Henry and Elizabeth (Schaefer) Kennebeck

Henry Kennebeck, christened Bernard Heinrich, was the son of Johann and Adelaide (Hemling) Kernebeck. He was born on the family homestead in Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il, on 15 Jan 1865. On 13 Feb 1890 he married Elizabeth Schaefer, daughter of Nicolas and Gertrude (Schmitt) Schaefer of McHenry, Il.

After their marriage, Henry and Elizabeth remained on his parents farmstead in Pistakee Bay. Their first seven children were born here. In 1898, Henry sold the farmstead and purchased a farm in McHenry Township of aprox 287 acres, from Albert Howe, located just east of the Fox River in McHenry Tws, Sec 36 Range 9, located where today is Chapel Hill road and Rte 120. Their farm extended west from Chapel Hill road, along Rte 120 (towards the Fox River) and included land that extended out to River Road where Snug Harbor and the Mineral Springs subdivision is today, as well as land to the north side of Rte 120, which today is now occupied by industrial and fast food places. In addition to the family farm in McHenry Township, Henry also owned a farm of about 250 acres in what today is McHenry Shores. This farm was adjacent to the Bolger farm, Sec 11 on the 1910 Plat Map, the Bolger farm still being there today.

Henry and Elizabeth had twelve children which included two sets of twins. Five of these children died as infants, including one set of twin boys. Henry died suddenly at 46 years of age. According to one of his obituary's, he had been ill with pneumonia. He appeared to be recovering from this when liver complications set in and he suddenly died, just a week before he and Elizabeth would have celebrated their 21st wedding anniversary. Elizabeth was left to raise their eight children, one of which died later that same year, an infant son Theodore, born 10 Mar 1910. The exact date of Theodore's death is still unknown. Elizabeth never re-married. She at some point had another home built on their farmland and this is where she lived up until her death on 4 Nov 1966 at the age of 95 years. At the time of Elizabeth's passing, Henry and Elizabeth had eight grandchildren, eight gr grandchildren and one gr gr grandchild.

My mother and a cousin recalled for me that they remembered their grandmother Elizabeth as a very kind and giving person. Henry and Elizabeth were my great grandparents, I remember as a child going to visit her at her home, she was quite old by this time and I re-call her sitting in her favorite rocking chair, a very tiny frail lady, listening to our conversations and now and then joining in. Elizabeth had lost her eyesight due to glaucoma. Elizabeth's home at the time of her death, is still standing today, although it has been completely remodeled from how it was as I remember it as a child.

Henry and Elizabeth and two of their children who died as infants are buried at St Mary's Cemetery in McHenry, Il. Their other children who died as infants are buried at St John the Baptist Cemetery in Johnsburg, Il. Unfortunately, due to the church fire in Feb of 1900, it is not known where the exact location of their gravesites were.

Henry and Elizabeth are my maternal gr grandparents, their son Henry is my grandfather. I would like to thank my mother's cousin, Orville Freund and his wife Nellie, for taking the time to share with me their photo collection. The wedding photo of Henry and Elizabeth was first shown to me by Orville and Nellie. I also would like to thank my uncle, Dave Kennebeck, for scanning the many photos, so that I may be able to add them to my website. Orville and Dave are cousins, grandchildren of Henry and Elizabeth. Orville's mother Teresa, and Dave's father Henry were twin brother and sister.

Henry and Elizabeth's Wedding Photo, 13 Feb 1890
Identity of people in the backrow is unknown for certain.
From left to right, may be Anna Kennebeck ( Stilling ), Henry
Tonyan, Anna Schaefer, and John Schaefer. Henry Tonyan and
John Schaefer are recorded as witnesses on the wedding certificate.
I do not know the traditional meaning behind the "right hands inside jacket " ?

Information in Family Group Records was obtained from church records, vital records, family members and obits.

Family Group Records

Henry(Bernard Heinrich)Kernebeck
Son of Johann Bernard Kernebeck and Adelaide Hemling
Born 15 Jan 1865/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Married Elizabeth Schaefer 13 Feb 1890
St John The Baptist Catholic Church, Johnsburg, Il
Died 7 Feb 1910/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il
Elizabeth Schaefer
Daughter of Nicolas Schaefer and Gertrude Schmitt
Born 21 Dec 1871/McHenry, Il
Died 4 Nov 1966/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

Children of Henry and Elizabeth

1.Nicolaus Bernard
Born 20 Jul 1891/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Married Christina Freund 4 Oct 1916
Died 6 Oct 1970/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

2.John
Born 1 Dec 1893/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Never Married
Died 19 Sep 1978/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il (next to his brother Arthur and Family)

3.Joseph (twin of Heinrich)
Born 10 June 1895/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Died as infant, *date unknown/Pistakee Bay McHenry Tws, Il
*Buried at St John The Baptist Cemetery, Johnsburg, Il

4.Heinrich (twin of Joseph)
Born 10 June 1895/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Died as infant, *date unknown/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
*Buried at St John The Baptist Cemetery, Johnsburg, Il

5.Anna Teresa (twin of Henry)
Born 23 July 1896/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Married Peter Freund 9 Feb 1916
Died 23 Feb 1978/Crystal Lake, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

6.Henry (twin of Teresa)
Born 23 July 1896/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
Married Rosa Nimsgern 23 Oct 1923
St Peters Catholic Church, Spring Grove, Il
Died 12 Oct 1976/Woodstock, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

7.Elizabeth
Born 13 Jul 1898/Pistakee Bay, McHenry, Il
Died as infant *date unknown/Pistakee Bay, McHenry Tws, Il
*Buried at St John The Baptist Cemetery, Johnsburg, Il

8.Joseph
Born 23 Mar 1901/McHenry, Il
Died 14 Oct 1902/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

9.Edward Joseph
Born 11 May 1903/McHenry, Il
Married 1.Adelle Pritchett
Married 2.Elvina Marie Miller Gibbs, 9 Nov 1974
Died 29 May 1983/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

10.Arthur N.
Born 8 Jan 1904/McHenry, Il
Married Louise Chamberlain 26 Nov 1929
Chicago, Il
Died 8 Jan 1979/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

11.Marcella
Born 21 Sep 1908/McHenry, Il
Married Alfred Weingart 14 Feb 1942
St Mary's Catholic Church, McHenry, Il
Died 28 June 1972/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

12.Theodore
Born 22 Mar 1910/McHenry, Il
Died as infant in 1911, exact date unknown/McHenry, Il
Buried at St Mary's Cemetery, McHenry, Il

*Deaths not recorded at St John The Baptist Catholic Church from May 1884 to Dec 1909. Location of gravesites of family members who died before Feb 1900, are unknown due to the church fire in Feb 1900. It is said that the new church may have been built over gravesites.

Additional Family Group Records will be added, please check back for updates.

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