I'm in South America now, and will return the end of this month. I can answer more questions when I return. For now:
I am aware of a Lucas Gfell, eldest son of Friderich Gfell and Agatha Thoma. Please ignore the numbers - they are for my own ahnentahfel.
Father: 16. Fidelis Gfell b. Mar 1781, Grissheim, Baden Mother: 17. Maria Anna Schmidt b. Grissheim, Baden
Family name and history: The name Gfell is pronounced with the G nearly silent - like a very soft /k/ in English. This family lived for centuries in the village of Grissheim, Baden - just across the Rhine from France. The French version of the same name - pronounced nearly the sam e - is spelled GuÈvel. Historical documents suggest that the family's earlier o rigins were in what is now Switzerland.
Marriage 1: In 1838, to Agatha Thoma, b. abt. 1819; d. 1846, age 28.
Children of Friderich Gfell and Agatha Thoma:
1. Lucas Gfell b. 17 Oct 1839
2. Karolina Gfell b. 20 Jan 1841
3. Fridolin Gfell b. 9 Apr 1842
4. Reinhard Gfell b. 16 Aug 1843
5. Maria Anna Gfell b. 18 Feb 1845
Marriage 2: In 1846, to Magdalena Kratz, at St. Michael's Catholic church in Grissheim. They had four children, all born in Grissheim and christened at St. Michael's. Their youngest child, Benedikt, died in infancy in 1852.
Children of Friderich Gfell and Magdalena Kratz born in Baden [Germany]:
1. Juliana [Julia] Gfell, b. 10 Apr 1847; christened April 13.
2. Balbina [Phillipina] Gfell, b. 1 Jul 1848; christened 2 July 1848.
3. Hermann Gfell, christened 20 Dec 1849; ancestor, this line
4. Benedikt Gfell, christened 22 Feb 1851; died in infancy
Naturalization: Frederich Gfell Naturalization Record Date 3/28/1860 from Baden Vol XII, Page 159 US entry date 11/1853 Baden 11/1/1856 Date of Intent Character Witness - John Beam
1900 Census, Huron Co, Ohio: Living in the household of Fred Gfell; dates suggest these must have been his grandchildren, by one of his sons born in Baden.
1. Emma B. Gfell, b. 1873; age 26, Roller, Umbrella Factory [m. Otto Lang 1900]
2. Tenna Gfell, b. Mar 1876; age 24, no occupation listed 3. Joe F. Gfell, b. Apr 1879; age 21, Apprentice, Planning Mill [sic?]
4. Leonard F. Gfell, b. Apr 1882; age 17, Organ Finisher
5. Henry C. Gfell, b. Sept 1883; age 17, Boiler Maker
6. Jacob F. Gfell, b. Jan 1886, age 14, at school
Fred's second wife [with whom he immigrated] was Magdalena Kratz. In the Uni ted States, she used the name Mary. The census also reports Fred's number of c hildren as 16, and her number of live children as 15. This count included Fred 's children by his first wife, Agatha Thoma, as well as his children by Magdalen a/Mary.
Note: Emigration/Immigration in November of 1854, Friderich [Fred], Magdalena [Mary], and their eight children emigrated to the United States. They sailed from Antwerp, Belgium on the Sarah G. Hyde, part of a group of 100 citizens of their native village of Grissheim. They arrived in New York on 19 December 1854. The ship manifest incorrectly spells the names of the family members as Gfaphl. Friderich's name does not appear, but there is no question that his family were on this ship. Grissheim village records trace the journey of the entire group, from the time they left until their arrival. Seven "Gfaphl" families are noted on the manifest. For passengers in steerage, records were of ten inexact. They settled in Huron County, Ohio, where Fred's brothers, Hugo and Marcus, had preceded them. When this family came to America, they took Americanized names. Friderich became Fred; Magdalena became Mary; Juliana became Julia; Balbina became Phillipina. Later, Hermann simplified his surname to Fell. In later years, some Gfells dropped the initial G sound [nearly silent when spoken; sounds like a soft /k/ ], and their surname became Fell.
Friderich became a naturalized citizen, as did two of his brothers, Hugo Gfell and Marcus Gfell. Marcus, his family, and youngest of the Gfell brothers, Hugo, had arrived in November of 1850, sailing on the ship Denis from Havre to New York. They had already settled in Huron Co , Ohio when Fred and Mary arrived with their children in 1854.
Sources:
1. Grissheim, katholisch, Taufbuch
2. Grisheim, katholish, Ehebuch
3. Grisheim , katholisch, Ortsfamilienbuch
4. New York Passenger Manifest, December 1854, Sarah G. Hyde
5. Year: 1900; Census Place: Kenton Ward 1, Huron, Ohio; Roll: T 623 1288; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 30
6. Correspondence with Gfells in Huron Co, Ohio
7. Direct communication during two visits with cousin Hermann Losch [his mother's surname was Gfell] in Grissheim, Germany