I have seen your posts looking for this surname as coming to US from Germany, Wuttemburg, Prussia, etc. I'm wondering if we might have a connection.
My Yakel/Jeckel family settled in St. Clair Co, IL and moved to Madison Co, IL 1837-40.
Phillip Yakel started a brewery in Alton, Madison Co, IL abt. 1840. I just visited Alton and at the library there found a bio written by a descendant named Manns. I don't think she is still living, couldn't find her listed in the Alton directory. But in it she states the father of Philip was a Johann Sebastian Jackel of Sonnenberg, near Weisbaden, Germany, born June 10, 1759 in Sonnenberg. He also owned a brewery in Sonnenberg. Phillip Ludwig, my ggg-grandfather was born there October 2, 1802. He brought his family to St. Clair Co, IL abt. 1837 and applied for citizenship on Jan. 4, 1838 and it was granted on Oct. 24, 1844 (I haven't sent for the papers as yet). At that time the name was changed from Jackel to Jeckel, but I've seen it spelled various ways. Family info shows his wife's name as Maria Hohn. I think they had 9 children, but only 7 grew to maturity and married. His daughter, Wilhelmena Jeckel married Jacob Haas in St. Clair Co, IL and I've been told the Haas family came to St. Clair Co, IL up the Mississippi River from New Orleans as their port of entry. I figured the Jeckel family might have done the same. The daughter of Wilhelmena Jeckel and Jacob Haas was also Wilhelmena and she married William/Wilhelm Herb from Wuttemburg, Germany. Their daughter, Amelia Herb was my grandmother.
The Yakel House in Alton is on the National Registry of Historic Places and we got to tour it. The owners now have been in restoration for the past 4 years and the buildings where the brewery stood are still attached, but unused.
With the date of birth of your John, I wonder if he might have been a brother to my Phillip.
You can email directly if you'd like at:
fredd1907@earthlink.netLinda Garrett
Livermore, CA