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Sources
1. Title:   1930 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1930; Census Place: Detroit, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: 1033; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 39; Image: 8.0; FHL microfilm: 2340768
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2002;
2. Title:   1920 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1920; Census Place: Detroit Ward 8, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: T625_809; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 260; Image: 54
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;
3. Title:   U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Page:   Number: 378-10-4492; Issue State: Michigan; Issue Date: Before 1951
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations Inc; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2011;
4. Title:   1940 United States Federal Census
Page:   Year: 1940; Census Place: Highland Park, Wayne, Michigan; Roll: T627_1831; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 82-129
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;
5. Title:   U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2010;
6. Title:   U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Author:   Ancestry.com
Publication:   Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.; Location: Provo, UT, USA; Date: 2012;

Notes
a. Note:   Anna Bernadette Knechtges, known to everyone as Bern, was the second of four children born to her parents, John Knechtges and Christie Anna McLeod. Bern was born on April 30, 1905 in Laurium, Houghton County, Michigan. Bern initially grew up in Laurium. In 1919, she moved with her parents to Detroit, Michigan. Bern never married. She apparently was very sick in her early adulthood with tuberculosis and it apparently took her a long time to recover. Bern graduated from the Business Institute of Detroit. She initially worked as a secretary for the Continental Motors Company, and then the Detroit News newspaper. In February of 1938 she reportedly went to work for the Clerk's Office in Highland Park, Michigan, where she lived. She worked for over thirty years in that office. In 1939, she became the Deputy City Clerk, and she eventually finished her career as the Highland Park City Clerk. Bern died on May 13, 1997, in Rochester, Oakland County, Michigan. She is buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, in Southfield, Michigan, near to the graves of her parents.-RW =============== From Bern's certificate of birth, from the Michigan Department of Health; delayed registration, dated July 12, 1940, Wayne County, Michigan: Place of birth: Laurium, Houghton County, Michigan Name: Anna Bernadette Knechtges Sex: female Date of birth: April 30, 1905 Residence: Houghton County, Laurium, Michigan Father's name: John Knechtges Father's Color: white Father's age: 27 Father's Birthplace: Calumet, Michigan Father's Occupation: Electrician Mother's maiden name: Christie Anna McLeod Mother's color: white Mother's age: 28 Mother's birthplace: Canada Mother's occupation: housewife Number of child of this mother: second ========= From a Baptismal Certificate, dated November 19, 1919. This was apparently just after the family had left Houghton County and moved to Detroit, and apparently they had apparently asked for this record for their new church. Sacred Heart Church, Calumet, Mich. The Records of this Church Certify, under date of May 7, 1905, to the Baptism of Anna Bernadette, born April 30, 1905 of John Knechtges and Anna McCloud. Said Record is signed by Rev. Julius Henze Ot. M.; with sponsors, Archie McCloud nd Rose Knechtges. ========= From the 1920 Federal Census of Detroit City, Wayne County, district 260, sheet 2a, taken January 2-3, 1920, household 24, address- 1360 Vermont St.; from ancestry.com, image 3 of 28. Bern is listed in the household of her parents: ------Bernadette A.; daughter, female, age- 14, in school, r/w's, born- Michigan, father born- Michigan, mother born- Canada ========== From the 1930 Federal Census of Detroit City, ward 1, precinct 39, district-80-39, sheet 3b, taken April 5, 1930, household 18, address- 629 Brentwood Ave. West; from ancestry.com, image 6 of 40. Bern is listed in the household of her parents: ------ Anna B.; daughter, female, age- 24, single, r/w's, born- Michigan, father born- Michigan, mother born- Canada/ English, occupation- Stenographer/ Auto Plant, wage earner, not currently employed ========== From the 1940 Federal Census of Highland Park, Wayne County, Michigan, district 82-129, sheet 