The Family of Elizabeth Michele
(Wife of John Monnahan)
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Michele was Harold Morman’s maternal grandmother. This is the story of her family. The name Michele is pronounced “Michael.”
Family Overview
Gen 1. Franz Hermann Michele and Catharina Lammers
Gen 2. Christopher Michele & first wife Catharina Stake
Gen 3. Franz (Franklin, Frank), born 1855, Prussia.
Gen 3. Anna, b. 1859, Prussia. Died 1861 during passage.
Gen 2. Christopher Michele and Gertrude Stingel
Gen 3. Charles (Carl, Charlie), born 1860, Prussia.
Gen 3. Magdalena Maria (Lena), born 1862, Iowa.
Gen 3. Joseph A., born 1865, Iowa.
Gen 3. Margaret, born 1867
Gen 3. Magdalena Maria (Lena), born 1862, Iowa.
Gen 3. Joseph A., born 1865, Iowa.
Gen 3. Margaret, born 1867, Iowa. Died 1878.
Gen 3. Mary F., born 1869, Nebraska. Died 1878.
Gen 3. John S., born 1870, Nebraska.
Gen 3. Elizabeth Gertrude (Lizzie), b April 27, 1873, NE
Gen 3. Henry Thomas, born 1875, Nebraska.
Gen 3. Augusta Bernard (August), born 1878, Nebraska.
Gen 3. Catherine (Katie, Katy), born 1882, Nebraska.
(Wife of John Monnahan)
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Michele was Harold Morman’s maternal grandmother. This is the story of her family. The name Michele is pronounced “Michael.”
Family Overview
Gen 1. Franz Hermann Michele and Catharina Lammers
Gen 2. Christopher Michele & first wife Catharina Stake
Gen 3. Franz (Franklin, Frank), born 1855, Prussia.
Gen 3. Anna, b. 1859, Prussia. Died 1861 during passage.
Gen 2. Christopher Michele and Gertrude Stingel
Gen 3. Charles (Carl, Charlie), born 1860, Prussia.
Gen 3. Magdalena Maria (Lena), born 1862, Iowa.
Gen 3. Joseph A., born 1865, Iowa.
Gen 3. Margaret, born 1867
Gen 3. Magdalena Maria (Lena), born 1862, Iowa.
Gen 3. Joseph A., born 1865, Iowa.
Gen 3. Margaret, born 1867, Iowa. Died 1878.
Gen 3. Mary F., born 1869, Nebraska. Died 1878.
Gen 3. John S., born 1870, Nebraska.
Gen 3. Elizabeth Gertrude (Lizzie), b April 27, 1873, NE
Gen 3. Henry Thomas, born 1875, Nebraska.
Gen 3. Augusta Bernard (August), born 1878, Nebraska.
Gen 3. Catherine (Katie, Katy), born 1882, Nebraska.
Prussia
The Michele family came from Prussia in 1861. They lived in the city of Beckum in the province of Westphalia. Prussia at that time was one of the strongest Germanic kingdoms. The Micheles emigrated just prior to the appointment of Otto von Bismark as Prussia’s Prime Minister. Today, the area that was Prussia is part of Germany.
The original Michele immigrants were Christopher Michele[1], his wife Gertrude, his three children, and his father, Franz.
Franz Michele, Christopher’s father, was born about 1802, probably in Prussia. There is a record of a Franz Hermann Michele who married Catharina Elisabetha Lammers on February 27, 1821, at Saint Stephen (Saint Stephanus) Catholic Church in Beckum.[2] Catharina Lammers was the daughter of Joan Bernard Lammers and Anna Margaretha Reuling.[3]
Franz and Catharina's son Christopher Michele was born in May 1829.[4] Christopher’s first wife was Catharina Stake. Christopher and Catharina married November 8, 1853, at Saint Stephen’s.[5] They had two children, Franz and Anna. Anna was born in 1859, and Christopher remarried that same year, so probably Catharina died in childbirth.
After Catharina’s death, Christopher Michele married Gertrude Stingel/Stengle/Stangel. She was born November 25, 1837 in Prussia.[6] They married August 9, 1859, at Saint Stephen’s Church.[7] Their first baby, Carle, was born in Prussia in 1860.
