Pioneer Families of Grand Traverse County, Michigan

Jonathan Schanck was born 8 January 1800 at New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey, son of William P Schanck and Sophia Slover. He was married first to Sarah Ann Broodnex, she died during an epidemic in the early 1840s in Steuben County, New York. After her death, Jonathan was married to Philinda Bessey. Philinda was born 1 April 1812 in Onondaga County, New York, daughter of Phillip and Susannah Bessey.

The Schancks lived in Jasper, Steuben County, New York in the 1850s and early 1860s. They they moved to Long Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan between 1863 and 1866. Soon they were joined by Philinda's sister Harriet Bessey Fillmore and her family. The first township meeting at Long Lake was held at the Schanck house on 1 April 1867. In 1870, the Schanck's farm was worth $800 and their personal possessions $400. Jonathan received a land patent for 155 acres of land in section 9 of Long Lake township on 10 February 1873.

Jonathan died on 2 October 1873 in Long Lake from kidney disease. In his will, Jonathan left everything to Philinda with the estate to be divided between sons Albert and Burton after her death. Philinda died on 1 August 1877 at Long Lake from dropsey. They are probably buried in the Linwood Cemetery in Long Lake.

Children

i. Emory Schanck was born in 1843 in New York.

ii. Sarah Schanck was born in 1845 in New York.

iii. Charity Schanck was born in 1846 in Steuben County, New York. Charity suffered from epileptic fits. After her parents died she moved in with her aunt Harriet Bessey Fillmore. The Fillmores attempted to have her incarcerated in an insane asylum, a move that was thwarted by local doctors. She died on 27 November 1884 at Long Lake, Grand Traverse County, Michigan. The Grand Traverse Herald reported: Charity Schank, a pauper that E. Fillmore has had the charge of for a number of years past, died last Thursday. In response, a member of the Fillmore family wrote: ED. HERALD- Miss Charity Schanck, who died a few days since, has been an invalid for a number of years. After the death of her father and mother her brothers, in settlement of their father's estate, deeded to Mrs. Ebenezer Fillmore (their aunt on the mother's side) the se 1/4 of the sw 1/4 of section 9 of this town, which is the residence of Mrs. E. Fillmore and family, and is the most desirable portion of the Schanck property. And to pay for this property Mrs. E. Fillmore agreed to take care of Charity as long as she lived. The friends of the Schanck family (and they have many in this locality) think your correspondent, D. W. S., is not justified is calling:Charity Schanck a pauper that E. Fillmore has had the charge of for a number of years past.

iv. Albert P. Schanck was born in 1850 in Steuben County, New York.

v. Burton Schanck was born in 1853 in New York. Burton was adopted by the Hildebrandt family. Burton was living in northwest Wisconsin in 1887.

vi. Daniel Schanck was born in 1854 in Steuben County, New York. In 1887 he was called an "idiot" and was living as a pauper in Long Lake. He is buried in Linwood Cemetery, Long Lake.

vii. Alice Schanck was born in 1855.

viii. Wilbur Schanck was born in 1855 in New York. In 1880, Wilbur was boarding with Jarvis and Sofie(?) Munsell in Long Lake twp. In January 1884: W. Schanck, an insane pauper, who has been taken care of by Mrs. E. Stata for some time past, died a few days since. Wilbur is buried in Linwood Cemetery.