wile BJ was in school in St. Louis 3 months. Werner and Uncle Jake were living in the apartments by this time. Someone at the Yellowstone Lodge (East Gate is related to Uncle John (Nebraska immigrant.)

It was quite some time before Mother could arrange to carry out Dad’s wishes and bring Werner to America. She finally achieved this by procuring him a job though some German friends of 30 years. They owned the Hammond Electric C. in Tulsa. Werner did rewinding or winding of motors or whatever! Werner arrived in Tulsa October, 1953, and lived with Mom and Uncle Jake in the apartment. I took Werner to my old stomping grounds, Tulsa University and introduced him to several engineering professors. I was so proud of this 21 years old—the only relative from my father’s side I’d ever met.

Werner found Uncle Jake sitting in a chair after his massive hear attack, May 8, 1954. Mother moved to the Methodist Home, Cincinnati, and Werner returned to Germany. He came back and worked in Detroit during the summers and attended Tulsa University the rest of the year. His family and mine have become quite close, which makes me very happy! They visit California about every 2 years. Werner got his B.S. from Tulsa University and went to work for Rockwell. He later took a leave of absence and got his MS in Physics from Oklahoma State University k, in Stillwater. He was married to Morgie of Oklahoma University and taught school. They have 3 lovely daughters: Karen, Gilda, and Kaye.

Katherine told me, 9 1987, she’d read about unclaimed funds and Uncle Jake’s name was on the list. I contacted them and hoped for mucho dollars, but it was a very small amount. My letter to all 8 1988. I gave the money to St. Paul’s Methodist for 8-09 new Methodist Hymnals in his memory.

Uncle Jake was always so there! I got sick at the University one day and fainted when I got out o the car. There was Uncle Jake! I was invited to a bridge party and called him and went over to his house. He said, "When are you going to play?" I said, "tomorrow!"

For those of you who didn’t know "our bachelor uncle, I hope these words will make him come alive for you! He had the most beautiful clear blue eyes I’ve ever seen. My daughter, Susan has similar eyes and they remind me of this wonders man every time I see her.

Jake was a handsome bachelor & spent lots of time with Paul and Lorine Dahlem. Their children, John and Paula Jeanne loved him and his stories of childhood in Germany. He was a great talker.
x. John Fredrich DAHLEM⁽⁶⁸⁾ was born on 5 Mar 1886 in Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. He emigrated in 1889 from Niederwürzbach, Saarland, Germany. He immigrated in 1889 to Beatrice, Gage Co., Nebraska. He died on 22 Jul 1968. He was buried on 25 Jul 1968 in Rosemound Cemetery, Medford, Grant Co., Oklahoma.

John Dahlem was born March 5, 1886, in Niederwürzbach, Germany. His parents were Frederick and Catherine (Kunkel) Dahlem. He came to the United States with his parents who settled in Beatrice, Nebraska, and later nab the run and settled east of Wakita, Oklahoma. John lived there with his parents until the time he got married and went out to make a home for himself and his wife, Alma.

He met Alma Lasetta Schuermann at a German Methodist Conference that was held at the Liberty German M.E. Church, 4 miles east of Jefferson, Okla. These conferences were held at the different German churches, and the people would bring their tents and stay for several days, sometimes a week.

Alma Lasetta Schuermann was the daughter of William M. and Louisa Schuermann. She was born in Woodbine, Kansas, March 25, 1892. She migrated to Oklahoma with her parents in a covered wagon in 1907. Her folks settled on the land, SW 1/4 15-26, three miles east of Jefferson.

John Dahlem married Alma Lasetta Schuermann, May 25, 1912. They wanted to get married sooner but because they wanted Lydia Schuermann to be the maid of honor and because she was waiting on a blessed event, they had to wait. They waited but that mean little kid wouldn't come. When she did finally come they called her Loretta. John never let her forget it. Every time she had a birthday, he'd say, "1 know how old you are". He'd say that even after she got old enough not to want everyone to know how old she was.

The wedding day was a very unusual day. They had a big crowd of about 50 people at William Schuermann’s home. The weather did not cooperate, it rained and rained and the roads got so bad that everyone had to stay all night, and what a night.

Alma and John's first home was 2 miles east end 1 mile north of Jefferson. Then later they moved on a farm 3 miles east and 1 mile north of Jefferson. They later bought the place from her Dad, Wm. Schuermann.

John and Alma had two children, Dale Donald Dahlem, who was born February 4, 1917, and died October 10, 1977, and Leland Darrell Dahlem, born December 10, 1918.
Dale married Evelyn Quigley. They had two children: (1) Darla married Dennis Misak. They have two children, Alan and Melia; (2) Donna married Grant Buxton and they have two daughters, Evie Dawn & Kyla.
Leland married Helen Nichols. They had 3 children; (1) Darrell Wayne born and died June 3, 1942; (2 Janice born June 8, 1943. She married Larry Meritt and they have 2 children, Todd, born April 28, 1964, and Michelle Renee, born October 23, 1973; (3) John Ray Dahlem, born October 20, 1949.
They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on May 9, 1962 at the Medford Methodist Church in Medford, Okla. Their granddaughters Janice & Darla served the punch & cake. Their daughter-in-law, Helen Dahlem, was at the guest table. Around 150 people attended and many gifts and cards were received.