The Michele family came from Prussia in 1861. They lived in the city of Beckum in the province of Westphalia. Prussia at that time was one of the strongest Germanic kingdoms. The Micheles emigrated just prior to the appointment of Otto von Bismark as Prussia’s Prime Minister. Today, the area that was Prussia is part of Germany.
The original Michele immigrants were Christopher Michele[1], his wife Gertrude, his three children, and his father, Franz.
Franz Michele, Christopher’s father, was born about 1802, probably in Prussia. There is a record of a Franz Hermann Michele who married Catharina Elisabetha Lammers on February 27, 1821, at Saint Stephen (Saint Stephanus) Catholic Church in Beckum.[2] Catharina Lammers was the daughter of Joan Bernard Lammers and Anna Margaretha Reuling.[3]
Franz and Catharina's son Christopher Michele was born in May 1829.[4] Christopher’s first wife was Catharina Stake. Christopher and Catharina married November 8, 1853, at Saint Stephen’s.[5] They had two children, Franz and Anna. Anna was born in 1859, and Christopher remarried that same year, so probably Catharina died in childbirth.
After Catharina’s death, Christopher Michele married Gertrude Stingel/Stengle/Stangel. She was born November 25, 1837 in Prussia.[6] They married August 9, 1859, at Saint Stephen’s Church.[7] Their first baby, Carle, was born in Prussia in 1860.
Emigration
In 1861, Christopher, Gertrude and Franz traveled to America on the ship New York, along with young Franz, age 6, Anna, age 2, and six-month old Carle.
The S.S. New York was built in 1858 by Caird & Co. for the North German Lloyd line as a sister ship of the Bremen. The New York held up to 570 passengers. (Four hundred of the 570 were packed into 3rd class, which was where our ancestors probably were). The speed was of the New York was 10 knots. She was 320 feet long, a little shorter than a football field. She frequently traveled the North Atlantic route between Bremen and New York, with occasional trips to Havana and New Orleans. Edward Bates later purchased the ship to use as a sailing ship. The New York wrecked near Staten Island, New York on April 20, 1891.[8]
The voyage was likely long and rough.
“Crossing the Atlantic on a sailing ship in the 1800's was devastating, especially for the children and the old people. Since most of them were poor they traveled steerage with several hundred in the hold of each ship. Food was scarce, people were ill from seasickness and other diseases, and there were no sanitary facilities. A family was given a few square feet in which to exist surrounded by curtains made of blankets; those that died were buried at sea. If you traveled steerage, you were required to go through Customs at the landing port. If you were ill or had a disease, even one that you were not aware of, you were sent back to Germany. Sometimes whole families were torn apart; if you came first class you were on an upper deck with fresh air and better food and you were not required to go through Customs.” [9]
On the way, little Anna died. Grandma Delia’s sister, Mary (Monnahan) Haller, wrote a story about their voyage, and said that the little girl was buried at sea. (Does anyone have a copy of Aunt Mary’s story? I would love to have a copy!)
In 1861, Christopher, Gertrude and Franz traveled to America on the ship New York, along with young Franz, age 6, Anna, age 2, and six-month old Carle.
The S.S. New York was built in 1858 by Caird & Co. for the North German Lloyd line as a sister ship of the Bremen. The New York held up to 570 passengers. (Four hundred of the 570 were packed into 3rd class, which was where our ancestors probably were). The speed was of the New York was 10 knots. She was 320 feet long, a little shorter than a football field. She frequently traveled the North Atlantic route between Bremen and New York, with occasional trips to Havana and New Orleans. Edward Bates later purchased the ship to use as a sailing ship. The New York wrecked near Staten Island, New York on April 20, 1891.[8]
The voyage was likely long and rough.
“Crossing the Atlantic on a sailing ship in the 1800's was devastating, especially for the children and the old people. Since most of them were poor they traveled steerage with several hundred in the hold of each ship. Food was scarce, people were ill from seasickness and other diseases, and there were no sanitary facilities. A family was given a few square feet in which to exist surrounded by curtains made of blankets; those that died were buried at sea. If you traveled steerage, you were required to go through Customs at the landing port. If you were ill or had a disease, even one that you were not aware of, you were sent back to Germany. Sometimes whole families were torn apart; if you came first class you were on an upper deck with fresh air and better food and you were not required to go through Customs.” [9]
On the way, little Anna died. Grandma Delia’s sister, Mary (Monnahan) Haller, wrote a story about their voyage, and said that the little girl was buried at sea. (Does anyone have a copy of Aunt Mary’s story? I would love to have a copy!)