9a, taken April 18, 1940, address- 12710 Hamilton Ave.: Knechtges, Bernadette, head of household, rents home/ $45, female, age- 34, single, highest school grade completed- 1st year college, born- Michigan, residence in 1935- same place, worked last week of March/ 44 hours, occupation- secretary/ city clerk's office, worked 52 weeks 1939, wages and salary- $1400 ------ Christiana; mother, female, age- 67, widowed, highest grade completed- 6th grade, born- Canada, naturalized citizen, not working Wilmers, Kathryn; cousin, female, age- 32, single, highest school grade completed- 2nd year college, born- Michigan, residence in 1935- same place, worked last week of March/ 48 hours, occupation- trained nurse/ general hospital, worked 52 weeks in 1939, wages and salary- $1400 =========== My mother Gloria Waggener gave me an undated newspaper clipping with a story about Bern. It apparently was from a Highland Park newspaper and apparently from sometime around 1948: Bernadette Knechtges Bernadette Knechtges, deputy city clerk, has been employed in the City Clerk's office for the past 10 years. As head of the outer office, she must be ready to answer scores of questions, fired at her by the public, such as the following. "My dog died-- may I have a refund on the license?" "Where do I get a job?" "Who is the mayor of Highland Park?" and "I don't have a birth certificate-- where do I get one?" Born in Laurium, Mich., in the Peninsula, Bern, as she is known, has lived in Detroit and Highland Park for 13 years. She was educated in the Detroit schools, and was graduated from the Business Institute of Detroit. Before beginning her duties with the City, Bern did secretarial work for Continental Motors. ========== From a newspaper story from the Highland Parker, dated August 8, 1968: New Clerk Begins Duties Highland Park's new City Clerk, Bernadette Knechtges, assumes her new duties with a background of more than 30 years experience in the clerk's office. Appointed by Mayor Michael M. Glusac, with the unanimous approval of Council on Monday, Miss Knechtges fills the unexpired term of the late Thomas E. Shawcross, who just before his death last week announced that ill health would prevent his seeking re-election. The term expires Nov. 12, when the new City Charter becomes effective. Just after the appointment, Miss Knechtges was sworn in by Mayor Glusac, who was joined by the Councilmen in offering their good wishes to her. A resident of Highland Park since 1936, Miss Knechtges first joined the staff of the City Clerk's office in February, 1938. In October 1939, she was appointed deputy city clerk and served in that capacity until Monday. A graduate of Holy Redeemer High High School (someone hand wrote St. Leo's over this), she was employed at Continental Motors and the Detroit News before beginning her tenure in the clerk's office. A resident of Moss Ave., Miss Knechtges is a member of the St. Benedict Parish and the Alpha Chapter of the HP Woman's Club. ========= My mother, Gloria Waggener, gave me a piece of notepaper that she said came from Bern. It seems to be some family information that she wrote down, apparently in the late 1970's or early 1980's. She wrote: Mother (Christie Anna McLeod) born in Canada, Died H. P. Her father Alexander MacLeod Her mother Catherine McKenzie Born 2/3/77 Died 8/6/64 Father (John Knechtges) born Calumet, Mi Born 1/27/78 Died 11/15/35 His father Jacob Knechtges born Germany His mother Margaret Steffes born Jerico, Wis. (her brothers) Hiram born 3/21/11 Died 6/21/65 H. P. John Paul born 12/26/07 Died 3/8/77 N. Y. (her father's siblings) Effie, Tillie, Rose, Jake (Jacob) Theodore, Emma, Kate ========= From Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010: Name: Bernadette Knechtges Birth Date: 30 Apr 1905 Phone Number: 288-5183 Address: 875 W Avon Rd, Rochester Hills, MI, 48307-2755 (1993) [3154 Merrill Ave # 105, Royal Oak, MI, 48073-6900 (1983)] ========= From the Social Security Death Index: Bernadette Knechtges SSN: 378-10-4492 Residence: Rochester, Oakland County, Michigan, 48307 Born: April 30, 1905 Died: May, 13 1997 Issued: Michigan (Before 1951) ========== Bernadette is buried in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, located at 25800 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield, Michigan. She is buried in Section 20, lot 195, grave 7, next to the graves of her brother John Paul Knechtges and his wife Lorraine. The graves of her parents, John and Christie Knechtges, are also in this cemetery, in Section 27. Her headstone reads: Bernadette Knechtges 1905 - 1997


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