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From: "Anne Trabold" <>
Subject: John Klem and "Faith of Our Fathers" (Early Rochester History)
Date: Sat, 9 Jul 2005 23:00:05 -0400


The following appeared in the Sunday Bulletin of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,
Tenafly, New Jersey on 2 June 2005. A parishioner sent it to my
sister-in-law in Rochester Hills, Michigan & she sent a copy to me in
Florida! Now I know why there are so many Klems in the Monroe County
records.

*****
John Klem, his wife, Anna-Marie, and their five-year-old son, Bernard,
arrived in Montreal in 1816. They left Germany to start a new life in a new
world. The next year they crossed the border from Canada to the United
States -- it was easier then. They were the second family to settle in the
Rochester area. The War of 1812 had recently ended and the Erie Canal had
not been started. This section of New York State was still considered the
frontier. Indians and settlers still had issues.

In 1818 Anna-Marie gave birth to a little girl. Since the Klems were devout
Catholics, they had the burning desire that a priest baptize their baby.
The nearest priest, however, lived in New York City. The city was four
hundred miles from Rochester. Anna-Marie, carrying her baby and guiding her
seven-year-old son, walked the distance. It took her 40 days. On the way
she sold flowers and fruit to support the three of them. At this time,
there were only two churches in New York, St. Peter's on Barclay Street and
Old St. Patrick's on Mulberry Street. The pastor of both these churches was
a fellow German, Father Kohlman. In one of these Churches the Klem baby was
baptized.

Anna-Marie returned home and several years later the first Catholic Mass in
Rochester was celebrated in a log cabin -- the Klem's house. As time went
on, the Klems were joined by other Catholics and soon they formed the parish
of St. Patrick's and then another parish dedicated to St. Joseph. The son
was sent back to New York City to be educated by priests.

John and Anna-Marie's 50th wedding anniversary was the first ever celebrated
in Rochester. Their son Bernard married and had 22 children. His youngest
son, Albert, left Rochester in 1886 and headed for the Detroit area. He
married and started a farm in Bloomfield Hills and later Grosse Point.
Albert treasured the faith of his father and grandfather. After Albert died
a letter was found among his possessions. This letter was written to him by
his father, Bernard, the little boy who walked to New York for his sister's
baptism. The letter reads in part:
(This first part of the letter had to do with Bernard's will and
property)

"I advise you all to make good use of it, and to thank God for it. It
is all His gifts..., be grateful to Him and God will bless you here and in
the life to come.
Now my children I will conclude: and bequeath to you all the best and
most precious good which I, through the Grace of God possess: mainly my
Faith.
I cannot thank God enough for this, the greatest of all gifts -- that I
was brought up in the Holy Roman Catholic Church. I hope, through the Grace
of God, to die in this Holy Faith.
You have inherited this from your parents: live according to its
principles and God will reward you here and in the life to come.
Tis blessing I wish you all -- remember me in your daily prayers.

Your affectionate father,
Bernard Klem"

For 56 years Albert kept a candle burning for the spiritual faithfulness of
his family. His son Clement continued the tradition. Albert's
Granddaughter, Joan McGuire, remains faithful to this day right here at
Mount Carmel, Tenafly.
*****
Note: I wish that the first part of the letter had been included. I would
be interested in any more information about this family and its history.


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