Castle Garden
When the Micheles arrived in the U.S., they went through the New York City emigrant station called Castle Garden. Here is a portion of their Castle Garden record:
Iowa
The family moved to Lee County in the southeast corner of Iowa. Many people from Prussia had settled in this area. Interestingly, around this time, St. Mary’s, the Catholic church of West Point (Lee County) had a Father Michel. Was he possibly a relative of our Micheles?[12]
Three children were born in Iowa: Magdalena (“Lena”) in 1862, Joseph in 1865, and Margaret in 1867.
When the Micheles arrived in the U.S., they went through the New York City emigrant station called Castle Garden. Here is a portion of their Castle Garden record:
- Christoph Michele, Bricklayer, 32
- Gertrude Michele, Wife, 23
- Franz Michele, Farmer, 59
- Franz Michele, Youngster, 6
- Anna Michele, Youngster, 2
- Carle Michele, Infant, 6 months[10]
Iowa
The family moved to Lee County in the southeast corner of Iowa. Many people from Prussia had settled in this area. Interestingly, around this time, St. Mary’s, the Catholic church of West Point (Lee County) had a Father Michel. Was he possibly a relative of our Micheles?[12]
Three children were born in Iowa: Magdalena (“Lena”) in 1862, Joseph in 1865, and Margaret in 1867.
Nebraska
Saline County
Sometime between 1867 and 1868, the Micheles moved to Nebraska. They were some of the early settlers of Saline County, Nebraska. They lived near Swan Creek.
“{Christopher Michele} was a pioneer Nebraskan who homesteaded in Saline county. He was the first stone-mason in that section of the country, although the first house he himself occupied was made of hay….”[13]
“There they followed agricultural pursuits until 1883….” [14]
The first of Christopher and Gertrude’s children to be born in Nebraska was Mary (born 1868).
1870 U.S. Census[15]
Swan Creek, Saline County, Nebraska
John Michele was born later in 1870 and then our ancestor, Elizabeth Gertrude Michele, was born April 27, 1873. She was born into a full house!
Sadly, five years later, Elizabeth’s sisters Margaret and Mary died in 1878. Did they die of an illness or in an accident?
By 1880, two more boys had been born (Henry and August) and sister Lena had married. That left Elizabeth as the only girl in the big family. Maybe that is why in 1880, at seven years old, rather than living at home, she was living in the household of Irish immigrants William and Ellen Sulivan.
1880 U.S. Census[16]
Swan Creek, Saline County, Nebraska
Custer County
In 1883, when Elizabeth was ten years old, the Michele family moved to Kilfoil, Custer County, Nebraska.
The following first-hand account of an early Custer County settler mentions two of the Elizabeth’s brothers and also gives an idea of what life was like there in that time:
“…we started for our future home in Custer county. We arrived at Seneca, where we found the beginning of a rising young town…. We were now within one day's travel of our destination. We crossed over to the Muddy the next forenoon. We camped for dinner near the present site of Broken Bow.
… That evening we obtained our first view of the Muddy Flats, as it was called at that time. We paused on the brow of the table and the male portion of the company descended and threw up their hats with a "hurrah,” for lo, and behold! There it lay in full view — the promised land.
Descending from the table we arrived at the first settler's cabin, which, by the way, was not of sod, but cedar logs, the only one of its kind on the flats as far as I know. There we got some water and a kindly greeting from the proprietor, Sam Dunning.
On our way from Dunning's place to our present location we passed the dugout of A. Thomas, a genial young bachelor. There were several other young men staying with him who had as yet not erected their future mansions. It was now about sundown and four more miles to the end of our journey. At about dusk we arrived at our claims and found there, on land adjoining, William Couhig, who had preceded us by ten days. He had made considerable progress with his work, having put down a well, which proved to be a great convenience. The well was dug by C. R. Krenz, an expert in that line of business, who still resides in Dale valley, and was the father of the first born in Dale.
Among the settlers …. all… built residences out of prairie sod, with some of Uncle Sam's cedar for rafters, which at that time was comparatively plentiful in the canons from ten to thirty miles west of here.
There was no corn raised close by, except a small amount down on Victoria creek, in 1880, and that was held at 50 and 60 cents per bushel, and could be had for no price in the spring. Crops were good in 1881, and those who had ground broken out and raised corn were all right, having plenty for feed and a good home market for the balance, at a price ranging from 50 to 75 cents per bushel.
…. The next two or three years the following named settlers moved here: J.A. Kellenbarger, William Moore, Charles Michele, Frank Michele, C. H. Cass, G. D. Grove, C. C. Grove, Henry Sweeney, Dan Foley, A. Glidewell, P. B. Riley, Jason Lucas, A, C. Towle, Henry Barrett, William Brookman, I. A. Coleman, Dr. L. L. Crawford, James Phillips, Thomas Kelley, Joseph Vessels and R. J. Kelley, the last named being a pioneer merchant, one of the present firm of Kelley & Duncan, Avho in 1880 moved to Merna, where he has been in business ever since. Nick Jaquot came about the same time, or perhaps a little before….C.D. Pelham, the pioneer merchant of Broken Bow, afterwards moved to Dale….Dale has a fine Catholic church and parsonage, also a cemetery….” [17]
Christopher Michele “…was the first of any of the relations to come to Custer county, at which time he possessed but a team and wagon. He was a man of intelligence and public spirit and served as justice of the peace in both Saline county and Custer county. He also was a school officer. He belonged to the Catholic church….”[18]
The Micheles “… came to Custer county and purchased a homestead claim of 160 acres — the southeast quarter of section 9, township 18, range 22. Their first home was in keeping with the times and was constructed of sod, this serving as the home of the family till the death of the father…..Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Michele came to Custer county at a period when settlers were few and far between, when but little improvement had been made, and when the usual pioneer hardships and privations were to be endured. They were among the worthy pioneers who were not afraid to venture and whose labors have made Custer county a better place in which to live….” [19]
On 21 May 1882, Christopher and Gertrude had their last child, a daughter named Catherine “Katie” Michele.
Saline County
Sometime between 1867 and 1868, the Micheles moved to Nebraska. They were some of the early settlers of Saline County, Nebraska. They lived near Swan Creek.
“{Christopher Michele} was a pioneer Nebraskan who homesteaded in Saline county. He was the first stone-mason in that section of the country, although the first house he himself occupied was made of hay….”[13]
“There they followed agricultural pursuits until 1883….” [14]
The first of Christopher and Gertrude’s children to be born in Nebraska was Mary (born 1868).
1870 U.S. Census[15]
Swan Creek, Saline County, Nebraska
- Christian Micheal (sic), age 41
- Gertrude Micheal, age 32
- Franklin D. Micheal, age 15
- Charles Micheal, age 10
- Lena Micheal, age 7
- Joseph Micheal, age 5
- Margaret Micheal, age 3
- Mary F. Micheal, age 1
John Michele was born later in 1870 and then our ancestor, Elizabeth Gertrude Michele, was born April 27, 1873. She was born into a full house!
Sadly, five years later, Elizabeth’s sisters Margaret and Mary died in 1878. Did they die of an illness or in an accident?
By 1880, two more boys had been born (Henry and August) and sister Lena had married. That left Elizabeth as the only girl in the big family. Maybe that is why in 1880, at seven years old, rather than living at home, she was living in the household of Irish immigrants William and Ellen Sulivan.
1880 U.S. Census[16]
Swan Creek, Saline County, Nebraska
- Chris Michele, age 52
- Gertrude Michele, age 42
- Charley Michele, age 19
Joseph Michele, age 15 - John Michele, age 9
- Henry Michele, age 4
- Aug. Michele, age 1
- Elizabeth Michele, age 7, Nebraska in household of Wm. Sulivan
Custer County
In 1883, when Elizabeth was ten years old, the Michele family moved to Kilfoil, Custer County, Nebraska.
The following first-hand account of an early Custer County settler mentions two of the Elizabeth’s brothers and also gives an idea of what life was like there in that time:
“…we started for our future home in Custer county. We arrived at Seneca, where we found the beginning of a rising young town…. We were now within one day's travel of our destination. We crossed over to the Muddy the next forenoon. We camped for dinner near the present site of Broken Bow.
… That evening we obtained our first view of the Muddy Flats, as it was called at that time. We paused on the brow of the table and the male portion of the company descended and threw up their hats with a "hurrah,” for lo, and behold! There it lay in full view — the promised land.
Descending from the table we arrived at the first settler's cabin, which, by the way, was not of sod, but cedar logs, the only one of its kind on the flats as far as I know. There we got some water and a kindly greeting from the proprietor, Sam Dunning.
On our way from Dunning's place to our present location we passed the dugout of A. Thomas, a genial young bachelor. There were several other young men staying with him who had as yet not erected their future mansions. It was now about sundown and four more miles to the end of our journey. At about dusk we arrived at our claims and found there, on land adjoining, William Couhig, who had preceded us by ten days. He had made considerable progress with his work, having put down a well, which proved to be a great convenience. The well was dug by C. R. Krenz, an expert in that line of business, who still resides in Dale valley, and was the father of the first born in Dale.
Among the settlers …. all… built residences out of prairie sod, with some of Uncle Sam's cedar for rafters, which at that time was comparatively plentiful in the canons from ten to thirty miles west of here.
There was no corn raised close by, except a small amount down on Victoria creek, in 1880, and that was held at 50 and 60 cents per bushel, and could be had for no price in the spring. Crops were good in 1881, and those who had ground broken out and raised corn were all right, having plenty for feed and a good home market for the balance, at a price ranging from 50 to 75 cents per bushel.
…. The next two or three years the following named settlers moved here: J.A. Kellenbarger, William Moore, Charles Michele, Frank Michele, C. H. Cass, G. D. Grove, C. C. Grove, Henry Sweeney, Dan Foley, A. Glidewell, P. B. Riley, Jason Lucas, A, C. Towle, Henry Barrett, William Brookman, I. A. Coleman, Dr. L. L. Crawford, James Phillips, Thomas Kelley, Joseph Vessels and R. J. Kelley, the last named being a pioneer merchant, one of the present firm of Kelley & Duncan, Avho in 1880 moved to Merna, where he has been in business ever since. Nick Jaquot came about the same time, or perhaps a little before….C.D. Pelham, the pioneer merchant of Broken Bow, afterwards moved to Dale….Dale has a fine Catholic church and parsonage, also a cemetery….” [17]
Christopher Michele “…was the first of any of the relations to come to Custer county, at which time he possessed but a team and wagon. He was a man of intelligence and public spirit and served as justice of the peace in both Saline county and Custer county. He also was a school officer. He belonged to the Catholic church….”[18]
The Micheles “… came to Custer county and purchased a homestead claim of 160 acres — the southeast quarter of section 9, township 18, range 22. Their first home was in keeping with the times and was constructed of sod, this serving as the home of the family till the death of the father…..Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Michele came to Custer county at a period when settlers were few and far between, when but little improvement had been made, and when the usual pioneer hardships and privations were to be endured. They were among the worthy pioneers who were not afraid to venture and whose labors have made Custer county a better place in which to live….” [19]
On 21 May 1882, Christopher and Gertrude had their last child, a daughter named Catherine “Katie” Michele.
My guess is that in the foreground left to right are Christopher, August, Gertrude, Katie, and Elizabeth. The young men in the background are probably Charlie and Joseph.
Source: Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
1885 Nebraska State Census[1]
Kilfoil, Custer County
Custer County
1900 US Census[2]
Broken Bow, Custer County, Nebraska
Kilfoil, Custer County, Nebraska
I’m not sure why Christopher is listed both in Broken Bow and in Kilfoil. Maybe he was just visiting his son the day the census taker came.
Kilfoil, Custer County
- Christey Michele, age 55
- Gertrude Michele, age 48
- Charlie Michele, age 24
- John Michele, age 14
- Henry Michele
- Lizzie Michele, age 12
- August Michele
- Katy Michele, age 2
Custer County
- Joseph Michell (sic), age 18 (in separate home)
1900 US Census[2]
Broken Bow, Custer County, Nebraska
- Christopher Michael (sic), age 71
- Gertrude Michael, age 63, 10 children, 8 living
- Catherine Michael, age 8
Kilfoil, Custer County, Nebraska
- Frank Michele, born April 1855, Head of Household
- Christopher Michele, born May 1828, Father
I’m not sure why Christopher is listed both in Broken Bow and in Kilfoil. Maybe he was just visiting his son the day the census taker came.
Footnotes:
[1] Some variations of Christopher Michele’s name in census records are Christoph, Chris, Christian, and Christey.
[2] Source: www.familysearch.org
[3] Source: Nancy
[4] Christopher Michele’s birthday was May 5th according to family and cemetery records; Nancy has May 18th as the date.
[5] Source: www.familysearch.org
[6] Source: Nancy
[7]
[8] Bonsor, N.R.P. “North Atlantic Seaway,” www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsN.html.
[9] Erma DeRosear, “German Immigration to America.” Lee County Genealogy History. IAGenWeb Project. http://iagenweb.org/lee/data/Erma/germanimm.htm.
[10] Source: www.CastleGarden.org.
[11] Lafayette Journal and Courier, July 17, 1926, Lafayette, Indiana, http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INTIPPEC/2004-11/1100829727.
[12] Biographical Review of Lee County, Brookhaven Press, 2001 http://books.google.com/books?id=RIEUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=%22lee+county,+iowa%22+michele&source=bl&ots=qEHbiSzvZF&sig=Cr8c6PnWEYLxU2BURvPkfLHKfHs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RIAqU6OwOIrqyQGCr4GIAw&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=michel&f=false
[13] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Asmus Jessen.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[14] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Henry T. Michele.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[15] 1870 US Census. www.ancestry.com
[16] 1880 U.S. Census. www.ancestry.com.
[17] “Settlement of Dale Valley” by J. J. Downey, pages 342-343 of S.D. Butcher’s Pioneer History of Custer County: and Short Sketches of Early Days in Nebraska. http://books.google.com/books?id=whQ1AQAAMAAJ&dq=We+arrived+at+Seneca,+where+we+found+the+beginning+of+a+rising+young+town&source=gbs_navlinks_s
[18] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Asmus Jessen.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[19] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Henry T. Michele.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[1] Some variations of Christopher Michele’s name in census records are Christoph, Chris, Christian, and Christey.
[2] Source: www.familysearch.org
[3] Source: Nancy
[4] Christopher Michele’s birthday was May 5th according to family and cemetery records; Nancy has May 18th as the date.
[5] Source: www.familysearch.org
[6] Source: Nancy
[7]
[8] Bonsor, N.R.P. “North Atlantic Seaway,” www.theshipslist.com/ships/descriptions/ShipsN.html.
[9] Erma DeRosear, “German Immigration to America.” Lee County Genealogy History. IAGenWeb Project. http://iagenweb.org/lee/data/Erma/germanimm.htm.
[10] Source: www.CastleGarden.org.
[11] Lafayette Journal and Courier, July 17, 1926, Lafayette, Indiana, http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/INTIPPEC/2004-11/1100829727.
[12] Biographical Review of Lee County, Brookhaven Press, 2001 http://books.google.com/books?id=RIEUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=%22lee+county,+iowa%22+michele&source=bl&ots=qEHbiSzvZF&sig=Cr8c6PnWEYLxU2BURvPkfLHKfHs&hl=en&sa=X&ei=RIAqU6OwOIrqyQGCr4GIAw&ved=0CEoQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=michel&f=false
[13] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Asmus Jessen.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[14] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Henry T. Michele.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[15] 1870 US Census. www.ancestry.com
[16] 1880 U.S. Census. www.ancestry.com.
[17] “Settlement of Dale Valley” by J. J. Downey, pages 342-343 of S.D. Butcher’s Pioneer History of Custer County: and Short Sketches of Early Days in Nebraska. http://books.google.com/books?id=whQ1AQAAMAAJ&dq=We+arrived+at+Seneca,+where+we+found+the+beginning+of+a+rising+young+town&source=gbs_navlinks_s
[18] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Asmus Jessen.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
[19] Gaston, William Levi and A.R. Humphrey. “Henry T. Michele.” History of Custer County, Nebraska: A Narrative of the Past….Western Pub. and Engraving Company, 1919. Custer County, NE. (Google eBook) http://books.google.com/books?id=KRU1AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false